The Sun.
London, England, 1838-09-05 00:00:00

HARTLEPOOL RAILWAY.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
you allow me a space in your useful Journal to
inform the distant Proprietors of the Hartlepool Docks and
Railway of what I understand took place at a General Meet-
ing of the Company, held at Durham, on the 16th inst. ?
A Report, purporting to be the Report of the Com-
mittee, was read by the Clerk, and immediately proposed "
to
be adopted," by the gentleman who signed it, as a nominal
Chairman for the occasion ; as it now turns out that Mr. Bur-
don, the regular and highly-respected Chairman of the Com-
mittee, declined to sign it, much less to move its adoption
under such circumstances. This motion found a ready seconder
in the Secretary, the writer of th. e Report, who entered into a
long ex-parte statement respecting it.
The Report, besides various other matter, contained a
General Abstract of the first audit of the Company's accounts,
extending over a period of six years—embracing the whole
of the financial proceedings of the Company since its forma-
tion, and amounting to upwards of half a million of money 1
in which was comprised many pecuniary transactions and con-
tracts between several of the Committee, the Secretary, and
the Company ; all of which was given in large round sums,
and contracted into a space of a few lines 1 It also gave an
ex-parte statement in justification of the late attempt to pro-
cure from Parliament powers to create New Shares to the
alarming extent of 130,0001., with a prior claim to interest at
51. per cent. guaranteed upon them—in my opinion so happily
frustrated; and which is now found to be quite unnecessary,
as the Company's funds are in a situation to declare a dividend
of 51. per cent.
It must be evident that such a Report was one of the utmost
importance to the Company, and demanded the most serious
consideration ; which it was quite impossible to do on merely
hearing it read in a public meeting. One gentleman, re-
presenting a very considerable interest, viewing it in this
light, proposed that the consideration and adoption of the
Report should be adjourned, that time might be given to the
Shareholders for duly considering it; and in support of his
proposition appealed to the usage of Parliament, and the pro-
ceedings of all well-regulated public bodies, in similar cases—
implying that the Report be laid on the table—that it be
printed and circulated among the members—and that a future
day be appointed for its consideration. This proposition, so
just and reasonable, was, I am informed, at once stifled, by the
Colliery party in the Committee and their friends most vehe-
mently opposing it, and insisting on an immediate decision,
and " that the Report be now adopted."
Now, may it not be properly asked, why this departure from
the best and most established usage on such occasions ? Why
such breathless haste to drive the immediate adoption of this
" Report 2" One would have supposed, that instead of this
extraordinary course, that any Committee or body of men so cir-
cumstanced (a portion of them having traded so largely with
the Company for whom they were Managers) were interested
in, and would have courted, inquiry, deliberation, and publicity
in every shape, so that the Shareholders might be most per-
fectly satisfied of its accuracy, before adopting the Report.
And will it be believed, that in connection with all this pre-
viously arranged and extraordinary proceeding, a gentleman
deeply connected with the parties driving this motion, actually
came forward and proposed a vote of thanks to the Committee
on this occasion ?—the reception of which I leave to the par-
ties present to describe. It remains to be seen in what form
the Report will appear—whether as insisted upon and carried,
or in some other shape. And it is for the Shareholders to say
whether this matter is to rest here.
The only statement of accounts rendered by the Secretary
to the Shareholders, of which no audit has ever been made
although the Company has existed six years, is as follows :
RECEIPTS.
Subscribers for instalments
Interest on arrears of calls, Exchequer Bills,
and spare materials sold
Railway and Dock dues, &c
Loans on bonds and mortgage

6,892 14 2
21,804 14 4
75,762 8 4
10,649 18 5

Balance due, T. Wood

£322,359 15 3

EXPENDITURE.
Parliamentary and other
expences for obtaining
the Acts
Expenses of Railway
Ditto harbours and drops 115,376 0 3
Loan to Commissioners of
the Pier and Port of
Hartlepool
Loan to Robson and Co.,

5,924 3 9

1,000 0 0

contractors .
Upholding the Railway and
docks, &c.

£322,359 15 3

Such a statement in lump sums was never before presented
to any body of shareholders by any public company, and it now
behoves the the Shareholders to look to their interests, or
their property will suffer.
I am, Sir, your humble servant,
ADAM MURRAY.

47, Parliament-street, London,
August 27, 1838.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

TIVERTON RACES. —FRIDA Y.
The Tiverton Stakes of 10 sovs. each, 5 ft., if declared, &c., with
20 added. Heats, twice round. 10 Subs., 7 of whom paid 5

sovs. each.
Mr. W. Ley's Rattle, 5 yrs, 9,t. 71b Cowley 1 1
Mr. Tucker's Lucretia, 3 yrs, Get. 51b
The Tradesmen's Plate, for half-bred horses, was won by Mr.
Partridge's br. m. Diana, list. 61b., beating three others.
A Free Handicap Sweepstakes, with 30 sovs. added, one mile,
were won in two heats by .Mr. W. Tucker's b. f. Lucretia (h. b.),
3 yrs, Bst. 71b. (Dixon), beating Mr. W. Lev's gr, c. Pocket Her.
cules, 4 yrs, 10st. 41b., Mr. Wreford's b. f. Westeria, 3 yrs, ist.
81b., Mr. Phelps's b. g. Baronet, and another.
The Hurdle Race Stakes of 5 sovs. each, and 20 added, were
won in two heats by Mr. T. Collard's b. g. Walker, aged, 12st.
(Mr. Wotton), beating two others.

UPTON- ON-SEVERN RA CE S.—FRIDAY.
The Ham Stakes of 5 sovs. each, and 25 added, for horses of all
ages that never won more than 50/. Heats, once round. 6
Subscribers.
Mr. Jones's ch. m. Emily, 6 yrs, Bst. Sib .......Arthur 2 1 1
Mr. Hervey,s b. f. Maid of Hampton, 4 yrs, Bbt. 21b 12 2
Mr. Bennett's br. f. by Brownlock, 3 yes. (h. b. ),
6st. 91b.
The Upton Stakes of 5 sovs. each, with 20 added, for horses of
all denominations, once round and a distance, were won in two
heats by Mr. Stevens's Gimcrack, beating Mr. Williams's Ranger,
and Mr. Lucas's Foreigner.
The Selling Stakes of 5 soya. each, and 20 added, for half-bred
horses, heats, once round and a distance, the winner to be sold for
80 sovs., were won in three heats by Mr. Thompson's b. g. Wood-
man (Arthur), beating Mr. Careless's Powick, and two others.
The Hurdle Race Stakes, with a Whip added, were won in two
heats by Mr. Hughes's Hanley Maid, beating Mr. Phelps's Miss
Bateman, and b. m. Chance.