The Sun.
London, England, 1847-02-09 00:00:00

frbirlif Übition

SUN OFFICE, Seven o' Clock.

SALE OF RAILWAY SHARES BY
AUCTION.—(THIS DAY.)
The sale of Railway Shares to-day, by Messrs. Lamond
and Co., was rather hat, and prices were a shade lower.
The following are a few of the principal sales
Calcutta and St. George's Point 9 0
£0 4 0
East Indian ..............................
Great Western of Bengal ................ 05 6
Waterford, Wexford, and Valentia ...... 0 5 6
Great Luxembourg ... 0 4 6
Eastern Counties, York Extension ..... 414 6
Reading, Guildford, and Reigate 3 16 0
Derby, Stafford, and Worcestershire
Amberg.ate, Nottingham, and Boston
North British, Extension...... ........ 1 7 0
Liverp. Manch. and Newcastle-upon-Tyne 2 0 0
Newport and Abergavenny
Great Northern (London and York Reg.) 2 12 6
South Yorkshire, Doncaster, and Goole
Bostoll, Stamford, and Birmingham 1 13 6

PETITIONS ON PRIVATE BILLS.
HOUSE OF COMMONS.—(THIS DAY).
(Room 22, before Mr. Examiner Small.)
UNOPPOSED LIST.
In the following unopposed cases the customary formal
proofs were completed :
Eastern Counties (Peterborough to Folkingham).
Eastern Counties (Spalding to Newark).
Eastern Counties (Wisbeach to Spalding).
Eastern Counties (Ilford to Tilbury Fort, &c).
• CORNWALL AND DEVON.
The remaining points in this case were deferred.
NEWMARKET AND CEIESTERFORD EXTENSION.
This opposed case was then gone through. It was found
that the standing orders had not been complied with in one
or two unimportant instances.
Room 23.
UNOPPOSED LIST.
In the following unopposed cases, the customary formal
proofs were complied with :
Liverpool, Manchester, and Newcastle-upon-Tyne Junc-
tion, &c.
Boston, Stamford, and Birmingham Railway (Peterborough
and Thomey line).
OPPOSED LIST.
THE CALEDONIAN CASES.
In these cases the standing orders had been complied with,
except in reference to the Wishaw and Coltness, in which
some inaccuracies were found to exist in the gradients.
CALEDONIAN (EDINBURGH STATION), AND
BRANCH TO LESMAIIAGOW.
This opposed case occupied the rest of the day.

LONDON and GREENWICH RAIL
WAY COMPANY.—(THIS DAY.)
The half•yearly general meeting of the shareholders o
this company was held at their offices, No. 10, Coleman-
street, City. Mr. Shadbolt, president of the company, in the
chair, said that there would be no report submitted to
the meeting, and that all that would be done would be to lay
the accounts before them. The account was then read, by
which it appeared that the interest upon bonds and prefer.
ence shares was 11,400/. 10s., the property-tax was
2071. Is. 4d., salaries 265/. Bs. ; and which, with other ex-
penses, amounted to a gross sum of 11,958/. 183. 4d., leaving
a balance of 6,996/. 10s. ld.
The CHAIRMAN then said that it would now be his duty to
propose that the accounts which had just been read should
be printed and circulated amongst the subscribers.
Mr. PERRY said he felt pleasure in seconding the resolution
they had just heard, but at the same time be thought it right
to call the attention of the meeting to one circumstance;
before doing so, however, he would say that they would not
have many difficulties in winding up their affairs in future.
Their directors might, in the opinion of several of the share-
holders, be fairly and safely reduced to three.
The SECRETARY explained that it would be necessary to
have five, and lie believed that the three directors could not,
by any possibility, discharge the affairs of the company sa-
tisfactorily.
Mr. PERRY, as an individual, was perfectly satisfied.
There was no person, from the circumstance of his having
been an auditor, who had had a better opportunity of knowing
how the affairs of the company had been conducted ; but he
had brought forward the present question upon the sugges-
tion of some of the shareholders. It might he necessary to
carry out the affairs of this company effectively, that there
should be five directors; but then three of the present di-
rectors might remain in office, and two others be appointed,
honorary directors. These directors might be paid a small
fee for their occasional services.
Mr. Lxvx said their object should be to have a few re-
spectable gentlemen to manage their affairs. Ile thought
that five was as small a number as they could have to do
that properly. Now, considering the small amount those
directors demanded for their labour, he thought that such
could not be reasonably objected to.—(hear, hear.) It might
be supposed that because the Eastern Counties Railway had
leased the line that there was nothing for their directors to
do; but they should recollect that circumstances and difficul-
ties might arise which would render necessary the active in-
terference and superintendence of directors.—(flear, hear.)
Mr. PERRY said he should repeat what he had already
stated was merely the opinion of others, and not his own, and
also that, as an individual, he was perfectly satisfied with the
management of the company.
Mr. MaunEwr stated that, looking at their accounts, they
found that the directors had acted as bankers to the com-
pany, and that they (the company) could not carry on a
concern like theirs at a smaller expense than had hitherto
been incurred through the able management of the directors.
The resolution was then put from the chair and carried
unanimously.
Messrs. Wilson and Deputy Corney were then re-elected
directors, which was acknowledged by Mr. Corney on his
own behalf and that of Mr. Wilson.
Mr. PERRY then proposed a vote of thanks to the Chairman,
which was seconded and carried unanimously, and the
meeting separated.

EASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAY
(THIS DAY.)

The usual half-yearly meeting of the proprietors of the
Eastern Counties Railway was held this afternoon at the
London Tavern, in Bishopsgate-street, Mr. Geo. Hudson,
ALP., chairman of the board of directors, in the chair. The
meeting was made special, for the purpose of agreeing to
certain new lines and extensions.

In their report the directors announced a dividend, for the
half-year, ending the 4th of January last, of 10s. per share
of 14/. 16s. each on the consolidated stock of the Eastern
Counties Railway Company, and in proportion on the share
capital of the Northern and Eastern Company. The gross
receipts from traffic showed an increase over the correspond-
ing half of last year of 69,9461.12 x. 6d. The past season had been
unusually trying to the permanent way and works, notwith-
standing which, their state throughout was very satisfactory.
The cost of maintenance for the past half year, included in
all 18444 miles,l 136 of which were; now I in 3 the com-
pany's own hands, and the remaining twelve miles were
maintained by contract. The increased length of road main-
tained during the last six months amounted to fifty-nine
miles, viz. from Stortford to Brandon, and from Stratford to
Blackwall, besides the second line of rails from Broxbourne
Junction to Hertford. Taking this additional mileage into
consideration, it would appear that a clear saving of 4,0351.
Is. 7d. had been effected, as compared with last year. The
double line of the Hertford branch had been completed at a
cost of 1,5001. under the estimate, and the double line of the
Stratford and Thames Junction Railway would be ready for
opening in the course of a few days. The new station at the
Stratford Junction was now completed and might be opened
in the cows.) of a few days. The stock of engines on the line
on July 4th, 1846, was fifty-eight passenger and thirteen
goods engines. Received during the last six months, four-
teen passenger and five goods engines, making thekre-
sent stock amount to seventy-two passenger and
eighteen goods engines ; sixty-two of these were
in working condition, and twenty-eight under repair.
The branch from Ely to Peterborough was not opened for
general traffic until the 14th of January last, owing to slips
baying occurred at two points, that required the greatest
energy and a large additional expenditure upon the part of
Mr. Peto, the contractor, to conquer. Notwithstanding this
delay, the line had been delivered up for traffic in very com-
plete working order ten months earlier than Mr. Peto was
bound to do by his contract. The construction of the lines
between Cambridge and St. Ives, and St. Ives and Wisbeach
was let, in September last, to Mr. Peto, and was proceeding
with rapidity. The directors confidently anticipate that
the portion of the latter line between March and Wisbeach
would be ready for opening on or before the Ist of May,
and that the remainder of these lines would be completed
in the autumn of the year. A direct communication would
then exist with Huntingdon, by means of the Ely and Hun-
tingdon Railway. The North Woolwich Railway and Pier
would be completed for traffic early in the ensuing summer.
Since the last half. yearly meeting of the shareholders the
Company had purchased the Maldon, Witham, and Braintree
Railway, a short but valuable line, connecting the rising
port of Maldon with the main lines of this Company and the
central portions of Essex. The works would be let on the
17th of this month for completion in the early part of 1848.
The Company was in possession of the greater part of the
property required for the enlargement of the Bisbopsgate
station, and the contract for its construction would be forthwith
let. In consequence of the increase of traffic, both in passengers
and goods, which has lately. taken place, the directors
had resolved to seek for powers in the ensuing Session of Par-
liament to obtain four additional lines of railway bet
tweenf
the Mile-end and Bishopsgate stations. For the pu. purpose o
carrying out several objects, it was intended to make paya-
ble tho first call of 21. 10s. per share upon the B. quarter of
the York Extension shares in two instalments, of which one
would be due on the 18th of March, and the other on the 18th
of May next.
The CHAIRMAN in moving the adoption of the report said
he felt it was unnecessary to dwell at any length upon the
present affairs of the company, b
every information upon the subject, while the report supplied
p the shareholders
were well acquainted with the topics connected with their
future prospects. He could hold out no hope of a reduction in
the working expenses, but their was every prospect of their
traffic increasing, without adding to their working expenses.
He had found, since his connexion with the Eastern Counties
C4raPany, that a line with a metropolitan terminus could not
be worked so cheaply as the lit es of the north, but still it
was gratifying for him to know, that although the expense
.5 grester than that of any northern line, there was no
line under his management better or more efficiently worked.
With these few remarks he begged to move the adoption of
the report, and that the dividend be paid on and after the
23d inst.
A. PZOPRIETOR said he I seen it announced in a provin-
ccial paper, that their Loudon terminus was to be extended
on to the site of the Middlesexil house of Correction. He
regretted that this subjeetwas,nwohteanllited to in the report.
came to the special
The CHAIRMAN replied that
business of the day, he should be readyteyto give the lion.
Proprietor every information upon the subject.
The resolutiot. was then agreed to.
Messrs. Hudson, Gibbs, Harrison, and Hood, were re-
elected directors.
The CamastAs, in a few words, acknowledged their re-
election, and held out a strong hope that the traffic would
still go on increasing, and, under the exertions of the board,
he was convinced they had nothing to do but to go on and
prosper.