The Sun.
London, England, 1847-08-27 00:00:00

FRID AY EVENIING, AUGUST 27,

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.
BIRMINGHAM, WOLVERHAMPTON, AND
STOUR VALLEY.
BIRMINGHAM, THURSDAY.—This afternoon the
half-yearly meeting of this company was held at
Dee's Royal Hotel; Mr. Robert Scott in the chair.
The Chairman having called upon Mr. Morgan,
the secretary, that gentleman read the report, which
stated that the directors had to inform the proprietary
that the royal assent was given to the Smethwick
Deviation Bill on the 2d of July last. In that Act
powers were given for the sale or lease of the Bir-
mingham, Wolverhampton, and Stour Valley to the
London and North-Western Railway Company, but
a clause was introduced restraining the company from
selling or leasing until it shall have been proved to
the satisfaction of the Commissioners of Railways,
and certified by them under their seal, that half of
the whole amount of the capital authorised to be
raised, exclusive of loans, shall have been actually
paid up and expended. One-half of the capital not
having yet been paid up, the directors were not able
to submit to this meeting the lease which was being
prepared in conformity with the terms of the arrange-
ment confirmed by the proprietors at their second half-
yearly meeting, held on the 19th of February last.
The Bill which the proprietors authorised to be intro-
duced into Parliament in the last session,
for an extension of the line from Oldbury
to Stourbridge, was thrown out by the House
of Lords. The directors continued to en-
tertain the opinion that the interests of the
district intended to be provided for by the line to
Stourbridge and its branches, imperatively require
the construction of such a railway, and under this
conviction they recommended the renewal of the ap-
plication to Parliament for a Bill for that purpose.
The works of the line were proceeding satisfactorily.
The directors were proceeding with the execution of
the Smethwick deviation line and the branch to
Dudley as speedily as possible. In conformity with
the resolutions already passed by the proprietors, the
directors proposed to pay interest on the deposits and
calls at the rate of four per cent. perannum from the
Ist of January, 1846, to the 30th of June last, and
warrants for payment would be shortly issued.
The SECRETARY next read the statement of ac-
counts, from which we find that the receipts have
been 302,0151., and the expenditure 267,1811., leaving
a balance in hand of 34,8341.
The CHAIRMAN said it now became his duty
to move that the report just read be received,
adopted, printed, and circulated amongst the
shareholders ; and as that was the last occasion
on which he should have the honour of presiding
over them, he would venture to offer a few obser-
vations to the meeting. He was about to retire
from the chair for several reasons. The first and
most important was, as their line of railway would
shortly be virtually one and the same with that of the
London and North-Western Company, who would
have to provide any surplus capital which might
be required to complete the works, he thought that
the chairman of the Stour Valley line ought to be a
director of the London and North-Western. Secondly,
he (the Chairman) found that he was now no longer
at liberty to act freely and independently, and he was
unwilling to assume responsibility when not armed
with corresponding authority. Lastly, his other oc-
cupations and the distance at wh;,_..11 he resided from
Birmingham rendered his attention to the duties of
chairman irksome and inconvenient. The report just
read stated the reasons why the lease to the North-
Western Company was not yet completed. By their
Act their capital was fixed at 1,100,0001., and until
half of this sum was paid up and expended the lease
or sale could not be legally effected. The time would
shortly arrive when half of their capital would be
paid up; and when they looked at the cost of land
and property in the neighbourhoods through which
their line went, they might easily imagine that there
in spending it. A special
or the purpose of sanction-
ingoll
d difficulty
be called
f
meetingwuld b e
w 0
the completion of the sale. The terms of the
lease and sale were already well known ; their divi-
dend was to be the same as the dividend of the
London and North-Western. Now it so happened
that the dividend of that great company had
recently been reduced, and this result, seeing the
great expense to which the company had been put
—the falling off of traffic in consequence of the re-
cent depressed state of commerce, and the new branch
lines not yet in operation—could excite no surprise.
When, however, these brauch lines were completed,
he saw no reason to suppose that the dividend would
be permanently at a reduced rate. The Hon. Gen-
tleman proceeded to contend that the principle of
competition, as recently sanctioned by Parliament,
was not for the public good. It was the duty of the
Legislature, in the present state of affairs, to protect
the interests of the shareholders, while at the same
they ensured to the public speedy and safe conveyance
at a reasonable rate. This principle, which had for-
merly been adopted by the Legislature, had recently
been departed from in the case of the London and
North- Western. -While that company continued to
conduct the line as they now did, carrying passengers
and goods at a lower rate than other companies, it was
the duty of Parliament to protect the shareholders.
With respect to their own line, he had only to say
that the works were progressing satisfactorily, and
the warrants for the payment of interest would, as
speedily as possible, be issued to the shareholders.'
He concluded by movsng the adoption of the report.
Mr. Wfulams wished the chairman to explain as.
to half the capital not being paid up.
The CHAIRMAN said the shares were fixed by their j
Act at 20/. ; and, accordingly, 101. must be paid be-
fore they could proceed.
Mr. MEREDITH wished to ask whether, if share-
holders paid up the full amount of their shares, they,
would be allowed five per cent. interest for their'
money .
The CHAIRINIAN said the question had not yet been
brought before the directors ; but he would take care
that it immediately engaged their attention. Such a
course would only affect one-fourth of the capital.
Thanks having been voted to the Chairman, the
meeting then broke up.

GLOUCESTER AND DEAN FOREST.
The third ordinary general meeting of this company
took place in Gloucester yesterday.
The CUAIRNIAN (Mr. Samuel Baker) said the
Dean Forest Railway now stood an integral part of
from
rhooewm
in a Southr ii e
Hereford
00rsidt?
o Walesn
and
ttßoh Railway
alwrdrajyyo Cogea trafficwere
passenger traffic from the south of Ireland would pass
over the Dean Forest Railway. It was true two
competing lines were proposed, that would pro-
aitnhie n wlpioalhey. of They
country, heey
country, and all the
bably carrysome of the traffic coming northward;
yet those lines, if carried into effect, would have to
cross the river Severn, and that was a great ob-
stacle. All the traffic from London must pass over
their line, and there were no counteracting dis-
advantages.. Since the last general meeting of the
Forest of Dean Railway, the South Wales Company
had purchased the Bullo Pill Railway, and access
would be thereby gained to the heart of the Forest.
A satisfactory arrangement had also been effected
with the Severn and Wye Railway. The period for
the extension of the line would be extended, as the
present distressed state of the money market would
not admit of the ready payment of calls. The South
Wales Railway were proceeding very rapidly with
their works.—(Applause.)
The report of the directors, of which the following
are extracts, was then read and adopted :—" The
directors have to report that they have purchased a
large proportion of the land, and the engineer of the
company has completed his arrangements for the pro-
secution of the works ; the 'contract has been agreed
to, and the works commenced on the heaviest por-
tions of the line contiguous to Gloucester. Some
delay must necessarily arise in their progress until
proprietors on their
the purchases of land shall be completed. The di-
rectors have to congratulate the proprietosuccess in passing a Bill for the construction of docks
in communication with the Gloucester and Berkeley
Canal, by which important advantages will be con-
ferred. upon this company by the improved facilities
which will be afforded in connexion with this line of
railway."
A resolution was also carried, confirming an agree-
ment with the South Wales line relativs to an exten-
sionto the chairman, the meeting separated.
from Grange to Hagloe, and thanks being voted

THE AMBERGATE, NOTTINGHAAI, AND
BOSTON, AND EASTERN JUNCTION

RAILWAY.
On Tuesday the usual half-yearly meeting of the
above line of railway was held in the Exchange Hall,
Nottingham.
The CHAIRMAN (Mr. W. F. N. Norton) at some
length entered into explanations required by the
shareholders.
The statement of accounts appended to the report
mentioned the total receipts to have been 219,271/.,
and the expenditure 101,038/., showing a balance in
hand of 108,233/.
The Cumamas moved, and Mr. BISHOP seconded
the adoption of the report.
Mr. GEE censured the conduct of some of the
shareholders ; but his remarks appeared to excite but
little sympathy. He went on to remark that the
termini of the railway were not at the end of their
lines, but at the western and eastern seaports—.
(Cheers)--and the scheme ought to be carried out to
the fullest by the directors. The next great fault
alleged was that the directors were all local ; but
that he thought was an advantage rather than a fault.
He thought the charges so little justified by realities
that the parties who had acted upon them ought to
be ashamed of their conduct. Why, he ha .l met one
Cofanthalosfeorwahnootbblearmreaw
blamed the
Ingram was irectors for buying canals
at I3ingham, and trying to purchase the Grantham
under-
stood to dissent from this statement.) Well, he went
to makean offer for it. . . . ..
Mr. INGRAIN! said, if he did not go to Bingham to
arrange mutters he did not go to disarrange them.—

(C 'beers.) He thought all differences were settled ;
bu\ if necessary he was quite ready to go into all the
grit vances of which they had complained.
A, fter some further conversation, Mr. Wirarrisios,
as on e of the committee, said he would agree to a full
expla nation being made, but he thought it unneces-
sary. With regard to the new directors proposed to
be ap pointed, he begged to remind gentlemen that
there were 400 shareholders in the county of Middle-
' sex, !•00 in Yorkshire, 300 in Lancashire, while in
the c ounty of Nottingham there were but 1.50.
(Chem irs.) And it was not so unreasonable that gen-
tlenie.n at a distance should have a voice in the
manugement, when they were the parties who found
the ix ioney, and particularly when they remembered
what had been the state of the money-market for the
last is velve months.
After long delay, and the expression of some diffe-
renew: of opinion, the Secretary read a number of mi-
nutai., of interviews that had taken place between the
coma, iittees of shareholders and the directors, from
which it appeared, that, at the suggestion of the
former, the latter had agreed to increase the number
of directors from thirteen to sixteen, seven to be
elected by the shareholders, four to retire at the pre-
sent meeting, and the other three to be elected at the
special meeting.
Messrs. Benjamin Badger (London), William
Darham (Manchester), Herbert Ingram (London),
and Richard Septimus Wilkinson (London), were
elected directors.
Mr. Francis Simes Alliott was re-elected auditor to
the company.

STEAM COMMUNICATION WITH

AUSTRALIA.

Among the projects of the day which relate to the
extension of our power and commerce, the establish-
ment of steam communication with Australia is one
of the most prominent. To accomplish this object
a company has been formed under a royal charter,
dated the 20th of May last, and the route adopted
from England to Sydney, together with the time it
will occupy (and which has been sanctioned by the
Admiralty), is as follows, viz. :
England to Singapore, via Egypt, overland, 8,390
miles, 42 days.
Singapore to Port Essington (Torres Straits),
via Batavia, 2,060 miles, 10 days.
Port Essington to Sydney, via Wednesday Island,
2,340 miles, 12 days.
Thus giving 12,790 miles to be completed in 64
days, or at the rate of 199 miles a day, and bringing
Australia and New Zealand in point of time within
little more than half the present distance. Hitherto
the Government, although expressing the strongest
desire to witness the accomplishment of this route,
have declined making any direct grant, but from the
recent report of a Committee of the House of Lords
on the Mail Contract Service in general, there can be
little doubt that the entire profits of the postal com-
munication throughout the line from Singapore to
Sydney would willingly be conceded. Coupled with
this the company seem disposed to place great reliance
on the rapid growth of an extensive passenger traffic
between India and Australia (the distance being less
than 30 days), and also that a considerable business
would arise from the conveyance of horses from the
colony for the use of the Indian army—a description
of export which has already been profitably estab-
lished. Looking at the facilities for obtaining coal at
the several points of the route, the varied commerce
which promises to spring up throughout the Indian
Archipelago, and the strong interest in the matter
evinced by all parties in Australia, there appear
reasonable grounds for an early anticipation of a
profitable result for the undertaking, more especially
as two-thirds of the route—that is to say, from Eng-
land to Singapore—is already an established line,
yielding large and increasing returns to the Peninsu-
lar and Oriental Company, whose steamers at present
enjoy exclusively its advantages.
It will be remembered that various plans have from
time to time been put forward for connecting Aus-
tralia with the mother country by steam. One was
via Panama, but this is understood to have been en-
tirely given up. Another, which we believe is still
maintained in some quarters, is for a route by steam
via the Cape of Good Hope, with a branch line to
the Mauritius. The objections urged against this,
however, are the want of facilities for coaling (a diffi-
culty which appears insurmountable), and the little
community of intercourse between the Cape and Aus-
tralia, and also between that country and the Mau-
ritius. The use of the screw propellers has been
suggested to obviate the difficulty of carrying a suffi-
cient supply of coals, but the results of that method
of propulsion (even supposing the scantiness of popu-
lation on the line were not fatal to the scheme) have
hardly been such as to warrant an expectation that it
would realise anything like the rapid communication
which it is now the object to attain. In Australia
the respective plans seem to have attracted even more
attention than in-this country, and there, as here, the
preference has been stated in favour of the India line,
a select committee of the Legislative Council of New
South Wales having in October last strongly re-
ported to that effect.

OCCUPATION OF FERRARA.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

have the honour of writing to you to ex-
press my thanks for your article on the occupation of
Ferrara by the Austrians, in this day's paper. That
article is the only one worthy of the occasion in the
public prints of this great metropolis. I concur with
you, Sir, in almost all your sentiments and your
prognostications ; only in this, I go further than you.
This proceeding is a tacit hint to our Government of
the contempt Austria has for our naval power in the
Mediterranean, and it is a prelude to a mighty blow
against the security of our colonial possessions in
that sea, and of our communications with India.
There can, I think, be no doubt that France aims at
the possession of the Peninsula, and Italy is to be the
reward to Austria for acquiescing in that plan of ag-
grandisement. The basis of our operations, therefore,
to defeat this policy must be laid in Spain and Por-
tugal. A British force should be sent to the coasts of
Portugal and Spain to support the national party in
both those countries, and England, then, as the pro-
tector of the Portuguese, the Spanish, and the Italian
people, may blow to the winds the plot that has been
laid against their liberties, and against her own in-
terests and honour. If we take this energetic and in-
dependent course, the Government of France will not
venture to oppose us, and we shall rally round us the
affections and good wishes of the nations of Europe.
The Austrian Government must then succumb. I
believe this is a policy that will prevent bloodshed. I
believe with you, any other policy will lead to con-
fusion, anarchy, and bloodshed in the southern states
of Europe, and probably our discomfiture in the Me-
diterranean.—l have the honour to be, Sir, your
obedient humble servant, J. P.
Campden Cottage, Kensington, Aug. 25, 1847.
P.S. Is this not an occasion for the friends of
liberty and free institutions to assemble in London and
throughout the country to give nerve and courage to
our Government ?

DESTRUCTIVE FIRES IN THE ClTY.—Yesterday
morning, between the hours of three and four, a very de-
structive fire was discovered upon the premises of Mr.
E. Jones, eating-house keeper, 66, Beech-street, Barbi-
can. The flames originated on the ground floor, and
their existence was not known until they had gained a
strong hold of the building. After some trouble the in-
mates were aroused, and happily effected a safe retreat.
Numerous engines speedily arrived, but the fire in the
meantime had extended to the workshop of Mr. Leopold
Hill, box maker, and also to the timber-yard belonging
to Mr. Ingram, at the rear of the premises. The fire-
men, however, succeeded in preventing their further ex-
tension, but they were not entirely extinguished until
the shops belonging to Mr. Jones and Mr. Hill and their
contents were consumed. The roof was also burned off
of one of Mr. Ingram's timber buildings, and the stock
seriously damaged by fire and water. Whilst the fire-
men were engaged at the above fire information was re-
ceived of another outbreak on Holborn-hill. The fire-
men found flames issuing from the premises in the tenure
of Mr. Kirkland, coffee-house keeper, situate at No. 119,
in that thoroughfare. After considerable trouble the
firemen succeeded in getting the mastery over the
flames, but, unfortunately, not until they had done much
mischief to the building. Mr. Kirkland was not insured.
ACCIDENT BY FlRE.—Yesterday several children
who had collected a quantity of straw and shavings in
a
Wilson-street, Barnsbury-park, Islington, made bon-
fire, and were dancing round it, when a boy named
Smith, whose parents reside in Wilson-street, either fell
or was pushed into the fire. The others ran away ; and
when assistance arrived, the child was found so dread-
fully burnt, that he was taken to St. Bartholomew's Hos-
pital, where he lies without hope of recovery.
ROYAL SURREY ZOOLOGICAL GARDENs.—Yester-
day, by the kind permission of the proprietor, the boys
of the Royal Hospital School, Greenwich, accompanied
by their band, and the boys and girls of the Caledonian
School, attended by their pipers, drums, and fifes, paid
their annual visit to these gardens. The juvenile
visitors were drawn up in front of the lake, the bands
played the national anthem, accompanied by a salute of
twenty. one guns, in honour of Prince Albert's birth-
day, and after witnessing the various attractions of the
gardens, concluding with the Siege of Gibraltar, the
little fellows departed, highly delighted with their enter•
tainment. Upwards of 12,000 persons visited the gardens
during the day.
FATAL ACClDENT.—Yesterday evening, between
six and seven o'clock, a boy, named John Peterson,
living with his parents, at No. 9, Water-lane East,
m i
co:n
ercial-road, Lambeth, was drowned in the Thames,
near Fox and Court's wharf. It seems that several lads
were bathing, the deceased having corks on, learning
to swim, when in turning to float, the cord slipped from
under his arms, and being out of his depth ho sank,
and before assistance could reach Lim he was drowned.
VIENNA, AUG. 19.—We regret to state that, in
consequence of a severe cold, Prince Karl Von Lich-
tenstein has suddenly lost hi 3 sight, and is becoming
worse. Dr. Jager, who is attending the illustrious
patient, has given it as his opinion that the Prince will
not recover his sight for some years, as he is suffering
from cataract. The greatest possible interest is evinced
by all in the afflicting illness of the Prince.