The Sun.
London, England, 1847-02-24 00:00:00

LONDON AND BLACKWALL
RAILWAY.
The usual half-yearly general meeting of the proprietors
of this company was held yesterday, at the London Tavern ;
J. N. Daniell, E2q., in the chair.
The SECRETARY read the report, which stated that the total
receipts amounted to 31,801/. 6s. 91., being an increase of
4,5481. 4ss3d. as compared with the corresponding period of the
Year 1845, and the sum available for the half-yearly dividend
yvas 9,6381. 17s. 2d., which would give 4s. per share, clear of
income-tax. The amount of passengers in 1845 was
1,653,555, which produced a sum of 26,362/. 11s. 2d., and
the number in 1846 was 1,782,841, and the receipts 28,6341.
143. Id. The report then went on to state that the directors
had for some time past been engaged in an inquiry whether,
tinder all the circumstances of the traffic, it would be desirable
that the present system of motive puwer should be continued,
and that from a recent report furnished by the superintendent
of the company, which was confirmed by their engineer, they
believed_ that it would be beneficial to the interests of
the company to change the present expensive and exclusive
,}'stem of working by ropes, and to adopt. locomotive puwer.
The recommendation of the present system was that it ac-
commodated the intermediate w ithout inconveniencing the
through traffic. The directors thought that the conveni-
ence of the public might be provided for by a judi-
cious arrangement of the intermediate stations, in
order to adopt the line to the use of locomotive
engines. Bv means of locomotives an accommodation would
also be affor-des!, which could not be given under the present
System of
conveying passengers to and from the intermediate
!nations, thereby opening a new traffic, which the removal of
the Shadwell and Cannon-street stations to the locality
of the new street leading to St. Katherine's and
the London docks would extend. The report then
sent on to state that working by ropes precluded the possi-
tbeY' without great difficulty, of junction lines running into
e railways, and that to obviate that inconvenience, the
directors, at the recommendation of their engineer, obtained
Powers, to widen the line from Stepney to Fenchurch-
."et ; but, in the event of the present mode
9f traction being changed, that the outlay for widen-
ing the line would be spared, with the exception of the
coat Of improving the London terminus, to accommodate the
traffic which would follow the commußication of other lines
With the extension line then in progress. The present
Systemcost nearly one-third more than would be in-
turred by
the locomotive power. The report concluded
li7nll stating that a Bill for effecting the requisite altera-
:of gauge, and for constructing a abort line to connect
Le London and St. Katherine Docks, had been read a second
time in the House of Commons, and that after the ineeeting,
the directors, in accordance with the wish of the proprietors,
Would reduce their number from 10 to 7.
Loet-
The SECRETARY then read a lettter from Mr. Joseph
-e, Stating that the change of gauge could be easily
effected, and at a cost of but 1,500/. for each line.
„
statement of the accounts for the past half-year was
tthen submitted to the meeting, from which it appeared that
le ft aue expenditure for that period was 25,0201. 2s. Gd., which
balance of 9,924/. 2s. 10d.
h The Clt.eiittair said that it must be evident to the share-
° ders that there was a disposition on the part of certain
great
companies to avail themselves of their line.
e had
ld no doubt that the Great Western Company
if their line were offered to them. It
not 'it be for the meeting to consider whether or
Thei ere should be any change in the mode of traction.
b
r station traffic was no doubt of great advantage, and
aYbiedtbte o alteration! here proposed they would be en-
There carry passengers from one station to another.
be • wils one important feature which should not
was disregarded in deciding upon this question—that
would if
the proposed alteration were adopted, it
effect a saving of 190,0001. or 200,0001. The
several, 34vfig Was not only in the mode of traction, but in
other ways,
!o thinkmust as any person acquainted with the
to be aware. There was every reason
be
that within the space of a few months they would
in full operation. As far as the last half-year was con-
icherned, the shareholders had reason to be gratified, for it was
e only' hall-year in which there had been anything like a
`",-, fide dividend. He would therefore move that the re-
Port, together with the accounts which they had heard read,
should be received and adopted.
Dr.
,BowitlNG seconded the resolution, which, after some
discussion was agreed to unanimously.
Captain Mangles, Mr. Haigh, and Mr. Baker, were then
re-elected directors.
Thanks were voted to and acknowledged by the Chairman,
atter which the meeting separated.

THE NORFOLK RAILWAY.
The usual half-yearly general meeting of the proprietors
of the Norfolk Railway was held yesterday afternoon, at the
offices of the company in Guildhall. yard. Mr. Adam Duff,
chairman of the board of directors, in the chair.
The report stated that during the past half-year
the traffic upon the line had considerably increased.
the receipts had amounted to 45,689/. Is. 2d.,
and the expenditure to 22,190/. 4s. Bd.; after pay-
rnent of the half-year's interest on the mortgage
debt, amounting to 3,8601. 17s. 4d., there would be a balance
available for a dividend of 29,3871. Ils. id. and the di-
rectors accordingly proposed that a dividend, at the
rate of 31. 10s. per cent., should be declared on the
capital stock of the company, and 4s. I Id. on the
22,000 10/. shares, payable on the 4th day of March next.
A preliminary agreement had been come to with the Eastern
Union and Ipswich and Bury Companies for the union or
amalgamation of the two concerns upon the following terms,
namely—the Norfolk Company were to be guaranteed 714
per cent. upon the whole of their capital, but, in case any
proprietor objected to take the amalgamated stock, he was to
have the option to dispose of his interest, at the rate of 1501.
for every 1001. share.
The CIIAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report,
stated that the agreement for the amalgamation was only
come to on Saturday, and in the present state of the railway
market the directors, with the view of obviating
expensive Parliamentary contests and unwholesome
competition, had thought it best to accept the
71,4 per cent. A special meeting would be called to discuss
the details of the agreement, but still it was proposed now
that the shareholders should express their feelings upon the
matter in adopting the report.
After a short discussion the report was adoptsd with only
four dissentients.

The dividend having been declared,
Captain Charles William Tvndale, Captain Charles War-
dell, and Ebenezer Fuller Maitland, Esq. were re-elected
directors of this company; and Mr. Stephen Nicolson
Barber, jun., and Mr. Benjamin Wigg Hickling re-appointed
auditors.

lieEtialasuar said it was proposed to capitalise the loan
debts, and, with the permission of the meeting, he would
move two resolutions for the purpose :
The first was—That in pursuance of the powers vested in
this company by the several Acts of Parliament, 7 and 8
Vic., cap. 18, 8 and 9 Vic., cap. 41, and 8 and 9 Vic. cap. 154,
and also of the Act of Parliament 8 Vic., cap. 17, and subject
to the provisions of such Acts, it is hereby directed that the
22,000 10/. shares, which have been created under the powers
of the Act of Parliament 8 and 9 Vic., cap. 154, the whole
money subscribed in respect of which (amounting to
220,0000 has been called, be, and they are hereby consoli-
dated, into the general capital stock of this company, in the
proportion of 101. consolidated stock for every 101. share.
Second, That in pursuance of the powers granted to this
company for that purpose, an additional capital of 197,0001.
be now raised to be divided into shares of 201. each, and
offered to the proprietors of shares and stock in this corn
i-
Pany, in proportion to their existing interest therein—that s
to say, one 2CI. share to every 1001. stock, such new capital
to be applied in payment of the present mortgage debt of the
company. A dep,sit of 51. to be paid upon each share, and
the remainder to be called for by the directors, as occasion
shall reqmire for effecting the object aforesaid.
A PinwaleTon inquired when the loans became due?
The CIiALRMAN replied, in the present year, 1848, 1849,
1850, and 1851.
The resolutions were unanimously adopted.
A vote of confidence in the directors was then passed, and
the business of the half-yearly meeting closed.

SPECIAL MEETING.
The proprietors then resolved themselves into a special
meeting, when the following Bills were unanimously ap-
proved of
A Bill to enable the Norfolk Railway Company to extend
their Railway
to the town of Great Yarmouth, and for other
Purposes.

A Bill to empower the Norfolk Railway Company to Take
a Railway from the Norfolk Railway, in the county of the
city of Norwich, to Avisham, in the county of Norfolk, with
a branch therefrom to North Walsham.
A Bill to empower the ; orfolk Railway Company to make
a Railway from Wymondham to Vise.
A Bill to empower the Norfolk Railway Company to make
a Railway from the Norfolk Railway near Thetford, to join
the Ipswich or Bury St. Edmunds Railway, near Bury St.
Edmunds.
A Bill to empower the Norfolk Railway Company to make
a Railway from the Norfolk Railway at Thetford to the
Lowestoft Railway near Reedham, with a Branch to Hales-
worth.
t Bill to authorise an Alteration in the line of the Lowes-
toft Railway and Harbour Company.
The meeting terminated with the customary vote of thanks
to the Chairman.

SHREWSBURY AND HEREFORD

AILW AY.
The ordinary half-yearly meeting of the proprietors of this
company was held at the British Hotel, Cockspur street,
yesterday. W. Ormsby Gore, Esq., M. P., presided.
The advertisement calling the meeting having been read
by the Secretaty, the report, of which the following is a brief
abstract, was read:—
The directors are now in negotiation with the Shrewsbur♦
and Chester, Shrewsbury and Birmingham, and Shropshire
Union Railway Companies, with a view of making permanent
arrangements for the erection of a joint station at Shrews-
bury.
The directors have entered into an arrangement with the
proprietors of the Leominster Canal Navigation, for the pur-
chase of that canal, a part of which will be made available
in the construction of the I:ne, and the remainder held with
a view to future objects.
The accounts showed a total receipt of 35,9111. Is. 7d.;
expenditure, 13,417/. 16s. 4d. ; leaving a balance of
22,493/. ss. 3d.
The liabilities of the company amounted to about 15,0001.,
leaving a credit balance of 7,400/. 18s. 4d.
In answer to questions. the CHAIRMAN said that the Leo-
minster Canal was 16 miles in length, occupying a space of
150 acres of land, and that the purchase money was 12,0001.
It was the general opinion of the meeting that the purchase
was an advantageous one. The calls had been well paid up,
and a 21. call would be made in the course of a short time.
The report was then adopted unanimously.
In seconding the second resolution, that the negotiations
for the purchase of the Leominster Canal should be confirmed,
atr• Scorr, 51. P., for Walsall, suggested that the amalga-
mation of all the lines which had their common terminus at
Shrewsbury would be advantageous to the particular in-
terest of this company and to the public at large, the more
especially as the Chester and Shrewsbury, and the Hereford
and Shrewsbury were continuous Bies.
Thanks to the Chairman were then voted, and the meet-
ing separated.
It was stated in the course of the meeting that the offices
of the company would be removed from London to Chester.

—V. DUNN. ---
The trial of this case,
THE QUEEN
which is an indictment brought at the instance of
.Aulirss
Burdett Coutts against the defendant for alleged per 4 ).,
and which has been several times allud, d to, is
specially for trial in the Court of Queen's Bench, Guildhal
l,
on Thursday next.
MUNIFICENCE OF THE MIELOCitACT.—" appointedn,
Prowl of
of my heritage indeed; I sin mofe—l love it, I reverence
it
with the fondest affection, and ble a the accident that made
rue a Manchester man. In less than three years the nobit-
spirited inhabitants of Manchester—a mere provincial town.
—have given away, out of their own earnings, upwards or
three hundred thousand pounds! Oh I how hard-hearted,
selfish, and i:ra,ping are the co!tonocracy. Wnat ducal
country can vie IA ith such a town ? Wiwi ev.,r I may dwell,
I *hall alwavi lo ,k hack wi:11 the fuideat renietnorat.ce to
to y native town, raised, as. it has been, by the gigantic
efforts of the sons of toil to the honourable position of the
first commercial town ill Europa"—From John Ealiky' I mew