The Sun.
London, England, 1841-02-26 00:00:00

~_ ,

EVENING EDITI ON.

lAst meeting, that the line should he opened on the first
Junc.

Mr. ALSTON thought that everything hold bo
done in as vigorous a manner as possible, but
still with judgment. He •agreed with the Hon. Pro-
prietor who had spoken a short time since, that not only
the accidents on railways, but those on other modes
of conveyance, should come before the public. That the
line of the Great Western was a safe one was clear front
the statements made by the Chairman. He thought that
speech ought to be printed and circulated with the
Re-
port.° He had great pleasure in noticing the reduction of
:the charges on the working of the roads, and he hoped
ti sere would be a material reduction in that item of expen-
diture in the next half year. He saw no necessity for 24
I Directors of that Company.— (Cheers.) One of the propo-
s.ltions that they were called upon to sanction that day was the
re. •eleetion ofsix gentlemen as Directors. He had nb doubt of
the .efficiency of those gentlemen, but when be looked to the
list of railroads throughout the kingdom, and when hesaw
That there were only five that had twenty-four Directors,
he ,must confess that he had come to the conclusion that
so fa.'ge a number was not necessary. He trwted thin': the
Direeots would, before the next meeting, talc 4,, into tl air
conside.ration a proposition for reducing their number from
24 to 15,.

Mr. ileYworrrn agreed that it was not necessary for any
Company to have: so large a number of Directors. fie did
not know whether by their Act of Parliament the Direc.
tors were enabled to diminish their numbers, and if they
could not they must wait till another application wa3 made
io Parliament.

A PROPRIETOR ObSOINCd that the Birmingham and
Gloucester had reduced the number of their Directors to
five.—.( Cheers. )
Mr. ENGLAND agreed with Mr. Crosewaite as to the in_
complete state of the works.
Mr. ROGERS said that it was understood that the Ciren-
ceeter and Swindon line would be completed against next
April. He wished to know would that be the case?
Would the line be fit to be opened in April ?
The Crfeiessee replied that they had received formal
notice from the Company, stating that that road would be
opened in April.
Mr. ROGERS thought it was impossible, from informa-
tion that had come to him on the subject, that the line
could be opened in April.
Mr. BRUNEL said the contractors on those lines had un-
dertaken to kave them opened in March instead of April,
and he saw no ,reason, in the present state of the works,
why that could iro'n be effected. With respect to the em-
bankment at the part of the line alluded to, though the
land did not come into their possession till six months
after the time when they were to have got it, and the
works were in consequence began in the midst of the
heavy rains ' - yet the embankment was now in such
a state of forwardness, that in his opinion there
was nothing whatever to prevent the line being com-
pleted. With respect to the Cheltenham line he
could not fix the day on which it would be opened.
If it rested with him to fix the day he would have it
opened in March, but at all events be believed it would
certainly be opened in April.
Mr. BERNARD wished to ask a very important question,
which he believed ought not to be discussed at that meet-
ing, but on some other occasion the point ought to be
ascertained by the proprietors of the railroad. A part of
the Report which had been read to the meeting alluded to
the raising of further sums, Now he wished to know
whether the line would be completed for the sum which
they were now authorised to raise, namely, .5,71-Io,OOOL
Did the Directors intend to raise a greater sum than that
for that purpose ? Did they expect to include then total
amount of expense of engines, carriages, &c. in that sum.
In a word. the point he wanted to ascertain was whether
5,750,000/. was the independent cost of the road.
The CH/ukelele would pledge himself that the ravel
would be finished for the sum already given for thee;
purpose, but no human being could pledge himself as tot
what contingencies might arise, or their consequences,.
The Directors had gone carefully through the estimates
up to last August, but since that time no further estimates
had been laid before them. However, he could assure
the gentleman who put the question, that the Directors
would endeavour to keep down the expense as much as
they possibly could.
Mr. RIDGEwAY was desirous of calling the attention of
the meeting to the great inconvenience arising from the
Report not having been put into the hands of the Proprie-
tors a considerable time before the meeting took place;
they would then come prepared to decide wiiether the
statements contained in that Report we e right or
not, which it was impossible to do in the present
instance, when they were called on, at a moment's
notice, to make such a decision. Though the
Proprietors had every confidence in the Directors,
yet he thought it but fitting that the inconvenience to
which he alluded should in future be removed. Ho
wished to know what was the Superintendent's salary ?
The CHAIRMAN said it was 1,2001. a year, and that Lunt
included the London Secretary's salary, both situations
being filled by the same person. The duties attached
were so great that that sum must be considered but as a
very moderate salary.
Mr. RIDGEWAY—Has be asresidenee in addition to that
salary ?
The CHAIRMAN—No. The Superintendent occupies
one of the houses of the Company, but he pays rent for it.
In reply to a question from a Proprietor, .who wished tie
know whether it was by the goods-trains or the passen-
gers-trains that parcels were to be transmitted,
and who stated that some goods of his were re-
fused so be transmitted by the goods train, because
they were too small, the Chairman eaid that there must
Le some inaccuracy in that statement. They Dever refused
to carry gocels by the goods-train, because, they were too
small ; but it was possible they might refuse them because
they were too large.
The Gentleman who put the question said there was no
inaccuracy in his statement, and in support of his asser-
tion reed a lever from the Superintendent's clerk, to the
effect, that tLe parcels in question were not sufficiently
1 •rke or weighty to allow of their going in the goods-de-
partment, arid they were therefore refused ; but subse-
quently, sent by the passengers'-train.
The SECRETARY said he never learned what were the
exact circumstances of the case which was now under dis-
cussion ; he was, therefore, unprepared to state
anything relative to it in particular, but the
rule of the Company attached a certain rate to
parcels respecting the value of which there was
very considerable responsibility incurred. The rate
therefore for the carriage of parcels was very different
from that for the carriage of goods—goods being under-
stood as merchandise, loaded in aggregate quantities.
Under the head ref merchandise, goods, when under one
hundred weight, were excluded. When under that weight,
they were charged as parcels. Parcels were carried by
the goods trains. With respect to carrying goods by the
passengers trains, the Company refused to do so, unless
some eiecurestances rendered it necessary.
Some conversation having taken, place with respect to
the necessity of lessening the number cf the Directors,
The CHAIRMAN said the Act of Parliament under which
the Company was incorporated fixed the number of Di-
rectors, and it was therefore perfectly incompetent for
them to make any diminution is their numbers; however,
it they should deem it necessary to make any change in their
numbers, they would endeavour to effect that object.
The question that the Report be received and published
was then put and carried.
Mr. GC/RHOS next proposed a resolution, to the effect
that the dividend of 11. 10s. per cent. on half shares, de-
clared up to the 31st of Dec., payable to the present Pro-
prietors, be paid on the sth March passed.
The thanks of the Company were then voted to the
Directors for their zealous and efficient services in aid of
the undertaking.
Tiro CHAIRMAN, on the part of himself and brother
Directors, acknowledged the compliment.
Some desultory conversation here took place relative to
Dartmouth being selected in preference to Falmouth or
Bristol as the port from which the packets were to sail,
when the Chairman observed, that the selection of Dart-
mouth was communicated to the Directors by the Secre-
tary of the Treasury, and it was adopted in accordance
with the recommendation of the Commissioners who were
appointed to report on the subject. With respect to any
departure being made from that selection, he (the Chair-
man) apprehended that the Government would not make
any change.
After some other business was disposed of, the marked
thanks of the meeting were given to the Chairman, and
the assembly separated.

ENGINEER'S REPORT.
18, Duke-street, Feb. 23, 1841.
Gentlemen,—l am happy to be able to report that satisfaeticiirirye
progress has been made towards the completion of the entire
as will in-
since the last general meeting of the suchProprietnorts,e
up h state of ineom.
sure this being my last half-yearly
plete works. Since that period
alit into operatiOn, the
way, of about 28% miles, has been brow„
as.ag
i been extended
line from London to Farringdon-road q n
Raerreardtditieonal portion of rail-
distance of 8(4 miles ; and
to the Wootton Basset-road,
ea. totalidatise
tiaynce of 12 miles, having
after the last meeting. that between Bath and Bristola,
been opened to the public itain d
unfinished, extends about 26
The interval still remaining
gust last, it was stated, that
miles. At the latter end of.Attu
the completion of these works
we might reasonably e?rmett_ a
h t time ; but it was strongly
within a twelvemonth f o
urged by several Proprietors at the public meeting that means
at some increased expense, to render
should be adopted,
,andev to hasten still further the eriod of the
this more certain° ntire line. Such means have been adopted.
'I fthe
o•
t side-cutting for the formation ofembankments,
'I he nuantity.o
' rrying materials from cutting into spoil, have at va-
and the ea
r 'ous points been increased, and other modifications of the ori-
,..liiiai
mode of constructing the works have been introduced;
but as this portion comprehends several sif the heaviest works
on the line, and the opening must of course depend upon the
means applied being successful in every case, I cannot fix the
precise period of the final opening, but there is no doubt that it
will have. been much expedited, and particularly, that the time
gained will comprehend'some of the most profitable part of the
,year, and that if the contractors. complete the several works
which they have . undertaken (and of course steps must be
adopted to 'enforce the terms of their contracts), then I think
we may fairly hope to open the line in June.
Exertions have been made during the whole of thdpast season
to push forward the works, and at the same time to avoid, as far
as possible, the necessity of executing any embankments during
the wet weather, and I am happy to state, that, although we
have again been unfortunately impeded by very severe weather,
unusually long and severe frosts, and subsequent floods, yet,
upon the whole, the efforts we have made have been success-
ful. • Much has been done, and wherever the priocipleof avoid-
ing the formation of earthwork during wet weather has been
strictly adhered to, all that has been completed has been well
and permanently done.
In the immediate neighbourhood of Bath much still remain
to be executed on one contract. The diversion of the Kennet
and Avon Canal, in the progress of which very serious diffi-
culties had occurred, caused principally by continued wet weather
at a critical period of the works, requires most attention ; the
retaining wall, however, is nearly completed, and when the
course of the Canal is diverted, which Fill shortly be done, the
construction of the railway itself at this point is a simple and
easy operation.
With the exception of this one point, the works are in a
sufficiently forward state between Bath and Bathford. At
Bathford the bridge across ,the Avon is much in arrear, but
the necessary means have been and shall be adopted for se-
' curing its early completion.
From this point to the Box Tunnel, the works are in a for-
ward state ; the long embankment requires but a small addi-
tional quantity for its completion, and we are commencing to
farm the surface preparatory to ballasting. ,