The Sun.
London, England, 1840-08-29 00:00:00

SOUTHAMPTON DOCKS.

Yesterday the eighth half-yearly meeting of the Pro=
priCtors of the above undertaking, was held in their
office in 13iS110pSgate-street.
JOSEPH LIGGINS, Esq. took the chair at one tecloell.
He placed himself in the hands of the Proprietary. If
they desired it, the Secretary would read over the
minutes of the proceedings of the last court. They
were rather long, and had been sent to each Proprietor,
but if they desired it they should have them read.
Mr. RicxAims desired to have that part of the pro-
ceedings of the last meeting which referred to the
Royal Mail Steam-Packet Company read.
That having been done by the Secretary,
The CHAIRMAN said, before proceeding to present
the Report agreed to be laid before the meeting by the
Directors, he was anxious to address a few preliminary
observations to the Proprietors. At the last meeting
he had told the Proprietors that the Directors then
came before them under the influence of mingled feel-
ings of pain and pleasure. He was most happy to say
that, upon that occasion, they met the Proprietors
under feelings of the most unalloyed satisfaction.—

Itherefore learnt with regret, that the Committee to
whom it has been referred by her Majesty's Govern-
ment to decide on the port in the English Channel the
best calculated fbr the Post-office service, has named
Dartmouth for that pilipase.
" This selection, however, has reference only to the
port for taking up and dropping the inail-bags ; it still
leaves the Mail Packet Company perfectly free to act
on their original preference for Southampton 64 their
Home Station. The words of the Admiralty instrtio.
tions to the Committee of Inquiry are—' The Report
of the Committee will decide where the mails shall be
placed on board, the Company having the power to start
their vessels from any port they please, provided they
can be at the port appointed, at the hour agreed on.
The same official instructions state that The Chair-
man of the Royal Mail Steam-Packet Company has
submitted to my Lords Commissioners of the Admi-
ralty, that Southampton be fixed on for the purpose.
" It remains then to be seen whether the Royal Mail
Steam-Packet Company will do more than merely call
at Dartmouth in passing. The Directors have reason
to expect that they will not ; and that they will adhere
to their choice of Southampton, as already officially an-
nounced by them to her Majesty's Government.
" They are fortified in this expectation by the fact—
and they report it to the Proprietors with much plea-
sure—that since the last half-yearly meeting, another
great Company, the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Na-
vigation Company, having contracts with her Majesty's
Government which embrace the conveyance of the

(Cheers.) There were several reasons which bad
created that pleasing state of mind. In the first
place he stood in a proud position—in such a
one as few Chairmen of such undertakings occu-
pied as yet. He had the pleasure of informing
the Proprietors that, as a Corporation, they were out
of debt--(Cheers)—and in possessicn of the fee simple
of a large soil of the very best description of any to be
found in the country. That was one cause of unmixed
happiness to the Directors. The Corporation were now
in full possession of 208 acres of land, and in his con-
science he believed that it would be found to be the
most valuable of any in the United Kingdom. Another
source of congratulation was, that their works had been
carried on in a manner to give the utmost satisfaction—
there had not been a single incident since they had
commenced that was calculated to cause fear or appre-
hension. There had been no giving way ; no imper-
fections had been found, although they had undergone
a most severe trial in the almost unexampled gales of
January last. He was aware that he was pursuing an
unusual course, but he was perfectly aware that many
rumours injurious to the Company had been in cirula-
tion, and be hoped, by giving every explanation in his
power, to preclude the necessity for some remarks
which he had good reason to believe were
intended to be made.—(Hear, hear.) It must
be a matter of deep importance to the
Proprietors to know whether. the Directors had seen
any reason to fear that the hopes they had formerly
held out would not be realized—whether those who had
sunk their capital in the speculation would be reim-
bursed. He was most happy to state, fearlessly and
conscientiously, that the hopes of the Directors had not
sunk even in the slightest degree.—(Cheers.) They
still felt the utmost confidence that it would turn out
that they had not deceived themselves or the Proprie-
tary.—(Hear, hear.) He could not plead ignorance of
the reason which caused Mr. Richards to have the
part of their last meeting's proceedings, relating to
the Royal Steam-Packet Company, read—he was
not ignorant that a paragraph had appeared in
many newspapers, stating that the Government
Commissioners had reported in favour of Dartmouth—
he was perfectly aware of the fact, but he had no doubt
that he would very shortly justify everything which the
Directors had said upon the subject at the last meet-
ing. True it was that the Commissioners had reported
in favour of Dartmouth, but he rejoiced to state that
that alluded only to the calling at that port for the
mail-bags.—(Cheers)—that did not by any means
imply that the Company's noble packets were to re-
main there. If Mr. Richards would put himself in
a position to attain information, if he would allow him-
self to seek it in a proper manner, he (the Chairman)
would have been most happy to have shown him a copy
of the Charter of the Company, in which he would have
found a distinct provision that the Company were to
have the power of sailing their packets from any port
they pleased. Only yesterday he had been favoured
with a conference with the Directors of the Royal Mail
Steam-Packet Company, and they expressed a hope
that the fact of that conference having been held, would
show that they bad a strong desire to make Southamp-
ton their port.—(Cheers.) They said that Reports
had been laid before them stating that they would not
have the docks ready for their use in proper time, and
they were anxious to be put in possession of authentic
information upon that point, so that the Government
might not have it to tell them of the superiority of Dart-
mouth, because of the total want of accommodation at
Southampton. They therefore asked whether any objec-
tion would be offered to an engineer of their selec-
tion going over the works and the calculations
of Mr. Giles, in order to see whether they could
be practically carried out in the proposed time. He at
once told them that there would be no objection what-
ever, for although they had a full reliance upon their
own engineer, still, as the works were of such magni-
tude, the Directors bad consulted Mr. William Cubitt
upon the plans and specifications—he was an eminent
engineer, and one often employed by the Government
—he fully concurred with Mr. Giles, and therefore the
Directors could not hesitate in allowing an inspection of
their works by any engineer in the country. They then
put the question, supposing that the Royal Mail Steam-
Packet Company were not in existence, how soon would

Indian Mails between England and Alexandria, as also
the Mails and Despatches between Malta and the
lonian Islands, and between England and the Peninsula,
with a fleet of eight steam-ships actually equipped, and
a large additional number about to be contracted for,
have already advertised Southampton as their port of
departure. Their first vessel under the Alexandrian
contract, the Oriental, of nearly 1,700 tons burthen, is
now at Southampton, and will start from thence on
Tuesday next for her destination.
" The Directors congratulate the Proprietors on this
actual selection of Southampton by the one Company,
and they desire its adoption by the other, chiefly as
affording the opportunity for manifesting at once, and
in a manner the most palpable and conclusive, the
great resources and means of accommodation which
the port will afford with even one dock open. In other
respects, the quays and warehouses of the Company
will undoubtedly be more profitably employed in land-
ing, housing, and shipping heavy cargoes in ordinary
merchant ships.
" At the same time, such is the extent of accommoda-
tion the dock-laced will afford, that the Directors are
willing to offer every inducement to the Royal Mail
Steam Packet Company to adhere to Southampton as
their port of outfit ; and to attract to it other great
Companies for the same purpose.
" Were the present a fitting occasion to enlarge upon
the remarkable facilities which the Company's Docks
will be calculated to afford to commerce, it would be
easy to show that no port in this great commercial
country possesses greater facilities and means of accom-
modation for a general trade, while as regards acces-
sibility, in every state of the wind, perfect security in
the most tempestuous weather, and freedom from ice
during the severest frosts, it stands unequalled. It fol-
lows that the Southampton Docks must command an
immediate and abundant amount of business ; and must
become an equally safe and profitable investment to its
Proprietors."
The following is the Engineer's Report :
" Beaufort-buildings, London, 24th August, 1840.

" To the Directors of the Southampton Docks.
" Gentlemen,—Since I made my last half-yearly Re-
port to you, the operations at the Docks have still been
directed to the inclosure of the ground for the Close
Dock, and the construction of the Tidal Dock.

" THE CLOSE DOCK.
" The ground here is now securely embanked from
;he sea, and the advantages thereby obtained are two-

fold :
" The first is that of placing the execution of this
Dock and its Lock, as well as the Western Quay wall
of the Tidal Dock, beyond the control or the interfe-
rence of the tideway.
" The second is the acquisition of impervious and
adhesive soils, which are found here, for embanking and
forming wharf gronnii on the northern and southern
sides of the Close DlFtltk, as spaces necessary in the first

instance for the Contractors' use in carrying on their
various works for both Docks, and finally as permanent
quays for warehouses, stowage, and transit ; and at the
same time it produces soils fit for embanking the sides
of the Tidal Dock, to inclose its grountl from the sea,
in order that the works of this dock may, as much as
possible, be also carried on without obstruction from
the tide.
" The excavation of the ground within the Close
Dock is accordingly in full progress for the above pur-
poses. The wharf on the northern side of this dock
will be 400 feet wide, and that on the southern side
300 feet, or more if requisite.
" A twenty-horse engine is erected on the southern
side of the Close Dock for working the necessary
pumps for draining the ground within this Dock during
its excavation, and the final construction of the Lock
and Quay Walls belonginc, to it, and the Western
Quay Wall of the Tidal Dock.'
" This pumping power will, if found necessary, be
likewise applied to the draining of the Tidal Dock
works during their completion ; and, at intervals, the
engine may be employed in unloading soil excavated

from the Tidal Dock. -
" Lime-kilns are built near this engine, a landing-
stage and crane at the western side of the Close Dock,
and smiths' and carpenters' shops on the north-west.
Large stores of timber are provided for the foundations
of quay walls, coffer-dams, and other uses ; and stone
for masonry ; blue lias limestone and culm ; gravel for
concrete ; waggons, rails, barges, pile-engines, and
other implements are prepared for carrying on the
works.

you have yoiir first dock completed ? - His answer was
the Ist of December, 1841, but that if there were shown
s
any reason for its being done earlier it would be com-
pleted. Under those circumstances not many days
would probably elapse without some further communi-
cations upon the subject. It was well known to them
all that at the period of last meeting they were involved
in law proceedings with many of their shareholders. It
was then known that a verdict had been given in favour
of the Company, but some points of law were still un-
settled. He was most happy to inform them that after
a most patient consideration of the whole case the Judges
unanimously decided in favour of the Company, and by
their judgment fully justified the conduct of the Direc-
tors upon the occasion. He would not trespass further
on their time, but would at once move that the Secre-
tary do read the Report.
The Secretary then read the following
REPORT.
" The Directors present to the Proprietors their
Eighth Half-yearly Report, with increased confidence
in the prospects of the undertaking, corroborated by in-
creasing evidence of its commercial and national import-
ance.
" The period which has elapsed since they had last
the pleasure of meeting the Proprietors has been em-
ployed in such a prosecution of the works as must soon
put these views to the test of proof. In the mean time
the accompanying Report of the Company's Engineer
will show the progress actually made, and supersede
any details which the Directors could offer on the
subject.
" Adverting to that passage of the Directors' last
Report in which they stated that they had with regret
been compelled to take legal proceediugs to procure
payment of certain of the calls ; that those proceedings
had for a time been resisted on technical objections ;
but that the sole effect of the delay would be to add
to the heavy amount of costs which the defendants had
already brought upon themselves, the Directors have
now to report that the anticipations they then expressed
have been fully realised. The Company's Act of Par-
liament underwent a rigorous and unsparing scrutiny
before the full Court of Common Pleas, and the result
was a complete vindication of the powers of the Act,
and an absolute and final verdict for the Company upon
every one of the points raised.
"Since this decision, which produced prompt payment
of the calls sued for, with the Company's costs in addi-
tion, other Proprietors have come forward and discharged
their arrears ; and the Directors are happy to add that
the calls generally have, within the last few months,
been paid with unprecedented alacrity.
" One more call will be all that will be required to
be paid during the present year.
" The share-list is still improving ; and to relieve it
of certain names of Pioprietors who have either become
bankrupt or have died insolvent, shares to the number
of 120 will be submitted to the present meeting for for-
feiture. The deposit of 2/. 10s. which has been paid
on the whole of these shares will thereupon become for-
feit to the Company.
" With respect to forfeiture, the Directors have un-
deviatingly acted on the resolution of the last half-yearly
meeting, in proposing no share whatever for forfeiture
unless in cases of actual insolvency.
" The Proprietors will remember, that at the last
half-yearly meeting the Directors bore testimony to the
creditable conduct of the large body of labourers on
the Company's works, who are concentrated on the town
of Southampton, and that that meeting voted a sum
of money towards raising the means of providing
them with spiritual care and instruction. It gives the
Directors pleasure to say that the liberality of the Pro-
prietors on this occasion, which has been most warmly
and thankfully acknowledged by those who undertook
its application, has produced very satisfactory results.
The workmen, now nearly 600 in number, conduct
, themselves with a degree of order and propriety which
is highly commendable.
" The Directors have now to advert to the only cir-
cumstance connected with the interests of the Com-
pany upon which they cannot speak with satisfaction.
They allude to the selection of the port for embarking
and landing the .West India Mails.
" The Directors have in former Reports declared
their expectation, that Southampton would be the
er port
selected for this important service ; and they ref to
the fact, that the Directors of the Royal Mail Steam-
Packet Company themselves have given Southampton
their decided preference, to justify the expectation
which they so entertained' and expressed. They have

" TIDAL DOCK.

" The foundations of the quay walls on each side of
the entrance, containing together 450 feet in length,
are in progress of construction by means of piling and
coffer-dams. Piles are also driven for the foundations
of the quay walls, on the south-eastern and southern
sides of this dock a further length of nearly 1,000 feet.
" The mud from the site of this dock has been re-
moved by barges and barrowing to a great extent, and
a considerable portion of gravel excavated on the nor-
thern side, and there formed into embankment. This
embankment, as well as those on the eastern and
southern sides of this dock are now in further progress
of formation by means of soil from the Close Dock, for
the purpose of inclosing its site entirely from the sea
during the completion of the dock ; a plan which 1
could not heretofore prosecute for want of such soil.
When these embankments are finished, which I
expect will be about the end of this year, I shall possess
the means of resorting to manual excavation in the Tidal
Dock, and building the quay walls without coffer-dams.
" A powerful new dredging engine and boat are also
made for removing the soil from the Tidal Dock, and
which will be applied to this work, while the above em-
bankments round the Docks are being made, so that
two-fold means of carrying on the works of the Tidal
Dock are thus supplied, vii.—The first by means of the
dredging engine accompanied by coffer-damming for the
foundations of the quay walls ;—the second by simulta-
neously inclosing the site of the Dock from the sea, which
when done will afford the means, if then found expe-
dient, of completing this Dock by manual excavation
and its quay walls without coffer-dams.
" The dredger will also be employed in deepening the
channel of the Itchen when released from the Tidal
Dock work.
" The quantity of soil to be removed in forming a
channel from the Itchen's mouth to the Tidal Dock, in
the shape of an inverted arc, the bed of which is to be
18 feet under low-water mark of spring tides, is about
200,000 cubic yards. The soil consists of mud, clay,
and peat, the most easy of all soils to be dredged. The
expense of this work will be about 10,0001., and the
whole of it can be done by the steam dredger in one
summer, assuming the weather to be ordinarily moderate.
" The number of men at present at work is between
five and six hundred.
" The steam dredger is equal to the raising of 1,000
cubic yards of soil in twelve hours.
" I remain, Gentlemen,
"Your very obedient, fatthful servant,
" FRANCIS GILES."

ABST
FromRACT OF RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS,
the Commencement of the undertaking to 30th
June, 1840.
RECEIPTS.
Deposit on 6,608 Shares,at 21.105. per Share.£l6,s2o 0 0
Ist Call on 6,100 ditto, at 21.105. 15,250 0 0
2d ditto 5,405 ditto, at 3/. ditto 16,215 0 0
3d ditto 5,009 ditto, at Si. ditto 25,045 0 0
4th ditto 12 ditto, at 51. ditto GO 0 0
Interest on Calls in arrear ........... 374 18 1
Interest and Profit on Exchequer Bills 358 159
5
Interest from Country Bankers
Produce of Sale of Fixtures and Fittings
of the " Royal Gloucester Baths," at
Southampton
Fees ......... ..................... .

226 11 0
26 18 0

£74,082 11 11

EVENING EDITIO''

Office expenses, salaries of secretary, and
clerks, postage, advertising, agency, and
miscellaneous disbursements
Law charges
Travelling expenses
Stationery and printing 482 2 i
Half-yearly interest on capital

Invested in Exchequer Bills
4,oool.—cost £4,041 0 0
Balances and securities in
band ...

£61,720 0 7

12,362 11 4

£74,082 31 11

The CHAIRMAN then moved that the Report be re-
ceived, adopted, printed, and circulated among the'
shareholders.
Mr. RICHARDS then rose and proceeded to address
the meeting amidst great confusicn.
The CHAIRMAN said he should put it to the meeting
whether, after the course Mr. Richards had constantly
pursued with respect to the affairs of the Company,
they thought it right that he should have a hearing.
Hereupon a long and angry discussion ensued, which
terminated in a refusal to hear Mr. Richards, as that
gentleman had not paid up all the calls due upon his
shares.
Upon the question being put that the Report be read
and adopted.
Mr. MADDEN wished to know upon what authority,
or at what general meeting of the Proprietors the re-
muneration of 1,0001., a year to the Directors was

voted.
The SECRETARY, by the direction of the Chairman,
referred to the proceedings of the Company, and read a
resolution come to on the 1 Ith of August, 1836, by
which it was resolved that the annual sum of 1,000/.
should be applied in compensation of the services of the
Directors, to commence from the date of the Act of
Incorporation.
The CHAIRMAN said that that vote had only been
acted upon•by the Directors for a short time. For
three years they had performed their duties without any
remuneration at all, in addition to which they had not
received one farthing for personal expenses, although
several of them had been obliged to sacrifice a great
outlay. The Directors had, however, felt, that as they
had resigned their claims voluntarily, in the exercise of
the same discretion they had the power to resume the
operation of the vote since the last half-yearly meeting,
and therefore it was that some items appeared in the
accounts which had not been there for the last three

years.
Mr. MADDEN must object to those items in the Re-
port, and would move that they should be referred to
another general meeting. He could not conceive that
a vote come to four years ago was binding upon the
Proprietors for ever. There was also an item in the
Report for law charges of 1,000/. and upwards, and
also another of between 5,000/. and 6,000/., which w ,s
also stated to be for law expenses ; he wished to know
the particulars of those items.
The CHAIRMAN said, with reference to the item of
5,0001., it was distinctly set forth in the Report in
what manner that had occurred—it was in the forma-
tion of the Company, and the passing of the Bill in
Parliament ; and he was sure that every gentleman
who had been a Proprietor of Joint Stock Compa❑ies
must be aware that those expenses were unavoidable.
If the Honourable Proprietor considered that the vote
of one meeting was to be repealed by that of ano!her
called ten years afterwards, upon no better grounds
than those adduced by the Honourable Proprietor, he
would venture to ask him what he thought would be
the fate of any Company? Were their Acts of Par-
liament to be torn to tatters, and the expenses incurred
in obtaining them to be thrown away ? With respect
to the 1,0001., it was incurred in part in proceedings
against the Honourable Proprietor himself, who had
thought fit to refuse to pay his calls, when he knew be
was legally liable.
Mr. MADDEN said, when he refused to pay his sails
he was not aware that he was legally liable.
The CHAIRMAN observed, that so determined was the
Honourable Proprietor not to pay his calls, that he had
stated that he had r.o settled residence in the country,
and he would leave it rather than pay them.
Mr. MADDEN felt bound to say a few words in
explanation. He was originally entrapped into
becoming a Shareholder of the Company, and
be had been told that he was not legally
liable, hut when he founi that it had been decided that
he was, he at once called upon the Directors to pay his
calls ; but because he did not immediately give a cheque
for the amount he was waited upon while in bed by a
Sheriff's officer. He then offered to pay the money,
but he would not take it, and the result was, that lie
was kept in custody of the officer for 10 or 12 hours.
The CHAIRMAN could not but congratulate the Hon.
Proprietor upon his being entrapped into becoming a
shareholder of that Company, for he believed that he
would find to his great gratification that he had become
a proprietor of property which would redound very much
to his advantage. With reference to the course taken
to obtain payment from the Hon. Proprietor, he was
sure the majority of the Proprietors would approve of it,
after the declaration of the Hon. Proprietor, that he
would leave the country sooner than pay his calls. He
hoped that this would be a lesson to Proprietors in fu-
ture who were liable to pay their calls.
Mr. MADDEN said it was his intention to move the
omission of those parts of the Report to which he had

referred.
The CHAIRMAN felt it right to say on behalf of those
with whom he was associated, and himself, that they
staked their credit upon the Report, as they had sub-
mitted it for the approval of the Proprietors, and they
would not submit to any alteration in it. They culled for
a distinct approval of the Report as it existed, and they
knew they could justify every item in the account ; they
should therefore take a distinct and decided vote on the
question as it stood, and by that they would stand or fall
in the estimation of the Proprietors.
Mr. MADDEN thought be was entitled to some apo-
logy for the outrageous proceedings that had been taken
against him. He had now paid the last call which bad
been made upon him.
Mr. RIGMAID, a Director, said that he was present
when Mr. Madden declared that he would never pay
another call, at which time he stated thathe had no fixed
residence in the country, and snapped his fingers at him.
The statement of Mr. Rigmaid was affirmed by the
Secretary, who stated that Mr. Madden said he was not
liable, and that when told he was, he said he was happy
to say that he was a single man, that he was not tied to
the country, and that if the payment of the calls was en-
forced he would leave it.
Mr. MADDEN said that the Secretary was mistaken.
The SECRETARY—I put the matter down on paper,
before the Hon. Proprietor had gone a hundred yards.
I communicated it to the Directors, and they informed
their solicitor of it ; and upon his stating that it was
necessary, 1 made an affidavit of it, and 1 challenge any
man breathing to say that that statement is false.
Mr. HEATHFIELD observed that part of the 5,000/.,
which had been adverted to by the Hon. Proprietor,
was for engineering and other works. He thought it
highly creditable to the Directors, that they bail ol)-
tained the Act at so small a cost. As to the 1,000 /.,
that was a summary of charges for law expenses durie6
several years. As to the charge for the Directors,
it was trifling in the extreme. He knew how' arduous
their duties had been, and he felt sure that the remu-
neration that had been awarded them, hardly paid
their cab hire.
Mr. RICHARDS then attempted to address the meet-
ing, but could not obtain a hearing.
After some very angry conversation, the question that
the Report be received, printed, and circulated, was
put to the vote, and carried with only one dissentient
voice, which was that of Mr. Madden.
The CHAIRMAN said the next question be bad to
submit was the confirmation of a resolution of the
Court of Directors, that the 120 shares be absolutely
forfeited, and that the Directors do dispose of the same
to the best advantage. That subject had already been
alluded to in the Report. The shares had been held
by parties who had either became bankrupt or insol-
vent, or were dead, and whose representatives refused
to pay up the calls.
A PROPRIETOR observed that the Eastern Counties
Railway Company published in the Lon/on Gazette
nthuembn
earmoefs
sahnd aresidhderledsses of h
by
each, t e defaulters,
andh e
thoughtvsitl the
number
le
i the
same course ought to be pursued by the Southampton
DoTckheCcornHAplaßn
CHAIRMAN stated that the Directors had in-
formed themselves of the particulars of each case, and they
came under one or other of the denominations he had
stated. The Eastern Counties Railway Company were
compelled by their Act to publish the names, &c., of
the defaulters in the London Gazette, but as their Act
did not require it, the Directors, in the exercise of their
discretion, abstained from doing an act which might
wound the feelings of the friends of deceased parties.
The PROPRIETOR acknowledged that that was a very
amiable feeling, but as it operated to the loss of the
Company, he thought it might with very great pro-
priety be waived.
The resolution was then carried unanimously.
------"-- Mr. HEATHFIELD wished to ask whether the Tidal
PAYMENTS.
Dock was to be completed first, before otber works were
Law and Engineering Charges, Parliamen.
proceeded with ?
tary and other expenses, incident to the
establishment of the Company £5,900 19 5 The CHAIRMAN—Yes.
The Corporation of Southampton, for the
dock land (208 acres) .... 5,000 0 0 it el\nitrirelilyE?ATHFlELD—And is it intended to complete
For the interest of several persons in certain The CHAIRMAN—Most assuredly.
oyster coves situate on the dock land lOO 0 0 Mr. HEATHFIELD would
ot
r furteady her a
before Ti
Ham Lintott in the dock land 4OO 0 0 Dock was completed, or would the working of the dock
The lessees of the Royal Gloucester Baths, f depend upon its being finished ?
for their leasehold interest (in full) ... . 4,896 12 1 The CHAIRMAN replied that the working of the dock
Purchase of stone in the Osborne Quarry,. would not depend upon its being finished, but should a
and of soil and timber at Woolston Cliff,
necessity arise, it would be the anxious desire of the
as materials for constructing the works... 2,371 5 0 Directors to get a portion of the dock completed, and
Direction, from 19th May, 1836, to 30th
to open it for the purpose of carrying on the public
June, 1840
Engineering
Works of survey, boring, and other prelimi- some extent, at a period of three or four months earlier
1,375 3 0 Lbwn would_ probably_be required for the entire cotri-
nary operations -
The contractors, on account of work done, pletion of the work. He was sure the Proprietors would
30,203 12 1 give the Directors credit for being animated by an anxious
and materials supplied

EVENING EDITION.

desire to advance and promote their interests, and they
felt that they could not attain those ends in a more
direct and expeditious manner than by endeavouring by
every means in their power to get a portion of the dock
cornpleitd at the earliest possible period, in order that
the Company might be in the receipt of some income.—
(Hear, hear.) That was the object the Directors had
in view, and it was their fixed, firm, and inflexible deter-
mination to carry out that object in the most perfect
Inanuer they could.
Mr. HEATHFIELD inquired which of the docks the
Directors contemplated bringing into action first.
Mr. Glees (the englneer)—The North Tidal Dock. 1
Mr. HEATHFIELD thought the housing of goods ought
to be a paramount object ; the warehouses would be a
good test of the value of the dock. A. warehouse at the
north-east side would, in his opinion, prove very conve-
nient for the unloading of goods from the Tidal DOCK.
Mr. GILES observed there was a very ample space
of qu'ey ground, fit to erect warehouses and sheds upon,
of every class that a dock could revere. The disposi-
tion of those warehouses wouli have the most minute
and mature consideration before they were planted upon
the ground.
Mr. HEATHFIELD trusted the Directors would de-
termine upon building a warehouse or warehouses in
the course of next year, because they, and they only,
would show the value of the Tidal Dock. He was of
opinion that preparations for that purpose, such as tem-
pering the clay and so on, ought at once to be made.
Captain W ARD stated that the formation of the Tidal
Dock was rapidly progressing.
Mr. BucHax wished to ask whether it was practica-
ble to get a sufficient portion of the Tidal Dock ready in
time for the accommodation of the Royal Mail Steam-
Pecket Company, should that Company wish to oc-
cupy it ?
'f he CIAAIRMAN replied that in consequence of cer-
tain rumours which had been in circulation, doubts were
created as to whether or not the necessary ac-
commodation for the Royal Mail Steam-Packet
Company could be afforded by the time it
would be required, and it was apparent those ru-
mours must have reached the cars of Govern-
ment. The Directors of the Steam-Packet Company,
therefore, invited a conference with himself (the Chair-
man) and the engineer yesterday, for the purpose of
ascertaining whether these rumours were well-founded,
in order that they might be quite sure of the ground on
which they stood before they went to Ministers to ob-
ject to Dartmouth. Details were gone into, and the
result was that those gentlemen stated they were per-
fectly satisfied there was no foundation whatever for
these rumours ; and that such and such accommodation
weuld be required by them ; and he gave them an
assurance that they would be ready to receive them.—
( Hear, hear.) Therefore, all doubts that might have
existed were now entirely removed.—(Hear, hear.) He
would, while on his legs, take that opportunity of reply-
ing to a question which had been put by Mr. Heath-
field. The Directors were giving their utmost atten-
tion to the erection of warehouses.—(Hear, hear.)
In fact, they felt something like breathless haste
to erect warehouses at Southampton, because
they, as practical men, knew that the tonnage on the
ships alone would not afford such a return for their ca-
pital as would be satisfactory to the Proprietors, but he
had not the least doubt that the warehouses would be
filled nith goods, and from that source they might ex-
pect a very handsome income.—(Hear.)
Mr. MELVILLE would take the liberty of asking a
question with reference to the dredging the soil at the
mouth of the lichen. It had been stated that that
might be done in the course of one summer provided
that summer were a favourable one ; but he wished to
know what would be the consequence should it prove
unfavourable? Would the Dock then be ready for the
Roy4l Mail Steam-Packet Company.
Mr. GILES said, that even now at the lowest high
water there was ample navigation, and sufficient to en-
able any vessel, were the Docks completed, to enter it.
Captain WARD said, that at low-water there was a
depth of water of twelve or fourteen feet ; that a
quarter of an hour after low-water that depth was con-
siderably imcrcased, as the tide flowed very rapidly, so
that shortly after low-water steamers of four hundred
or five hundred tons burden could enter the Dock, and
at high-water, if neap tides, the most powerful steamers
could enter.

Mr. GILLS said that there was a depth of from
twenty to twenty-two feet at high-water, if neap tides,
which would be increased four or five feet by dredging.

The CHAIRMAN then announced that the business of
the meeting was ended.
A vote of thanks to Mr. Liggins, the Chairman, and
the Board of Directors, was then proposed and se-
conded, and carried unanimously.
The CHAIRMAN said that this testimony of the ap-
probation of the Shareholders was highly gratifying
to the feelings of himself and his brother
Directors, and although it. was a source of
regret to them that among the Shareholders
there should be found even one dissentient to the recep-
tion of the Report. yet he hoped the time was not far
distant, when that getilleman would become convinced
that the course which had been pursued by the Direc-
tors was the most prudent course, and the one best
:adapted to wamote and forward the interests of all
parties concerned in this undertaking. He was grate-
ful for this mark of confidence in the Directors ; and
they might rest assured that the six months which
would elapse before they again met would not be passed
by the Directors in idleness or indifference, but that they
would a►.xiously, assiduously, and perseveringly follow
op the plans which had been laid down, and which bad
met with the approval, not only of their own officers,
but of the engineers in the employment of the Govern-
ment, and of all other parties, who possessed any know-
ledge of the matter. He was confident that the result
of their labours would be that to which they all looked
forward, an ample and liberal return for the money
which they had invested.—(Cheers.)
The meeting then separated.