The Sun.
London, England, 1847-10-30 00:00:00

RAILWAY TRAVELLING.

SEVEN HUNDRED AND THIRTEEN MMILES
WITHIN TWE N TY-FOUR CONSECUTIVE
HOURS.

This apparently extraordinary performance was
accomplished, a few days since, by a passenger tra-
velling in the ordinary trains of the Great Western
Railway. The performance originated in a warm
discussion between two gentlemen, who differed very
widely in their opinions respecting certain asserted
advantages of the broad over the narrow gauge.
Among the illustrations of such alleged advantages it
was stated that a person might travel upwards of 700
miles in 24 consecutive hours, by the ordinary trains
of thi, Great Western Company. This was denied,
and a wager was the consequence. The time-bill was
produced, when it was found that in order to win the
wager the 6.30 morning express train from Exeter
must arrive at Paddington two or three minutes under
its prescribed period of 4f hours, and the gentleman
who backed time therefore insisted on the wager being
fairly won. The task was forthwith commenced and
gone through, as follows :—The gentleman betting
against time started from Exeter by the twelve
o'clock morning express from Exeter, which left
that place at two Minutes after twelve o'clock,
and arrived at Paddington at 31 minutes after
four o'clock. At half-past five o'clock he left
Paddington by the half-past five o'clock down
express train, and reached Swindon at five minutes
after seven o'clock. Here he waited till the arrival
of the train which leaves Exeter at 15 minutes after
3 in the afternoon, and at 44 minutes after 7 o'clock
he left Swindon, and proceeded as far as Maidenhead,
which station he reached at 26 minutes after 9 o'clock.
At 46 minutes after nine he left Maidenhead by the
mail train which starts from Paddington at Bh. 55m.,
and arrived at Exeter at 7 minutes after 4 next morn-
ing. After a detention of two hours and twenty-five
minutes at Exeter, he started by the half-past G ex-
press train which left that station at 6h. 32m., and
arrived at Paddington at 10h. 58m. He immediately
proceeded to the dawn station, caught the short train
to Maidenhead, which left the station at 1 minute
after 11 o'clock, and was at Maidenhead at 1 minute
past twelve o'clock, having travelled 713 miles in 23
hours 59 minutes.
The distances travelled are follow :
Started from Arrived at Miles.

_
11. M. A. M.
Exeter ... 12 2 ... Paddington 431 .. 193 i
Paddington 530 ... Swindon ... 7 5 ... 77j
Swindon ... 744 ... Maidenhead 920 ... 55
Maidenhead 94G ... Exeter ... 4 7 ... 171
Exeter .. 632 ... Paddington 10 58 ... 1931
Paddington 11 1 ... Maidenhead 12 1 ... 22i

713

Of this time the traveller lost, while stopping for
the sh. 30m. afternoon express train, 59 minutes ; at
Swindon he lost 39 minutes; at Maidenhead 10 :mi-
nutes; and at Exeter 2 hours 25 minutes—together,
4 hours 13 minutes, so that the actual travelling time
from terminus to terminus was 19 hours 46 minutes.
The average speed for the 24 hours is nearly 30 miles
per hour; and 36 miles per hour, deducting the 4
hours 13 minutes lost while waiting for the trains.

A PUGNACIOUS RABBIT.—There is a black rabbit
'on board of her Majesty's steamer the Firefly, belonging
to the principal engineer, which has defeated every ter-
! ier staked Against him in single combat —lnverness
Cuurier,

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE,
IPSWICH AND BURY.
A special meeting of this Company was held yes-
terday, at Radley s Hotel,,Blackfriars, pursermt to a
requisition to take into consideration the provisional
agreement for a lease of the Norfolk Railway.—Mr.
J. C. Cobbold in the chair.
The SECRETARY having read the advertisement and
requisition,
The CHArnmAN said, that although the meeting had
been called on the requisition of certain shareholders,
and though it was usual in such cases that the requi-
sitionists should open the proceedings by stating their
own case, it might be more respectful to them, if he,
as chairman of the company,' should state as briefly
as possible the motives which had induced the board
to enter into the agreeMent which would form the
subject of that day's discussion. The directors hal
been exceedingly anxious that the present meeting
should be postponed for a short time, in order
that all parties might, when the amalgama-
tion of the Eastern Union Company was
complete, be fairly represented ; for, as this was
a meeting exclusively of Ipswich and Bury share-
holders, Eastern Union Company shareholders
could of course have no voice. The information given
by the committee of shareholders, left entirely out of
consideration the interests of the Eastern Union
Company;. although he need not remind them that
the agreement with the Norfolk Company for a gua-
rantee effected not merely the Ipswich and Bury
Company, but the Eastern Union also, which had a
capital of 400,0001., and which, by the Act of Parlia-
ment would in a very short period, be formally
amalgamated with this company. Another reason
for postponement, and one to which he was sure
the meeting would attach due importance, was, that
one of the directors of the Ipswich and Bury Corn-
pany (Colonel Barlow), who was not at all connected
with the Eastern Union, was absent from England.
With respect to the reasons for entering into the
arrangement with the Norfolk Company, they were
all aware that, :at the time it was entered into, the
prospects of railways were, in the monetary con-
dition of the country much more promising
than at present. At that time the Norfolk
Company divided seven per cent., and the di-
rectors of this company had no reason to doubt
that the dividend was fully justified by the traffic.
Assuming, then. that the traffic at the time of the ar-
rangement justified the payment of a dividend of seven
per cent.—and there could be no do doubt that it
did—the directors of this company considered that
the prospects of the line justified a guarantee of 7f
per cent. on the capital employed on the main line,
and from four to five per cent. on the branches • for
they believed that the additional per centage would be
more than saved from the non-expenditure of unne-
cessary capital, and from securing the whole of the
traffic of the district. One per cent. on a capitsl of a
million would be 10,000/. a year, or about 2001. a
week ; and they could not doubt that a unity of action
and identity of management would effect a swing to
that extent. The resolutions of Parliament would
prevent them from carrying out the agreement at the
period originally contemplated; but he was still of
opinion that it was advisable that the two companies
should act in harmony, and as ene, rather than be at
variance, and enter into competition for the traffic.
Mr. SWAN begged, as chairman of the shareholders'
committee, to state shortly why they had troubled
the directors to call the present meeting. Some time
since the shareholders in the north entertained con-
siderable alarm as to the' agreement understood to
have been entered into With the Norfolk Company.
—(Hear.) It was impossible to doubt that the di-
rectors had acted conscientiously in the matter, or
that they believed what they had done was for the
good of the company. But it was equally impossible
also to shut One's eyes to the fact that, on looking at
the amount now taken by the Norfolk Company, the
guarantee must be a losing one to this company, and
• that some means must be. devised to defeat it.—
(Hear.) Let them take the statement of the Norfolk
Company themselves for the last half-year. The
amount which the company would have to pay for
guarantee for a main line, at 7f per cent , on a capital
of 866,0001., would be for the half-year nearly
40,000/. ; and yet he found, from the Norfolk
Company's own statement, that the amount appli-
cable to dividend was only 23,000/.—(llear.)
Thinking that there must be some delusion in the
case, means had been taken ,to call the present
meeting; and he thought it would be for the interest
of the company that the agreement should at once be
put an end to.—(Hear, hear.) He therefore begged
to move—" That the agreement entered into by the
directors of the IpsWich and Bury Railway Company
with the directors of the Norfolk Railway Company
appears to be highly prejudicial to the interests of' the
Ipswich and Bury Company, and this meeting de-
clares it to be null and void.—(Loud applause.)
Mr. W. BEVERLY, of Leeds, seconded the motion.
A PROPRIETOR said he was quite unconnected with
any committee, but had come there to protest against
the peril in which his property was placed. If the
experience of the last two years taught one lesson-
more than another, it was that companies ought
to avoid giving guarantees—that they should avoid
increasing their capital, or making branches which
-would not pay.—(Bear, hear.) The Chairman had
assumed that the Norfolk Company would retain the
whole traffic after this company's line was open to
Norwich ; whereas he believed that this company's
line would take away one-third or One-half of it;
and, in that case, he did not see how the Norfolk Com-
pany could pay more than three or four per cent. ;
and if this company were so infatuated as to confirm
the agreement, he believed they could receive little or
nothing from their own line.
Mr. J. B. WATSON inquired what was the propor-
tion of Eastern Union and Ipswich and Bury capital ?
The CHAIRMAN said the capital of the Eastern
Union proper was 400,0001., and of the Ipswich and
Bury 950,0001.
Mr. MUSKETT said that although the terms of the
agreement might not now be considered advantageous
to this company, there was at the time another com-
pany in treaty with the Norfolk ; and if the directors
of this company had not seized the opportunity of ar-
ranging, they might have been censured for apathy.
After a few further observations, the motion was
put and carried by a majority of 43 to 5.
Mr. SWAN asked what money would be required to
finish the line to Norwich ?
The CHAIRMAN said he might state, in general
terms, that the estimate for the line, from the junc-
tion with the Newmarket line at Hawley to Diss,
was 185,0001., and from Diss to Norwich, 365,000/.
About half the works were completed throughout.
Mr. SWAN inquired if the whole amount -of the
work dime had been paid ?
The CHAIRMAN said it was not. The- directors
gave notice in March for certain calls to be made in•
the present year ; and on the faith of these the direc-
tors had entered into some contracts.
Mr. FIELD would be glad to know the amount of
calls in arrear, as he believed that very erroneous im-
pressions existed on the subject.
The SECRETARY said the amount of arrears was
reported monthly to the board ; and it appeared that
on the Ipswich and Bury shares 0f1845, these arrears
amounted in September last to 13,4001. ; while in
October they were reduced to 12,3001. On the Nor-
wich Extension shares, the arrears were in September,
51,000/. ; reduced in October to 44,000/. ; n?Oakcitrolera
total amount of arrears at the beginning. o
of about 56,000/. Of course this did not includef the
last call, which had only just been made.
After some irrelevant conversation,
Mr. WALEY said, connected as he was with the
money market, he certainly had come to that meet-
ing rather disposed to credit the rumours. that were
afloat as to the extravagant expenditure of the direc •
tors. He was pleased, however, to notice the manner
in which the chairman had answered all the questions
put to him.—(Applause.) It was his intention to
move a resolution which would remove a weight of
obloquy from the chairman and his colleagues, and
inspire confidence to the public—namely, that a com-
mittee of shareholders be appointed to investigate,
in connexion with the directors, the expenditure of
the company, and to report thereon to a general
meeting.
The CUAIRMAN said his impression was—and in
this he was confirmed by the solicitor of the com-
pany—: that' under the requisition the motion could not
legally be put.
Mr. HANns rose to more the appointment of a
committee to inquire into the whole affairs of the
company. It was a resolution which he thought the
directors ought not to object to, as certain reports had
gone abroad relative to the extravagance of the direc-
tors which ought to . be inquired into, and, if' they
were wrong, the public mind disabused of the impres-
sion they had made.
Mr. BARsTow seconded the motion.
The CHAIRMAN stated that it was with great regret
that he foun.l himself compelled to decline putting
the motion. Ile must, however, do so, as it did not
come within the terms of the requisition.
After some discussion,
Mr. HANns said the resolutions were not drty,th up
in any hcstile spirit, but it was believed that the
course recommended would be equally advantageous
to the directors and shareholders. Am:):lgst other
complaints that he had heard was the keeping up of
fo r
expenstheivesecr et offices in London, and a splendid mansion
ary.—(llaar, hear, and " Oh, oh.")
The CHAIRMAN stated that it was quite true the
company had offics in London, but it was also
equally true that they did not mean to continue them.
About three years Since they had several Bills Wore
y
Parliament, and they were compelled to take offices
in London, but notice had been given that they would
be abandoned at the close of the year. It was true
that the secretary had apartments in the same house
as that in which their offices were situate, but he did
so on his own account and at his own expense.
Some further conversation having taken place,
Mr. BINNIE said he trusted that the shareholders
generally were satisfied with the proceydings of the

direCtoii, and he therekie begged to move a vote of
confidence in them.

The CHAIRMAN said, however gratified he and his
brother directors might feel 'at such a y vote, still be
could not allow it to be put, to the meiling, for the
same reason that he had refused to put the previous
motion, namely, that it did not come within the terms
of the requisition.—(Applause.)
After a few further observations,
Mr.' W. WILKINsozi said he felt perfectly satisfied
with the explanations given by the directors; and as
they could not pass a vote of confidence in them, they
could at least carry a resolution thanking them for
those explanations, which he begged to move.
Mr. BrtirNiu seconded the resolution, which was put
and carried unanimously.
M. FIELD asked in what position the ,hareholders
of the Ely and Cambridge branch of this company
stcod.

The SECRLTAEY said the sulject was taken into
the consideration of the directors last night, when a
resolution was passed that a considerable extension of
tine should be given to those shareholders to declare
their option.
The meeting then separated.