The Sun.
London, England, 1848-07-24 00:00:00

RAILWAY N TIgLLIGENCE.

• NORTII,STAFFORDSHIRE:
STOKE -UPON - Tr.EN T, SATURDAY. The usual Ordi-
nary half-yearly meeting of the ahareholders in this
Company was held at the station in this inwn to-day.
J. Laßicardo, Esq., M.P., occupied the chair, and there
was a very numerous attendance of proprietors.
. Mr. SAMUDA, the Secretary, read the report of Mr. G.
P. Bidder, the engineer to the company. It; stated that
the line 'was opened between Stoke and Nerton-bridge
(on the North-Western line) in April, and that its
working had been most satisfactory; the line between
Stoke and Colwick had been retarded according to the
instructions of the' directors, aud the continuance of wet
aftettlier diirifig The spring: hod necesmrily retarded the
works upon the other portions'of the line. 'The viaduct
at Congleton was complete, with the exception of one
pier and two arche3, which had to be reconstructed,
and at the Dane viaduct all the piers were complete,
and the centres set for seven arches. Mr. Bidder,
according to instructions, had computed the amount
of the company's capital account, including stations, sid-
ings, turntables, water cranes, &c., and carrying stock,
locomotive engines and workshops, and three years
maintenance of the railway, and estimated it at
3,400,000/. This, as compared with the Parliamentary
estimates, after deducting 490,0004 for stations, carriages,
workshops, and three years' maintenance ; also, 150,0001.
excess on the land, owing to the purchase of coal mines,
and other matters not contemplated by the lantbvaluers;
and also, 74,3711. Is. Bd. extra expenditure in Parlia-
ment, shows that the actual cost will be within the ori-
ginal estimates ; and Mr. Bidder expressed it as his
opinion that no railway of tho sago length (viz., 128
miles), with works of the same magnitude, with so effi-
cient a carrying stock, stations, and equipments, had ever
been completed at a less cost. Ile believed, too, that it
admitted of beiug;as economically Worked as it had been
economically constructed.,
The report of the directors was next read, in which
they announced that they had followed the course pur-
sued in their last report of completing successively dif-
ferent lengths of the line. The length from the Potte-
ries to Uttoxeter, and from Crewe to Burton, 44 miles,
would bo completed in August and September ; Con-
gleton to Colwich, 24i miles, in September ; Congleton
to .Macclesfield, seven miles, in March, 1849 ; and Ut-
toxeter to North Rode, 274, in September, 1849. The
length from Stoke to Norton Bridge, ICO.I, was opened in
April, and had realised in two months a net profit of
1,6681. The directors observed that although this was
Leyond their anticipations, still it Would be futile to
found any ealcUlations with respect to the whole under-
taking upon this partial commencement. It had, how.
ever, determined two circumstances great importance,
via., that the tonnage upon v. hat may be termed the
competing pint of the canal had not been diminished by
the opening of the railway ; and, secondly, that, great
economy in the expenses of the two (canal and railway)
might be affected by a judicious combination of the joint
staff. The report goes on to say:—
.‘ After a careful investigation, it has been ascertained,
as will be seen by reference to the report of the engineer,
that the amount required to complete the whole works
and plant of the railway will be met by the subscribed
capital of the company, a circumstance, as your directors
believe, almost without precedent in railway history.
One more call of 2/. 103. will be required in the course
of the present year. It is proposed to make this in the
month of September. A further amount of 21. 10s. will
insure the completion of the line, but this call will not be
made till 1849, even if it should be necessary at all, a
contingency dependent upon the issue of debentures. On
this point your directors have some hesitation in giving
an opinion. They are determined not to sacrifice the
true and permanent interest of their shareholders for the
sake of a present advantage in the market price of the
shares, and they have uniformly refused, in times and
under circumstances far more adverse than the present,
to issue debentures bearing interest above five per cent.
At this rate they have hitherto been enabled to negotiate
but a small sum; but when it is recollected that your de-
bentures ere secured, not only by the revenue of the
railroad, new partially and within twelve months to be en-
tirely opened, and upon which 131. a share, amounting to
2,522,605/. sterling, will have been paid up, but also upon
the canal, yielding a net revenue of from 80,000/. to
60,0001. a year; and further, that the debentures are for
money raised, nut in addition, but in aid of your paid-up
capital, and are guaranteed by calls which may be legally
enforced upon the whole body of shareholders, your
directors do not doubt but that, if this description of
security should again obtain favour in the money mar-
ket, the North Staffordshire debentures will be those
which will in a great degree command a preference. In
the last report it was intimated that the interest received
on capital and surplus proceeds on the canal would
enable the directors to recommend a small dividend on
the shares, and the amount of this was estimated at .ss.
per share. The great depression of trade during the 184
six months has, however, so far diminished the receipts
of the canal, that it is not thought prudent consistently
with the expressed determination of the directors to re-
frain, under any circumstances, from trenehing'on their
capital for the payment of interest, to recommend a dis-
•aribution of more than 4s. per share, for the payment of
which dividend a resolution will be submitted to you."
The report having been adopted,
A dividend of four shillings per share was declared,
payable on the 14th of August, and it was also tri-
nounced that a call of 21. 10s. would be required in 'she
month of September.
t iThatiks were then voted to the Chairman, and the
meeting separated.

1 HER MAJESTY'S TREATRE.—Iier Royal Highness
the Duchess of Kent honoured the performances at her
Majesty's Theatre on Saturday evening with her pre-
sence. In the suite of her Royal Highness were Lady
Augusta Bruce, the Hon. Miss Dawson, Sir George
Couper, and Mr. and Lady Mary Christopher. His Royal
Highness the Duke of Cambridge visited the theatre.
Her Majesty the Queen Adelaide's box was occupied by,'
the Earl and Coulitc.ss of Rosslyn, Lady Harriet Err,
!tine, Lady Isabella Wetnyss and party. Among fats
audience were, the Prince Louis Napoleon, the Duchess
of Leeds and Miss Lane Fox, the Duke and Duchess
of Beaufort, the Duke of Leeds, the Duchess cf
Leinster and Lady Jane Fitzgerald; the Marquis of
Clanricarde, the Marquis of Donegal, the Larquis
of Huntly, the Marquis and Marchioness of Ayles-
bury, the Marchioness Dowager of Sligo and the
Ladies Browne ; the Baroness de Brunnow and
Mademoiselle Olga de Lechner ; the Earl of Mun-
ster, the Earl Beetive, the Countess of Lichfield
and Lady Anson, the Earl of Wilton, his Excel-
lency the Hanoverian Minister, his Excellency the Swe-
dish Minister, his Excellency the Sardinian Minister.
Baron Nicolay, Count de Berke, Prince Richard Metter-
nich, the Viscount Anson, Viscount and Viscountess
Villiers, Lord Ernest Bruce, Lady Warneford, Lord
Dunkollin, Lord Cranstoun, Lord Ward, Lord Gardner,
Lord Sandys, Lord Willoughby d'Eresby, Lord W.
Beresford, Lady Fitzroy Somerset and Miss Somerset,
Lord George Lennox, the Hon. Willoughby d'Eresby,
General the Hon. H. Cavendish, Sir Billingham Gra-
ham, Bare, and Lady Grahar ~ Lady Palmer, General
the Hon. A. Upton, Sir J. Jervls, Bart., and Lady Jervis,
Sir R. Howard. Bart, and Lady 'Toward, Major For-
rester, Major Buckley, Sir George Carroll, Bart., Lady
'and the Misses Carroll, Colonel Fludyer, Hon. Captain
Seymour,•Captain Meynell, R.N., Mr. Packe, M.P., Mr.
and Miss Holford,
.Major Baring,• Mr. Drummond, Mr.
and Mrs. Tudor, Mr. Sturt, M.L'., Mr. and Mrs. Hob-
-1 son M. C. Koudriaffsky, Mrs. Dodd, Mr. and Miss B.
. Tr:lawny, Mr. C. J. Palmer, Mr. Brosdley, M.P., Mr.
and MissEwings, Mr. G. Cornwall, Mrs. Crawshay, Mrs.
Percy, Capt. and the lion. Mrs. Ryder Burton, &c.
ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA, COVENT GARDEN.—.
Her Majesty's box was occupied on Saturday evening by
Viscount and Viscountess Emlyn, Hon. Miss Fitzroy,
Mr. and Lady Margaret Lyttelton. There were also
present the Duke and Duchess of Montrose, Lord and
Lady Ernest Bruce, the Duke and Duchess oßfaCalheavlelßanuad:
the Duchess Dowager of Bedford and Lady
sell, the Marquis and Marchioness of Douglas, the
an_
Mar-
quis of Tichfield, Marquis of Sligo, the Marquis
Ear
and 4
Marchioness of Ailesbury, the Earl of Munsatfer,
maxi
and
Countess of Glengall, Countess
Dowaf)efrDurEhani, Miss Johnstone, Earl Bruce, the Earl
Vis-
count Templetown_, Viscount Cau_t4!Te',-Ve iescalm,tdilEs,
Ex-
is mouth, 'Lady C. Venison, Lady yatnerin
LadyLo r LordeLr rd'
Lady Mor-
Ward, Lord Henry Lennox.
rs
andW 11
l i
Ludyl3 °Cu "Vitt; g Lady
to n , LordSLord
i"ir aarras
and
Lord
Lady
Saa m 7,
Mil-
ford,
Lady
yd
Scott, Lady aMdyannie Webster, 'L ad yLljaadV eke fillardy,
p 11 lion. Mr. and Mrs. C. Ash-
Newport, Lady 7t-fiteSnoma Somerset, Hon. Mrs. Norton, Hon.
burnham, liob• —r—G. Mims, Hon. J. Fortescue, Hon.
C. L. Butler, Bon.
Mr. sad Mrs. Upton, Sir Hume and
D. Forteseuet
oCynlielfearndd. SthireTiilissoerseß, Surir.
Lady dAy
rCiaaymtuegbee,lll,soSi
Boyne, Prlie.rrjAoahunngdußsuLturagsdy Atkinson, Sir Henry
Sir Jasper
Lady de Bathe, Sir George Colthurst,
Webb, Sir " • and Lady
Mills and the Misses Mills, Mrs.
John Stanley, Miss Rickards,
General Sandys,Colonel
HM°l.srs.mpflaenrild'neilftsCuaoliui Coatis and party,
Miss —4 Colonel B. Knox, M.P., Colonel 011ivier,
cSevYlown°,llry_3' lane; MdajMorrsjones, Mr. St. Vincent Jervis,
Mr. sackville Lane Fox, Mr. and Mrs. Cogmhlaonn,taMgure.
P
Gerard Sturt, Mr. H. Baring, M.P., M.
Gore, M.., &e.

IMPORTATION OF CATTLE.—It will be recollected
that in the auttunu of last year, the attention of the offi
cots of the revenue was specially directed by the autho-
rities to the state of the cattle and sheep which should be
imported from abroad, and also in the early portion of
the year 1845, in consequence of a certain disease being
on those two occasions prevailing among them on the
continent. The officers of the Customs department
have again been made acquainted that information has
recently been received that the disease called " Variula
oris" is now greatly extending in some parts of the
country, especially iu two of the eastern counties, and
that apprehensions exist that it may be caused by
the importation of infected sheep, and they
have therefore been directed to exercise the greatest vigt-
knee in enforcing the precautions previously authorised
to be adopted in this matter, with a further notification
that they are forthwith to state for the information of
the board, wbetier it appears that sheep are now
being iinportul at either of the ports of the kingdom
in en infected state. Directions to the above effect have
been given to the officers of the revenue at all the ports
throughout the kingdom, and although there may, per-
haps, te) no al.soluto necessity for apprehending the.in-
fected state of the cattle which are at the present time from the Continent, yet these sal in the
salutary- p•
cautions taken by the Government authorities
matter will be duly appreciated by the public.

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY. - The Rev. R.
Davies, hI.A., the secretary to this seciety, having
been instituted by the Archbishop of Canterbury to the
vicarag,e of Brcnchley, the appointment of secretary,
thus rendered vacant, has been conferred on the Rev.
John Tucker, 13. D., Fellow of Christ Church College,
Oxford; and the Rev. 11. W. Foi,* formerly missionary
at Mak.ulipatain, has been appointed assistant clerical
seentgry.