The Sun.
London, England, 1846-07-29 00:00:00

CITY-ROAD EXTENSION).

The Committee, after hearing the opposition of the Surrey Grand
Junction Canal Company to this project, cleared the room to con-
Eider their decision.
lining remained a short while in consultation, strangers were
re-admitted, when

The CHAIRMAN announced that the preamble to the Bill had not
been proved
This closed the labours of the Committee.

GROUP LILX-,

This Committee resumed this morning at twelve o'clock, Sir G
Clerk in tin chair.

nin3MIN .8.17 D EITNISMELMEN.

The proceedings of this morning were opened by Mr. AUSTIN, Q.C.
saying that he believed it was now his Learned Friend's (Mr. Alex-
ander) turn to make a speech, or call witnesses in support of the
allegations of his clients against the promoters of the Bill.
The CHAIRMAN—Are you aware of the circumstances under which,
the further consideration of this case was adjourned yesterday ?
Mr. AusTirr--Quite so, sir.
The CHAIRMAN—It was in consequence of the request of Mr. Ser-
geant Murphy, in order to afford him time either to rebut or to ex-
plain certain evidence that had been laid before the Committee by the
opponents of the Bill.
Mr. AUSTIN—Just SO, sir ; and of course that prorogation took
place in order that he might go and consult about the matter. lam
afraid, sir, that, although there seems to be nothing whatever that is
attachable to the directors in this case —I am afraid, nevertheless, in
consequence of the evidence that was brought forward with respect
to Mr. Hemming, that if we were to go on with this Bill we
should be wasting a great deal of your time and our money ;
and that the best thing we can do is to submit to a verdict at your
hen Is that the preamble is not proved, because I am afraid that
there are Parliamentary objections that we cannot get over; and
that being so, whatewr may be the merits of the Bill, I think that,
for the purpose of saving your time and our money, you should de-
clare that the preamble is not proved. We communicated with the
other side. I will call no further evidence, and will submit to your
decision that the preamble of the Bill is not proved.
The CuArratAx —Very good.
Mr. A trsug—l should tell you that. we permitted the other parties
to intpect our books and papers, and they are of opinion that the
directors have not been guilty of any fraud with respect to the sale
of shares.

Mr, ALEXANDER, Q.C., said that the only step now to be take:

therefore, was to declare that the preamble of the Bill had not been
proved. The works of the company had certainly been inspected,
and it was evident that no blame was attachable to the directors,

but he was, at the same time, bound to state this, that it was now
proved that the charges which the Learned Sergeant (Mr. Murphy)
hal made against him, and those who appeared with him, viz., that
their opposition was prompted merely by a desire to delay the pass-
ing of the Bill, were entirely groundless.
Mr. AnsTlN—lt has so turned up.
Mr. Murata—lt has so turned up!
The room was then cleared. On our re-admission after the lapse
of a few minutes,
The CHAIRMAN said, the Committee have directed me to inform
the parties that they have come to the resolution that the preamble
of this Bill has not been proved to their satisfaction ; and they have
deQired me further to state, that the Committee feel It to be their
duty to make a special report to the House; informing them that they
have made inquiry into the matter of those petit ons from certain
shareholders in the Company which were referred by them to the,
Committee, and that they have to state to the House that the facts
which have been divulged in the course of the inquiry have satisfied
them that the allegations have been proved.
Mr. Moraine—Perhaps the Committee will allow me to state this,
" ' '

that the books of the company have been submitted to our inspec-
tion, and we have satistleourseives that as far as the directors of
the company arc concerned, there is no ground whatever for im-
puting any f,auds to them.
The CuAtunAsr—Of course we shall state in our report nothing
further than what appears on the evidence.
DI73LIN AND SA.NDYWCOUNT ATYCOS-

PEERICs

This part-heard case was then proceeded with by
Mr. LE FANCE, assistant engineer of the line being examined by
MT. MALLEY,
31r. BLACKERTON, the other assistant engineer, was next examined
by Mr. CuFack, and cross-examined by Mr. Murphy, Q.C. (who up.
peared for the Grand Canal Company), after which
Mr. Sergeant MURPHY said that this closed the case of the pro-
moters.

Mr. Muapny then saki that it was impossible for the Bill to pro-
ceed consistently with the orders of Parliament. By one of the
sess!onal orders it was requisite that the consent of the Board of
Admiralty should be. obtained to the improvement of all harbours,
dorke, &e., but the promoters had not obtained any such consent.
Mr. Sergeant MURPHY said that that could be done without delay,

and insisted that that objection should not be fatal to the Bill. He
knew of a similar objection being raised against the passing of a
railway Bill. - -

The CHAIRMAN said that the Committee would allow the pro-
moters an opportunity to obtain the necessary consent.
Mr. Mummy said that he had another objection, and that was,
copies of the plans, &c., had not been laid before the Board of Ad-
miralty.
After a brief discussion, time was also granted to the promoters of
the Bill to do this.

Mr. MuaPnv then said that he had still another objection, which
he felt confident must be taken to be fatal to the Bill. The objection
was, that part of the land which the promoters soaght for had ac-
tuolly been granted to the proprietors of the Dublin and Kingstown
Railway this very session, as would be proved by Mr. Brunel, the
igincer.

Mr. Sergeant MuII:PIM said that that objection could not be taken,
because the Dublin and Kingstown Railway Company had not peti-
tioned against the Bill. That company, he asserted, had inserted a
clause into their Bill (which was passed on the 17th instant) with
'power to take part of the line proposed to be taken by this
company behind their backs, and without giving them the slightest
intanatim of their intention. I.le proposed that the Committee should
insert a clause to remove the objection, and report specially
to the House the conduct of the Dublin and Kingstown Company,
prior to which he hoped the Committee would enter into a full inves-
tigat on of their proceeding, which was certainly most disgraceful.
Mr. MURPIIY submitted that the Committee should permit him to
establish his as,:ertion at once. If they did noti be must proceed
with the other part of his case, and enter upon the establishment of
his assertion afterwards ; but if they allowed him to do so at once,
they would save the time of themselves and the public.
Mr. Sergeant MURPHY called upon the Committee to abrogate the,
clause referred to in the Dublin andKingstOwn Railway 13111—a most
disgraceful fraud bad been committed upon their clients behind their
backs.

The Committee said that they would enter into the inquiry as to
whether the land in question had been assigned to the Dublin and
Kingstown Railway Company, and if it turned out that it had been,
of course it would be impossible to assign it to this company also.
Mr. Munent said that he would be able by evidence to prove that
the land had been granted to the Dublin and Kingstown Railway
Company, and to disprove the charge of fraud which had been so
elaborately thrown out by his Learned Friend. '
Mr. Smith, the Parliamentary agent of the Grand Canal Company
was accordingly called to prove the assertion of Mr. Murphy as to
the assignment of the land to the Dublin and Kingstown Railway
Company.

Cross-examined by Mr. Sergeant MURPIIT—The Grand Canal Com-
pany had not given him a direct intimation to the effect that they
would net be respons!ble for the charges of the opposition which he
was perse7ering in against this Bill. He meant to look to them
for the payment of his charges. He kad not written to them to
know whother they would defray his charges. Mr. Ryan, the
director of the Dublin and Kingstown Railway Company, had cer-
tainly advised with him with respect to his opposition to this Bill,
and he had desired hlmto retain counsel.

To the CnentmAN—lle had received direct instructions from Mr.
M'Mullen, the Secretary of the Grand Canal Company, to oppose this
131.1 on their behalf, and he had not received any communication,
written or oral, direct or indirect, from the company, recalling those
instructions.

Mr. Pym, banker, Dublin, one of the largest shareholders in the
Grand Canal C'ompany, and projector and treasurer of the Dublin and
Kinlstown Railway Company, proved that this company proposed to
rim their railway tbrcrigh the point where Mr. Brunel, the engineer
of the Dublin and Kingstown Railway Company, proposed to erect
their goods' station.

To C..lonel PEEL--lie was quite sure that the Dublin and Kings,
torn Railway Company had not given notice tothe promoters of till;
Bill, of their intention to take that plot of ground, because they did
not conceive that their tllting it would form the least barrier to this
company constrncting their line
('ross•examired by Mr. Sergeant MURPHY—He was never eon-
sullel as to the Insertion of the clause referred to. Ile believed that
Mr. S.'nith had no direct promise from the Grand Canal Company
to reimburse hlm the costs to which he might be put in opposing
this sitl.

The Committee adjourned at four o'clock till to-morrow,

STANDING ORDERS' COMMITTEE.
• MOUSE OF LORDS.
Lord Shaftesbury took the chair as usual in Room 1 (House of
Lords), at three o'clock.
CAMERON'S, COALBROOK, STEAM COAL, AND SWANSEA
A.ND LOUGHOR-RAILWAY.
The promoters of this Bill had complied with the standing orders.
The Committee came to a final decision as to the
MANCHESTER AND SOUTHAMPTON,
in which case, it will be remembered, the standing orders were com-
plied with, except in a reserved point as to the accuracy of the levels.
The point in dispute was referred to an independent engineer. This
gentleman having given his report to the Committee, their Lordships
decided that the standing orders were not complied with, but they
were of opinion that the Bill ought to be allowed to proceed. They
would, therefore, report that the standing orders ought to be dis-
pensed with, the expenses of the new survey to be paid by the
opponents of the Bill.
SELECT COMMITTEE ON MERITS.
Their Lordships had before them, in this capacity, a list of seven
kills; they d!sposed of the following :
GLAIGOW, GARNKIRK, AND COATBRIDGE EXTENSION.
The preamble of this Bill was proved.
SURREY IRON RAILWAY COMPANY DISSOLVING.
The preamble of this Bill was declared to have been proved.
-Their Lordships adjourned till to-morrow.

DIRECT LONDON AND MAlv.-
CHESTER RAILWAY COMPANY (REMING-
TON'S LINE).
A special meeting of the shareholders in this company took
place yesterday at the London Tavern, for the purpose of de-
termining upon the propriety of winding up the affairs of the
Company, and deciding whether the dissolution should be
deemed an act of bankruptcy on the part of the company.
The meeting was convened for twelve o'clock, bat at a
quarter to one o'clock there was only one of the directors
present, Mr. Bass, and much impatience was manifested on the
part of the proprietary.
be elected
a shareholder, and not in any other caaracter, to
At last, Mr. D. W. HARI, EY moved, that Mr. M. Bass, as
the chair.
The resolution was unanimously carried.
A SHAREHOLDER said that he had not seen any advertise
ment calling the meeting.
The SOLICITOR said that it had been properly advertised
in the Gazette and in three London daily papers.
Mr. D. W. Harvey, Mr. Boyd, and Mr. Pocock were then
appointed scrutineers.
A SHAREHOLDER desired to know how many shares had
been paid up?
The CHAIRMAN—About 51,000, and we shall require about
17,000 shares to constitute a meeting.
A SHAREHOLDER desired to know if the Chairman was
prepared to lay a statement before the meeting?
The CHAIRMAN said that he was not so prepared ; he
had been left alone, and he wished to be allowed
to state his connexion with the line. He had always
avoided any connexion with railways, and it was not
until a very late period, and after repeated solicitation,
that he consented to join the scheme. When he
was elected a member of the committee, it was
under the express understanding that he would not be re-
tilred to attend the meetings in London, but that he would
facilitate the line in the country,where his own property lay.
But when many of the di rectors had ret ire?' from various causes,
and when he had learned the exact state of the affairs of the
'"'n134,13', he then considered that he was bound, as far as
a course against which he
heN, was able, to set them right. He discovered that a
ry . large sum. of money had been paid to the soli-
citor,that a bill had been file
further proceedings. 'the
for an account audTrieldsetiatprotested, and took
ebareholders were no doubt aware
againstall
theth e
adnimreactoorfs nontabye
i liken.
and an action had becnestlitowmasme
trusted to them. bill
commenced
t against
comprehensive,
hintsef
by a shareholder for the
considered that Rastrick's
Companyution
had
the deposits. He
which became honourable. men, antrl
hedone everything
that
they
:eittize did not see
moneywhich d .

been paid to them. He considered that if legal proceedings
were taken, the very small sum which remained would not
pay one shilling in the pound. With regard to the accounts,
be had been very desirous to have obtained them for the
shareholders, but he was unable to effect that object.
A SHAREHOLDER— What may beabout the balance which
remains?

CuintmAN—lt is between 7,000/. and 10,0001.—(Hisses.)
I regret the smallness of the sum, gentlemen, as much as any
of you.
Mr. POCOCK moved the dissolution of the Company. The
affairs of the Company had been conducted in a most dis-
graceful and discreditable manner.—(Hear, hear.) When-
ever he applied for information by letter to the directors
he was unattended to, and when he applied person-
ally at the office, he was met by a little boy
who would say, " Really, sir, I know nothing about it." The
number of shares Wadi had been allotted were 51,000, and
those which ought to have been were 100,0,0.
In answer to a que3tinn,
The CHAIRMAN said that 42,0001. had been paid to Ras-
trick's Company.
A SHAREHOLDER—For what?

(Cries of "Nothing, nuthiug.")
Mr. RICHARDSON seconded the resolution, which was
unanimously carried.
It was also declared that the dissolution should not be
taken as an act of bankruptcy.
The meeting then separated.

WORCESTER, HbREFORD, ROSS,

AND GLOUCESTER RAILWAY.

A meeting of the shareholders in this project was held yes-
terday at one o'clock, at the offices 449, West Strand, in terms
of the Act 8 and 9 Vict., for the purpose of determining on a
dissolution of the Company.
Sir R. Price, having taken the chair, called on the Secre-
tary to read• the advertisement convening the meeting.
The following gentlemen were then elected scrutineers—
Mr. Avery, of Gloucester; Mr. Stallard and Mr. Peterson,
Temple. _ _

Tlie CHAIRMAN read the committee's report, which stated
that though the Company had failed on the standing orders,
the committe were of opinion that the line would have fully
realised all that had been held out in the prospectus; that
there was a disposable sum of 61,889/. Bs., and that there
would be-a dividend of 1/. 43. per share immediately, and
a final dividend when the accounts were made up.
The CHAIRMAN afterwards intimated a wish that all pre-
sent who were interested in the line should wait atter the
meeting to see whether they might not retain the ground,
with a view of forming a company to make the line.
Mr. ONENHAM'asked whether the scheme had not failed
through a mistake of the engineer? If so, he thought his
accounts ought not to be paid.
Mr. BAKER. said that the Company had pressed Mr. Brunel
into their service at a time when there was a great push in
business, and the mistake was not his, or one for which he
was accountable. The mistake was made by a local sur-
veyor, who was willing to submit his accounts to the revision
of any respectable engineer.
A PROPRIETOR asked how many shares had been issued,
and how many paid upon?
The SECRETARY said 50,000 shares had been allotted, and
46,894 had been paid upon, which stares had returned
98,4791. Bs.

Mr. HALL put several questions on the accounts, which were
read to the meeting in full. After hearing that idr. Brunel
was the only engineer whose name had ever appeared in
. . .

connexion with the scheme, he said it was his oiiinion that
Mr. Brunel was responsible for the loss which the Com-
pany had sustained in consequence of the mistake, and
that he was of opinion also that the Company, if the share-
holders Would be secure, should be dissolved by bankruptcy.
-Hear, hear.) The shareholders would, he was sure, look
to Mr. Brunel fora return of the money which had been lost
in consequence of the gross mistake, a mistake nothing more
or less than making the river Severn run up hill—(Laughter.)
Mr. AVERY hoped, as the shareholders could not appoint a
Committee of their own to examine into the, accounts, such
ins. ructions would be given to the gentlemen who had the
winding up of the affairs as would impress them with the im-
perative necessity of looking narrowly into the accounts.
Mr. 13akmu felt assured that alltho. e,2n the committee were
as much inclined as any in the room ro cut down, as far as
reasonable, all the accounts. He confessed he was startled at
the amoant of the law expenses, which were 15,200/.
Mr. ROSE wished to know if the committee would pledge
themselves to go before the taxing-master?
Mr. BAKER said they were quite willing to go before the
master.

Mr. ELGIE, the solicitor, said he was known to many in
the meeting, and as an honest man he was prepared, and
even desirous, to have the accounts investigated before the
taxing ma-ter.

M r.BODENICAM, (Hereford), adopted Mr. Elgie'd language
in reference to' his own accounts.

Mr. BAKER moved, and Mr. W. TAYLOR seconded, the

resolution that the Company should be dissolved.
The motion was put and carried unanhnously.
The CHAttotAx moved that this dissolution be without an
act of bankruptcy.
This was put to the meeting and carried also unanimously.
Mr. ROSE moved a vote of thanks to the chairman.
Mr. CAMPBELL seconded the motion, which was paned
with acclamation.

Sir RGBERT PRICE. returned his acknowledgment of the
honour and the kindness, and then adjourned the meeting,
which throughout was certainly not one of the quietest or
most orderly.

TUESDAY NIGHT'S GAZETTE.
LORD CHAMBERLAIN'S OFFICE, JULY 27.
Her Royal Highness Princess Helena Augusta Victoria,
third daughter of her Most Excellent Majesty and his Royal
Highness Prince Albert, was baptised on Saturday last the
25th instant, in the Chapel, within Buckingham Palace; and
a detailed account of the ceremonial observed at this solemnity
will appear in a Supplementary Gazette.
MASTER OF THE HORSE'S-OFFICE, JULY 9.
The Queen has been graciously pleased to appoint the
Right Honoarable Granville George Earl Granville to be
Master of her Majesty's Buck Hounds, in the room of the
Right Honourable James Alexander Earl of Rosalyn, re-
signed.

DOWNING-STREET, JULY 28.
The Queen has been pleased to appoint Captain Charles
Graham and Commander George James Hay, of the Royal
Navy, to be Companions of the moat Honourable Military
Order of the Bath.

Commissions by the Lord Lieutenant of Middlesex.
Royal Westminster Regiment of Middlesex Militia—Cap-
tain it. Cannon to be Major, July 24.
Uxbridge Yeomanry Cavalry—Hugh Hammersley, Gent.,
to be Cornet, July 24.
Commission by the Lord Lieutenant of Durham.
Durham Militia—R. H. S. Jackson, Esq., to be Captain,
July 20.

WHITEHALL, JULY 23.
The Lord Chancellor has appointed Charles James Fox, of
the city of Canterbury, Gent., to be a Master Extraordinary
in, the High Court of Chancery.