The Sun.
London, England, 1846-09-21 00:00:00

THE IRISH MIDLAND GREAT WESTERN.

DUBLIN, SATURDAY.—Yesterday the half-yearly
meeting was held at the company's board-room, 23,
College-green, for the purpose of receiving a report and
statement of accounts from the directors, for the year
ending the 30th June last. Lord l)unsandle in the chair.
The SECRETARY, Mr. 11. Beausire, read the report, in
which it was stated that the directors intended to pro-
ceed with the construction of the Athlone branch, the
Bill for which had received the royal assent last session
of Pa- liament, with all the expedition in their power,
and that the necessary steps had been taken to apply to
Parliament for power to construct a line from Athlone
to Galway, and as the company from Portarlington to
Galway had been dissolved, in order to complete the
chain of communication with.the west and north-west of
Ireland in the direct and legitimate course, not only was
there no substantial opposition apprehended, but the
countenance and support of Government and the public
would be given to the project. In consequence of the
pressure on the money markets, the directors had with-
drawn the Bill for the extension from Longford to
Sligo, but they hoped to renew the project at a future
time. The Irish North Midland and the Dublin and
Lancashire Railways having been rejected by Parlia-
ment, the directors would adopt measures for securing
the traffic which the wealthy and populous districts
adjacent to Dells, in the county of Meath, would
afford. The first fifty-four miles of the line from
Dublin had been contracted for, upon which the works
were in satisfactory progress. Agreements for land had
been entered into with tenants, possession of which had
been obtained; the owners in fee had not as yet been set-
tled with in all cases, but in a short time possession
would be had of all that was required. They expected
that the line as far as Enfield would be open for traffic
next spring, and a further portion to Mullingar in the
course of the summer. The income to the canal con-
tinued to be satisfactory. The reduction of the tonnage
has had the desired effect of increasing tonnage, and the
benefits which the purchase of the canal had insured were
rendered permanent. The balance of available cash on
hand on the 30th of June last Was 7,2761., to which the
sum of 45,0001. had been added by means of two calls of
2/. 10s. each, and the directors had the pleasure of stating
that those calls had been responded to by the proprietors
in a satisfactory manner. The purchase of the Royal
Canal had absorbed 157,795/., and as that sum had con-
siderably reduced the paid-up capital of the company,
they were unable to proceed at a more rapid pace with
the works, but they entertained a confident expectation
that Government would render assistance by giving ad-
vances on reasonable terms, for the purpose of facilitat-
ing the profitable employment of the people.
The SECRETARY next read the engineer's report, in
which Mr. Hemans informed the company that the entire
length of the line from Dublin to about three miles below
Mullingar, where the Longford and Athlone branches
had been for some time under contract, and throughout
in process of construction, the total cost of which would
be about 170,0001, or about 3,1481. per mile for works,
including earth work, masonry, ballasting, laying of
rails, and maintenance of works for six months, a sum
not more than many lines of railway have cost for earth
work alone. The total sum received by the directors,
composed of deposits, calls, and profits of the Royal
Canal, was 212,206/. The, expenditure comprised the
cost of incorporation, engineering, and legal and parlia-
mentary expenses ; interezt on shares, railway works
iron rails, sleepers, &c., 204,930/. is. 6d., and the ba.
lance in band, 7,2761. 9s. 6d.

Lord DIINSANDLE moved, and Mr: JOHN Dons se-
conded the motion, that the report should be received
and adopted, which was agreed to.
Mr. BERMINGHAM recommended that they should call
on the Government to assist them with a grant of money
in order to enable thorn to proceed with the line to Gal.
way, whereby the starving population would be em-
ployed.
The CHAIRMAN said that in the course of the summer
he had spoken to some of her Majesty's late Ministers
on the subject, who had given him a reply in the nega-
tive; but the times were now different, and although he
had made no communication lately on the subject, he
thought the money might he better expended in that iva,,
than by digging holes or tilling hollows.

LEEDS AND TIIIRSK -LINE.—The preparations for the
working of the Thirsk contract of this railway are be-
ginning to be visible, and several of the contractors'
horses, waggons, &c., are making their appearance.
Several purchases of land have been made, and there are
expectations of breaking ground every day.
NEW STATION IN HULL.—The necessity for increased
public accommodation at the railway terminus in Hull
has at length received the attention of the directors, and
the erection of a new station has been determined on.

IRISH EASTERN COUNTIES.—A deputation from the
directors of the above line (which may be better known
to our readers by its old title, " the Carlow and Kil-
kenny") met at the Carlow club-house, on Friday, for
the purpose of arranging with the different proprietors
along the line, for the purchase of the land required by
the company, with a view of commencing the work,
this preset: t month. The deputation consisted of the fol-
lowing gentlemen :—Edward Grogan, Esq., M.P. for the
city of Dublin, Redmond, Esq., and John Alexander,
Esq., of Milford. We hope every possible facility wilt
be afforded the agents of the company along the line,
and that no obstruction will interfere with their arrange-
ments, as it will be a matter of the greatest importance,
at a period of such general distress, to have a work of
this magnitude going on in the country at this season of
the year, and giving employment to hundreds of the la-
bouring population.—Carlow Sehtinel.