The Sun.
London, England, 1846-02-12 00:00:00

TAFF VALE RAILWAY.

BRISTOL, WEDNESDAY, HALF-PAST ONE.—The half-
yearly general meeting of the proprietors was held at
the White Lion, Broad-street, Bristol, yesterday. In the
absence of the Chairman, Sir J. Guest, Bart., the De-
puty. Chairman, Walter Coffin, Esq., presided.
The notice convening the meeting having been read,
and the seal of the Company affixed to the register of
proprietors.
The SECRETARY then read the report, which showed
an increase in the receipts, as compared with the corre-
sponding half of last year, of 7,0581. 7s. 10d.
The CHAIRMAN, as usual, moved the adoption of the
report, which was so very satisfactory, that the share-
holders adopted it unanimously.
The CHAIRMAN then moved that a dividend, at the
rate of 5 per cent., be declared upon each of 1261. shares,
being 3/. 3s. per share for the half year, to be paid on
the sth of March.—Carried unanimously.
This was the whole of the business which the direc-
tors had to bring before the proprietors.
Mr. PRIDEAUX (of Bristol) held in his hand the
Railway Record, which contained an article reflecting
on the management of the affairs of the Company by the
directors. lie was desirous that the Secretary should
be allowed to read the article. _

The CHAIRMAN should be very sorry if the meeting
attached that consequence to the calumnious reports
contained in railway papers, which the reading of the
article in question on that occasion would give to it.
The directors of that Company bad been subjected to
the grossest abuse from papers of the description al-
luded to, and he hoped the meeting would agree with
him, that the best course to be adopted would be to
treat the matter with silent contempt.—(Hear, hear.)
The directors were the best judges of their own affairs,
as to what servants they should discharge and what take
on, and if the shareholders had not confidence in the
directors, let thorn appoint others, in whom they could
have confidence.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. PRIDEAUX wished it to be understood that he
did not cast the slightest reflection upon the di-
rectors. He had every confidence in them, but he
thought it due to them that they should have an oppor-
tunity of refuting the statements in the Rrcord.
The CHAIRMAN was much obliged to Mr. Prideaux,
but the directors had no objection to let the matter stand
where it was. Directors of railway companies were
subject to these kind of anonymous attacks, when the
conductors of such papers were at a loss for an exciting
topic. However a good dividend in railway matters was
something like charity in religion, it hid a multitude of
sins.—(Cheers and laughter.)
The subject then dropped.
A. vote of thanks was passed to the Chairman and
directors by acclamation, and the meeting broke up.

WANT OF FOOD-SUPPLY OF
TROOPS.

(From the Galway Vintneater.)
The question of famine is no longer one of surmise. Its
certainty, in a few months at furthest, is even acknowledged
by the Government ; and the reports which come in every
day from the rural districts but too sadly confirm the con-
clusion which has been arrived at from the most carefully
collected facts.
Potatoes bear even now a famine puke in the market.
White potatoes go 41-4,d. per stone, and cup potatoes sd. We
believe 10d.lper stone, in times of thel greatest famine, was the
highest price for potatoes ever known in Galway, and when
we take into consideration that the potatoes now brought fur
sale to market are not only diseased to a great extent, but one-
third of them completely waste to the purchaser in two or
three days, the 41/2d. per stone rises in real value to 9d. or 10d.
When this is the cue at present, what will it not be in a
few weeks hence when the crop is more exhausted?
At the price which potatoes are even only now, a labourer
employed the whole week at tenpence per day—the usual
price of labour in this district is often lower—has to lay
out the entire of his week's wages on them alone, if
he is even so fortunate as to be able to purchase with
it a sufficient quantity of this lowest article of human
food. There is nothing for any other accompanying article
of diet—nothing unless the belly is stinted of this
worst kind of food—nothing for fuel, rent, or clothing—.
nothing for milk er fish—meat is out of the question. If this
is the case at present with the labourer in full employment,
how must it fare with the unfortunate creatures who have it
only occasionally, or fare with both, when food becomes dearer,
and is placed totally out of their reach ? Our cotetnporary adds,
"a troop of the 13th Light Dragoons, from Gort, arrived here
on Tuesday, under the command of Captain Hamilton, for the
purpose, it is said, of repressing any outbreak among the people
which may arise, owing to the exportation of corn from this
port. Two companies of the 30th are likewise expected—one
from Loughrea, the other from Outerard—to aid the force in
garrison, if necessary. The dragoons and additional military
are expected to be stationed here for some time. This in-
crease of troops is said to have been caused by the posting of
a threatening notice at the Gas-house last week, to the effect,
that the merchants' stores would be broken up by the people
if any further exportation of corn was attempted."
Her Majesty's war steamer, the Stromboli, arrived at the
port of Galway on Monday evening, and anchored at the
roadstead.

THE FALL OF THE BONDED

RAILWAY COMMITTEES.
(YESTERDAY.)

Sub-Committee No. L
The Commitee sat this day at twelve o'clock. Mr. Strutt
chairman.

THE TAW VALE (EXTENSION) RAILWAY.
Mr. Parkes, of the firm of Dyson, Hall, and Coates, ap-
peared for the promoters.
The formal proofs of the deposit of the plans and sections,
and books of reference, were then put in.
Mr. VENABLES appeared on a petition against the Bill.
Mr. PARKES objected to the petition being received, on the
ground that the name of the Bill was not stated on the back
of the petition, in conformity with the standing orders.
The CHAIRMAN said that he had consulted the Speaker
ow the bearing of that standing order ; and his decision
was, that as there were several petitions presented prior
to his having given notice of the enforcing of that standing
order, it would be unfair to the parties concerned to subject
them to that opinion. It was, therefore, only to be enforced
against all petitions presented after the date of the Speaker's
order. The Committee were, therefore, of opinion that the
petition should be received.
Mr. VENABLES said that the allegation which he hai to
submit to the Committee was against the datum level of the
line. There was no fixed point at either termini which
would agree with the datum level on the plans and sections.
Mr. PARKES submitted that the allegation could not be
sustained inasmuch as the objection was not specifically
stated in the petition.
Mr. VENAISLES considered that the objection was properly
set out in the petition. He would prove that error existed.
The CHAIRMAN thought the allegation should have been
specified by one or other termini.
Mr. `ENABLES said, that allegation was that there was no
fixed point at either termini, and that he considered was
sufficient, as he would prove that error.
The room was then cleared, and upon the return of the
parties,
The CHAIRMAN said he had to inform the agents that the
Committee were of opinion that in this case the matter com-
plained of was not specifically stated in the petition, and
therefore the allegation could not be sustained.
The standing orders were then declared to have been co.n-
plied with.

YORK AND NORTH MIDLAND (LEEDS
EXTENSION) RAILWAY.

Mr. `ENABLES, on behalf of the promoters, stated the
case and called the several witnesses. The Bill was unop-
posed, and the standing orders declared to have been com-
plied with.

TORS AND NORTH MIDLAND (EAST
RIDING BRANCHES, No. 1) RAILWAY.

Mr. Venables appeared for the promoters.
The deposit of the plans, sections, and books of reference
was then proved.
Mr. DYSON appeared on the petition of a Mr. Whitaker, a
landowner on the line, complaining that the standing orders
had not been complied with, inasmuch as he had not received
notice for certain lands in the parish of Drypool, in the county
of York.

Mr. VENABLES objected to the petition being heard, on
the ground that the petitioner had not specified the property
in the petition. _ _

The-CitAinmAN was of the same opinion ; and Mr. Dyson
having abandoned the petition, the standing orders were
declared to have been complied with.
COLCHESTER, STOUR VALLEY, SUDBURY.
AND HALSTEAD RAILWAY.

Mr. Parkes appeared for the promoters.
The formal proofs for the plans and sections and books of
reference were put in.
Mr. WEBSTER appeared on a petition against the Bill.
Mr. PARKES objected to the petition being received. The
names attached to the petition were not signed by the par-
ties themselves, and it was therefore contrary to the standing
orders to present such a petition.
Mr. WraisTEß said he would prove that the promoters
were authorised by the petitioners to sign for them. The pe-
titioners were obliged to leave town before the petition was
quite ready for signing.
The CHAIRMAN wished to know if the authority was by
letter or merely verbal? This certainly was a petition sent
from the house.
Mr. WEUSTER—Some of the parties bad authorised ver-
bally, and some by letters.
Mr. PARKES would object to the petition on the ground that
it was not prepared at the time the parties had authorised it
to be signed.
Mr. WaBSTER said that in law a bill of exchange signed
by the verbal authority of a party was held to be a good
bill, and to be recovered upon.
Mr. PARKES—III that case the party should be cognizant
of the contents of the bill, but here it was admitted that the
petition was not ready when the parties authorised their
names to be signed. How could it be maintained that they
knew anything of the contents of the petition ? It was im-
possible for them to know whether there was or was not
matter in the petition which they, if cognizant of, would
not allow their names to be attached to.

The room was then ordered to be cleared, and the Chair-
man went to cousult the Speaker.
After some time spent in considering the question, the par-
ties were called in.

The CHAIRMAN said that he had been to consult the

Speaker upon the question raised by Mr. Parkes as to the
validity of the signatures to the petition. The petition
having come to the Committee through the House of Com-
mons, it was not to be rejected without the opinion of the
Speaker. He had, however, left the House, and therefore
the decision of the Committee would be postponed till that
opinion was had.

The further consideration of the Bill was accordingly ad-
journed till twelve o'clock to-morrow. The nature of the alle-
gations was not stated, that being a subsequent proceeding
to the receiving of the petition by the Committee.

THE EXETER. YEOVIL, AND DORCHESTER

BAXIMV.&Y.

Mr. Ellicombe appeared for the promoters. The deposit of
the plans, sections, &c., was proved, after which
Mr. Pntrr presented several petitions against the Bill, from
the owners of land and other property on the line, complain-
ing that the standing orders had not teen complied with in
many instances. _ _

Euicomnr. opposed the receiving of the petition, on
the ground that the name of the Bill did not appear on the
hack of the petition.
The CHAIRMAN said that lee had already decided in a
another case that the petition having come to them after the
opinion of the Speaker, a few days ago, he would reserve the
decision on the point till he should again consult the Speaker.
The Committee then adjourned till twelve o'clock to-
morrow.

Sub• Committee, No. 2.
(Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.)

GLASGOW, PAISLIIY, BILSTARNOCX, AND

AYE. BRANCHES RAILWAY.
A petition against this Bill was presented from Mr. Maher,
which stated that it was with the approval of Lord Douglas,
through whose estates the line was to pass, complaining of a
non-compliance with the standing orders, inasmuch as the
plans were rot deposited on or before the 30th of November,
as required by the Act of Parliament.
Mr. GRAHAM supported the petition against the Bill, which
was defended by Mr. Pritt.
The formal evidence having been gone through, from
which it appeared that 43,0001., ene-tenth of the amount sub-
scribed, had been deposited in her Majesty's Court of Exche-
quer, in Scotland, and that the length of the line-was 18 miles
Mr. GRAHAM contended that the datum line as described
by the engineer, Mr. Miller, was not the same datum line
as that the Company had laid down.
The CHAIRMAN was of opinion that Mr. Graham had no
right to raise that question, it not being an allegation in his
petition. The question was however discussed, but no
other plan being adduced, the question fell to the ground.
Mr. PRIIT said that he admitted the allegation of the pe-
tition, but what were the facts of the case. The
petitioner, Mr. Maher, was the agent of the Cale-
donian Company a competing line, and it stated that
he had the sanction of Lord Douglas. There was an inter-
dict obtained by Lord Douglas to prevent surveys being made
on his estate, and he now complained of a non-compliance
with the standing orders, which was occasioned by his own
conduct.

The CHAIRMAN said, he considered that if gentlemen would
prevent persons forcibly from entering their grounds, they
had no right to complain of a non-compliance with the stand-
ing orders.
Mr. Miller was examined, and proved that he had received
obstruction in surveying Lord Douglas's ground.
The supplemental notice was proved.

The CiUlu-mix said that the Committee were of opinion
that the standing orders of the House had not been complied
with by the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Branches
Company, inasmuch as the plans and sections had not been
deposited in the Sheriffs' office on or before the 30th of
November, but that the supplemental notice, stating that
such would be deposited on the 31st of December, was duly
served.

GUILDFORD, CHICHESTER, POTRSMOUTH,

AND FARENAM ILAILWA.Y.

The object of this Bill was to construct a line of railway
from Guildford to Chichester, and from Farehiun to Ports-
mouth, with branches to Petersfield and ltchnor. The length
of the line was seventy miles, including the branches, and the
amount of capital was 250,000/. There were two petitions
against the Bill, which were referred for further instruction,
no one appearing In their support.
In the absence of one of the witnesses, the further conside-
ration of the Bill was adjourned till Thursday next.
Engineer, Mr. Joseph Locke ; Parliamentary Agent, Mr.
Ellicombe ; Solicitors, Messrs. Bircham, Dalrymple, and
Drake.

GLASGOW, auntritizs, AND CA.IMULL

RAILWAY.

The object of this Bill was for the formation of a line of
railway from the terminus of the Glasgow and Ayrshire
Railway Company's Railway, at Cumnock, to the Caledonian
Railway, near Carlisle, with various branches.
The extent of line, not including the branches, was sixty-
four mile, and the capital 1,200,0001.
There were two petitions against the Bill. The first was
from the Caledonian Railway Company, complaining of
inaccuracy in the books of reference, and where tunneling
was substituted for open cutting.
THE CHAIRMAN said that in the present case the standing
orders had been complied with.
The next petition was from Mr. Jackson, which complained
of inaccuracy in the schedule served on him in the sections
44 anti 46 of the cuttings.
Mr. Graham appeared for the petitioners.
The CHAIRMAN said the standing orders had been complied
with in this case.

There was another allegation of a similar nature which was
not sustained.

The Committee were of opinion that the standing orders
had been complied with.
Parliamentary agent, Mr. Burke ; solicitors, Messrs. Hunt,
Bannatyne, and Kirkwood, Glasgow.
The Committee adjourned shortly before Four o'clock to
Twelve o'clock to-morrow.

1 • 1
Names
of t; Dividend
Names of 1 F t Dividend
. Price. per Price.
Companies. A 1 per Companies.
Annum.
(a i Annum.
1 - ----- -
X £
iishtnti Olah 97 5/.55. p c 70 Monmouthsh 100 81. 160
Ashby-d-la-Z 113, 41. 72 Mntgomrysh 100 Si. 2$
Barnsley.. • . 1601 121. 180 Macclesfleld . 100 - 25
Basingstoke.. 1001 - - Neath .• • ... 100 171. 340
BrknklicAbrgilbol 5/. 85 ottingham . 150 121. -
Cromford.... 'loo' 14/. 150 Peak Forest. 78 32. 40
Dudley lOO 4/. - egent's ••• • 33 1/. 30. 263
Derby .• •• • • 100 6/. 73 Rochdale .. • • 85 41. 54
Ellsrure&Chs 1331 4/. 65 Shropshire • • 125 81. -
Erewash •• • jlOO, 321. 300 Somrset Coal 150 7/. 10s. 130
Forth & Clyd ' 100 Q. - D0.1.k Fd St 12 6/. p. c. 11
GrandJunctMloo' 71. 94% Stffrd &Were 140 281. 300
Grand Union 100' IL 10s. - Shrewsbury.. 125 15/. 238
(GGicii
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idtiierndliatB;ohsrrikti
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1,:11453500779702 , i 1
7119113".2%611.:1.: 210 Stourbr 1 d g v . . 145 201• 270
Strtftd on AA' 79 11. 108. -
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rSsieevvnvyet::::3lBll:rild... 1 256. 11. :lg..
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Leeds& Livrp' too!
Leicester ,140! 341 520 Thirns &Med 19 - -
10/.. 105 NVorcstr itcl
Leicstr&Nth, €l3; 41. 60 Birming. j7B 2/. 44
Lotighborogli ;142; 701. 850 iWilts Sc. Brks 67 11. ii