The Sun.
London, England, 1846-02-28 00:00:00

GREAT NORTH AND SOUTH

WALES AND WORCESTER RAILWAY.
GENERAL MEETING.—(THIS DAY.)
A special general meeting of the scripholders in the Great
North and South Wales and Woroestester Railway, convened
by a committee of their own body, appointed at a former
meeting, was held this afternoon, at the London Tavern, in
Bishopsgate-street, for the purpose of furthering the disolu
tion of the Company.—Mr. Frederick Lawrance, Chairman
of the Committee, in the chair.
The CHAIRMAN, in opening the business of the meeting,
reminded the scripholders that at their former meeting they
passed resolutions authorising the immediate dissolution of
the company, and it was then thought that the directors
were favourable to such a step. Accordingly, the committee
sought an interview with the directors, to see if the aflairs
of the Company could not be wound up and settled amica-
bly; but a third party interposed his authority,
and the negociations for this purpose proved
futile, and ended in nothing positively being arranged. The
directors and shareholders were unanimous in thinking that
it would be bete er for all parties that the Company should be
broken up ; but the solicitor of the Company, Mr. Bush, ap-
peared to be decidedly opposed to the adoption of any such a
course, and in defiance of the wishes of both the shareholders
and the directors he had gore to the expense of bringing
up to town a large number of witnesses, getting the
Bill tbrough the Standing Orders Committee, and then hav-
ing it read a first time in the House of Commons. He was
now taking the usual steps to have the Bill read a second
time and committed ; and unless the shareholders invested
their Committee with stringent powers, to enable them to
close the affairs of the Company, every farthing of
their money would be squandered away; while, in the
end, the Bill would be lost. The directors passed a
resolution, authorising the solicitors to supply the com-
mittee of shareholders with a copy of the subscription
and contract deeds, but he regretted to say that that resolu-
tion had been dishonourably suppressed by some one or
other, and the solicitors refused now to give them copies of
the deeds. Under these circumstances, and feeling that the
measure could never pass upon its merits, the committee had
called the scripholders together to invest them with
stringent powers to stop any further waste of remainder of
the funds of the Company.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. METCALFE HOPGOOD proposed the first resolution.
He stated that it would be in the recollection of the share-
holders present, that a resolution was passed at their last
meeting, that a petition eigaed by the shareholders should
be presented to the House of Commons against the Bill.
He believed that if the shareholders allowed the Bill to pass
the second reading they would then be called upon to pay
up the further call on their shares, and in default of so doing
their shares would be forfeited. He therefore proposed that
the petition prepared by the Committee should be imme-
diately signed by the shareholders, for presentaiion to the
House of Commons.
Mr. SAMUEL seconded the resolution. .

Mr. MULLENSZII;i t;;;;;Ti;;ords before the Chair-
man put the resolution. He was allowed to move, as an
amendment, that the petition should be read to the Company
before the shareholders were called upon to sign the petition.
Mr. DAVIS -gild that the petition would lie for signature at
the London Tavern, and every person who signed the petition
would have an opportunity of reading it.
Mr. Muller-Ns said that the Committee were afraid to have
the petition publicly read.
The SHAREHOLDERS complained of the loss of time that
would be occasioned by reading of the petition.
It was ultimately agreed to put the question to the meet-
ing whether the petition should be read, when only five
hands were held up in favour of the petition being read.
The CHAIRMAN then put the original resolution, which was
carried by a great majority.
Mr. DAY'S stated that the committee had already been at
great expense, and it could not be expected that they would
continue to do so unless reimbursed by the shareholders.
He therefore proposed "That a subscription be at once en-
tered into and placed at the disposal of your committee, to
enable them to stop this ruinous scheme in Parliament, or
by such other means that they may deem advisable, and to
reimburse them such expenses as are already incurred."
Mr. BATES seconded the resolution, which was carried
unanimously.
A SHAREI!OLDER suggested that the money should be

paid out of the funds or Company.
Mr. IlAcosr (Chairman of the Company) said that the
directors were placed in a very peculi-r situation, and he
doubted whether the shareholders would bear the directors
harmless if they did so.
Mr. DA vis rose to order.
Major IlicilAnnsoN considered that Mr. Bacon should be-
fore this have di,rnis-,ed the solicitors from the service of
the Company, and that the only means of testing his sin-
cerity would be to move a resolution to that effect this after-
noon.—( Loud cheers.) He did not consider it tight that
money of the shareholders should be wasied because the
directors were so prudent.—(Loud cheers.) He proposed
" That the directors give a cheque for 500/. to the Com-
mittee of the shareholders, in order to carry out the objects
of tqe resolutions carried this day."
Mr. MURCHISON seconded the resolution.
The CHAIRMAN said that it was 'useless to pass a res,lution
to that effect, unless the directors present would consent to
honour the check.
Mr. BACON said that he could not promise, as there were
only two of his colleagues present, the payment of so large a
sum.
The CHAIRMAN stated that be would meet them half way
—they would takc the sum of 250/.
Major RICAARDSON having acceeded to this reduction the
resolution was then put and carried unanimously.
Mr. COURTENAY then rose for the purpose of moving the
third resolution. IN stated that the present company
wasentirely the solicitors company.—(" No," from Mr. Bush).
after considerable confusion Mr. Courtenay went on to say
that the solicitors had laughed at them in their sleeves, and
had set the shareholders at defiance.—(Cheers.) He then
proceeded to inquire into the conduct of the solicitors, and
havidg made a number of charges against them,
whch produced considerable confusion in conse-
quence of the denials of the solicitors on the one
hand, and the repetition of the charges on the other, he
moved that the soliciteors Messrs. Bush and Mullens, having
by their conduct completely lost the confidence of the
shareholders, the directors be requested immediately to dis-
miss them from the services of the company.
Mr..MußcHissox seconded the resolution.
Mr B usx said he could not sit'quiet and hear charges brought
against his personal character, and that of his respected partner
He publicly denied the truth of the charges which had been
brought -against him, He had given his advice to the best
of his ability in the affairs of the Companp. Mr. Bush was
plroole.heeedeinitgx,nazimAidNst much confusion, to explain -his conduct
oppifrtuniry
pvitting•th
relative, to.the Company, when
propose, as a matter of delicacy, previous
affordedstt him of- resigning.
.hins to resign
e resolution, that Mr. Bush should have an
:Solicitor-General and ainedtilthat no earthly power should induce
rr. Bxisu
After most tremendous had received • the opinions of the
Mr. Turner, of the Court of Chancery.
ofc4
the be heard. He also denied
truthw
Mr. M trct.rzis sv as :it uPrear'
the •Irutli• of the
tiro4lat Against hilbself• 'and :charges which had been
t wh:ch ga.ve ;Tie to a ' 'most' his partner (Mr. Bush),
discussion as the question of desultorysluu and stormy
that both he and his partner were in the "al.
He stated
t0r.,,, but they had never made any complaintpoe of the din-c •
to them,
and were perfectly satisfied with their conduct.
The CHAtitalAN stated that, before putting the resolution,
he
thougt it would be necessary in order that this resolution
should be effectually carried out, that the directors should be
held personally liable for all money paid to the solicitors by
the:n from the time of passing this resolution. He then put
the resolution, which was carried unanimously, and the
solicitors were vacordingly dismissed from the services of the
Company.
• RICHARDSON wished to know whether it was the
N ajor this resolution.
intention of the directors to carry out
Mr. RArsoN,
tion i one of the dirctothers, saidabsence he could not
of his
his brother
take to answer the ques en
directors.
Major RICHARDSON was then requested by the shareholders
to join the committee, to which he consented. -
A. vote of thanks having been passed to the Chairman and
the committee, the meeting broke up, which was one of the
most stormy that we' had ever attended, even of the North
and South Wales Railway.
The petition will lie for signature at the Hall of Com-
, meree, in Threadneedle-street.