The Sun.
London, England, 1848-03-02 00:00:00

LYME REGIS.

The Lyme Regis Election Committe re-assembled at
the:usual hour; Lord Ashley in the chair.
Mr. John Swan Hook, the Mayor of Lyme Regis, the
party to whord Mrs. Layers alluded when she stated that
a gentleman offered her 751. to induce her husband
to vote for Sir Fitzroy Kelly, was called
this morning, and declared most positively that
the evidence of Mrs. Lavers was not correct.
He was not the Mayor at the time of the election. He
remembered calling upon Mr. Leven to solicit Mt vote,
but no conversation relating to bribery in any way took
place. Two other witnesses on the other- side spoke to
the present witness having bribed and treated them, but
the witness denied all knowledge of the circumstances.
Mr. Goddard, wine-merchant, of Lyme, confirmed the
statement of the Mayor, so far as it related to Sellers
and Alban Lavers, and denied most positively that be
attempted to corrupt voters during the last election.
Mr. Cartwright, of Lyme, was next called, but being
one of the recognizances for promoting the petition, his
evidence was not admissible.
Mr. James Templer, solicitor, of Bridport, who was
said to have bribed a voter named George, denied that
he had done so, adding that he never saw George but
once in his life, and then it was under strange circum-
stances. He was driving in a carriage with Sir Fitzroy
Kelly, a day or two before the election, when a person
who he afterwards ascertained was George, jumped
upon the step of the carriage and tapped at the window.
He rode in this position a long distance, vociferating,
" Kelly for ever."
James Bridles, an elector at Lyme, who had been
proved to have received a SUM of money from Mr.
Hook, the mayor, just before the election to purchase a
horse, explained the transaction by stating that he had
long had dealings with that gentleman, who generally
purchased the produce of the witness's farm, and
whenever he wanted money he drew it from Mr. Hooke
on account. The money he received before the election
was partly due to him.
The Committee then adjourned till to-morrow, at
eleven o'clock.

SOUTH-EASTERN RAILWAY.
(THIS DAY.)
The twenty-third half-yearly general meeting of this
company was held this afternoon, at the Bridge House
Hotel, London-bridge.
James Macgregor, Esq., chairman, presided.
The report stated that the accounts of the company
for the half-year ending on the 31st January, 1848,
showed that the receipts amounted to 251,6151. 14s. 6d.;
that the working expenses had been 70,735/. 2s. I Id.;
the rent of the Greenwich Railway and of the Whit-
stable Railway, 20,7121. 10s.; the rates, Government
duty, and toll of the Croydon Railway, 32,372/. Ils. 2d.;
making the expenditure on revenue account, 123,820/.
4s. Id. The balance carried to the account of profit
and loss was 127,7951. 10a. 5d., and that account showed
an amount at the disposal of the proprietors of 106,8621.
10s. sd. The comparative statement of passengers traffic
on the South-Eastern Railway for the half years ending
on the 31st of January, 1847, and 31st of January,
1848, showed an increase of 104.761 passengers,
amountint, in money to 7,133/. 4s. Sd. The Greenwich
branch showed also an increase of 49,387 passengers.
amounting to 1,0371.125. 7d. The merchandise department
had yielded4s,2ooL 41. I d. during the last half year against
39,3471. 16s. Bd. in the corresponding half-year of 1847,
showing an increase of 5,352/. 7s. sd. The directors,
after great consideration, had determined not to proceed
with the Bills promoted by the company in the last ses-
sion of Parliament, a decision which in the present ex-
traordinary times would no doubt have the approbration
of the proprietors. The accounts showed that
533,9631. 3s. 3d. had been paid during the last half-
year on construction account, and, in addition, mort-
gages and loan notes to the amount of 144,8001.
had been paid off, reducing to that extent the
mortgage debt of the company. The directors had
not felt justified in urging on the works at a great
speed, being only too sensible of the severity of the calls.
The negotiations with the Brighton Company had ter-
minated in an agreement which would be advantageous
to both companies, would relieve both companies of
toll, would terminate a claim of the South-Eastern
Company on the Brighton Company for 25,0001. towards
the construction of the third line on the Greenwich
Railway, and would arrange for providing ample accom-
modation for the Brighton Company's goods traffic at
the Bricklayers' Arms terminus. The increase !in the
number of passengers and the steam-ship of the South-
Eastern and Continental Steam Navigation Company
between Folkestone and Boulogne was 1,938 over the
preceding half year. The directors had been assured
that the railway throughout from Paris to Boulogne
could be opened on the 15th instant, and everything had
been
no_eprepared accordingly. The directors whose term
p
Browne,e eligible for
rnegridrei William GordonMacgregor,Thomson, Air.
wll lot owbeerret
expired were
reer's -election:'
n ,r . Jamesor d o
report stated with reference to the
North Kent line that the widening of the Greenwich
Railway between the Croydon Junction and the London
station was
.nearly completed, and the permanent way
had been laid. The widening of the substructure of the
London station might bo completed in two months if the
remaining land was obtained. In tho Blackheath
satisfactory progress has been made.
()n
Tunnel, which measured the time of opening to Wool-
wich, very
On 'ery
Tunbridge Wells and Hastings line
The Grove tunnel, with the entrance, was completed
and ready for the permanent way; the cost being 351.
per yet d forward. In the Wadhurst tunnel the shafts
were down, and about two thirds of the large waggon
road heading complete. On the Ashford and Hastings line
the first contract, extending from Ashford to Rye, the
portion to Appledore, a distance of eight miles, where
the only excavations occurred was completed, and the
ballasting in progress; the remainder of the line (74
miles) to the town of Rye, might be completed in three
months. The shafts and heading of the St. Leonards
and Hastings tunnel has advanced slowly since the last
report."
Tho CuAurstax then rose and said it was scarcely.