The Sun.
London, England, 1856-02-23 00:00:00

GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY.

Meeting This Day.

SETTLEMENT OF ffIE DISPUTE BETWEEN

THE RIVAL COMPANIES.
The ordinary halt-yearly meeting of the proprietors of
this railway took place this morning, at the London
Tavern, Blshopgate-street ; Mr. Denison, M.P., in
the chair.

The CHAIRMAN said that before he went into the par-
ticulars of the report he would inform them that the
disputes existing between the rival companies had been
brought to a termination. All the correspondence bad
been published in the report for their information. Ile
was yesterday asked if he would re-propose the proposal
he made on the Bth Feb., that this company would submit
to the're-arbitration of the dispute between them to Mr.
Gladstone, and ask him to revive his former award to
their altered circumstances. He (the chairman), how-
ever, declined to give an answer until the proposal had
been formally mane to him, and on that application
being made in writing. signed by the chairmen of the
other lines, asking him to accept that which had been
before rejected, he attached his name to the document
as accepting it. This arrangement would last for 14
years,- and he hoped it would have the effect of increas7
ing the dividends in future.
In answer to a question from a shareholder,
The CHAIRMAN said that the arrangement for the
working expenses was a question with which Mr. Glad-
stone had nothing to do. No bases of arbitration had
been agreed to. Mr. Gladstone was to have reference
to the five years' receipts since his arbitration. He bad
great confidence in Mr. Gladstone, and it was remark-
able the accuracy with which that gentleman had esti-
mated the traffic for those five years.
A SHAREHOLDER said the explanatied was satisfac-
tr ry. The mistake must have arisen in another quarter
with reference to the working expenses.

The CHAIRMAN said it was not a mistake. Circum-
stances might have turned out different to what was
anticipated. The half-year's receipts were satisfactory,
and looking to the past and the future, he con-
sidered this railway in a safe and solid posi-
tion, and that it was in a firmer position now than
it had ever been. The working charges appeared to be
nearly 50 per cent., but on a comparison of that with
any other on a proper scale would appear less than that.
The actual working charges did not exceed 44 per cent.
after deductions for other companies. He was sai
guine these expenses would be less in the next
half.year than is the past. He then referred to
the report, which stated that the available balance
admitted of a dividend at the rate of 6 per cent. per
annum ; on the B stock 3:7 per cent. for the half-year,
making 6 per cent. for the year 1855, and upon the A
stock 21 per cent. for the whole year 1855, The direc-
tors recommended that a dividend be paid at these
rates, leaving the small surplus of 1121. 4s. 11d. to be
carried to' the next account. The balance appeared
small, but the object of the directors was to keep the
railway in an efficient manner out of the current re-
ceipts of the half-year. It was from its permanent con-
struction and good management that members were in-
duced to prefer to travel by this line to others, and un•
less it was kept in the most efficient manner possible be
should decline having anything to do with it. He moved
the reception and adoption of the report.
Mr. J. PAcKE, deputy chairman, seconded the motion.
Mr. Mules said that in consequence of ;the amicable
arrangement of the dispute between the respective com-
panies, he should not press the resolutions of which he
had given notice, and repeated the statement be
made yesterday at the Great Northern meeting, tbat
before the opposition commenced it would have been
better to have called the shareholders together and
have obtained their feelings on the question. Ile
acquitted the company from originating this dispute,
and concurred in the statements of the Chairman, as to
the satisfactory condition of their receipts, and the state
of the line ; and thus they bad less to fear from compe-
tition than any railway in the kingdom. He assumed
the position of a railway reformer not from factious feel-
ings, but to promote the good of these undertakings
generally.
The report, after some further discussion, was agreed
to.
Mr. C. NICHOLSON moved a resolution, "That the
shareholders at this meeting assembled highly approved
and applauded the conduct of the Chairman of this com-
pany in his manly defence of the interests of the coin-
pany pending the recent disputes between the London
and North Western, the Midland, and the Manchester
and Sheffield directors, and beg thus specially to acknow-
ledge their gratitude to him for thus adding another to
the many obligations he had rendered to the Great
Northern Railway." -
Mr. BILLINGS seconded the motion, which was carried
unaniniou-ily.
The CHAIRMAN returned thanks for this expression of
their feeling, but he begged to say that ho could have
done nothing without the assistance of the directors.
The dividend recommended by the board of directors
was declared, and would be paid about the 10th or 15th
of March.

The CHAIRMAN said some delay was necessary to pre-
vent mistake. On some occasions it had occurred that
persons bad received wrong dividends, but the parties
in whose favour the mistakes kiad been made bad not
communicated those mistakes to the secretary.
A. discussion ensued on a resolution submitted by the
directors to the meeting; authorising them to appropriate
annually out of the funds of the company sums not ex-
ceeding 230/. in remunerating, the schoolmaster and
mistn,s, and providing books, &c., for the schools, and
2001. to a clergyman for conducing Divine Service, and
affording spiritual instruction to the company's servants
at Dowager.
Mr. TACKETT moved an mendment that the sum for
the provision of a clergyman, should be omitted from.
the resolution.

The amendment having been seconded,
The CHAIRMAN said he considered it was the duty
of the company to provide religious instruction at Don-
caster for their 1,000 servants with their wives and chil-
dren. Ile protested against the seconder of the amend-
ment objecting to this grant, he being a preference share-
holder, and had to be paid his dividend in full before this
sum could be taken from the receipts of the company.
Mr. COOPER suggested that preference shareholders
should abstain from voting on this question.
After some further discussion the original motion wag
agreed to.
Some other business was disposed of, and the meeting
separated after a vote of thanks to .the chairman and
directors.

MARKET NEWS.—(This Day.)

COVENT GARDEN.

There were full average supplies of fruit and vegetables
on sale to-day, and the trade generally ruled steady, at full
prices.

FRIIIT.—Pine apples, English, Os to lOs per lb ; colonial
do., Os to Os each ; hot-house grapes, Os Od to 108 Od per lb ;
foreign ditto, Od to Os ; melons, 2s Od to 3s 6d each;
peaches, 2s Od to 6s; nectarines, is 6d to 48 per dozen;
apples, 2s 01 to 3s Od per half sieve; pears, is Od to
3s per dozen; plums, 03 to Os per sieve ; green gages, Os
per punnet; apricots, is lid to 5s Od per doz.; common plums,
Os 01 to Os Od per sieve; cherries, Cd to Od per
_pound ;
lemons, Od to is Od per doz ; oranges, is to 9s per 100 ; fil-
berts, Os to Os per doz. lbs ; cobnuts, 10s to Os ; almonds,
Os to Os per lb. ; walnuts, 8d to 10d per 100 ; figs, Os Od
to is 6d per doz ; strawberrios,.od to Od per pottle ; goose-
berries, Os Oil to Os Oil per half sievo ; currants, Os Od to
Os Od per half sieve ; rasply3rries, Od to Od per pottle. •
VEGETABLEh.—Greens, is 6d to 3s Od per doz. bunches;
cabbages, s to 2a 0.1 per dozen ; Savoy ditto, is Od to
2s Od per do. ; brocoli, is 6d to 2s per bundle ; potatoes, 600
to 100 s per ton ; vegetable marrow, Od to Os per doz. ; peas,
Os to Os Od per bushel ; French beans, 2s Od to 3s Oa per
100 ; turnips, 9d to per bunch ; carrots, 4d to 6d per
bunch ; cucumbers, 4s Od to Os Od each ' • garlic, Od to
Os 8d per pcund ; spinach, 3s Od to 4s Od per sieve;
old onions, 2s 6.1 to 48 per bushel ' • new ditto, Os to Os per
doz. bunches; leeks, 2d to 3d per bunch ; shallots,
8d to 10d ' • borse-raddish, 2s Od to 4s per bundle ; parsley,
4d to Od per bunch ; celery, Os Od to is lid per
bunch ; endive, is 6d, to 4s Od per score ; beet, is Od to
'2O,
per doz. • parsnips, Os 6d to is Od per dozen ; small
salad, 2d to 3d per punnet ; mushrooms, is Od to is 6d per
pottle; artichokes, Os to Os Od per half sieve; cabbage lettuces,
is to is 6d per score; sorrel, 6d to is per half sieve,
radishes, is to is 3d per dozen 'hands • tomatoes, 3s to 4s
per half sieve ; chillies, is to is 6d per 100; Brussels
sprouts, 2s Od to 3s Od per half sieve ; capsicums, is to 20
per 100 ; walnuts pickling, 6d to is per 100 ; cauliflowers,
4s to Os Od per doz. ; rhuburb, 8d to is 3d per bundle ;
asparagus, 4s to lOs per 100 ; sea kail, is 6d to 3s E er punnet

NEWGATE AND LEADENHALL.
Turkeys, 4s Od' to 8s Od ; Geese, 58 6d to 6s 6d each ;
Ducks, 2s 3d- to 2s 6d ; wild ditto, is 9d to 2s Od;
rabbits, is to is 6d each; Pigeons, 8d to 10,1 each;
large Surrey Fowls, Os Od to Os Od ; middling, 28 Od to
38 Od; Chicker., is 9d to 2s 3d ; Capons, 3s 6d
to 4s 6d ; Hare? 2s 6d to 3s 6d ; Grouse, is 9d to 2s Od each ;
Pheasants, 3s Od to 3s 64 ; partridges, Is 6d to is 9d each ;
Roasting Pigs, 4s 6d to 6s 64 each. Ostend fresh butter, 110
6d to 12s 6d, and English lls 6d to 15s Od per dozer lbs.
English Eggs, 9s Od to lOs Od; French ditto, 6s 6.1 to 7s 64
per 120.
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