The Sun.
London, England, 1856-08-07 00:00:00

BRIGHTO:

(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)

GRAND STAND PLATE
Sonth Western
Raphael

Four ran.

LONDON AND SOUTH-WESTERN
RAILWAY—(This Day).

The ordinary half-yearly meeting of this company was
held this afternoon at the company's station, Waterloo-
road ; Mr. W. J. Chaplin, M.P., in the chair.
The report and statement of accounts, which have
both appeared in The lan, were taken as read.
The CHAIRMAN said be hoped the report and accounts
would be considered satisfactory, and render any length-
ened remarks from him unnecessary. He congratulated
the shareholders on the progressing satisfactory state of
the line. Out of 78 stations in walk there were only
three that had not yielded a profit during the last half-
year, and the aggregate amount of loss of expenditure
over income on them did not amount to more than Itl6/.
(Hear, hear.) Another subject for Congratulation was,
that this line, with the exception of three others, was
worked at the lowest percentage of any other railway
in the kingdom. (Hear.) Good faith had been kept
with the shareholders with reference to the providing
plant, and the expense for sidings and stations, for
the liquidation of which it was proposed to ask
their vote, and carry it to capital. With regard to the
bad debt account, the Chairman read from the report
the following paragraph :—"As we stated in our last
report, the old 'Bad Debt' account then disappeared
in our books ; but it will be noticed that an item of a
similar nature under the head of 'Eicke's Fraud' is
charged in the present accounts. The loss was occasioned
by the fraudulent issue of a bond fabricated in 1E44
That bond became payable in this half-year, and is so.
cordingly debited to the revenue thereof. We have no
reason to doubt that all past debts and frauds are now
disposed of." (Hear, hear.) The hon. gentleman re-
ferred to the debenture debts, and the difficulties gene-
rally experienced in raising money, remarking that the
directors of this line bad been so fortunate as to obtain
money at 4i per cent. The directors proposed that
powers also be given to them to regulate this stock, and
render it permanent by issuing shares for them from
time to time as they may think fit, whereby a great sav-
ing in interest and expense would be effected. The in-
terest proposed to be paid on the stock was 4 per cent.,
which would effect a saving of interest alone to the ex-
tent of 7,0001. per annum. (Hear, hear.) Many com-
plaints had been made of late relative to the situation of
the Waterloo station, arising from its difficulty of ac-
cess. There was at present a sum of 80,0001. in hand
for constructing a road from the Borough to Hungerford-
bridge, and he bad been informed by gentlemen con-
nected with the Hungerford-bridge that that company
bad plans under their consideration for altering the pre-
sent bridge, to make it applicable for carriages, with
an avenue on both sides for foot passengers ; or
they would, if assisted, consider the propriety of
building a new bridge on arches. It would be for the
shareholders of the London and South-Western Com-
pany to consider the present means of access to Charing-
cross, and whether it would not be politic on their part
to invest some of their own private capital in such im-
provements as he had referred to. (Hear, hear.) He
moved the reception and adoption of the report.
Count EYRE (director) seconded the motion.
The Hon. P. PIERREPOINT, director of the London
and North-Western, congratulated the meeting on the
satisfactory state of the undertaking which be attri
buted to.the honest, manly way, in which the policy ol
the company had been carried out by the chairman.
(Cheers.)
After some remarks from Mr. WOOD of a rather un-
intelligible character, referring to the company's inte-
rest in the North Devon and the Credit= Railways,
and also on the accounts,
Mr. CURRIE, on the part of the travelling public, com-
plained of the bad character of some of the carriages,
which he said was loudly complained of, and ought to
be remedied. They might keep the old carriages for
" Lords', Commons'," and excursion trains—(laughter)
—but the new and bast-constructed carriages should be
kept for short journeys and for the accommodation of
those who took houses in the neighbourhood of the line.
(Hear.) He objected to any money being expended re-
lative to any fresh approaches to the West-end over
Hungerford-bridge, believing it -should be over West-
minster-bridge, to better accommodate the inhabitants
of Belgravia and all that neighbourhood. Referring to the
large sums of money that bad been earned by this company
in connection with the naval and other reviews, and un-
derstanding extra remuneration had been in consequence
given to guards, engine-drivers, porters, &c., but not to
the station-masters and others in a superior position on
the line, he urged the propriety of a gratuity being given
to those whose anxiety and business had been increased
by the running of these extra trains.
Mr. TITE, M.P., suggested that the directors should
pause before they did anything with reference to Hunger.
ford-bridge. The construction of the new Westminster-
bridge had been suspended in consequence of a scheme
being under consideration to remove the bridge alto-
gether lower down the river; and, from what he bad
seen of the sketch, be thought the station would be
much benefited.

The CHAIRDIAN said that he addressed the share,.
holders on that point in their individual character.
Mr. TlTS—Then I caution them not to be too hasty.
The hon. gentleman referred to the carriages, which he
said presented a contrast to many other lines ; but
having got them, economy must be studied, and they
must be used till worn out. Speaking of the extra re-
m nneration to the railway officials. Mr. Tite said that
railway staffs were the hardest worked and worst paid
men in the kingdom. (Hear, hear.) Ho asked what
bad been done about the Exeter Extension Line.
The Chairman explained that men were now at work
on land where the purchase bad not been completed in
order to save time and push on the undertaking.
Mr. Sergeant Gazelee said the officers on the line had
been remunerated for extra services according to a scale
laid down by the traffic manager. The committee of
review bad considered the salaries paid to all the offi-
cers, and in many instances had greatly increased them.
sAfter some further remarks, the subject dropped,
the directors having consented to give it their consi-
deration.

Mr. HEREPATEL said the report was satisfactory. it
was not often they had an increase of dividend, as
recommended on this occasion. (sear.) The hon gentle-
man suggested some alteratione with reference to the
details of the accounts, &c., particularly the suspense
account, and also that the proprietors' consent should
fir
of capital took place.
31tr. b.e
ll a
latter was impossible. As
soons a
me fc
to
expended
saidpae nnthe
d outlay
edW as
known,
the
proprietors
were asked to capitalise it. After that the plant, sta-
tion, (&c., were kept up out of revenue.
stsu the i ui before

A. lengthened discussion ensued, but nothing practi-
cal resulted from it.
The report was then agreed to.
A dividend of 51 per cent, per annum, subject to
income tax, was also agreed to.
The following resolutions were then agreed to :--
"The creation and disposal of a Debenture Stock, to be
applied in liquidation of the Company's existing Debenture
Debt."

" The disposal of the balance of the old ordinary share
capital.
" The leasing jointly with the London, Brighton, and
South Coast Railway Company, of the Wimbledon and
Croydon Railway.
" The conclusion of arrangements for working and main-
taining the respective Branch Railways to Lymington,
Blandford, and Salisbury Market when completed by their
respective proprietors.
- -

A vote of thanks to the chairman then terminated
the proceedings.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.—(This Day.)

BOW STREET.

A POLICE3IIN EXCEEDING HIS DllM—This morning
a very respectably attired young woman, named Sarah
Simmonds, was placed before Mr. nail, charged with
annoying gentlemen in the Strand.

Police-constable 153 F stated that he was on duty
last night in the Strand, and between the hours of nine
and ten he saw the female at the bar annoy a gentle-
man by attempting to take his arm. .He repulsed her,
and proceeded onwards. He (the constable) then cau•
tioned her, and afterwards he saw her repeat the annoy-
ance to two other gentlemen. He then took her into
custody.

Mr. Hall—What do you mean by the term 'annoy.
.ng ?

Constable—Attempting to take a gentleman's arm.
The sister of the young woman here stepped forward,
and assured the magistrate that there was not one word
of truth in the statement just made by the constable.
Her sister was a respectable married woman, and the
facts of the case were as follows:—Last evening her sister
and herself left their residence, which was eituated on
the other side of the water, with the intention of mak-
ing a purchase, and having done so, they stood for a
minute or two at the corner of one of the streets in the
Strui,cl, vonticleriog which of the bridgeh they,thould-: