The Sun.
London, England, 1856-09-08 00:00:00

RAILWAY MEETINGS.

The railway meetings of the week have been
principally of a secondary character, but they have
presented some facts of interest. The report of the
Midland Groat Western Company states that the
directors propose to declare a dividend at the rate
of 5 per cent:, leaving a surplus of 3,96 U/. to be
carried forward. The branch lino to Cavan has
been opened, but it is too early to judge of the pro-
bable development of traffic. The shareholders of
the Dundee, Perth, and Aberdeen Junction Com-
pa uy have adopted the report, and approved the
dividend of li per cent. per annum. The under-
taking shows a gradual improvement, mainly attri-
buted to the result of cordial co-operation with the
other lines in the district. It is stated that the
Alyth Railway, when carrried out, will become an
important feeder. The directors of the East Anglian
Railway anticipate an important improvement in
the traffic receipts from the completion by the cor-
poration of Lynn of the quarrying of the Boal
Point, which will afford increased accommodation
for steamers or other vessels using the port. The
dividend of the Melbourne and Hobson's Bay Com-
pany has been declared at the rate of 8 per cent.,
leaving a balance of 8,9231. The report of the
Cornwall Railway has been adopted, and the for-
feiture of shares confirmed. The works are repre-
sented thus far to have proceeded satisfactorily, and
to be in an advanced state ; but their further active
prosecution will depend upon the speedy posses-
sion/of sufficient funds. At the meeting of the Lan-
cashire and Yorkshire Company the dividend of
21. ss. for the half-year was agreed to, and the
directors were authorised to oppose all bills in Par-
Earl:rept considered prejudicial. The report of the
Edinburgh and Glasgow Company has been agreed
to, and the"dividends declared at the rate of 2 per
cent. on the consolidated stock, and 5 per cent. on
the preferencd shares. Owing to increased expen-
diture aid the' effects of competition, the results of
the half-year have not proved satisfactory. At the
meeting of the Dundalk and Enniskillen Railway
the dividend of Gs. per share was agreed to. It is
stated that the traffic is increasing, and that it will
exhibit further improvement on the completion of
the line to Enniskillen. The report of the North
British Railway is considered more favourable, and
prudence and economy will, it is hoped, place the
undertaking on a sound basis. The dividend on the
ordinary stock is proposed to be at the rate of 2i
per cent., while that on the guaranteed stock will
be at the rate of 5 per cent. Attention is to be
directed to a further reduction in working expenses,
if it can be judiciously effected. The Railway Pas-
sengers' Assurance Company have declared a divi-
dend at the rate of 4 per cent. per annum, and the
report has been received. The principal discussion
was with respect to the general outlay, which it was
explained is incurred to obtain an increased business.
The report of the Staines, Wokingham, and Woking
Railway details the progress of the undertaking, and
states that the directors have not considered it de-
sirable to commence the works on the branch line
from Long Cross to Woking. The promoters of the
Buntingford and Ware Railway have held a meet-
ing at Buntingford, and resolutions have been
passed approving the project. The works on the
Ulverstone and Lancaster Railway are steadily pro-
ceeding, and when they shall have been completed
a remunerative return is expected. The directors
have called the remaining 51. per share. The divi-
dend of the Glasgow and South-Western Company
will be at the rate of 4 per cent., leaving a small
balance to be carried forward. At the meeting of
the Great Southern and Western the dividend de-
clared was at the rate of 6 per cent., il,e revenue
showing a progressive increase. The traffic of th
Whitehaven and Furness line exhibits an improve-
ment, but the working expenses continue heavy.
The dividend of the Whitehaven, Cleator, and
Egremont Company is at the rate of 4 per cent.,
and the mineral traffic is being fully developed.
The report of the South Devon Company is re-
garded as satisfactory, and a dividend of 7s. per
share has been agreed to. Arrangements for leasing
the Sough Devon and Tavistock Railway and the
Lee Moor branch were carried, the directors being
also authorised toraise additional capital. The direc-
tors of the Exeter and Exmouth Company state
that additional subscriptions having been made to
the share capital, they propose to take the neces-
sary steps for purchasing land and entering into
coutracts for the construction of the line. Accord-
ing to the report of the Fleetwood, Preston, and
West Riding Junction Company, the working of
the united line will be at once proceeded with.
The traffic of the Furness line has been consider-
able, and the dividend declared has been at the
rate of S per cent. per annum. At the meeting of
the Caledonian and Dumbartonshire Junction the
dividend declared was at the rate of 4 per cent., and
the report was adopted. The Forth and Clyde
Junction having been opened, passengers are taken
through from‘Glasgow to Stifling, passing over the
line to Balloch. It has been agreed to wind up
the Liverpool, Manchester, and Newcastle Junc-
tion Company, the Chancery proceedings having
been finally concluded. A small balance is re-
tained to meet contingencies. The works on the
Portsmouth line are advancing, but the section
from Godalming to Witney has received the greatest
attention. The pressure in the money-market has
prevented full activity, although on the whole
prospects are not considered dis.louraging. The
progress of the East Kent Company is regarded
as satisfactory ; and it is stated that the portion
from Strood to Faversham will be completed in
about 12 months. The bridge over the Medway
at Rochester has been finished within the time
specified, at a cost considerably within the estimate.
The dividend of the Norfolk Company is at the
rate of 21. 10s. per cent., and the trade at all the
ports and agricultural stations has improved.
The directors have been authorised to raise
a sum of 30,0001. by the creation of new
shares at a rate of interest not exceeding 5
per cent. The report of the Birkenhead, Lanca-
shire, and Cheshire Junction Railway has been
adopted, and the dividend declared is at the rate
of 2i. per cent. At the North-Western meeting it
was explained that the balance of revenue is in-
sufficient to allow the payment of a dividend. The
traffic has been affected by the strike in the iron
districts of Ayrshire, which has exercised a very
prejudicial influence throughout the neighbourhood,
The dividends of the South Yorkshire Company
have been declared at the rate of l-- per cent. on
the guaranteed stock, and the report, after some
discussion with regard to the accounts, was carried.
The available balante of the Hereford, Ross, and
Glocester Company will be applied to reduce the
existing debt. An increase of traffic is expected,
and if the remaining shares can be issued, they
will realise a sum sufficient to relieve the under-
taking from all liability. The dividend of the
Vale of Neath Company has been declared at the
rate of 4 per cent., but, owing to the limited at-
tendance, a meeting could not be legally consti-
tuted. At the Sheffield, Rotherham, Wakefield,
and Goole meeting the dividend declared was at
the rate of 5 per cent., and the advantage of an
arrangement with the Lancashire and 'Yorkshire
Company is still under consideration. The report
of the Cannock Mineral Company has been adopted,
and the directors have been authorised to carry
out the proposed agreement with the North Staf-
fordshire Company.—Times City Article.

OPEN-AIR, PREACHING AT BETHNAL-
GREEN.

Sir Benjamin rail's prohibition against preaching in
Victoria-park on Sundays bad the effect yesterday of
keeping out the clergymen and dissenting ministers who
had mae arrangements for a series of sermons there ;
but as the right hon. baronet's authority did not extend
to Bishop Bonner's-fields, which adjoin tl!.e park, that
cicrgymaa whose turn it was to tal:e the duty. had hie
pulpit erected without the bound:sits cif the pad:, and
about a hundred yards from its principal entrance. The
service, according to announcement, commenced at half-
pa t three o'clock, at which time the Rev. W. D. Long,
MA., the incumbent of St. Paul's Church, Bermondsey,
took his place. After some appropriate prayers selected
from the Liturgy of the Church of England the rev.
gentleman addressed the vast mass of persons who sur-
rounded him. He stated that he was anxious to im-
press upon them that he was not there in defiance of
legal authority, which he wished at all times to respect,
for the prohibition issued by the Commiinioner of Works
only applied to the park, and he bad ascertained that
there were no impediments to a service being conducted
in Bishop Bonner% -Selds. As a clergyman of the Church
of England he bad asked the permissionß of the incum-
bent of the district—St. John's, et hnai -„,o.reen—to
preach
there, and that consent had been readily
nary
tr o
versem r remarks thethe rev. .egh gen.
ter of St. Matthew's Gospel :
tStireamnatend;eleActfetedr f
or thesehis
"Thot shalt call his nam e
Jesus, for he shall save his peoplet
from their sins."
textprel im
the
of Scripture Mr. Long preached in a
Upon this passage
very
fervid manner, to upwards of two thousand per-
sons, all of whom appeared to listen to him with re-
spectful attention. Very decorous conduct Was oh-
served throughout the whole of the proceedings. At
St. John's Church, the incumbent Gf which had given
his consent to the out-of-door preaching, there was a
very poor congregation. It is one of the largest
churches in the metropolis, but while Mr. Long was
preaching in the fields, there were in the church only
two men and fifteen women. The open air preachings
in Bishop Bonner's•fields are to be continued, several
of the most eminent clergymen and dissenting ministers
in London having volunteered their services.

- - _
It is currently rumoured, but we do not vouch for the
correctness of the report, that the Right Hon. Charles
F. Villiers, the present Judge Advocate-General, and
brother of Lord Clarendon, will probably be the successor
of the late Sir William Temple as minister at the Court
of Naples. Mr. Villiers' political views would seem to
qualify him for this particurar post at the present mo.
mect.—Mandaster Guardian.