The Sun.
London, England, 1856-02-21 00:00:00

EAST LANCASHIRE.

The half-yearly meeting of this company was held yes-
terday at Bury; Mr. Tuos. Dcgdale in the chair,
The report stated that the receipts for the half-year
showed an increase of 5,3651. over the corresponding
period of 1854, the mileage having increased from 811 to
93 miles, by the addition of the Clifton and Manchester
and Southport railways. The gross receipts during the
half-year ending 31et of Dec. amounted to 158,1111.; the
working expenses to 75,9251.; the interest on loans and
preference shares t' 40,2161., leaving a balance of 41,969/,
available for dividend. The directors recommend a
dividend of 3. per cent. per annum, leaving 3,0961. to
be carried to the reserve fund, which now amounted to
61,3571. The total expenditure of capital during the
halt-year amounted to 20,2021. The capital accoust
showed that 3,853,3921. had been received, and
3,811,4211. expended, leaving a balance of 41,9701.
The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report
and accounts, said, although the conduct, character,
and morality of railway directors, as a body, had been
openly ieipegned at public meetings, it was a source of
pleasure to him to meet the proprietors of this railway,
because he could confidently appeal to them for their
approval of the policy of their board. (Hear, hear.)
He could not say that he bad no disappointment in not
being able to present them with a larger dividend. The
depressed state of trade in the East Lancashire district
and the dearness of food hid deprived them of a large
revenue both in passengers and goods. The working
expenses had increased during the last half-year by
7,5041., as compared with the corresponding half of
1854. Locomotive charges had increased by 2,9451.,
principally through running 64,759 mites more than in
1854. Substantial repairs to locomotive engines had
cost 1,1871., and the pr;ce of coke, oil, and tallow had
been raised, though the amount per train per mile was
about the same. Coaching charges had been in-
creased by 1,1481. The accident at Suinmerseat
had increased the claims for compensation ; but, not-
withstanding the large goods traffic, the company had
paid considerably lees for compensation in this de-
partment than in the last half of 1854. Merchandise
charges had increased by 1.0351., because the goods
traffic had increased by 12,559 tons, or 1,6311., and the
cost of materials and labour lia4 augmented. The in-
crease of 2701. in the general charges was chiefly occa-
sioned by advertising the Southport competition, and
the increase in rates and taxes of 740/. arose from the
augmented poor rates in the townships through which
this line passed. In fixed charges there was a net in-
crease of 1,337/.,theprincipal addition being the interest
on the new 41 per cent. stock; but since Dec., 1854,
the fifths bad been reduced from 6to 5 per cent,. The
loans on mortearse renewed during the last half-year
amounted to 63,0001., rather more than half t,eing at 41
per cent. and under, and iu no case had more than 41
been paid, the average rate now paid by this company
being 4/. ss. ld., or 7(.1. per cent. increase since June
last. (Hear, hear.) This company was now at peace,
and had a friendly interceange of traffic with all neigh-
bouring railways. (Applause.)
Mr. RILEY (director) seconded the motion.
Mr. ROSSON expressed himself perfectly convinced
that no railway had better prospects before it than this
company.

The resolution was then carried unanimously, the re-
tiring directors and auditor were re-elected, dividends
after the guaranteed rates were declared on the preferen-
tial stock, and atter the rate of 31 per cent, per annum
on the ordinary stock, payable on the 4th March, and
2001. was voted from the revenue of the current year in
aid of the company's benevo!ent fund.
The proceedings concluded with a vote of thanks to
the chairman and the directors.

THE OPENING OF THE CRYSTAL PALACE
ON SUNDAY.

Last evening a public meeting of the inhabitants of
Westminster was held in Caldwell's Assembly-rooms,
Dean-street, Soho, to consider the propriety of petition.
ing Parliament to favour the opening of the Crystal
Palace, British Museum, National Gallery, and other
places of intellectual character, on Sunday afternoons.
The place of meeting was crowded.
Mr. J. George, who occupied the chair, opened the
proceedings of the meeting by stating that the object
fur which they had met was embodied in the new or-
ganised movement—the National Sunday League, of
which Sir J. Walmsley, M.P., was president. The
League had chosen that occasion as a preliminary meet-
ing. He proposed to combat the arguments of the
Sabbatariane, who contesded that, by opening public
institutions on Sunday, infidelity and irreligion would
overflood the land. During the last few years great ef-
forts had been made by the more enlightened members of
the aristocracy to improve the minds of the artisans and
mechanics of this country by delivering lectures, and
contributing their means to the encouragement of me-
chanics' institutions. In England, Lord John Russell,
the Earl of Carlisle, Lord Palmerston, Earl Granville,
Lord Stanley, Sir Robert Peel, and other exalted per-
sonages, had ably seconded what the Duke of Argyll
and the Earl of Eglinton had propounded in Scotland.
Still, should those parties not countenance with their in-
fluence the present movement, the league had one rock
of strength in the expressive and distinctive aid which
they receive from Sir John Shelley and Sir De Lacy
Evans. (Che:Ts ) It was not the object of tits associa-
tion to interfere at all with the religious observances of
the Sabbath-day, for he rejoiced that they had the en-
joyment in this country of a Christian Sabbitth—but
merely to procure the opening of public institutions for
the intellectual recreation of the working classes, instead
of affording them time to waste in public-houses. He
would call upon the inhabitants of Westminster to rally
round the standard which had that evening been un-
furled. (Cheers.)
Mr. TURLEY, in an animated speech, proposed the
following resolution :—" That the meeting is of opinion
that the opening of the Crystal Palace, British Museum,
National Gallery, and other depositories of science and
art, on Sunday afternoon!, would greatly strengthen
and highly elevate the moral, intellectual, and religious
capacities of the British people. It, therefore, pledges
itself to support the objects and endeavours of the Na-
t o, a Sunday League."
_ _

Mr. EDWAID, in a few remarks, seconded the resolu-
tion, which was unanimously adopted.
A petition in accordance with the resolution was also
adopted, signed by the chairman, and ordered to be pre-
sented to the House of Commons by Sir Joshua
\Valoisley.
A vote of thanks to the chairman closed the proceedings.

PERSONATING A SPECIAL JURTMAN.—Yesterday morn-
ing, at the sitting of the Court of Queen's Bench at
Guildhall, a person who was committed by Lord Chief
.Tustice Campbell on Tuesday evening. for falsely describ-
ing himself as David Wilson, of 5, Lawrence Pountney-
lane, was brought up in custody from the Queen's Bench
Prison to receive the judgment of the court. The facts
were these :—On the calling of a special jury on Toes•
day evening, on the name of " David Wilson," as de-
scribed above being called, the defendant stepped into
the box, and on being asked said he was the David Wil-
son in question ; but some doubts arising in the mind of
the officer he was not sworn, and on Mrs. Wilson being
sent for, it appeared that her husband had gone to Cal-
cutta. The defendant was then ordered into custody
that further inquiries might be made, and his lordship to
consider what course should be pursued in the case.
Ills lordship having read the affidavits asked the defen-
dant what defence he had to make, but. be merely said
he believed it to be frequently done. His lordship said
that the prisoner had committed a gross contempt of
court, and he would therefore bpi committed to her
Majesty's gaol of Newgate for three calendar months,.
He gave a fictitious address, and his real name is not
known.