The Sun.
London, England, 1856-09-06 00:00:00

EASTERN COUNTIES.

The committee appointed to consult with the directors
of the Eastern Counties Railway Company at the half-
yearly meeting on Friday tat, with a view to a sweep-
ing alteration in the constitution of the beard, have held
two meetings. The first a purely preliminary
held on Tuesday last, at the offices of the Railway Re-
form Association, to consider how to use the power with
which they had been entrusted in the manner most cal-
culated to benefit the shareholders. Although they were
empowered by the terms of the resolution to consult as
to which four of the directors should retire, they, with
much good sense, decided upon leaving the selection to
the board themselves, confining themselves to a request
that an interview might take place between the parties
to hear what decision the directors had come to.
Oa Thursday accordingly they met again at the Shore•
ditch station at 1 o'clock—the directors having fixed 2
o'clock to receive them. We understand that during
the interview the deputation were treated by the direc-
tors with anything but courtesy. In place of consulting
with them, or even naming those of their I•dy who were
willing to retire, the diremors refused to enter into the
question at all till the views of the committee were
put in writing. This was done, and the committee
intimated that they waited an answer. After a delay
of three-quarters of an hour the secretary of the railway
told the deputation that the board would not give an
immediate answer, but would return one by p. st in the
evening. The committee felt that this was merely done
as a means of delay, awl very properly insisted on an
immediate reply. The board then consented to receive
them again, but merely to tell them, by the mouth of
Mr. Commissioner Fane, that the directors would not
make any such selection as that demanded. The treat.
ment of the committee, some of whom have large inte-
rest in the company, was, we hear, such that they have
expressed themselves very strongly on the subj ct. It is
stated to us that the ground on which the directors re-
fuse to decide upon who should retire from the board,
in compliance with the almost unanimous vote of
the recent half•yearly meeting, is, that they are not
empowered by act of Parliament to do so. But this ob-
jection is met by,the fact that directors have at all times
the privilege of retiring from their duties ; so that, in
truth, the present Eastern Counties Board, against
whom a vote of want of confidence has been carried with
very few 4,
•P--- "'" incr:ed, appear ueL, •-
••••- •
fast to their position. We hear that a. special itivril:ing
- tro•th with for the purpoie of submitting to
the general body of prop...b.—. the conduct of the be and..
We also hear that Mr. Waddingion has officially an-
nounced iris resignation as direetor ; and that Mr.
Bruce, the chairman of the East Anglian, and an ex-
officio director of the Eastern Counties, has stated to his
colleagues that ho will retire altogether from active par-
ticipation in the proceedinga.—Morning

RAILWAY TRAFFIC RETURNS.

TRAFFIC RETURNS FOR THE WEEK.

Miles
opened,
1856.

NAME OF RAILWAY.

Receipts,

1856.