The Sun.
London, England, 1867-04-18 00:00:00

CARLISLE AND SILLOTIL

The half-yearly meeting wai held at Carlisle on
Tuesday ; Mr. Irving in the chair.
The CHAIRMAN moved the adoption of the report
(an abstract of which has appeared in The Sun.)
He was sorry that their affairs were anything but
satisfactory in consequence of the present state of
the North British Company. They, however, had
seen the worst, and he hoped that they would soon
improve. Their affairs bad undergone a thorough
revision, and he hoped after they obtained powers
to raise pre-preference stock, they would attain a
much better financial condition.

Mr. J. D. CARR seconded the motion, whi7l was
agreed to.
In reply to a question from Mr. J. Forster,
The CHAIRMAN said that their £2,000 a year rent
would not be in any degree affected by the powers
which the North British were now seeking at the
hands of Parliament, nor be prejudiced in future
by any legislation.

A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the
proceedings.

CALEDONIAN.

A special general meeting of this company was
held on Tuesday in Glasgow, for the purpose of
considering certain bills now pending in Parlia-
ment ; Lieut.-Colonel Salkeld presided.
The CHAIRMAN, in moving the approval of the
first bill, which was one for amalgamating the Cale-
donian company with the Forth and Clyde Canal,
said the possession of the canal, through the medium
of running powers over the North British Railway
for about three miles from Larbert to Grangemouth,
would enable the company to ship coals at Grange-
mouth from the Wilsontown, Wishaw, Lesmahagow,
and Douglas districts ; would, in short, open a new
port in the Forth which at present was closed
against the Caledonian Company. It would also
open a new route between Glasgow and Grange-
mouth, and would enable the Caledonian Company
to throw all of the heavy traffic upon the canal, and
by that means relieve the line between Glasgow and
Coatbridge from a portion of the existing traffic,
which was now very heavy. The amalgamation
would also enable the company to make through
rates for traffic over the canal to every part of the
Caledonian system, and would also enable them to
make much more extensive arrangements with
traders in Lanarkshire and other districts than they
were able to do at present. The canal was a pay-
ing concern, and when amalgamated with the Cale-
donian Company the directors iiad no doubt that its
dividend would be maintained.

The motion for the approval of the bill was agreed
to, only five hands being held up against its adoption.
The other bills, for enabling the company to make
certain branch railways in the counties of Lanark
and Midlothian, and to acquire additional station
ground at Carlisle ; to enable the company to make
certain railways and other works in- the county of
Forfar; to enable the Solway Junction Railway
Company to make a junction with the Carlisle and
Silloth Bay Railway ; and to'enable the trustees of
the port and harbours of Greenock to construct a
new quay and other works, were all agreed to, and
the meeting separated.

ST. ANDREW'S.
The half-yearly meeting was held at St Andrew's
on Mond.ty ; Mr. Smith in the chair.
The report stated that the balance at the disposal
of the directors was £1,465. From this sum it was
proposed to pay interest ou debentures, £133 ; divi-
dend on share capital, at 4f per cent., £464 ; pay-
ment for mileage, engine power, plant to North
British, £643 ; leaving a surplus of £224 to be
divided between the St. Andrew's Company and the
North British. The revenue had increased £l9l
beyond the corresponding period. The directors re-
commended that a dividend of 5 per cent. per
annum, less income tax, be declared.
The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the
report, stated that the revenue now exceeded £2,000
in the half-year.

The report was unanimously adopted, and the
retiring directors re-elected.

ESK VALLEY.

This line of railway, three miles in length, leading
to the lower paper mills in the valley of the North
Esk, Midlothian, and giving improved access to
Roslin and Hawthornden, was opened to the public
on Monday. Its cost somewhat exceeded £27,000,
on which the North British were to pay 5 per cent.,
and also the interest on the loan capital of £9,000.