The Sun.
London, England, 1858-08-23 00:00:00

MONKLAND.

The twenty-first half-yearly general meeting of the share-
holders of the Monkland Railways Company was held within
the company's chambers in West Regent-street, Glasgow
on Friday. The attendance was not large. Mr. John Bain,
of Morriston, chairman of the company, occupied the chair.
The SECRETARY read the advertisement calling the
meeting; after which the minutes of last meeting were read,
approved of, and confirmed.
Mr. BURGESS mad? a few remarks on the irregularity
which had calmed 111
the elect of a director at latt

meeting. He hoped the case would in no future instance
be used as a precedent.
The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report,
said that, in common with everviother company in the king-
dom, they had to lament the falling off of !he revenue during
the last half-year. They were partly. recovering their posi-
tion, and he had no doubt that from the improvement
in trade they would soon arrive at their former state of
prosperity. It would be seen from the figures that the
decrease vies not very great, all things taken into con-
sideration. The revenue accounts now submitted, com-
accounts of last year, showed
pared with the corresponding
a decrease of £2,072 ls. lld. With reference to the
progress which was being made in the new lines going
on, the eastern portion had been laid, and he expect-
ed that the first contract would be finished in the month of
September. The cuttings had commenced en the Craigmill
branch to the western extremity, and it was expected that
It would sown be all made. In regard to the second contract,
the works had been begun to the west end of the branch,
and a constderable revenue would be derived from the

iron-stone in the district. They would commence carrying
for the Coltness Iron Company in a short time, and thus
revenue would be derived from the extremities of the lire
before the whole was opened. The chairman concluded by
saying he would be glad to answer any question put by the
shareholders.

In reference to that part of Mr. Johnstone's report
which spoke about the re-laying with new rails of the
Bo'ness branch, Mr. Burgess asked when the branch was
opened, and being answered that it was in 1851, expressed
his surprise that new rails were needed already.
The CHAIRMAN said that the bad state of the rails was
mentioned at the last meeting. It was principally through
the unsatisfactory way in which the contractor had made
the line.
Mr. BURGESS —Did you make any claim on the con-
tractor for the unsatisfactory condition of the line ?
The CHAIRMAN—Unfortunately it was taken off the
contractor's hands by the engineer.
Mr. BURGESS called the attention of the board to two
or three matters of little importance, after which the adop-
tion of the report was agreed to.

CUTTING THE FIRST SOD OF THE KNIGHTON

RAILWAY.

The cutting of the first sod of the Knighton Radnorshire
Railway, which branches from the Craven Arms station on
the Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway, was performed on
Thursday by Lady Jane Walsh, wife of Sir J. B. Walsh,
Lord Lieutenant and M.P. for the county. In 1854 a
number of gentlemen projected the Central Wales Railway,
from the Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway, near the
Craven Arms, via Knighton, Penybont, Llandrindod, and
Llanwrytd Wells, passing near the towns of Builth and
Rhayader to Llandovery, a distance of 53 miles; and thence
down the Vale of Towy, so as to connect Milford Haven with
Manchester and the north of England by a junction with
the South Wales Railway, near Carmarthen; and likewise
to connect Swansea and its copper-smelting works with
Liverpool and the manufacturing districts, by a junction
with the Llanelly Extension Railway at Llandilo ; thus
offering one direct and unbroken line of traffic from the
German Ocean to the Atlantic, across the centre of England
and Wales. The Knighton section of this undertaking was
formally inaugurated on Thursday. The line, commencing
by a junction with the Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway,
near Craven Arms station, and passing near the villages of
Clungunford, Bucknell, and Brampton Brian, winds along
the course of the beautiful valley of the Teme to a point
convenient for its extension, in the Immediate vicinity of
the angular-looking little town of Knighton. There are ne
engineering features of particular interest or difficulty.
The gradients and curves are easy and favourable, and
through the entire length (121 miles) the scenery is moat
beautiful. Mr. Henry Roberison, the engineer of the
Shrewsbury and Chester line, is the engineer of this line, in
conjunction with Mr. Maclean. Mr. Robertson anticipates
the opening of the line in 18 months. The contractors are
Messrs. Brassey and Field, who have undertaken to con-
struct it for about £5,000 per mile; the total cost, including
land, being estimated at £6,500 per mile. The cutting of
the first sod was celebrated with great spirit by the inhabi-
tants of Knighton, in which town the most active promoter
of the line, Mr. R. Green, resides. Lady Jane Walsh, Sir John
Walsh, Bart., M.P., Sir G. C. Lewis, Bart., M.P., Lady
Langdale, Hon. R. W. Clive, M.P., Sir A. R. Boughton,
Bart., and a large number of the principal inhabitants of the
district walked in procession shortly after noon to the place
appointed, and the ceremony of turning the sod was
performed by Lady Walsh with due ceremony amid the
cheers of the assembled thousands. In the afternoon
nearly 500 ladies and gentlemen sat down to luncheon, at
which the Hon. R. W. Clive, M.P., presided. In proposing
" The landowners on the line," Sir G. C. Lewis said
that those who, unfortunately, like himself, could re-
member the (first introduction of railways, and those who
had read accounts of the time, would agree with him
that there was scarcely any great invention ever accom-
panied with more sinister prophecies, er with greater ap-
prehensions from the localities to be traversed than the
introduction of railways. It was the object of every land-
owner to drive the railway from his estate. It was believed
, that they would spoil the face of the country, which would
1 exhibit the appearance of an enormous gridiron. The scene
, which they had witnessed that day was in one of the most
picturesque spots in England, and he rejoiced to think
that those beauties would be rather enhanced than injured
by the introduction of a railway. He regretted mach that
Parliament had not shown a very paternal regard for rail-
ways, which when not made by this, with only one object,
were subjected to many disadvantages, and which had
undoubtedly encouraged a competition inimical to the rail-
way interest.
Mr. Macaulay, one of the oldest railway directors in the
kingdom, said be did not see any reason, when the scheme
was completed, why the fertile valley of the Tame shonld
not become a large manufacturing district like the valley of
Todmorden.
The proceedings of the day closed with a ball, which was
numerously attended, the party not breaking up until past
t 1 midnight.