The Sun.
London, England, 1858-08-16 00:00:00

KNIGHTON.

The first so) of the intended railway from Knighton to
Craven Artn4, it appears, will he cut o►► Thursday next at
Knigaton, by Lady Jane Walsh. The ceremony :viii be
followed by a dinner, at which the Hon. R. W.Ctive, M.P.,
is to pieside.

U LSTER.
The half-yearly meeting of this company was held on
Wednesday, at Be fas', Mr. Coates in the chair.
On the motion of the CHAIRMAN the report was adopted,
and a divideed for the past half-year of £1 7e. 61.
per share, less income-tax, was declared. The retiring
directors, Messrs. Allen, Murland, and Mullhol-
land, were re-elected.
The meeting was then made special, to consider an agree-
ment entered into by the directors of the Pertadowtt and
Dungannon Railway Company for working the line.
Mr. SMITH, the solicitor, read the heads of the agreement.
Mr. WORKMAN wished to know whether the Ulster cern-
pany would be liable for any accidents that might occur oa
the Pot taeown and Dungannon Railway.
The CHAIRMAN said that if ail accidtnt occurred in tee-
sequence of the neglect of their servants they would be
accountable; but if it were caused through any defect in
the works the Portadown and Dungannon Company would
be liable.
Mr. ALLEN, in reply fo a question from Mr. Stewart,
stated that the agreement bad been under the consideration
of the board in various ways for four or five months, and
they were fully satisfied with its provisions. The agreement
bad been approved by the directors and shareholders of the
Dungannon Company and by the Board of Trade.
Oa the motion of Mr. Smith, seconded by Mr. Stewart,
the agreement was sanctioned, and
After a vote of thanks to the Chairman, the meeting
separated.

CORK AND BANDON.
The half-yearly meeting of this company was held on
Wednesday at Dublin, Mr. V. O'B. O'Connor in the chair.
The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report,
stated that a considerable aunt had been expended on re-
pairs of the line and on the rolling stock during the half-
'ear, and the line was now in excellent order. The bonds
of the company had recently been issued on mare reasonable
terms than formerly, and there remained about ,E 4,000
worth of the bonds to be disposed of. He recommended the
shareholders to take them up, as they were well secured.
The report and accounts were unanimously adopted, and
a dividend at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum on the No.
1 preference shares was declared.
After some observations in respect to improving the local
Management of the line the proceedings concluded with
votes of thanks to the chairman, directors, and secretary.

DUBLIN EFAST.
The report ofDU tbe directors AND
ofthis company states that
there was an increase in the traffic receipts of £957 as com-
pared with the corresponding period of 1857. The total
receipts for passengers and goods in the past half-year
ended June 30, amounted to £27,667, against £26,710 in
the first half-year of 1857, and £15,058 in the same period
of 1850- the working expenses being £10,378, £11,395, and
£11,347 respectively. The directors consider the result very
satisfactory, and that the working expenses were mo-
derate, being only 34 3-sttis per cent. of the receipts,
The total income for the half-year amounted to £34,144, the
working expenses to £10,377, and, including rates and
taxes, interest, and all other cbarges, to £17.969, leaving
a balance of £10,176. To this sum was added the balance
of £8,681, brought from the preceding half-year, making
the available sum £24,856. Out of this sum the directors
recommended a dividend at the rate of 4 per cent. per
annum, less income-tax, on the paid-up capital of the
company. The directors state that the construction of
the Banbridge line, which had been for some time sus-
pended for want of funds, has been resumed, and its com-
pletion within the next three months might be expected.
For the advances made to the Banbridge Company, not ex-
ceeding £lB,OOO, the Belfast Company received preference
shares, bearing interest at the rate of J per cent. per annum.
An extension of the Dundalk and Enniskillen line from
Newbliss to Lisnaskea was opened during tl.,e half-year, and
a further extension to Lisbellaw (only four miles from Ennis-
d for the inspection by the officer of the
"len) wa"ea
y
Board of Trade. A new line of railway from Portadown
to Dungannon had also been recently opened. The second
line of rails on 10 add ic air
tio•
n& miles of the line had been re-
cently opened fur trail;
▪ 7/arm.. the half-year the cn-
pany received from the Dublin and 13ra./nrcoigi lirent(liaCagoemdpesbnty,
£15,600 on account of the \a"n
reduction of the em-
end the amount was being applied in
party's debenture debt.
The capital account to June 301ast sholedthvaintg,f
al,blaol2a,ll
had been received and £901,147 expended,v
lea
ce
of £110,964. The revenue account for th
that 134,144 had been received, and e half-year showed
£10,900 expended fer
wotkine, le&ving a balance of £'23,24-1. •
Mr. Barton, the engineer, states in his report that the
permanent way has been safely and efficiently
maintained
during the half-year at a reduced cost as compared with the
two preceding half-years.

DUTCH RH ENISII.
The receipti on this line for the fortnight ending the 31st
of July last amounted to £9,328, and for the corresponding
period of last year to £8,244, showing an increase of ,E 1,084.
Vic receipts from the commencement of the present book-
year, on the Ist of flay to the 31st of July, amounted to
£43,04 sbowine an increase over the corresponding period
of last year of
L
6.3,133, 16. The working expenses for the fort-
night amount to
or 33 37 per cent of the receipts,
and from the Ist of May to the 31st of July to £16,547, or
3844 per cent. The accounts for the last year having been

kept upon a different system, a correct comparison of the
expenditure, it appears, cannot be made with the corre-
sponding period.
---

OSWESTRY AND NEWTOWN.
The half-yearly meeting of this company was held on
Wednesday at Welshpool—Sir W. W. Wynn, Bart., M.P.,
presided.
The SECRETARY (Mr. Stephens) read the report, which
stated that the expenses in obtaining the Act of Incorpora-
tion had been increased during the half-year by the sum of
£2,503, of which £2,433 was attributable to the award on
Mr. Piercy's bill for engineering services rendered before
the passing of the act. The engineering, since the Act of
Incorporation, had during the past half-year been increased
£3,700. by the settlement (under arbitration) of Mr. Bar-
low's bill. From the amounts awarded in these cases the
sums due on shares of the respective engineers had been
deducted, and the balance only paid to them in cash.
The arrear on account of deposit and calls on the
30th of Jane was £13,463. From the state of the com-
pany's finances, the directors had not yet been able to
order the extension of the works beyond Pool Quay, except
the two bridges over the Severn. The deposit of £18,730
with the Court of Chancery was not available until recently,
under a bond given to the Treasury by Mr. David Pugh,
M.P., the deputy-chairman.
The report of the engineer (Mr. Joseph Cubitt) shows
that the works of the line between Oswestry and Pool
Quay, a distance of 12 miles, were progressing satisfac-
torily, and might be opened b/Christmas next.
The CHAIRMAN moved the adoption of the report, which
was seconded by Mr. PUGH.
A lengthened discussion followed, and finally Mr. JoHN
NAYLOR (banker of Liverpool) expressed his readiness to
join the directors in borrowing money on debentures.
The report was adopted.
A subsequent resolution declared forfeited certain shares.
The proceedings terminated with a vote of thanks to die
chairman.

SUNDERLAND DOCK.
The half-yearly report of the directors states that the total
receipts for the half-year amount to £22,073, and the total
disbursements to £15,465, leaving a balance of £6,608. A
dividend at the rate of 4 per cent. per annum on the £l2los.
shares ; of £5 per cent. per annum on the £6 5s shares;
and £1 lOs per cent. per annum on the ordinary £25 shares
is proposed to be declared. The directors congratulate the
shareholders on the steadily-increasing traffic of the dock
and of the warehouse department. The coal traffic has also
greatly increased. The directors announce the loss of a law-
suit at the Spring Assizes, which cost them £1,681. In
order to increase the revenues of the company and pay better
dividends to the original shareholders the directors since the
19th ult. have increased the charges to vessels using the
dock, and instead of paying on the register tonnage, they
are now charged on the ton burden. They anticipate that
this will increase the income of the company considerably.

RIVER SEVERN NAVIGATION WORKS.

The Worcestershire Chronicle gives the following de-
scription of the important works for the improvement of the
Severn navigation, on the occasion of the opening of the
new lock and weir at the Severn Ham, near Tewkesbury,
on Tuesday :
These great works have been in course of construction
during the past two years ; their progress towards comple-
tion has been watched with no little interest, and now that
we have the consummation to which all classes amongst us
have been looking forward, we must endeavour to make the
utmost of the means of commercial improvement which they
will place at our disposal. Tuesday's inauguration, properly
followed up, cannot fail to prove the harbinger of good times
for our Severn navigation. It may not be the forerunner of
a state of things which was at one time dreamt of, wheel the
Severn should be a sort of inland sea, but without doubt it
is the first great step in advance.
The lock is truly of gigantic proportions, being capable of
cootaining a vessel 300 feet he length. It may almost be
called a double lock; for manifestly convenient purposes
the cutting is divided. At each end there is a pair of huge
folding gates, and the ordinary construction is supple-
mented by the insertion of another pair of gates, the of
of which is obvious. By this plan a single vessel will be ena-
bled, without loss of time, to pass through using the single
lack, while if a steam tug with a number of vessels should
come up, the central gates can be thrown open, and the
whole fleet taken into the lock. The depth of the lock is
30 feet. The walls are of brick on a substratum of concrete,
while the bottom of the lock is formed of an invered arch
laid upon a bottom cf concrete. Tue sill is ofstone from the
quarries of Upper Areley, and the copings a hard grey stone
from the Forest of Dean. The facing of the walls is of au ex-
cellent blue brick. Between the twoloeks there is this pecu-
liarity, that white the walls of the smaller are perpendicular,
the larger has a" batter" of from one to one and a half feet.
Iu width the upper hole isBo feet, and the lower 30 feet. The
approach to the lock at each end is about 70 feet ire width.
The gates may he called a marvel be themselves. Each ap-
proaches a weight of 18 ton', while the aggregate cost of
them is stated to he alreut £3,000.
The great object of the works, as has been ler-pier:l'ly men-
tioned, is to raise the level of the river to such an extent that
vessels of considera'u:e tonnage might navigate with ease be-
tween Tewkesbury and the city of Worcester. In carrying
out this object it was necessary to make two great cuttings,
the one for the lock, to which we have referred, and the other
for the weir, which is firmed of grey Bristol stone, deposi,ed
on a foundation of concrete. In length it is 500 feet, and its
base is 36 feet. It la calculate 3 that the water will flow over
it in a sheet of six inches deep at ordinary periods, though on
some occasions, of course, the depth will be considerably
more. The depth of water will he sit-di:dent to allow of the
unimpeded progress of the fish over, while the construc-
tion of the weir itself is favour:dile to their free pi.ssage. The
position of the wei: is diagonal, and in consequence the
ac fin of the water is rendered feebler than if the erection
were placed at right angles with tree course of the ritreir,
while the weir tiself ob'ains a greeter power of re:lst -
; ante. B2sides, the water leaves time weir in a direc.ion
f 'vont able to its subsequent course, and in a mariner le-s
feeble to wash the hanks. In the new course nf the liver
below the weir the banks have a slant " batter" of one and
a half feet towat de Vie bottom, and of fun,• feet to one to-
wards flee top. Between Diglis and flee Upper Lade the full
of ttte titer before the erection of the weir was About four
awl a half feet. It is calculated that the raising .1 the water
at Tewkesbury six feet, which has now been effected, will
raise it from a foot to a foot and a half at Diglia.
The cost of t';e whole works, includieg the filling up of
the old channel of t:se river subsequently noticed, and the
erection of houses and offices for the lock-keepers will not ex-
ceed the original estimate, which was £34,750. Up to the
present time the expenditure ha, been feorn£32,ooo te£33,000,
and, taking it to aecnint the value of the materials and ma-
chinery which are to be diaposad of after the whole of the
work has been completed, Mr. Williams calculates that the
original estimate will not be exceeded.
To Mr. Leader Williams, whose admirable plans have hen
so successfully carried out under his own guidance, aid the
able management of his son, Mr. Alfred Williams, there is
no small amount of credit due. When we consider the diffi-
culties with which be had to contend at the very outset;
when we know the great obstruction which was presented
by the loose nature of the subsoil, and the iagenicus manner
in which it was overcome, and reflect upon the extraordinary
tact and talent displayed in combating each arising difficulty,
it is impossibre to award to Mr. Williams more praise than
is justly his due.
The opening of the leek was effected without accident,
and, according to the opinion of others more competent
titan ourselves in such matters to judge, with the most com-
plete success. Ceremonial, properly speaking, there was
none. The whole affair might be summed up in half-n-dozen
litres. There were people collected from all parts. Half-a-
dozen b- ats and barges sailed down the old channel, which
was then closed. The sail boats then got in the lock when
Vie water became high enough, and they went in and
c arm out again, and again did thel same, and there were
firing of batteries and loud cheering of the people, and
" there's ate end on't." But following the usual custom, we
must be somewhat more particular in our account of the
opening and the proceedings by which it was accompanied,
for although the ceremonial was so meagre its its character,
still its signification was large and the thing signifleg, we
dare say, more than the thing itself, was uppermost in the
generality of reflective minds.
The Worcester party, which comprised many of our local
authorities and eminent citizens, including the Severn Com-
missioners, was to start from the Esplanade at the bottom of
Diglis-street, at half-past eight o'clock. Before that hour
their state barge was in readiness, fitted up in proper style,
and waited on by a steamer, the Enterprise, which was to
tow her down to the works. At the same point there was
also the trite little steamer, and the pretty-looking barge of
the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal Company, whose
directory were to have sailed down the river, but did not.
They preferred the more speedy conveyance of the rail, and
joined their state barge at the Ham. , The Worcester party
reeve as punctual as might have been expected. A few cf
them leaving been taken on board, the barge was towed up
to the bridge to have the compliment completed. in the
meantime the Canal Company's steamer and barge started
• d by
down the river, an a long distance took the lead of
.the Enterprise—which, by the way, is reported not to have
proved very enterprising in her progress—and the barge of
Messrs. Stalworth and Sons. The sail down, which occu-
pied upwards of two hours, was of the pleasantest possible
character. The sky was cloudy in the early period of the
morning, and the beat was consequently less oppressive
than it would otherwise have proved. Before the distance,
however, had been half gone over, and shortly after the
cathedral tower, from which the grey mist was being gra-
dually uplifted, had been lost to view, the sun shone out with
full meridian power, and during the whole of the day the
warmth continued excessive. Our (the Worcester) party
was not very numerous, but our enjoyment on our passage
down between the willow-lined banks of the beautiful
Severn was by no means small. The perfection of the natural
scenery which has so often been descanted on by everybody,
the state of the river which has been praised by nobody, the
tbaunteetuoafnieotyl.uheaosedAtsnhabteeielsrive
ntwvv ineaaprostiareskinstswneroet
punacknowledgedreview, by ale y -
ibmo di) r,
not
pointsionn l only
nr e
titheleerr eivde
rtoblearnakbacsln
re
therecrowds set
v e otherwiserrye,aagsr et
he taeebrdel We
of people who had had foreknowlegdge of our intentions and
from Worcester,
had assembled to witness our aquatic progress. We didn't,
however, get many cheers until we reached the Ham, and
btjuiereye,pparetryhaasps,fworeruesq.uitTehasismpuacrhtyinletaedndaeltiso pforrtoliteidTed h
Tewkes-
bury
" state " barge, which was gaily fitted out and fully
freighted. It contained the authorities of Tewkesbury, in-
cluding the mayor, the magistrates, and thee town clerk, and
some said Mr. Humphrey Brown, late M.P. for the " can-
nie little town." Mr. Brown was the: e, for we bad visual
demonstration of the feet, but whether he honoured the
mayor with his presence on board the barge we cannot with
certainty aver. The Tewkeebury boat awaited in the Avon
the arrival of the Worcester patty, whine it followed up its
its progress down the old bed of the river. Before corning
to the spot where, for "unnumbered axes" time Severn has'
"flowed gently pa-t," hut will cow flow no longer, the
Canal Company's party had reached their barge. This party
consisted of Lord Hathei ton, Lord Wroth ley the E.
R. Littleton, Alex. Hordern, Es q., Salt,'E, Esq., .tliC
Rev. J. Salt, Thos. Evans, Etei
..zl•Vin
rer,a t? eq., Henry
sq.,
nsgeicnrceetra,ryT
to
the
N‘i% rt
E,
isolicitor, F androCt ar;.l.eq"RP:etivTtti.el
company.
The closing of the old channel was effected by Mr.
williams with ex traordinaty celerity. The place had
previously been prepared. The channel had been
narrowed to the width of 70 feet, and all that remained to
shut out the stream for ever from its time-honoured course
was to sink a loaded barge and drive in the centre planks of
the timber sheathing. The operations were witnessed with
great interest by the crowd of well-dressed people who lined
The boat was submergedin the most approved
the
fashion, basksand.
cheers and the firing of six guns followed; the
last plank was inserted, awl again there were cheers and
ir
successaced . L Ladies
and gentlemen, descantng
firing, and sundry operations
own the ere
similarly
singular g
•steps in the direction of the
clay's work, now turned their
which Mr. Williams had accomplished this portion of the
lock, where, on board the various boats, lunch was to be

served. The lunch over, there were entering and re-entering
the lock by the various barges, that of the Canal Company
being supposed to pass through first. The performance was
gone through as well as the state of the tide would admit, a
battery was fired, there-were loud and repeated huzzas on
all bands, or, more properly speaking, from all mouths, and
the lock was formally opened for traffic.
In Tewkesbury the day was kept as a general holiday.
The shops and other places of business were closed, and
during the proceedings at the Ham the town were quite a
deserted aspect. From an early hour in the morning the
population had begun to move towards the scene of attrac-
tion. Many of them got on board the gaily-trimmed small
craft which floated on the bosom of the Severn, others took
up positions on the banks and the gigantic mounds of earth
around, lending to the whole vicinity a most animated ap-
pearance, enhanced not a little by the " fields of floating
bunting," in their brilliant and variegated colours.
There was rejoicing in Tewkesbury in the afternoon. The
rejoicings became Tewkesbury, for these works will make
of Tewkesbury what she has never been made before.
Amongst other details of the Tewkesbury festivities, we
may mention that 1,200 of the Sunday school children were
feasted on tea and cake, the funds for which had been raised
by public subscription.
The commissioners and their friends afterwards dined on
board their boat. After dinner, Sir Thomas Winniugton,
Batr., M.P., proposed, In a highly-complimentary speech,
the health of Mr. E. L. Williams, which that gentleman
aptly and pertinently acknowledged.