The Sun.
London, England, 1858-01-23 00:00:00

EILLWAY E:ML.L.GEAT-11'.

GREAT NORTHERN.

A meeting of preference shareholders in this corn-
patty was hi-ld yesterday at the London Tavern, to
receive a final report from the committee appointed
to protect the interests of the preference share-
holders Mr.. Williams in the chair.
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Hr. Williams, and M ssrs. Lawrence, the solici'ors,
the ma ter was brought to a successful conclusion.
The attempt in the House of Lords by the intro-
duction of au attlendment in he bill to deprive the
preference shareholders of their rights was frus-
trated in the House of a 'mesons by the rejection of
that amendment. Immediately after the bill
received the Royal Assent proceedings were
taken in Chancery. The
.question as to the pre-
ference shareholders' claims came before Vice-
Chancellor Wood, who decided in their favour.
The directors appea'el from that decision to
who, after a full consideration
ofth ethLeorsdusbjJeuctss,
subject, in
November last affirmed With
costs the decree of Vice-Chancellor Wood. The
funds placed at the disposal of the committee were
more than sufficient to defray the legal and other
expenses, and there remained a surplus of 1231.
The committee now wished to know how that sum
should be disposed off, as their labours had been
brought to a close.
Mr. J. C. HEATH, at considerable length pointed
out the importance of the decision which had been
obtained. It defined in a more precise manner the
relative rights of preference and ordinary share-
ho'.ders. He considered that the preference share-
holders were much indebted to Mr. Charlei Wil-
liams as the originator of the movement which had
succeeded in establishing the rights claimed by the
preference shareholders on a firm basis. He then
adverted to the proceedings in Parliament, and
showed that the mode of dealing with railway pro-
perty by the chairmen of committees in both
Rouses required amendment.
Mr. C. COOKSON proposed that the best thanks of
the meeting be given to Mr. Charles Williams and.
Mr. J. C. Heath for their great exertions on behalf
of the preference shareholders.
Mr. J. B. ROSE seconded the motion, which was
carried by acclamation.
Mr. WILLIAMS having vacated the chair and re-
turned thanks, the Rev. W. CAMPBELL was voted
thereto ' • and, after some observations from him ai
to the labours of the committee mad the great ad:-'
vantage to preference shareholders in general gained
thereby,

Mr. C. COOKSON proposed that one-half of the
surplus in the hands of the committee, and of any
further cuttributions which might be received, be
added to Mr. Charles Williams's te.,tiuiouial fund,
and the other half be appropriated to purchase a
suitable testimonial for Mr. Heath.
Profes-or HOPPLTS seconded the motion.

Mr. GREENING, having alluded to the very active
and important part taken in the movement by Mr.
Heath, the resolution was carried unanimously.
It was arranged that Mr. Brown and Professor
H ,ppus should carry out the resolution and receive
fur her contributions until the 2d of Feb. nit.
After votes of thanks to Messrs. Lawrence and
Nisbet, the solicitors employed, and to the Chair-
man, the meeting separated.