The Sun.
London, England, 1866-05-01 00:00:00

RAILWAY BILLS.

Yesterday in the House of Commons, in group 1,
the Great Northern (Potter's-bar, Barnet, and
Hendon) was proceeded with and adjourned; and
also the Edgware, Highgate, and London, and the
Barnet, Hendon, and Midland Junction. In group
la, the preamble of the London and South Western
(additional powers) Bill was proved and the clauses
were settled. In group 7 the clauses of the Nor-
thampton and Banbury Junction Bill were settled ;
and the Teme Valley was proceeded with and ad-
journed. In group 10 the preamble of the Fleet-
wood, Preston, and West Riding Junction was
proved ; the Shrewsbury and Potteries Junction,
being unopposed, was referred to general committee.
In group 15, the Great Yarmouth Fish Wharves
and Tramways was proceeded with, and adjourned.
The following bills were referred to the Chairman of
Committees :—Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincoln-
shire (additional powers and new lines), Thetford
and Watton, East Norfolk, North Walsham and
Dilham Canal, Thorpe and Great Clacton Railway
and Pier. In group 16 the Great Western was
proceeded with and adjourned.

INTERNATIONAL COINTRACeT(. LIMITED).
The second ordinary general meeting
com-
pany was held yesterday at the offing s, Cannon-
streetof this
West ; Major Kitson in the chair.ce
Mr. Hopley, the secretary, read the report, which
stated that there was a net profit of £64,851 for
the year ending March 31 last (after payment of
the interim dividend to September, 1865), which
the directors recommended to be dealt with in
the following manner :—By the payment of a
dividend at the rate of 10 per cent. per annum,
absorbing £19,822, and by placing to the reserve
fund £3OOOO, and carrying the balance, £15,029,
to the next account. The directors hoped that the
successful results of their operations during the last
year would give
holders, the more so as it had required great caution
and vigilance on •
gaged iia bnain their part to avoid becoming en-
to disastrous coesa which bad led in many instances
repeat their folegeruences. The directors had to
explanation for limitirg the
dividends to 10 per cem
they had the satisfactit:o ,while at the same time
to increase the reserve lif,of being in a position
showed a total on both shine; The balance-sheet
of
£1
profit and loss account showed a ,566,093. The
of
year of £110,553, to which wasadgre'as profit for the
£3,278, making £113,831. Fret" a balance
this
ducted for current expenses £]3,940, for was de-
tax £2.078, for expenditure on c'r income-
undertakings
yet carried out £13,140, for interim
dividend 4t the
'')
rate of 10 per cent. per annum to 30th of Sel t, '-
ber last £19,821, leaving the balance of -111-
. profit
£64,851, as above.
The CIIAMMAN, in moving the adoption of the
report, apologised for not being able to issue it
earlier. It recommended the same course as on the
last occasion—a dividend of 10 per cent. The pecu-
liarity of their contract business was that accounts
remained open till !completed, and profits were not
realised till the accounts were closed. The profit of
£llO,OOO for the year was earned on contracts that
were not concluded, and the amount had been re-
ceived on current account. One of the items in the
balance-sheet was £727, 91.1 for investments, of
which £486,560 was on deposit account, and they