The Sun.
London, England, 1859-01-22 00:00:00

the metropolitan railway companies appear to ap!
prove highly of the. site selected for the Victoria
Terminus, and numerous schemes have been set on
foot with a view to connect them with it. Among
other projects of the present year, the directors have
to notice two lines, promoted by independent
parties, in continuation of the Mid-Sussex Railway,
one extending from Petworth to Midhurst, and the
other from Pulborough to Arundel and Littlehamp-
ton. A line has also been promoted from the West-
end of London and Crystal Palace Railway at Bal-
ham, to join this company's railway at the new
Norwood station ; it demands the support of the
directors, because, if properly carried .out, it will
be the means of providing nn improved access to
the West-end, and will enable the constantly in-
creasing local traffic of the attractive district tilt-
versed by the Welt-end of London and Crystal
Palace line to be more efficiently worked by being
separated from the main line trains. The directors
regret to inform the proprietors that differences
have arisen with the London and South-Western
Railway Company, in consequence of that company
not only having agreed in contravention of treaties
and without the knowledge of this company, to
take a lease of the Portsmouth Railway, but having
subsequently refused to admit this company as
joint parties to the arrangeMent. The directors
have exerted their best powers, and offered liberal
concessions, with a view to prevent a rupture ; and
in the present state of the question, they trust that
the proprietors will leave the matter in their bands.
It may, however, be stated that on the 28th Dec.,
the South-Western Company took violent posses-
sion of this company's line at Havant, obstructed
the passage of all the trains for about six hours,
and forcibly attempted to carry the traffic of the
Portsmouth Railway over this company's line be-
tween Havant and Hilsea Redoubt, before the terms
and conditions of such user had been settled by the
arbitrator, as required by the Portsmouth Railway
Amendment Act, 1858, and notwithstanding pre-
vious notice from this company that, in the absence
of those arrangements, such user could not be per-
mitted. This course enforced the necessity of obtain-
ing protection from the Court of Chancery. The award
is now published, but the question of the right of
the South-Western Company to carry the traffic of
the Portsmouth Railway into the joint station at
Portsmouth is still undecided. The proprietors may,
however, rest assured that the directors are most
reluctant to enter upon a contest, and that, in any
step which it may become necessary to take, the
interests of this company will be consulted and pro-
tected. The net amount at the credit of the revenue
account, after providing for all preferential charges,
is £164,831, out of which the directors recommend
the payment of a dividend of 31 per cent. for the
half-year, amounting to £161,649, leaving a balance
to the credit of the current half-year of £3,182, and

making the dividend for the year 1858 amount to
per cent. Three of the directors, namely, Leo
Schuster, Chas. Lushington, and John Nix, Esqs.,
go out of office by rotation, and being eligible for
re-election, offer themselves accordingly. One of
the auditors, Jas. Reeves, Esq., retires by rotation,
and being eligible for re-election will offer himself
accordingly.'