The Sun.
London, England, 1866-10-03 00:00:00

WENSUM VALLEY.

The half-yearly general meeting of this company
was held on Saturday, at the offices, Westminster-
chambers, Victoria-street—Mr. W. B. Greenfield in
the chair.

The Secretary read the report, which stated that
no effective progress had been made in regard to the
construction of the line. That, however, was a cir-
cumstance over which the board had no control, and
arose almost altogether from the unsettled state of
affairs at the Great Eastern Board. This was the
more to be regretted, inasmuch as had the line been
intrusted to a new company in preference to the
Great Eastern it was probable the works would have
been long since completed. Indeed the line had been
originally supported by independent parties—by the
landowners and other persons of influence in the
neighbourhood—but finally it had been taken up
the Great Eastern Company, who stipulated to
contribute one-third of the capital, to work the
line at 50 per cent., and to concede through-
booking from Lynn to Norwich, to be reciprocated
on the part of the Wensum Valley proprietors, who
were to allow through-booking arrangements from
March to Lincoln. This agreement has been sche-
duled in the act of incorporation, which contained
a clause empowering the Great Eastern Company
to subscribe one-third of the capital.
The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the
report, adverted to the main features in the agree-
ment between the IVensum Valley Company and
the Great Eastern. There was no doubt that the
Great Eastern Company had become alive to to the
advantages which the opening of the Wensum Val-
ley line would confer upon their undertaking. That
being the case, the question might be asked, why
they did not carry out their agreement so as to lead
to the active prosecution of the works ? That was
a question which admitted of an easy and imme-
diate reply. 'The fact was that the Great Eastern
was at the present moment iii want of the necessary
funds to expend on the construction of their metro-
politan extensions, from which it was but reasonable
to expect they would derive a considerable profit.
When they were unable to find funds for the con-
struction of works that were likely to be remunera-
tive, it was not to be expected that they would raiso
the money which, under the Act of Parliament, they
were to subscribe to the Wensum Valley under-
taking.
The report was unanimously adopted, and the
proceedings terminated.

SAFFRON WALDEN.
At the half-yearly meeting of this company it
was stated that the gross earnings during the past
six months of a portion of the line at present in ope-
ration had been £1,058. The line worked at present
only extended from Audley End to Saffron Walden ;
but Captain Rich, the Government Inspector, had
passed over the extension to Bartlow, and it appeared
was satisfied with the works. It was expected that
traffic would be commenced to Bartlow before the
close of the month.

LONDON, BRIGHTON, AND SOUTH COAST.
The Tunbridge-wells hue of this company was

opened for passenger traffic on Monday. The hn.e
extended from Three Bridges Station to Tunbridge -
wells, a distance of 20 miles, including the Eatst
Grinstead line, about six miles in length. Through
trains now run between the following stations :---
Tunbridge-wells, Three Bridges, Brighton, Worth-
ing, Horsham, Guildford, Littlehampton, Bognor,
Chichester, and Portsmouth. There are seven
stations between Three Bridges and Tunbridge-
wells—viz., Rowfant, Grange-road, East Grinstead,
Forest-row, Hartfield, IVithyham, Groombridge,
and Tunbridge-wells. There are six trains each way
between London and Tunbridge-wells daily, and
two each way on Sunday.

CALLANDER AND ORAN.
The half-yearly general meeting was held in Glas-
gow on Friday ; Mr. J. Malcolm, M.P., in the chair.
The CHAIRIsIAN stated that the directors had let
one contract for the construction of 17i miles of line
from Callander, and Mr. Mackay, the contractor,
would commence the works immediately. The plans
had been prepared for another contract,which would
be let when they found it advisable to do so. It
might appear to some that they were going on
but slowly, but, in fact, they were making good
solid progress. He trusted the shareholders would
support the efforts of th 6 directors; the more funds
they had in hand, the faster the works would go on.
The retiring directors and auditors were re-elected,
and the proceedings terminated.

CROFTHEAD AND KILMARNOCK EXTENSION.

The third ordinary general meeting of this com-
pany was held in Glasgow on Saturday ; Mr.
Towers in the chair.

The report stated that the bill authorising the
company to form junctions with the Kilmarnock
Direct Railway at Stewarton and Kilmarnock, and
to make the necessary deviations required for that
purpose, received the Royal Assent on the 28th of
June last. The works on the main line were being
pushed on by the contractor, who had been put in
possession of nearly all the land required for the
main line, and a number of land settlements had
been completed. The engineer reported that the
works on the main line, between Crofthead and
Stewarton, were progressing in a satisfactory man-
ner. The Beith Branch was staked out, and, if
commenced in spring, might be completed simul-
taneously with the main line.

The CHAIRMAN said that the main line was being
proceeded with as rapidly as possible. The Beith
Branch was also in course of being executed, and he
had no doubt that the main line and branch would
be opened at the specified time.
The report was adopted, and the meeting separated.