The Sun.
London, England, 1861-02-14 00:00:00

LONDON AND SOUTH-WESTERN RAILW AY.

The half-yearly meeting of the directors and shareholders
in this Railway was held this day at the offices, Waterloo
Station.
-

Captain MANGLES, chairman of the directors, presided.
The minutes of the last meeting having been confirmed,
and the half 'yearly report, which has already appeared in
The Sun, been taken as read,
The C HAIRMAIt said when the extraordinary wet weather
that existed during the year 1860, the exceeding lowness of
the temperature, and the new line, which was opened for
the first time, and which was technically called a " green
line," were considered, he did not think that the directors
hail overstated the facts in their report by
declaring that the statement of their affairs for
the last half-year was satisfactory. The directors
had received an order from the Board of Trade to double
the Dorchester line of rails for a distance of twenty-six
miles, which he thought the meeting would agree with the
directors was quite unnecessary. (Hear, hear.) The
traffic at present was worked satisfactorily, and that being
the case he hardly thought it right to call on the directors
to execute such work, but as the Board of Trade possessed
such a power, amongst others which seriously affected the
prosperity of railway property, the directors had no alter-
native but to comply with the order. The directors had
waited upon the authorities to remonstrate against such
a proceeding, but all in vain. The paragraph in the
report referring to the locomotive department he did not
think called for any remark from him. With respect to
the permanent way there had been a charge for £5,000
for repairing in two heavy slips in the clay district, and as
that was an exceptional item he did not think that it was
likely to appear again for some time. He had great plea-
sure in informing the shareholders that the company had
no bills in Parliament during the present session. (Hear,
hear.) A statement had gone forth which had caused some
regret that the directors were in favour of extensions. He
knew positively that the directors were of opinion that they
had got far enough to the West when they got to Dorches-
ter. The directors had no idea of putting life and breath
into several small schemes afloat, nor did they intend
to contribute anything towards carrying them out.
(Hear, hear.) Extension being dead and buried, he thought
that the directors would be far better engaged in develop •
ing the resources of their property to its fullest extent, and
further increasing the traffic thereon. The shareholders
had granted a sum of £l,OOO towards the improvement of
the position of their employes, and he thought the meeting
would like to know how that sum had been appropriated.
They had granted £5O to the schools (hear, hear), £lOO
to the Mechanics' Institute, £550 to the Friendly Society,
and £3OO to the fund for decayed clerks. (Hear.)
It was not the intention of the directors on that occasion
to ask for anything further at present, but, at the next half-
yearly meeting, a proposition would be made for an in-
crease to that sum. He thought that the granting of
of an increased sum for that laudable purpose would be a
benefit to the company, and only just and generous to their
servants. It had been his habit on former occasions t 3 go
through the figures in the report, but he did not think he
was called to do so on that occasion. He had examined
them very minutely, and as they appeared in the report
they were fairly and honestly stated. While a judicial
inquiry was pending he did not think it would be judicious
in him to make any remarks on the unfortunate accident
that had occurred on the line on the 28th of January,
further than saying that the directors deeply regretted
the accident that had occurred, especially as it had
cost the life of one eminent member of society, who
was esteemed and valued by the highest person in
the realm, as well as by every other member of society—
(hear, hear)—and had been the cause of great suffering to
a number of others. (Hear, hear.) It was a matter of
congratulation that since the opening of their line only
five individuals had lost their lives by accidents upon it.
When it was considered that upwards of 72,000,000 persons
had been safely carried, and that during the last year no
less than 7 ,000,000 persons safely travelled on their line, he
did the directors and shareholders had good
cause to congratulate themselves on such a favourable
result. He did not think that such a statement showed
that the directors were at all careless of the lives of their
passengers; but he hoped the public would not forulda
moment think that any relaxation in their erndeavours.wf othe
be made by the directors to provide for the
persons using their line. (Hear, hear
gedireetors at the
elude without expressing the regret of the
who had
.) c.ol'ulafedtYnoot con-
zielli,
loss they had sustained by the death oTJ
the board of directors.
' for a number of years filled the time of the meeting
He did not think he need el:eerie:lie at
required any explanation
any further, but if any it to the best of his
gentleman
in giving
he should feel great pleasurerellpue would resume his seat by mov-
ability. rt.
(Hear, hear.
mov-
ing the adoption of thebad t
grea pleasure in seconding the
Mr. TITS said he
He should, however, like to know what were the
motion.
schemes alluded to which the directors had expressed their
intention of watching in their report. He did wish the
chairmen to give the information if it was thought wise to
do so.
The cMAIRMAN said he thought the schemes alluded to
were too insignificant and unremunerative to mention them,
as such circumstance only brought them into notice. All he
could say was that the directors would narrowly watch them,
and he had no doubt they would succeed in knocking them
on the head. (Laughter.)
Mr. EDWARDS said he had an amendment to move to the
adoption of the report. It was that the directors would
direct their early attention to the efficiency of the working
of the line, more especially between Kingston and Wey-
Jaridge and the Chertsey branch.
After allort digcwieio4 gae report was adopted,