The Sun.
London, England, 1859-02-28 00:00:00

WORCESTER AND HEREFORD.

The half-yearly meeting of this company was
held on Friday at the London Tavern, Mr. W. P.
Price, M.P., in the chair. _

The report stated that £56,513 had been expended
during the half-year on land and works, and it was
hoped that the line between Worcester and Mal-
vern would be opened in June. The companies
having power to subscribe to the undertaking had
paid their subscription. The directors had intro-
duced into Parliament a bill for power to construct
a branch from Worcester to the quays of the river
Severn. The report of Mr. C. Liddell, the engineer,
stated that four miles of permanent way (single
line) have been laid, and a locomotive was running
over this portion of the line, carrying the materials
and ballast for laying the remainder. The heading
at Malvern tunnel had been steadily persevered
with, the length now driven at the east end was
506 lineal yards,' leaving 416 yards to be done
through the syenite, and 1,056 yards in all, to com-
plete the tunnel. At Ledbury the heading of the
tunnel had been driven from the west end about
70 yards, the 'strata being of a most favourable
character. The capital account to the 31st of
December showed that £244,972 had been received
and £227,655 expended, leaving a balance of
£17,317.
The CHAIRMAN said he had no doubt that the
line could be opened to Malvern without further
calls if the arrears could be got in as expected.
When the line was ready for opening arrange-
ments would be made
_with the Oxford, Worcester,
and -Wolverhampton Company for working the
traffic ; and on the completion of the line toHere-
ford the Oxford company would, under the arrange-
ments entered into between the three companies,
work the passenger traffic, and the Newport unit
Abergavenny Railway the goods traffic.
Resolutions were passed adopting the report and
re-electing the retiring directors and auditor.

The railway proceedings during the week have
again been important. At a meeting of the Eastei n
Counties the proposed dividend for the past half- -
year was deelared at the rate of per cent. per
annum. Compared with the same period of 1857
the receipts show an increase of £1,932, and an ad-
ditional expenditure of £3,428. The outlay of
capital, exclusive of £2,296 for land and compen-
sation, has been £3,733 only. The proposed agree-
ment for working the East Suffolk lines was ap-
proved. The shareholders of the South Eastern
have agreed to a distribution at the rate of 5 per
cent. per annum. The number of passengers last
year has been 9,500,000. A falling of has taken
place in the continental passenger traffic, but the
receipts from goods, parcels, &c., have increased.
After some opposition, a resolution was passed
authorising the directors to apply 'for power to
raise £300,000 additional capital in aid of the pro-
jected line from London-bridge to Charing-cross.
The proposed dividend of the North British is at
the rate of 2,1 per annum, and of the Lancaster and
Carlisle 9 per cent. At the Bristol and Exeter a
dividend was voted at the rate of 5 per cent., an
amendment to increase it to 52 being negatived. A
satisfactory change has taken place in the position
of the Great Western Docks, a property for many
years in a state of almost hopeless depreciation.
The floating dock has been completed, and ship-
owners appear disposed to avail themselves to a
considerable extent of the accommodation provided.
The agreements with the Somerset Central and
West Somerset were confirmed. The opening of
the Sittingbourne and Sheerness has been delayed
in consequence of a difference with the Government.
The question, however, is now before arbitrators.
The poll of the London and .North Western on the
vote of £22,445 for additional station accommodation
has ended in favour of the grant by a considerable
majority. At a meeting of the Eastern Union a
dividend was-declared at the rate of £2 1 ls. per
cent. per annum on the A stock, and £1 14s. on the
B. A working agreement with the East Suffolk was
approved. At the Taff Vale the distribution was
7 per cent. Considerable sums have been taken
from the depreciation fund and expended in the
renewal of engines and in repairing a bridge
over the Taff. At a meeting of the Smith Wales
the proposed dividend at the rate of 21- per cent. per
annum was adopted; £5,000 has been laid out
during the past half-year in relaying rails on a por-
tion of the line. The required authority to raise
£379,980 in shares, with a guaranteed dividend not
exceeding 41 per cent., was granted. At a meeting
of the Ambergate, Nottingham, and Boston it was
stated. that the -Boston Railway will soon be com-
pleted, and that a large addition to the profits is
expected from the conveyance of minerals over that
line. About £250,000 more will cover the expenses
of the whole undertaking. The Shrewsbury and
Hereford have declared a dividend of 42 per cent.
per annum, being the amount received under the
lease. The receipts show a gradual and steady in-
crease. At a meeting of the Bradford, Wakefield,
and Leeds a distribution was ordered for the quar-
ter ending in December at the rate of 41 per cent.
per annum. The arrangements with the Great
Northern to conduct the coal traffic have been de-
ranged, but it is announced that the directors will
soon be in a position to work it themselves. The
Eastern Bengal have accepted the tender of Messrs.
Brassey, Wythes, and Sir J. Paxton for the con-
struction of the whole of the works, station build-

ings, &c., with a supply of rolling stock and every
requisite for opening the line in 1861, for £1,045,000.
This sum does not provide for the import duties in
India, said to be inconsiderable, and the manufac-
ture of the rails and chairs. The total cost is ex-
pected to be £1,290,000, or about £12,000 per
mile. The Mid• Sussex will probably be opened in
May. At a meeting of the Royal Swedish it was
stated that a memorial has been presented to the
King, petitioning for his influence with the Diet
either to obtain the purchase of the line or an ex-
tended guarantee. There are grounds for believing
that the application will be received favourably.
The report of the East Kent states that the line
is now in course of construction throughout, and
that it will probably be open for traffic to Canter-
bury before the end of the year. The entire rail-
way is expected to be completed by October,
1860. At a meeting of the Little North-Western
a distribution was ordered of 2s. per share.
The Midland have now possession of the under-
taking, under the agreement lately concluded be-
tween the two companies. The works of the Vic-
toria Station and Pimlico are said to be making sa-
tisfactory progress. The report of the Birkenhead,
Lancashire, and Cheshire states the available
balance at £23,291, out of which a dividend is
recommended at the rate of 21 per cent. per annum.
The questions in difference with the Improvement
Commissioners have been amicably arranged. At
a meeting of the Ceylon it was announced that the
working plans and sections of 13 miles from
Colombo are complete, and that the survey of the
remainder of the first 40 miles is either finished or
iu a very forward state. A large number of