The Sun.
London, England, 1857-08-29 00:00:00

don, when it sanctioned the line from Canterbury
to Dover. The chairman of the South-Eastern
m3eting yesterday, said they had " expended 11.
millions of money iu providing railway accommo-
tion," but then that money was not spent for the
advantage of the county of Kent ; and yet the
Chairman of the South-Eastern urged the expendi-
ture of money as a reason why they should not
have the opposition of new companies. But the
Eest Kent is not a new company, it is the
scheme which was originally proposed by the in-
habitants of the county, and which they have ever
sir co desire 11 to see carried oat--a scheme, the na-
tional important) of which the South-Eastern
thorns. lves have ever and over again admitted and
promised to carry out, but have not done so. I
cording), second the adoption of the report, and I
shall be happy to answer any questions which may
be put to me.
Mr. HARTRIDGE was understood to object to
the extension of the line from Strood to London,
as being in reality a " new" scheme. He wanted
to know what was the nature of the difficulties
hich bad been referred to ? Were the contrac-
to:s unable to complete the purchase of the penes-
aa• y lands ? What was the amount of debentures
tLey were allowed to issue
Sir R. W. CARDEN. —The act of Parliament de-
fines that.
Mr. HARTRIDGE.—But it ought to have been in
the. statemeirt of the assets and liabilities.
Sir R. W. CARDEN. never saw it in such an
account in my life.
Mr. HARTRIDGE.—Then I have, and I am happy
to inform you.
A SHAREHOLDER.—Why they do not exist yet,
and how could they be either in asset or in lia-
bility /
A DIRECTOR.—The sum is 233,0001.
Mr. HARTRIDGE wanted to know also how many
al areholders had not paid their calls ? They not
only ought to forfeit their shares, but also to have
tI eir names stated for the benefit of the rest of
tl e shareholders.
Sir P. W. CARDEN—Certainly not. That is
n ver done. They never publish the names of the
parties.

- Mr. HARTRIDGE—Nay, they do.
Sir R. W. CARDEN—WeII, I never saw it.
Mr. HARTRIDGE—Then I hope you will take my
word for it.
Sir R. W. CARDEN—Why neither the Gazette
n( r any other paper would insert such a thing.
Mr. HARTRIDGE then said it was of the utmost
importance that the shareholders should know
wliat the directors intended to do ; the report con-
fined itself to the past, and even if the past found
it ( on venien t to overlook some matters, how would
th y raise the necessary capital? At present it
was impossible to_get people to take their ghat es,
and the sooner they came to some arrangement
with the South-Eastern the better. Well; then, if
they were disposed to continue an independent
company let them inform the shareholders which
course they intended to pursue. The opening they
wt re most anxious about was that from Strood to
Canterbury. Before he sat down he also wished
to ask whether the five per cent. allowed by the
contractors was likely to be long continued ?
Mr. D. STARLING said there was no line to be
built from Strood to London,' it was from Strood
to Crays, and this appeared to him the vitality and
prosperity of the Fast Kent line. It seemed to be
received with some alarm, but to his mind it was
of the utmost importance ; in fact, it was the. only
thing which induced him to become a shareholder.
When completed the line from Dover to the West-
end would Le a very valuable pieze of property.
All they had to do was to construct sixteen miles
of railway ; and, in fact, such were his hopes that
he confidently expec ed 10 per cent. He objected to
advertising the names of the parties who-had not
paid their calla. It would have a very injurious
effect. As to the contractors' five per cent ' they
wa,i'd pay it while the line was in progress but no
lob ger.

Mr.
HARTRIDGE—Are you a director, sir ?
Mr. STARLING--No, sir.
Mr. HARTRIDGE—WeII, then, I asked my ques-
tion of the t oard.
Mr. STARLING—I thought it would come better
from me.-
The SECRETARY said it would have been inad-
visable to have entered publicly into matters which
were the subject of legal controversy. The difficulty
to which allusion had leen made was now, how-
ever, settled. It arose from the vexatious inter-
ference of a gentleman through whose lands they
had to pass, and who, it was thought, wished to
obtain money from them. They had now, l ow- •
ever, defeated him. With respect to thedehen•
ter `-!s, they had power to issue to the extent of
23::,00D/. The arrangements of the directors for
raiuirig capital had been such that neither the coa-
ti ar;tors nor the landowners had yet had to wait for
a single instant for their money. The dir.!ctora had
raised 150,0001. during the past half-year, and there
as uo necessity wha•ever for tlr non-proprietors'
c!-:inot,dency ; for gentlemen who bad overcome the
tt_ jct.:cultic s through which the dirdaors had p-ssoo,
19 "3 Tint likely to succumb to any which would
Prt-/Ably arise in the suture. It would, however,
be host darn,
, 111
gin,, to give the honourable propri,,
tor publicly
hot ,e d I,r thefoirxileiutz
means by which the directo-s
to rake their money. As to
the issue of
last meeting that it was stated at the
2s ?csoileedn done to the ex entef
6,000& When thin
oul.l not e
ahlittle better he saw
DO reason why the rdelain'der
however, hse iisued.
Tly.y would not, h
eme stock, without the :reissued as pre,- r-
-4Utt WI of the Eh % ri-
ho:r Jere.
li'he report was then adopted.
C 1. IZAINns moved a resolution auther'sinc, the
dir~etors t,.) go on with the Pa rliame arY
in tinch manner as they might think best for the
-)rests of the company.
STARLING sec Aided the motion, which, after
few obser.-ati ns from Mr. Hartridge and oilers,
wto agreed to.
The DEpuTv-CHAIRAISN said, with respect to the
deberitu• es that up to June 30, 32,400/. was placel,-
but/ now the sum had r, ached 100,000/.
Sit R. W. CARDEN moved a resolution empow,r-,
in/-" the directors to deal with the forfeited shares
as they thought proper.
Sir J.- M. TYLDEN seconded the motion, and in
a brief ipeech disclaimed all idea of being an oPP-
aition company to the South-Eastern.
The resolution was then put and agreed to.
Mr. DENT asked whether Mr. Qoleschild was pow
014aver.had been a shareholder of the company ?
The SECRETIL&Y replied in the negative.
Mr. DENT said he hoped the pros would take a