The Sun.
London, England, 1861-02-28 00:00:00

THE MAILS.

MAILS DUE.
Australia, Ceylon, and Mauritius (via South-
ampton) .. .. .. • • .. .. Mar. 21.
Do. (via Marseilles) Mar. 15.
Brazil and Cape Verds .. • • .. .. Mar. 6.
Buenos Ayres, Monte Video, &c. .. .. Feb. —.
Cuba and Mexico .. .. .. .. .. Feb. 28
Canada, &c. (via L'derry) .. .. .. Feb. 27.
Cape of Good Hope, &c... .. .. .. March 3.
China, Penang, and Singapore (via S'ampton) Mar. 6.
Do (via Marseilles) Feb. 27.
Gibraltar (via Southampton) .. .. .. Mar. 4.
India (Calcutta), Ceylon, &e. (via Southampton) Mar. 4.
Do. (via Marseilles) Feb. 27.
13.
India (Bombay), (via Southampton) ..
•
Do. (via Marseilles) .. ••
Feb. Mar 2173:
Lisbon .. • • .. • • • • • • Mar. 1.
Malta, Egypt, and Adon (via Southampton) .. Mar. 6.
Do. (via Marseilles) .. Feb. 27.
Vigo, and Oporto .. • • • • • • ' Mar' 1.
United States, California &c. .. .. .. Feb. 28.
Western Coast and Pacifica
Madeira, Teneriffe .. Mar. 10.
west Wile, and Pacific, Cartliagena, Cuba, kc, Feb, 28,

RAILWAYS AND PUBLIC COMPANIES.

METROPOLITAN.
The half-yearly meeting of this company was
held yesterday at the London Tavern—Mr. W. A.
Wilkinson in the chair.
Mr. iftricllMAN, the seertlary, read the report,
which stated that during the past half-year consi-
derable progress in the works had been made. A
large portion of the land was in the hands of the
contractors. An agreement had been concluded
with the corporation of London for the purchase
of their Ifteant land on the eastern side of Victoria-
street. and the directors had made arrangements for
the sale to the Great Western and Great Northern
Companies of so much of the land as Sold not be
required for the metropolitan traffic. The direc-
tors had also concluded an arrangement with the
Great Northern Railway Company for the passage''
of its traffic over the line between King's-cross and
Victoria-street. The directors had deemed it ad-
visable to introduce into Parliament two bills, one
for improvements in the means of communication
with the Great Northern Railway at King's-cross
and with the new markets at Smithfield, and also
enabling, but not compulsory powers, to widen the
line between King's-crops and Farringdon•street.
The other bill was to authorize an extension of the
metropolitan system to Finsbury-pa7ement.
The report of Mr, J. Fowler, the engineer, stated
that altogether in contract No. 1 930 lineal yards
of permanent archway had been completed, and in
contract No. 2 about 5_450 lineal yards of yermanent
archway had been completed. The stations for the
entire line would be commenced immediately, and
be completed during the autumn of this year. The
contractors were noVrili full Operation throughout
the line, and the more difficult parts of the -work
had been overcome. and he anticipated that the
railway would be opened for public traffic about
April, 1862. The capital account showed that
£491,573 had been received and £433,516 expended,
leaving a balance of £58,057.
The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the
report, said the directors were more and more per-
suaded of the sound condition of the undertaking.
It would cost a great deal of money, but would re-
latively be a cheap undertaking. They were the
pioneers in an attempt to join the existing railways,
and he thought the result of their efforts would be
entirely successful.
Mr. PARSON, the Deputy-Chairman, in reply to
questions from Mr. Deputy Harrison, stated that
the estimated cost of their stations was put down
at £60,000, but he thought they must be enlarged,
and would cost £lOO,OOO, The improved junctions
with the Great Northern Railway and the Smith-
field-market would cost £lOO,OOO, so they would
require an additional capital to that amount to
complete the main line and stations, making the
total capital about £1,233,000. With regard to the
Finsbury Extension, the Great Western and Lon-
don, Chatham, and Dover Companies considered it
a very desirable thing. For two lines of rails it
would cost £300,000 from Smithfield to Finsbury-
pavement ; if four lines were made the extension
would cost £450,000. They would then require a
station, which would cost about £lOO,OOO per acre,
and, as they would require six acres to accommodate
the companies who would use it, the cost would be
£600,000. The Great Northern preferred paying a
remunerative toll to subscribing to any of the capi•
tal. The Great Western and London, Chatham,
and Dover would provide a considerable portion of
the cost. They must have four lines of rails and a
station of six acres, which altogether would require
t 1,000,000. The toll from the Great Northern over
this extension would be 4d. for the long passengers,
2d. for short passengers between 20 and 50 miles,
Id. for suburban passengers, and -t-d. for metropoli-
tan passengers. It was probable they would have
quite as many passengers to and from the
Finsbury station as there were at London-
bridge, and, if so, there could be no doubt that
it would pay a fair dividend on the outlay. It
was not proposed that the Metropolitan Com-
pany should be liable for any portion of the cost
of the extension ; separate capital and separate re-
venue accounts would be kept, but the main line
and extension would be managed by one board of
directors. The Metropolitan Company would pay
tolls for the use of the extension, and the Exten-
sion Company would pay tolls for the use of the
Metropolitan line.
After some further observations, the report was
received and adopted ; and resolutions were passed
to the effect that the meeting considered that the
extension from Smithfield to Finsburv-pavement,
as introduced into Parliament, would be highly
beneficial to the company, subject to the condition
of having a separate capital and revenue; authori-
sing the directors to promote the same so as to
involve no liability on the Metropolitan Company ;
authorising the board to proceed with the two
bills mentioned in the report, and to borrow a
sum or sums not exceeding in the whole £283,333.
On the motion of Mr. 'l'. Atkinson, the retiring
directors, Mr. Gilpin, MX., Mr. Austin, and Mr.
Parson, were re-elected, and also Mr. J. Arm-
strong, the retiring auditor. A vote of thanks to
the chairman and directors concluded the proceed-
' ings.

LONDON, CHATHAM, AND DOVER.
Yesterday the half-yearly meeting of the proprie-
tors was held at the Westminster Palace Hotel,
Victoria-street ; Lord Sondes in the chair.
Mr. Hoiroyd, the secretary, read the report, an
abstract of which has appeared in The &tn.
The CHAIRMAN, in moving its adoption, said it
contained many points of importance. The Western
Extension had been opened, but the directors had
great difficulties to contend with, owing, not only
to the state of the road and the bad weather, but
also to the want of rolling stock. The former diffi-
cult) had been removed, but the latter still remained,
as the manufacturers had been prevented from de-
livering the locomotive engines. The line to Dover,
with the exception of the permanent station, was
nearly completed. The company, he trusted, would
soon be able to make arrangements for the better
accommodation of passengers to and from the Crys-
tal Palace. In order to carry out their plans com-
pletely the directors had given orders for the supply
of several large improved steam vessels for commu-
nication with the continent, and two of them were
now in course of construction.
Lord HARRIS, the deputy-chairman, seconded
the motion.
Several gentlemen having put questions on mat-
ters of detail,
Sir C. P: HONEY, one of the directors, said there
had been a question put as to the right of the Me-
tropolitan Extension shareholders to attend that
meeting. That was a question of privilege, and
they would permit him to say that the Metropoli-
tan Extension shareholders formed a part in the
London, Chatham, and Dover Company, and they
had as much right to be present at the meeting as
those representing any other section of the system.
The capital was separate, but the management was
the same. With regard to the question put by Mr.
Hartridge, in reference to the Bickley and Becken-
ham line, he. was sorry to remark that the hon.
proprietor had not been properly crammed by his
friends of the South-Eastern Company. (Laughter.)
Mr. HARTRIDGE—I object to such an observation.
Sir CUSACK RONEY—The proof was very simple.
Mr. Hartridge had made statements which cer-
tainly had not been derived from the London,
Chatham, and Dover Company in reference to the
Beckenham and Bickley line, and the only other
source from which he (Mr. Hartridge) could have
derived them was from the company's opponents,
the South-Eastern. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. HARTRIDGE—You are under a mistake.
Sir CUSACK RONEY—Then all he could say was
that Mr. Hartridge had been very much misin-
formed. (Laughter.) After the assertion of the hon.
proprietor that he had not derived his information
from the South-Eastern Company, he (Sir C. Roney)
withdrew the remark he had made; at the sameiic
time he must say that the impression on his
proprietor
was that it was strange how the hon.
could have obtained his information. 'T h fact
was that the reason which had inducedth
elly them to go
were abso-
for the alternative line was that; p
instead of their
lately driven to ta.ketshueEi
astern presented every
seeking it ; the ard to the station between
possible difficulty mbc'noi tu, ha rine g.
If they could get such
Bicklcy and B
au agreement as the
ld be honha. proprietor
secure had spit. oken
But
of,
the company woppy
they could not get. it. (Mr. Hartridge You have
got the opportunity of securing it). He (Sir
(7. Roney) begged to observe that they had not
got it, and therefore they had taken the course of
obtaining the alternative line in order to make
them free from the control of the South Eastern
Company. (Cheers.) They would permit him
to say that the company did not seek this new
line ; it was forced upon them. They could never
independently develope their traffic without the
line, and therefore they were obliged to go to Par-
liament for it. (Hear.) With respect to the obser-
vations of the hon. proprietor (Mr. Alderman Salo.
mons), he remarked that the question referred to by
that hon. gentleman would be brought before the
shareholders at a special meeting to be conTened for