The Sun.
London, England, 1850-03-01 00:00:00

APPOINTMENTS.

WOOLWICH FEB 28.—Master Robert Wilson Roberts
(1846), additional,' of the Blecheim, 56, Eteart.-gu4rcl-
ship, to be acting Mister of the Bl,•nheim.
Mate Richard V. Hamilton (1819), frOm the Blenheim,
to the Assistance.

Clerk Chailes Richards (b) (1845), to the Assistance.
Captain H. T. Austin, C. 8., with Captain Ommanney
and the greater number of the officers appointed to the
ships of the Arctic expedition, arrived at Woole
dockyard, and we:e introduced to each other. They then
went on beard the Pioneer, Lieutenant•Commaader Os-
born, and examined the progress making on board that
vessel. The workmen are unceasing in their exertions,
and a considerable portion of her deck has been covered
with diagonal planking, with a layer of felt betwixt the
new and old'cleck. A number of caulkers are also em
ployed in re-caulking her. The vessels at Blackwell aro
also being brought forward with the greatest dispatch.
Commander Codringtoa Forsyth was sent fir to attend
at t'se Admiralty this morning relative to the command
of one of the vessels fitting at Dundee.' The other is
fitting at Aberdeen, to be commanded by Captain Penny
formerly of the Advice whaltr. It was not decided up
to a late-hour whether Commander Forts would have
the command of the vessel, but a long conferenCe took
place between him and Captain Penny this evening at the
Admiralty.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.
THE GREAT NORTHERN.

A general half-yearly meeting.of the shareholders of
this company was held yesterday at the London Ta-
vern, Bishopsgato-stree•, Mr. Edmund Denison, M.P.
(chairman of the board of directois) in the chair.
On the CHATamAri moving that the seal of the com-
pany be affixed to the registered shares which had been
entered since tLe last half-yearly meeting,
Mr. PRESTON objected to its being done, and alleged
as a reason that he had made application at the offices
of the company for an inspection of the register, and had
been refused.

Mr. BAGSTER (the solicitor of the company) sr.id
that the Act of Parliament required the registra-
tion of the shares to be sealed in order to utt:st
that the gentlemen present at that meeting were share-
holders.

The'ertAinmAN observed that unless Mr. Preston
could point out some irregularity in the record ( f the
shares and shareholders, there was no ground fur the
objection he had taken.
After considerable discussion the question drop it
being understood that a resolution on the sulject. 4 mulct
be subsequently proposed.
Mr. Moven., the secretary, then read the following
report:—

"In the autumn of last year that portion of the line
Which completes the railway communication with Lin-
colnshire, Lancashire. and the West Riding of York-
shire was opened for itraffic• and the Great Northern
trains have since that -Period been running between
Peterborough (via Lincoln and Doncaster), Wakefield,
and Leeds. In the course of next month the short
branch from Knottingley to Burton Salmon, near
Ferry-bridge, will be opened for traffic, thereby completing
the communication between Donca:tter and York and
the north.

" At Leeds convenient station accommodation has been
secured, and the necessary, buildings are in progress.
"A portion of the South Yorkshire Railway was
secently opened to Doncaster, and the Great 'Northern
trains have commenced carrying coals from that district.
From the excellent quality of tbese coals, and the re-
duced price at which they can ba supplied on the Great
Northern line, a large traffic must remit. Suitable ar-
rangements are in progrtss at all the• stations fa the
development of this traffic.

" From the engiu eer's printed report it appears that
the line between London and Peterborough'may be con-
fidently expected to be open for traffic in August next.
The works of the London and other stations to Peter-
borough bare beon contracted for by public tender on
satisfactory terms—the plans for the buildings being tf
a plain and substantial character.

6' A contract for the fifteen mil:* from Corby by Grant-
ham to Houghatn, on which occur rather heavy works,
requiiiii,g a longer Itime to complete than the rest of the
towns, _ism, has tracestk,t_;,ct Mr. Jackson who has ac-
tively commenced• operations. The remtundor of that
lino, from the loop junction, north of Peterborough to
Corby, and north of Hougham to Thetford—together
about 44 miles, and comparatively light works—will be
let so as to be ready for traffic at the same time as the
15 miles abovemeatione 1, and the directors expect to see
t►.e whole of these works accomplished in the course of
next year. _ _

" .11y the balance-sheet, sent out to the proprietors on
the 20th inst., of the capital received and expended to
the 31st of D;cember, 1849, it is shown that 5,406,1571.
was the•sum expended, and the company having powers
to raise capital to the amount of 8,284,8001., a balance
of 2,891,277/. remained at that date to meet the (xist-
ing liabilities of the company, and the further cost a
contitructing the works and providing additional plant.
Whether such balance will be sufficient fir all these
purposes is a question often asked by the proprietors,
and one that has engaged the constant attention of the
directors. The total amount of liability on existing
contracts for works, land, and materials on 189 miles
of railway, 1,554,6324; to provide additional working
stock, 340,0001.; works to complete East Lincolnshire,
25,0001.; cost of Stamford and Wisbeach Railway,
77,0001.; total, 2,302,6321.; balance applicable to the
construction of th© remaining 44 miles of the TOWllb'
line,' 576,011/.

" As these works are not costly, the directors conclude
that any further capital requilei will be of inconsider-
able amount.

"It appears from the statement of accounts that tho
balance of net profits remaining in the hands of the
cumrany amounts to the sum of 15,6341. 89.
" The director 9 recommend that out of that sum,

10,0001. be appropriated to meet the dividend upon pre:
ference shares, being 6s. 10d. per share, or at the rate
of five per coat, per annum thereon, the same to
be paid after the 31st of March next, in the manner
explained on the coupon attached to the scrip.
I.l,f)re the general meeting in August next, the
conditions will have been complied with under which
five per cent. interest has been hitherto paid out of
capital upon the registered shares of the company; the
directors, therefore, think it right thus early;to intimate
their intention to cease to pay interest out of capital
after the current half-year, viz,, the 30th of June next.
" This is the period at which one of the auditors re-
tires, and Mr. J. Chapman is in rotation to go out of
office; and being eligible, offers himsef for re-election.
" The report on the state of the company's accounts,
made by Mr. Chapman and his colleague, Mr. Cattley,
and published with these accounts, it is hoped will be
satisfactory to the shareholders.
" With reference to the important subject of an audit
of railway accounts, the directors beg to leave it in the
hands of the proprietors, and they suggest that a com-
mittee of three or five, t.) be chosen by the proprietors
from the general body, be appointed to act on behalf of
this company with similar committees from other rail-
ways.

Towards the religious instruction of the labourers
to be employed on the works on the towns line, con-
tracted for by Mr. Jackson, he is willing to contribute a
sum equal to that which the company may subscribe;
the directors, 'therefore, recommend to the meeting that
for this laudable purpose the sum of 100/. be voted.
" With the intention of adopting the strictest economy
in all departments of the company, the directors recom-
mend that the salary ef the secretary be reduced from
600/. to 6001. per annum.
" The gentlemen farming the fourth of the board re-
quired to retire annually in rotation, are—the Hon. Oc-
tavius Duncombe, M.P.; Mr. Richard Ellison; Mr.
VPilliaun Mountford Nurse; and Mr. Francis Parker.
In consequence of the state of his health, Mr. Nurse does
not offer himself for re• election; but the three other
gentlemen being eligible, offer themselves, and are recom-
mended by the board for se-election as directors.
"It has been intimated to the'directors that it would
be satisfactory to the proprietors to introduce into the
board some additional gentlemen, who with commercial
experience and business habits, hold a large interest in
the undertaking. They therefore suggest that the fo'-
lowing gentlemen, viz., Mr. Graham Hutchison. Glasgow;
Mr. Charles Attieus Monk, Newcastle; Mr. Isaac Bur-
kill, Leeds; Mr. George Humphrys, Lemore, Eardisley,
Hereford, be elected directors.
The CHAIRMAN then said, that as the report was
already in the hands of the proprietors, it would not be
necessary for him to occupy their attention at any great
length. The wish of the directors was, that their ac-
counts should be kept in a clear, intelligible, and honest
manner, and he believed tbey had Tann so kept. It was
his opinion that it was quite as competent to any ac-
countant appointed by the company to adopt a system cf
audit as intelligible and satisfactory as any that could
be devised by a Government officer. The question which
the meeting had to consider was, whether the balance of
capital in hand would be sufficient to carry into effect all
the objects which the company had in view. That b -
lance amounted to 570,000/. That would nearly com-
plete the line from Peterborough to East Retford. If the
proprietors desired that the line from Doncaster to York,
a distance of 26 miles, should be made, that would require
500,0001. more. Therefore, 1,000,000/. of additional capi-
tal would be more than sufricient to complete their line to
York. There was no point on which he would more
readily stake his character than that with far less than
1,000,0001. of additional capital they could arrive at
York upon their own line.—(Hear.) At a future period,
therefore, he should feel it his duty to ask their pernais-
-4i911 tco 9tPtglii Eton r§divalo6 pro; 69 nio9 Rua.,

With regard to stopping the payment of interest to the
shareholders after the 30th of June next, he was well
aware it would operate severely on some of the proprie-
tors; but the directors felt they were not justifiel is con-
tinuing to pay interest out of capital beyond that time.
The proprietors mu-t aft 4. that period take their chance
of a dividend. With respect to the questi,:n of audit,
he thought that an andit bill vies very de,irable for the
public at large, and was as necessary for the protection
of the directors as it was for the shareholders. But he
believed a system of audit might be framed that would
be perf,ctly satisfactory without the assistance or inter-
ference of Government.—(Hear, hear.) A Government
auditor ought not to b. 3 allowed to interfere with the
commercial transactions i f the country so long as the
directors cf those commercial undertakings cc:ed
honegly, which he LeLeved from this time forward they
would do.—(llear.) The Hon. Gentleman concluded
by moving, that the report be read end adopted.
Mr. GRAIJADI iiIITCUISON moved by way of amaid•

" That the report be received the addition of these
words:—` That the line between Askern and York be
contracted fur forthwith, and be completed IN fire the
works on the line between Peterborough and East Ret-
ford were proce2ded with further."
The lion. Gentleman entered into a very long stat-ment
to show the many and great advantages that would ac-
crue to the company by the formation of the line (being
26 miles in extent) from Askern to York. He admitted
that it would requre further capital, which it would be
n-cessary to raise on preferential stock; but his estimate
was, that the savings which would be effected by avoid-
ing travelling over the lines of two other companies
(which they were now obliged to do) in order to arrive
at York, end the profits that would be derived from the
traffi3 on the additional 26 miles (which would save a
circuitous route of some miles), would more than com-
pensate any charge that would be incurred by raising
capital by way of such preerential shares. He esti-
mate I the cost at 468,0001. The traffic of the 26 miles
at 60/. a mile per week, 81,1201.; the expense of work-
ing at 20/. e. mile per week, 27,0401. The 6 per cent. on
the 468,0001. weuld7;b4W-0481;4'1F4:111419*
surplus of 26,000/. By making t ese mi es #,co9s
pang would become independent of the York and North
Midland Company, but if they stopped cst Askerri their
traffic would bo at the mercy of that company.
Captain HALL seconded the amendment. •
The CHAIRMAN considered the preseht amendment of
his Hon. Friend to be ih direct oolitradiption to his mo-
tion of August-last, when he earnestly recommended the
directors to expedite the construction of the section line,
callel the Town's line, from Peterborough. to Retford.
His present proposition Was that those works should be
stopped.—(No,. no!) This would suspend-any profit
from the money already laid oUt upon the Town's line.
He would not d:.ny the benefit to be derixed from ex-
tending the line to York. The company had the power
of Making that extension. The present arrangement for
running over a portion of two other companies' lines
could not be unprofitable to the Great Northern Com-
pally; at the same time' he did contend that that ar-
rangement should be' Permanent.—(llelr, hear,)
lnately they might carry the line on to York; but fir
ilia. present 11,, believed the directors hal acted juili-
ciensly in getting powers to run over other lines to York,
that they might in the meantime apply their capital to
Completing other portions of the line.—(Cheers.) The
time for considering whether fiither capital should be
raised to form the' line from Askern to York would be
when the direct)rs asked leave to apply to Parliament
to raise capital for that and other purposes, which would
be about this time next year. Ho hoped, therefore, for
the sake of consistency, the meeting would reject the
amendment.

Mr. WATERS contended that the company was using
the Lancashire and Yorkshire line and the York and
North Midland line at a loss.

Mr. ANDIIB supported the amendm9nt; and on being
asked by a shlreholder whether he was not a landowner
on the projec'ed line, he admitted that he was. This
occasioned mach" mirth, but which by no means discon-
certed the Hon. Proprietor, who continued to address the
meeting for a considerable time amid.t the greatest pos-
sible uproar.

Mr. G. Ifurcurscil denied th© inconsistency which
had been imput to him by the chairman. He had in-
tended :till to urge the continuance of the Town's line,
but he altered his intention solely on account of the ruin-
ous system which was pursued by the directors of pay
ing the contractors by debentures at 6 per cent. interest,
instead of in cash.

The amendment was then put and negatived.
Mr. G. HurenisoN demanded a poll, which was f.r
some time proceeded with during the other business of
the mcetinr, but the scrutineer nominated on the part of
Air. Hutchison fin Ally retired from it.
Mr. FREED3DY then moved a second amendment, to
the effect that the report be received, and a committ e of
consultation be appointed from the shareholders, with
power to inquire into the past and proposed transactions
of the company, with a view to report to the proprietors
as to the amount of capital required to complete the
works nos' in progress, and as to the utility or necessity
ofondertakiug more hereafter. Ile believed that the
contmets Irecd-y irmed- involved-more than a mil:ion
of liabilities, from which they would not derive a far-
thing advantage; and the probability was that in the
end upwards of another million of capital would be
required, promising as little return as the First. No
man at the present moment could tell what was the
monetary position of the company or what the extent
of their liabilities. The experience of the North Ste-
ford-hire and other companies ought to operate as a
NI wiling to themselves. TI o Hon. Gentleman was pro-
ceeding to show how profitless were the whole concerns
of the company, when

A SHAREHOLDER observed that the object of the
speaker evidently was to depreciate the value of the
shares.—(Great confusion.)
The amendment having been seconded,
The CHAIRMAN said he had not the slightest objec-
tion to the appointment of a committee. If the proprie-
tors did not voluntarily confide in the directors he
would rather be without their confidence altogether. Bat
he really could not see what could be gained by adopting
the amendment. The object had been in fact anticipated.
Without attributing to the Hon. Proprietor an intention
of th crying their property, ho feared that what ho bad
done would have that effect.

The amendment was then put and negatived.
A poll being demanded, it was referred to he scruti-
neers previously appointed.
Mr. fluciiEs then moved the following amendment:—
" That the present system of auditing railway ac-
counts was objectionable, and that the meeting was fa-
vourable to a pure system of Government audit."
Fie believed that the object of the promoters of the audit
bill which had been prepared was to stave off the ques-
tion fur another year; and unless the shareholders inter-
fered, and obtained the protection of Government they
would never be secure.
Dr. REILLY seconded the amendment.

The CHAIRMAN observed that Mr. Hughes was the
first person he had heard declare that the only safe audit
was a Government audit. The Government had no wish
to interfere if the railway companies would show them a
plan by which a clear, intelligible, and independent audit
could be accomplished.
The amendment was then negatived.'
Mr. PRESTON then moved—

" That the register of shares be open fJr the in-
spection of shareholders at all proper and seasonable
times."

After a very lengthened discussion the motion was
agreed to.—(tireat cheering.)

'The CHAIRMAN then moved—

" That Mr. Francis Parker be re-elected a director,
and that the following gentlemen be added to the direc-
tion:—Mr. G. Hutchison, Mr. C. A. Monk, Mr. J.
Burkill, and Mr. G. Humphrys."
Mr. G. HUTCHISON moved as an amendmen►.

" That Mr. Alexander Glasgow, who held 3,000 251.
shares; Mr. I'. Dunn, who held 1,250 251. shares; Mr.
Monk, holding 500 shares (but whose father, Sir Charles
Monk, held 3,000 25/. shares); and himself (Mr. G.
Hutchison), as the holder of 3,384 25/. shares, be ap•
pointed directors in the room of the four gentlemen who
retired by rotation."
The respective merits of these gentlemen were fully
scrutinizes by the meeting, and after some ♦ery ani-
mated speeches, the proposition of the Chairman was
acceded to; so that the directors' list was finally adopted.
The report as amended was then received, adopted, and
ordered to be printed.

A dividend upon preference shares, being 6s. 10id. a
share (or at the rate of five per cent. per annum), was
then agreed to; the same to be paid after the 31st of
March inst.

A committee of three shareholders was then appointed
to confer with the committees of other railway compa-
nies on the subject of audit.
A vote of thanks was then passed to the Chairman,
and the meeting separated.

We understand that the directors of the Glasgow,
Paisley, Kilmarnock, and Ayr Railway Company, at
their meeting yesterday, resolved to recommend to their
shareholders, at the general meeting to be held on the
6th proximo, to declare a dividend at the rate of 2i per
cent. per annum f,r the half-year ending 31st January
last.—Glasgow Daily Mail.
are
TRE BRITANNIA BRIDGE.—The permanent longi-
tudinal beam'', along which tho rails
placed, and visitors may pass from
aidoettuobes for sake
of variety, if in the climbing
difficulty, returning over the tops o f
mood.th
will
lide ru
without
We visited the
rtahege. tube, and the steam-
engine required f
works on Wednesday last, and were politely
conducted
through arid over the tubular ponderous
machinery in use when raising
thehyerdsrainulitchoprpt,s;waturde
being taken downorfrcohmar
gtltineg cliamb
there seemed little remaining to be done teyond laying
The formal opening of the immense iron
gthaellerray rails.
will not be tit ferred, it is asserted, beyond the
second or third week in March; but experimental trains
will pass and repass much sooner than the period named.
—North Wales Chronicle.

MANSLAUGHTER.—On Wednesday evening Mr.
J. Payne, deputy -coroner for the City, held an inqutst
at St. Thomas's Hospital upon view of the body of Ben-
jamin Preitage, aged 27, who receivedinjuries on Friday
evening last, in a fight with two men of the name of
Boshall (father and ton), which produced his death.
The jury returned a verdict of " Manslaughter against
the ti 79 139014116."

LIVERPOOL, Fyn. 28.—We have this day received
advices from New York to the Bth inst. inclusive, by
the arrival of the packet-ships Albert, Granada, and
I. Z., which arrived in the Mersey this morning.
In the papers come to hand, there is not any intelli•
gence of importance from the United States.
The Crescent City had arrived at New York,
bringing
a month's later news from California.
In these accounts we learn that the Boundary
Camtnissiooers had terminated their labours in Cali-
fornia, and that the head of the commission was about
to return to the United States,
The rebuilding of the burned district of San Fran.
cisco bad been commenced, and was progressing with
unusual rapidity. A movement bad also been set on
foot to establi h a free school in that city. A large
bed of anthracite coal had been dim.overcd between
the Sseramen'o River and Skitters Creek. Large
bands of squatters were taking possession of the
land in the Mission of Dolores, which was held b3r
the Mexicans under previous grants, and much ex-
citement was occasioned by their proceedings.
D'sturhanecs had broken out in the mines between
the Chilenos and the American-, and it was feared
that the disagrceme.nt would he cf a serious nature.
Robberies were being perpetrated on the Isthmus by
the natives.

General Rey has published a proclamatiln, in
which he recognised the rvw colstitution and govern.
ment of Cllifornia ; but exception had been taken to
a pution of is manifesto, which, whilst it advised the
exclusion of black labour, would admit convicts from
New South 'Wales.

In consequence of the recent loss of life by the
steam-boiler explosion at New York, notce ~f a
measure had been given in the Legislature to provide
for the security of boilers.
We have nothing new from Canada. Commercial
advices possess no new feature. Cotton had a down-
ward tendency, but had not receded to anything like
the extent reported by the Halifax telegraphic dis-
patch.. There was not any change in breadstuff: or
curd provisions, and freights were nominal.