The Sun.
London, England, 1844-08-30 00:00:00

RAILWAY NEWS.

LONDON AND BLACKWALL RAILWAY COMPANY.
Yesterday the sixteenth half-yearly meeting of the
Proprietors of this Company was held at the London
Tavern, Bishopsgate-street ; J. M. Daniell, Esq., pre-
sided, and was supported by a considerable number
of Directors. After some introductory observations
from the Chairman, the Secretary read the report,
which showed a positive increase, as compared with
the corresponding period of last year, of nearly 30
per cent in the receipts, and 50 per cent. in the num-
bers carried. The total number of passengers in 1843
had been 999,683 ; the total amount of receipts
17,3511. 19s. 10d. In the past year, 1,478,237 pas-
sengers, and the receipts had been 22,1761. Es. 2d. In
the revenue account there was an available surplus of
1,7301. ss. 6d. The report added, that this was the
balance on the worst half of the year, and that there
was a deficiency of 2,4111. 4s. 2d. on the correspond-
ing half of the year 1843, making, therefore, an actual
increase of 4,1411. 9s. Bd. in favour of the past half-
year. The report next stated that the Directors
must defer recommending a dividend until the result
of the current half-year shall have been ascertained,
and which from the progressive advance in the re-
ceipts they have reason to expect will prove highly
encouraging. The arrangement with the Woolwich
and Watermen Steam Companies, referred to in the
last report, still continues in operation. With regard
to the Gravesend traffic, although the results of the
arrangements cannot but be considered beneficial, the
Directors do not doubt that had their attempts to ob-
viate unnecessary rivalry been successful, and the
Brunswick Pier been resorted to on equal terms by the
Gravesend boat companies generally, all parties
would have reaped a corresponding advantage, while
the public might have been accommodated at reason-
able, but remunerative fares. After some further
unimportant details, the report stated that the num-
ber of passengers landed and embarked at the Bruns•
wick Pier by the Gravesend boats during the past six
months, had been 394,506 ; whilst, during the same
period of last year, the number was only 191,357;
thus showing an increase in the traffic of upwards of
100 per cent. The report, after some allusion to
other matters, stated-that it afforded much gratifica-
tion to the Directors to be able to report on the con-
tinued good working of the rope. The report having
concluded, a discussion ensued respecting the matters
contained therein. Some gentlemen were of opinion
that a dividend should have been declared, but the
Chairman explained that there was at present a diffi-
culty in the way of doing so. The report was finally
received and adopted ; and some resolutions in ac-
cordance having been agreed to, the meeting sepa-
rated.

BRANUM/WC JUNCTION RAILWAY.—A special gene-
ral meeting of the Shareholders of this Company was
held at the Old Rectory, Gateshead, on Monday last,
at one o'clock in the afternoon, for the purpose of con-
sidering an agreement for the sale of the railway, with
the property and effects belonging. thereto, J. W.
Williamson, Esq. in the chair. Mr. James Potts, the
Secretary, having read the advertisement and notice
sent to each shareholder, under which the meeting
was convened, and also the agreement in question,
Mr. Philipson moved, and Mr. Flues seconded—" That
the agreement be sanctioned and approved, and the
Directors empowered to take such steps as may be
requisite to carry the same into effect." The follow-
ing amendment was then moved by the Rev. R.
Green, of Longhorsley, and seconded by Mr. Francis
Mason—" That the consideration of the proposition sub-
mitted by the Directors be postponed to this day
month, until which day this meeting be adjourned."
After a long discussion, the amendment was lost by
51 to 14, and the original motion carried by 54 to 6.
Thanks having been voted to the chairman, this nu-
merously-attended and respectable meeting separated.
—Tyne Mercury.
SOUTH WALES RAILWAY.—Two meetings have
been held this week on the subject of the proposed
line of railway from Stonehouse (eight miles below
Gloucester), crossing the river at Purton, and pro-
ceeding by the sea-coast to Chepstow, Cardiff, Swan-
sea, &c. The first meeting was held on Monday, at
Boss, in Herefordshire, and was very numerously at-
tended by landowners connected with Herefordshire,
Monmouthshire, and Breconshire. Among those pre-
sent were R. Blakemore, Esq., M.P. for Wells, Mr.
Bailey, jun., M.P., Mr. Clive, M.P., Sir Hungerford
Hoskins, Franklin Lewis, Esq., Mr. Sergeant Teddy,
&c. Franklin, Lewis, Esq., was called to the chair,
and a series of resolutions were moved by Mr. Blake-
more, condemnatory of the Stonehouse scheme, which
is supported by the Great Western Railway Com-
pany, and recommending to the zealous support of the
meeting a line to Gloucester, and pass through Ross,
Monmouth, Newport, and Swansea. The resolutions
were approved, with the additional provision of branch
lines to Hereford, and to the Forest of Dean, from
Gloucester. Deputations from the Gloucester and
Berkeley Canal Company, and from the Gloucester
Chamber of Commerce, attended the meeting. The
meeting resolved also to oppose, by every means in
their power, the Stonehouse scheme. The second
meeting was held yesterday, at the Tolsey, Glouces-
ter, the Mayor in the chair, when the attendance of
citizens was numerous. Capt. Berkeley, M.P., was
present. Resolutions in the same terms as those pro-
posed and adopted at Ross were carried unanimously,