The Sun.
London, England, 1845-09-02 00:00:00

.£321,066 19 0

272,127 8 3

Shewing a balance In band on 30th June,
1844, of 48,939 10
Less Parliamentary• Deposit with the Account-
ant-General

£37,689 10 9
Since the 30th June, the period to which these ac
counts extend, a call of 51. per share has been made; and
your Directors take this early opportunity of stati,g that
the progress of the works will require their calling for
another instalment, at the expiration of the interval pro
vided by the Act of Incorporation.
At the last half-yearly meeting of Proprietors your
Directors referred in their report to the advantages
which they anticipated would result from the construc-
tion of the Cornwall Railway ; and they were authorized
by you to subscribe the amount of funds which it was
then proposed to contribute towards the formation of
that line. The Cornwall Railway Company not having
obtained their Act during the past session, have now de-
cided on applying to Parliament for an improved and
more extended line ; and with the view of furthering the
attainment of so desirable an object your Directors re-
commend not only the renewal of those powers which
were conferred upon them in February last, but also that
you should authorize their increasing your subscription
to an amount not exceeding 200,000/. in the whole, if it
should appear to them expedient, when the scheme for
enlarging the capital of that company is laid before ths.m.
In regard to the South Devou Amendment Bill for
the Plymouth extensions of your line and branch to
Tavistock, your Directors have merely to report that
this Bill and the Bill for the Launceston and South Devon
Railway have received the sanction of the Committee of
the House of Commons, but that their further progress
has been postponed until the ensuing session.
Your Directors have now to bring under your notice
those projects in extension of your own ;me, or in sup-
port of other Companies, which circumstances require
that they should prass upon your consideration earlier
perhaps than they would otherwise have thought ad-
visable.

NORTH DEVON RAILWAY.—The most important of
these projects, and the scheme to which it is prop,sed
that •lou should afford a very decided support, is that of
the North Devon Railway Company, which, while it
supplies a desideratum in railway communication to the
northern and central portions of the county, will also
conduce in a material degree to the interests of the
South Devon line ; and it is gratifying to know that the
scheme has received the cordial support of the county
and of the public generally.
The advantages which may be expected to accrue
from the North Devon Line having been fully consider-
ed at meetings of Directors of the Gnat Western, the
Bristol and Exeter, and the South Devon Bail way Corn•
panics, it was resolvad to recommend to their several
proprietors to contribute jointly one-half of the re-
quired capital ; and your Directors now submit fur
your approval that the South Devon Railway Com-
pany subscribe 375,000 L as your proportion of that
contribution.

TORBAY BRANCH.—The construction of a Branch to
Torbay and Dartmouth, from the South Devon Line, at
or near Aller, has long been contemplated by your
Directors, and the proposal would have been submitted
to your consideration at an earlier period if the neces
sary arrangements could have been made for applying
to Parliament during the past session. Your Directors
have great confidence in the advantages likely to result
from the formation of this Branch, and they therefore
seek your authority to apply to Parliament in the
ensuing Session for an Act empowering you to carry
this object into effect in such manner as may appear
expedient.

The surveys not being yet complete, your Directors
are unable to place before you the details of the line,
or estimate of its probable cost ; but they have reason
to believe that it may be constructed at a moderate
expense.

:ASHBURTON AND NEWTON RAILWAY.—Your Direc-
tors report that a Company w hich proposes to connect
the town of Ashburton with the South Devon line, at or
near Newton, lately applied to them for assistance, and
believing that the line will prove beneficial to your inte-
rests, your Directors are disposed to entertain the ap-
plication favourably ; but are not yet in possession of
sufficient information to guide their decision. They,
therefore, propose that you should confide to them such
powers as will enable them at their discretion to afford to
the promoters of this scheme that amount of assistance
which may appear desirable.
Your Directors have now to refer to the state and
progress of the works. Some del tys hare occurred
which were not anticipated when the last report was
presented to you, but your Directors now look forward
with great confidence to the rapid completion of that
portion of the line which it has been their anxious de-
sire to open at an early period. Although themselves
much disappointed that any delay should have arisen,
your Directors feel nevertheless assured of the great
benefit that will be derived from the opportunity thus
afforded of effecting improvements in the general con-
struction of the works ; and they still entertain a con-
fident expectation that the entire line to Plymouth will
be opened within the period originally contemplated.
ENGINEER'S REPORT.
Between Exeter and Dawlish the works are rapidly
drawing to a close. A little delay has occurred at
Cockwood, in consequence of the extreme sofcr,ess of
the mud, which is unable to carry the weight of the in-
tended embankment. A timber viaduct has therefore
been designed ; it is in progress, and will shortly be
completed ; this will meet the difficulty, besides affording
other conveniences to the inhabitants of that part.
At Dawlish, the arrangements which have been re-
cently made have met with the approbation of the in-
habitants, and will shortly be complet4 d.
All the tunnels along the coast are on the point of
being finished.

At Teignmouth, the tunnels and covered way are
equally forward, as well as the works to within a short
distance of Newton. Near this place some delay has
arisen, from the difficulty of obtaining possession of
certain land which prevented the progress of the work at
a heavy cutting.
This work, however, is now carried on by night as
well as by day, and it will shortly be finished.
From Newton to Plymouth the works generally are in
a satisfactory state of forwardness, and are being pushed
on with vigour.
A considerable portion of the permanent way has been
laid, and nearly all the materials for the first portion of
the line are now on the ground.
The Atmospheric pipes are in active pregres . and a
portion of them is ready to be laid in succession to the
permanent way.
The engine houses up to Dawlish are in course of con-
struction, those at the Exeter end a• e ready to be roofed,
and the machinery in a few days will be in course of
erection.

In the course of a month or six weeks a locomotive
engine will be run over the line as the permanent way
advances for the purpose of consolidating the earthworks.
In conclusion, your Directors have the pleasure to con-
gratulate the proprietary on the successful result of the
experiments which Pave been recently made upon the
Croydon Atmospheric Line, far exceeding their most
sanguine expectations ; and it is highly gratifying to
your Directors to find that their views, as to the efficacy
of the atmospheric system of traction have been thus
amply realised.

THOMAS GILL, Chairman.
After a short conversation on the subject of the allot •
went of shares in the North Devon Railway Company,
Mr. PRANCE, with reference to the letter which had
been read from Mr. Samuda, inquired as to the truth of
a statement which he had heard : that as the carriages
upon Atmospheric Railways approached the termination
of each section, the speed was so sensibly diminished as
to leave them almost at a stand still, so that there was
nothing like an equilibrium in the rate of travelling ?
The CHAIRMAN replied that he had mu .11 pleasure in
answering the inquiry. So far was the statement from
being correct, that it was found upon the Croydon line
that the barometer stood 261 at one end and 27i on ar
riving at the other end of the five miles, showing a very
little difference in the two extremities.

Mr: PRANCE then observed-that ning had baen said
as to the probable connexion of the Cornwall Railway
with the South Devon line. _ .

The CHAIRMAN said that Mr. Brunel had received in-
structions to attend to the recommendations of the Com-
mittee of the House of Lords, and that until the result
of that gentleman's survey was known, he would not be
in a position to give them that information which might
be desired upon this subject.
Mr. D. DERRY then seconded the adoption of the re-
port, and it was unanimously agreed to.
This concluded the business of the ordinary ha:f-
yearly meeting.

THE EXTUAORDINARY MEETING.
The SECRETARY having read the notice of the Extra-
ordinary Meeting,
The CHAIRMAN rose and proposed a resolution autho •