The Sun.
London, England, 1845-12-06 00:00:00

REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS TO THE SHAREHOLDERS

OF THE
BELFAST AND BALLYMENA RAILWAY
COMPANY,
AT THE FIRST ORDINARY HALF-YEARLY MEETING, ON
THE 28TH OF NOVEMBER, 1845.
DIRECTORS.
The Hon. Geo. Handeock, Randalstown, Chairman
John M`Neile, Esq., D.L., J.P., of Parkmount, Deputy-Chairman
Nathaniel Alexander, Esq., M.P., Portglenoue
Peter Kirk, Esq., M.P., of Thorrifield, Carrickfergus
Thomas Greg, Esq., J.P., Ballymenoch, Holywood
John Harrison, Esq., J.P., of Mertoun
Sinclair K. Mulholland, Esq., J.P., of Eglantine
William Chaine, Esq., J.P., of Muckamore
George Greer, Esq., J.P., of Lurgan
John White, Esq., High Sheriff, County Antrim, of Whitehall,

Broughshane
Robert Langtry, Esq., of Fortwilliam
Robert Grimshaw, Esq., D.L., J.P., of Longwood
John Kane, Esq., of Turf Lodge
William Gray, Esq., of Graymount
James M'Calmont, Esq., of Abbeylands
George Jackson Clarke, Esq., J.P., Steeple
Thomas M‘Cammon, Esq., Belfast
Edward Walkington, Esq., Belfast
George Macartney, Esq., D.L., J.P., of Lissanoure Castle
Thomas Verner, Esq., J.P., Ormeau
Benjamin Clements Adair. Esq., of Loughanmore.
SOLICITORS—Messrs. R. Davison and Torrens, Belfast.
ENGINEER —C has. Lanyon, C.E. Surveyor for County Antrim.
SECRETARY—John Wilson.
REPORT. -

The Directors have pleasure in submitting to the Proprietors the
First Report of their proceedings, detailing the progress they have
already made towards a commencement of the works.
Immediately after the Act had obtained the royal assent, the Di-
rectors instructed their engineer, Mr. Lanyox, to prepare the working
plans, to advertise the contracts, separating the line into three di-
visions, being a distance of 35 miles, exclusive of the branch to Ran-
dalstown, as follows :
First—Belfast to Ring's Moss, including branch
to Carrickfergus.. •.• • • • .... •••••• • • • • • • 15 miles.
Second—Ring's Moss to Antrim •• • • • •• • • 9 „
Third—Antrim to Ballymena.. ••••• • • • • • 11 „

35 miles.

It must be equally satisfactory to the Shareholders, as to the Di-
rectors, to find that Mr. Lanyon, at so early a period as the begin-
ning of October, was enabled to complete the whole plans.
The Directors are happy to state that the contract for completing
the entire lino has been let to Mr. Dargan, the well-known con-
tractor, on satisfactory terms, and the Directors confidently hope
that the line will be opened to the public within two years.
Steps are at present being adopted to obtain possession of the land
required.
Contracts have already been entered into for the quantity of rails
and sleepers required at present.
The Directors have also entered into contracts with the respectable
firms of Messrs. Bury, Curtis, and Kennedy, of Liverpool, and
Messrs. Sharp, Roberts, and Co., of Manchester, for supplying lo-
comotive engines, on the most approved principles.
A first call of 2/. 10s. per share was made, payable on the Ist
October last. The Directors find that it has been responded to by
Shareholders holding stock to the amount of 5,488 shares, up to the
31st October, and, since that date, on 1,650 shares ; making in all
7,138 shares ; leaving 562 outstanding, which, the Directors have
no doubt, will be immediately paid up.
On reference to the subjoined statement of accounts, it will be
observed that the expenditure in obtaining the Act has been upon
the most moderate scale.
Three vacancies have occurred at your Board, viz. :—John Thom-
son, George Joy, and Andrew Gihon, Esqs., and the Directors, in
pursuance of the power conferred on them by the Act, have elected
the following gentlemen in their stead :—George Macartney, Esq., of
Lissanoure Castle; Thomas Verner, Esq., Ormeau ; Benjamin Cle-
ments Adair, Esq., of Loughanmore.
Notices have been given by a highly respectable Company for a
line of railway from Ballymena to Ballymoney, where it will form
a junction with the projected Armagh and Portrush lines, by which
means the connexion between Derry and Belfast will be completed ;
and your Directors entertain the confident rood f
Acts will be
obtained for their construction at an early period of the next session
of Parliament. GEO. HANDCOCK, Chairman.
The Balance-sheet is appended.

The report and statement of accounts having been read,
William Coates, Esq., rose and said, ho had great pleasure in
moving
" That the report and statement of accounts now read be received,
approved of, and circulated among the Shareholders."
He could not help congratulating the Company on the comparatively
small sum which had been extended in obtaining their Bill, survey-
ing the line, &c. he considered the whole expense exceedingly mode-
rate. Double the sum had been spent by other companies, while
several of the items were a great deal less thou those for similar pur-
poses in another railway with which he was connected. For so far,
everything connected with the line had been satisfactory, and ho
had, therefore, much pleasure in moving the adoption of the report.

(Hear, hear.)
Samuel Green, Esq., seconded the resolution, which was passed
unanimously.
Major Rowan, of Merville, moved, and it was seconded by John
Given, Esq.
" That the Company's seal be affixed to the list of Proprietors
laid on the table."
The Secretary then, in compliance with the Act of Parliament,
affixed the seal of the Company to the list of Shareholders, in the pre-
sence of the meeting.
John Young, Esq., then moved the following resolution :
" That the meeting feel gratified to hear the progress already made
in entering into the necessary contracts, and that a vote of thanks be
given to the Directors for their services."
Drummond Anderson, Esq., had very great pleasure in seconding
the resolution, which, having been put from the chair, was carried
unanimously.
The Han. G. Handcock having vacated the chair, it was taken by
Nath. Alexander, Esq., M.P. ; and on the motion of the Rev. R. W.
Bland, seconded by Thos. Verner, Esq., it was resolved—
" That the best thanks of the meeting are due, and hereby given,
to the Hon. George Handcock for his attention to the interests of the
Company, and for his dignified and proper conduct in the chair."
BALANCE-SHEET.

Dr.
To deposit on 7,700 shares, at 9/. 10s. per share • • £19,250 0 0
To first call paid on 5,488 shares, at 21. Ws. per share 13,720 0 0
To interest on deposit, call, and dividend on stock .. 108 19 1

£33,078 19 1

Cr. ACCOUNT-31sT Oc'roma, 1845.
By surveying and engineering; up to passing of Act.. £2,137 0 1
By solicit,rs' bill of costs in obtaining Act .. • • 2,325 7 7
By witnesses' time and expenses •• .. 674 12 5
By Parliamentary agents to account •••• . . • • 800 0 0
By traffic estimates •
•
170 1 10
By land and compensation • • 1 500 0 0
Ity travelling expenses, deputations, &c. • • .. 334 1 1
By office salaries • • • • .. .. 240 0 3
By printing, advertising, and stationery • • .. 446 0 3
By charges, postage, &e... , 10 3 0

BALANCES,

Balance of Exchequ7r-bills • • • • £3,560 0 0
Balance of cash in Northern Bank 20,861 12 10

Belfast, Nov. 28, 1845,

Residence
Trade or Profession (if•;• i• • • • • • • ••
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Place of Business Y • • •• • *****
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Address of Referee •••
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Date of Application ....
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ALLOCATION OF SHARES.
The Committee of Management have now the satisfaction to in-
form the subscribers and the public that the Plans, Sections, and
Books of References of this undertaking have been completed, and d.-
posited in compliance with the standing orders of the two Houses of
Parliament, which will enable them to apply for an Act in the en-
suing session ; and they hereby give notice, that no Application for
Shares will be received after the 15th of December, and that the
allotment will be made as soon after that date as possible.
The Committee have much pleasure in stating that the result of
their surveys is such as completely to answer the objections which
have been made to their line in various quarters, and that they are
confirmed in the opinion which they at first held, that the line would
be of easy formation, and that the tunnel through the Carter would
not exceed one mile and a quarter in length.
CHARLES ATTICUS MONCIK, Chairman.
JAMES POTTS, Secretary.
Offices of the Company, 11, Eidon-square,
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Nov. 29, 1845.
At a MEETING of LANDOWNERS, held November 10, 1845, at
1
Betsey Castle Inn, the following resolution was adopted :
" We, the undersigned, landowners en and near the line of railway
, proposed to be made by a Company calling itself the Newcastle-on-
Tyne, Edinburgh, and Direct Glasgow Railway, with a branch to
Hexham, having considered the proposed line, and explained with Mr.
Monck, the Chairman of the Managing Committee of the said Railway
' Company, are of opinion that the proposed line of railway, both in
its main line and in its branch, will be beneficial both to the line
of country through which it will pass, and to our own estates, in af-
fording the shortest and easiest communication between Glasgow,
Edinburgh, and Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and in opening out to use the
lime and other minerals which may be now lying unwrought in our
lands. We are of opinion, therefore, that the projectors of the pr0£8,657
£8,657 6 3 posed line ought to have our consent and support, subject to such re-
servations in regard to all private and personal interests as is usual in
•
24,421 12 10 , such cases."
Belsay Castle Inn, Nov. 10, 1845.
£33,078 19 1 (Signed) John E. Swinbunie. P. G. Ellison (for Ralph Bates,
Chas. M. L. Monck. Esq.)
The above has been examined by us, and found correct,
(Signed) WILLIAM COATES, Thos. Anderson. J. S. Ogle.
DRUMMOND ANDRRSON, 1 Auditor'. I Thos. Atkinson Berle. Thomas James.
John Forster. R. C. Askew, for self and the
W. D. Dent. Misses Davidlo4.