The Sun.
London, England, 1845-01-31 00:00:00

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

AMALGAMATION OF THE BIRMINGHAM
AND GLOUCESTER, AND BRISTOL AND
GLOUCESTER LINES.
BIRMINGHAM, WEDNESDAY EVENING.—A meeting of
the Shareholders in the Birmingham and Gloucester
Railway was held this afternoon at the Company's
offices, in Lawley-street, "to authorise the guarantee of 5
pr cent., offered by the Directors to parties taking
shares in the proposed line to Wolverhampton ; to
authorise the raising of additional capital for the works ;
and the immediate consolidation of the capital of the
Company with that of the Bristol and Gloucester Rail-
way Company." There was a good attendance of
Shareholders.
Mr. SAMUEL BOWLES'', Chairman of the Board of
Dir2ctors, presided, and said that at the last meeting it
was left in the power of the Directors to alter the terms
on which the additional capital should be raised, if they
saw a necessity. That necessity had arisen ; they found
that the withdrawal of the guarantee would hinder them
from getting out their shares, and after due considera-
tion they had agreed to the terms proposed in the ad-
vertisement. He, therefore, moved t'he resolution autho-
rising the guarantee of 5 per cent. to parties taking
shares in the Wolverhampton line.
Mr. LOVE seconded the resolution, which was carried
unanimously.
The CHAIRMAN then moved the next resolution.
Mr. C. B. FRIPP (of Bristol), seconded the resolution,
which was also passed unanimously.
Mr. -Sleatv, ,fat reply to Mr. Love, said the shares
were to be allotted "as the Directors might think
proper."
The CHAIRMAN said the object of the Directors had
been to give the preference to the Proprietors of the
present line.
The CHAIRMAN, in reply to Mr. Love, who wished to
know the amount of additional capital required, said
there was a great deal embraced under the present ar-
rangements of the Board. There were the deviation
lines, as well as the main line to Wolverhampton. Then
the question arose whether the money to come back
from the Great Western Company would pay the cost
of the deviation lines. He was afraid they could not
give any definite calculation as to the amount required.
The estimate, as far as Mr. Hughes and Mr. Baylis, the
surveyors, could calculate, was 742,7671. 12,546 shares
had been allotted, but the Directors were not exactly in
a position to say that all that number had been
accepted. The shares allotted would amount to about
600,0001. They were anxieus to reserve some of the
shares for the landowners through whose estates the
line would pass. 200.0001., in addition to the 600,000/.
allotted, would cover the probable cost of the pro-
posed works.
The CHAIRMAN said the next question for the consi-
deration of the meeting was the amalgamation with the
Bristol and Gloucester Company.
The SECRETARY then read the agreement, the sub-
stance of which was given in The Sun of last week.
The CHAIRMAN said he was very much inclined to be-
lieve that there would be very little d.fference of opi-
nion as to the policy of amalgamating the Company with
those who were naturally their allies. The Bristol and
Gloucester line had not long been opened before the Di-
rectors of this Company were made aware of the prac-
tical disadvantages of working as two separate and in-
dependent companies. With regard to the terms upon
which the amalgamation was proposed to be made, that
was a different matter. But, supposing those terms to
be fair and reasonable, there could not be two opinions
as to the desirableness of the step. With regard to the
rates of carriage, and the carrying trade generally, the
want of uniformity must militate very much against
the interests of all parties. After a few more observa-
tions, he moved a resolution, authorising the consolida-
tion of the two companies.
Mr. HALL seconded the motion.
Mr. C. B. FRIPP, Director of the Bristol and Glouces-
ter, thought that the beard had quite overlooked the in-
terests of the Company in the grand end of amalgama-
tion. That the line between Birmingham and Bristol
should have originally been one line, no one could deny ;
and on fair and equitable terms amalgamation now would
be advantageous to both Companies. But were the pro-
posed terms fair? With respect to the share capital of
the Company, the Bristol and Gloucester were placed on
an exact par with the Birmingham and Gloucester Com-
pany. The Birmingham and Gloucester Company had
been struggling for three year:, and had at last succeeded
in working out a dividend of at must from 4 to 4} per
cent. Was it wise then for them to amalgainate with a
Company which had not yet published a single state-
meat of ietffic? IV-teen the- Birmmerarn and Gloucester
Railway opened, there was a long line of coach road to
the west. When the Bristol and Gloucester Company
commenced operations the Great Western was opened to
Exeter, and there was a direct railway communication
as far north as Preston. The first half-year's returns,
then, would not have formed an unfavourable test
of the capabilities of the line as far as passenger
traffic was concerned. It was not fair to put that
Company on a par with their own. Looking at the
matter as an open question, he considered the terms
laid down in the agreement to be widely prejudicial to
the Birmingham and Gloucester Company. The great
object of the amalgamation was to ensure a more rapid
transit of passengers. He could see nothing to effect
that object, unless the same gauge was adopted through-
out the line. It must be altered. He should be decidedly
against extending the broad gauge to Birmingham. He
called upon the Directors explicitly to state that the
narrow gauge would be carried through from Gloucester
to Bristol.
Mr. JOSEPH STURGE thought the terms were rather to
the advantage of the Bristol Company, but the advan-
tages of an amalgamation were so great that he hoped
no opposition would be made to the proposal of the
Directors. He did not exactly understand that Bristol
and Gloucester stock was in the same position as Bir-
mingham and Gloucester stock. He supported the
original motion.
The CHAIRMAN—If the line pays 5 per ceut., then
there will be 5 per cent. paid on 1001. Birmingham, and
5 per cent. on 87/. ss. Bristol.
Mr. STcItGE said that put a little different feature on
the matter; and although the st ick of the Bristol Com-
pany was very much increased, and the stock of the
Birmingham Company remained the same, looking at the
mileage, there was nothing very unfair in that. He
most cordially supported the original motion.
The resolution was ultimately adopted nem. con.

BOLTON, WIGAN, AND LIVERPOOL.-011 Monday,
meeting was held at Bolton, with reference to the pro-
posed line from Bolton, through Wigan to Liverpool.
The Mayor, Mr. J. Slater, presided, and enlarged on the
importance of having in connection with the district a
direct railway communication from the eastern to the
western shores of England. In his opinion, they ought
not to lose the present opportunity of obtaining oils,
tallow, Baltic timber, &c., direct front llull. Bolton had
neglected the canals ; they must not neglect the rail-
ways. By means of the proposed line, Bolton would
have a better and cheaper supply of coals than it had at
present. By the projected line they could have their cot-
ton, tallow, &c., direct from Liverpool, which to Bolton,
with its 70,000 inhabitants, was a matter of great im-
portance. A memorial, very numerously signed by all
parties in the town, had already been sent up to the
Board of Trade, and he had received a letter acknow-
ledging its receipt. Mr. Alderman Magnall thought that
if Bolton neglected the present opportunity of securing
an improved communication with Liverpool, they would
be much to blame. Robert Knowles, E,q., then moved
. . . . . .

" That it is the opinion of the meeting that the present
railway and canal communication is inadequate to
the wants of the people of Bolton and the neighbour-
hood." The present railway was insufficient for
the carriage of goods. The resolution was car-
ried unanimously. Mr. Henry Ashworth moved the
second resolution, and stated that the proposed line
would afford the means of communication with Wigan,
Hindley, Bolton, Bury, Heywood, Rochdale, &c., em-
bracing a population of about 300,000—a fact which
established the desirability of the undertaking. He
concluded by moving that the proposed line from Liver-
pool to Wigan and Bolton, with extension to Bury and
Heywood, was admirably adapted to supply the defi-
ciencies of railway communication. R. Heywood, Esq.,
seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously.
Mr. P. Ainsworth, M.P. for the borough, said, that as
all railway projects were now left to a Committee of the
Board of Trade for examination, he felt at a loss how to
advise the meeting as to the best course to be followed
in support of the proposed line. The Committee were
in deliberation, and would, most likely, eventually come
into Lancashire, to see what lines were best calculated to
promote the public good. If the decisions already given
were to be taken as a criterion of the course they in-
tended to pursue, it would be impossible to say whati
might be the fate of the various lines now proposed n
different parts of the country. A deputation,p tedto waitconsisting
of the mayor and Mr. Ainsworth, w
Board
Liverpool,of
u
Darhishere
oi
said the
uponan theches ter and
powerful bodies, were opposed to the proposed line,
because they wanted a monopoly ; but he trusted
that the interests of the coommunity would have a
greater weight with the Board of Trade than those of
private speculators. Mr. Ainsworth said, that so long
as the railways were under the control of the Board of
Trade, he did not think that any great monopolies would
be encouraged. If the:present line were rejected, he
line)doubted
cal not
uponotthat
theth they
Manchester
t(ears
andin the
Liverpooleas e o c
of thoemDpoavneyr
to make a better communication with Bolton than was
affGorttdAeNdDby
juthNecTplroeN AND sentline.
LONDON AND BIRMINGHAM.—
During the latter part of last weekit was currently re-
ported that the good understanding between these two
Companies had again been interrupted, and that they
were once more in a state of hostility to each other.
The report pr3duced a very injurious effect on the
shares of both, and spread great alarm amongst the
Shareholders. We are glad t ) learn, however, that an
official communication was yesterday made by Mr. Moss,
the chairman of the Grand Junction, to the chairman of
the Liverpool Sharebrokers Association, to the effect

that no difference had o,leurred, or wa likely to occur,
between the two Companies. etve reason to be-
lieve that nslight ini- , mg did exist for a short
tune, but that it was entirely founded in error, and was
immediately removed by a frank end candid explarta-
tir;Te—Lieerpeol TitaCS.
LONDON AND YORK.—On Monday a meeting was held
at Doncaster to take into consideration the projected
lines, in so far as they affect the interests of the borough,
and to memoralise the Board of Trade thereon. The
Mayor, Mr. J. E. Morey, presided, supported by Sir
Isaac Morley, Sir Joseph Copley, Mr. E. B. Denison,
M.l'., Mr. J. Parker, M.P., and other gentlemen con-
nected with the district. Messrs. Slarke, Easton, and
Sharpe appeared as a deputation from Gainsborough, in
favour of the Midland Counties Extension. The Mayor,
in opening the proceedings, explained that the chief re-
quisite
for a line to Doncaster was, that they must have
a main line, with a permanent station, and that it must
not pass the high road on a level. They had memorialized
the Board of Trade against the London and York, be-
cause it left Doncaster ten miles to the east. Mr. Walker
proposed a reselut:on in favour of the London and York,
conceiving that the adoption of that line would make
Doncaster once more the highway between Edinburgh
and London. He contended that the Midland Counties
Extension would neither give facilities to, nor improve .
the trade of Doncaster. Mr. Milner seconded this. Sir
Isaac Morley spoke in favour of the Midland Counties
Extension, but advised the meeting not to give a pledge
to any particular line. He moved anamendment, second-
ed by Mr. Price, that every line that came direct to Don-
caster, and had a station there, would be for the interest of
the town. Mr. Denison, M.P., entered into a variety of
statements with respect to the London and York, and
concluded by calling on the meeting to support the reso-
lution in its favour, which was eventually carried over
the amendment, by a large majority. A deputation was
appointed to communicate the resolution to the Board „
of Trade.
MANCHESTER, BURY, AND ROSSENDALE..—On Mon-
day the half-yearly general meeting of the Proprietori
was held at Bury. Mr. J. Grundy, Chairman of the
Board of Directors, presiding, when the report of the
Directors, describing the progress of the works, and
giving a statement of the accounts, was received and
adopted. The Chairman congratulated the Proprietors
on the improved position of the Company's affairs. At
the extraordinary general meeting, which followed im-
mediately after, the Directors submitted a report relative
to the proposed Heywood branch in connexion with the
Manchester, Bury, and Rossendale. Resolutions were
passed unanimously in favour of an application to Par-
liament for power to construct it, and to raise the neces-
sary capital. The Chairman announced that satisfac-
tory arrangements had been entered into for the
amalgamation with the Manchester and Rossendale of
the Blackburn, Burnley, and Accrington line. The out-
lay on the Heywood branch would be between 60,0001.
and 70.0001.

NEW ZEALAND COMPANY.
A General Court of the Proprietors of this Company
was held yesterday, at tie Company's offices, Newßroad•
street-buildings. The following Directors were pre-
sent:—Sir John PiHe, Bart., Alex. Currie, Esq.. Stewart
Majoribanks, Esq., Captain Nairne, Jeremiah
Pi!cher, Esq., J. H. Gower, Esq., Sir Isaac Lyon
Goldsmid, Bart., G. F. Young, Esq,, Joseph Somes,
Esq., M.P.
The chair was taken by Joseph Somes, Esq., M.P.,
the Governor of the Company.
The CHAIRMAN said, in reference to the smallness of
the attendance, that it was to be attributed to the fact of
its being understood to be the intention of the Directors
to move an adjournment. The Secretary would read
the notice of the meeting, and the report, and no obser-
vations would be made.
The SECRETARY
NY
et
wh e
erael aa dn
dt following
House,
23d
d noticejan., 18:4-5.
" Sir,—l am instructed to inform you that at the
General Court of Proprietors of the New Zealand Com-
pany, to be held on Thursday next, it is the intention of
the Directors to recommend an adjournment.
" I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient
servant, " T. C. HARINGTON, Secretary."
The SECRETARY then read the following Report:—
" In consequence of the brief correspondence between
Lord Stanley and your Governor, which has taken place
since the advertisement calling this meeting was issued,
and which will now be read to you, we recommend you
to adjourn for a fortnight, and to abstain from asking us
to lay before you to-day a statement of the condition tf
your affairs, which would be devoid of information as to
the views entertained by her Majesty's Government, in
consequence of the Report of the Select Committee of
the House of Commons.
"It is with much regret that we revert to a system of
repeated adjournments; but the present critical state of
the Company calls for this exercise of a power conferred
on you for occasions requiring more frequent communi-
cation between the Proprietors and Directors than is
compatible with the length of notice on original meetings.
New Zealand House, Broad-street Buildings,
• 30th January, 1845.
" MR. SOMES TO LORD STANLEY.
" New Zealand House, Jan. 20, 1845.
" My Lord,—Feeling that the time has arrived when
it is indispensable that the Directors of the New Zealand
Company should decide upon their future course of pro-
ceedings, we have deemed it right to summon'a meeting
of the Proprietors to be held on the 30th instant, for
the purpose of taking into consideration the affairs of the
Company, and of adopting such measures as may be
thereupon deemed expedient.'
j "TO. enable the Proprietors to arrive at a conclusion
neon this question, we beg to represent to your Lord-
ship the importance of their being put in possession, as
far as may be practicable, of the intentions of her Ma-
jesty's Government.

I if

"The report of the Committee of the House of Com-
mons of the last session is, of course, an object of the
greatest interest to us ; and without presuming to con-
fine your Lordship's attention to particular points among
those embraced in that document, almost all of which
are of equal moment to those engaged in the coloniza-
tion of New Zealand ; we trust that we may, without
impropriety, ask whether her Majesty's Government
has taken, or intends taking, any steps for the purpose
of giving effect to the recommendations of the Com-
mittee.—l have the honour, &c.,
" JOSEPH SOMES, Governor.
" To the Right Hon. Lord Stanley, &c."
" MR. HOPE TO MR. 80MES.
" Downing-street, Jan. 23, 1845.
" Sir.—l have laid before Lord Stanley your letter of
the 20th instant, and with reference to the inquiry it
contains, whether her Majesty's Government have taken,
or intend to take, any steps for the purpose of giving
effect to the recommendations of the Committee of
the House of Commons, which sat last session to in-
quire into the state of New Zealand ? his Lordship de•
sires me to acquaint you, for the information of the
Directors of the Company, that he proposes, as the
most proper and convenient course, to present the in-
structions issued by hint to the Governor of New Zea-
land, subsequently to the Report of the Committee being
made public, to the Houses of Parliament, immediately
after they meet.
" Lord Stanley trusts that no inconvenience will result
to tho Directors from postponing for so short a tine the
publication of those instructions.
"I have the honour,
" G. W. HOPE.
"To Joseph Somes, Esq., M.P.," &c.
Mr. MonTimEn moved the adoption of the report,
which was seconded and carried unanimously.
On the motion of the CHAIRMAN, the meeting then
adjourned until the 13th of February.

CONSECRATION OF ST. JOHN'S
CHURCH, NOTTING-HILL.
This new church was consecrated on Wednesday by the
Lord Bishop of London. Besides his Lordship, there
were present a great number of clergymen, among them
the Venerable Archdeacon Sinclair, the incumbent of
the district ; the Rev. Mr. llouldsworth ; the Rev. Mr.
Dalt,:n, Chaplain of the Hon. Society of Lincoln's Inn ;
the Rev. 11. H. Milman, &c. The consecration service
was in the usual form, and the Archdeacon read the
prayers. 'The sermon of the Bishop, who preached on
the occasion, was rather of a practical than a doctrinal
nature. It inculcated the necessity of enabling the
Church to keep pace with the wants of an increasing po-
pulation ; and insisted on the propriety of making the
house of God accessible to all classes of the community.
The Right Rev. Prelate then adverted to the occasion for
which they were assembled, and stating that those whe
had the management of the edifice had, in their zeal for
religion, exceeded their means, he appealed in forcible
terms to the congregation, of all ranks and conditions, to
come forward in aid of the good work. His Lordship
concluded his sermon by observing that, according to the
ancient usage of the Church, the collection for the pur-
pose would be made during the offertory.
The church is early Norman in its architecture, and
it presents a pleasing specimen of the manner prevalent
at the period of the first introduction of that style into
English ecclesiastical edifices. It consists of a nave and
two aisles, with short transepts and a channel. The roof
is an open one of timber, and very light and elegant,
springing from arches supported by massive circular pil-
lars of Caen stone. The interior is plain, and dwarf
seats, with doors at either extremity, occupy the floor of
the church. The exterior is lofty and handsome, being
built of rough-cut limestone, dressed at the doors and
nincdhoairvascwteirthwith Caenasntonecee;liit,siparsetsiecal e
presents featuresdifice.
of
Thes sire,olidpit)
in
his composed altogether of
Caen
remarkably good effect. The ar-
chitects and
dl
hasin thea r oof'
cwhitihs iso n treectstwere Messrs. Stevens and Alexander. Altogether
it is not alone an ornament to the
whichh oo din w
as hithertowhichit i s planted,most sev severely
it
felta by
populousl neiglibour-
),
eshou suppliesreh
c co
pulation, namely, that of sufficientd the whole pa.
m am
wantod a -
tion. There is a well-toned powerful organ and one
painted window in the church.
The ceremonial was over about half-past two o'clock,
having commenced at half-past eleven. The
church was
crowded throughout the service.

SUICIDE BY A MEDICAL MAN.—Wednesday Mr.
Carter, coroner for East Surrey, held an inquest on the
body of Mr. George Youd, aged thirty-six, assistant to
Mr. Taylor, surgeon, 37, Harleyford-place, Kennington-
oval, who on Sunday night last committed suicide, in
bed, by swallowing prussic acid. The evidence esta-
blished the fact that deceased was not right in his mind,
and the jury consequently returned a verdict of " Tem-
porary Insanity."
A NEW POWER.—An ingenious manufacturer ad-
vertises, in the daily papers, for " a second-hand half-
horse power condensing engine !" We believe it has been
generally understood that there could be no power at all
in half a horse, because the very process of splitting him
in half would instantly deprive him of all power, except
tnheervper
of her
of becomingljaestolfactory
gentleman of s vlei e offensive
subjects,
taheveorl;
time afterwards.te sire should bceolmlegueeh
foobrlitigised
otorinianz
thereon.—Grea Gun.