The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-02-23 00:00:00

£173,522 13 61

January 1, 1481. X s. d.
By balance due to bankers 3651 10 8
By cheques notpresented forpayment 631 15 0

4283 .5 8

To the Directors of the Sheffield, Ashton-under-Lyne, and
Manchester Railway Company.
Gentlemen,—l beg to submit to you the following report
of the state of the works now in operation :
No. 1, OR ARDWICK CONTRACT.

The long embankment atthe comn2;;;;;nt of this con-
tract is going on well ; locomotive power being now employed
to transport the earth for its formation. The brick retaining
walls are completed, and the occupation bridges are in an
advanced state from the Pottery-lane to the Stockport canal.
The aqueduct which passes the railway under this canal is
finished, and a single line of permanent road is laid for three-
quarters of a mile in length from this point. A considerable
quantity of spoil cutting has been disposed of west of " Trail
Dogs."

No. 2, OR NEWTON CONTRACT.
A length of half a mile at the westerly end of this contract
has been formed ready to receive the ballast for the permanent
way. The only work of consequence on this portion of the
line is the Tame valley embankment, which is being carried
forward from each end, a temporary bridge having been
erected over the Peak Forrest canal to avoid the stoppage
which would otherwise have taken place until the permanent
bridge was finished. The masonry on this contract is in a
very advanced state. Nearly a mile has been foraned and
balasted at Duckinfield, for the permanent road, which will
very shortly be laid at that place.
, No. 3, OR HATTERSLEY CONTRACT.
A good deal of work has been executed on this length since
my last report. The viaduct at Mr. Turner's is ready for
receiving the centres, the piers being all up to the springing
level. The arches across the turnpike road at Godley are
finished, and the embankment at that place is in active pro-
gress. The spoil cutting at Hattersley presents an animated
picture from the number of men employed there. The Hat-
tersley tunnel, from the large quantity of water and quick-
sand has only been worked from one shaft.

A side drift is, however, in progress, which will remove
this difficulty, and we will shortly be enabled to advance here
more rapidly. The retaining walls opposite to Harewood
Lodge are also in progress.
No. 4, OR ETHEROW VIADUCT.
Since my last report this viaduct has been let to Messrs.
Henry and Co., and consisted of four stone arches. In con-
sequence of the opposition of the lessee of the land upon
which one of the piers was to have been placed, it is thought
probable that the design of this bridge may be altered to one
which will span across the ground in dispute. If this be the
case a timber structure upon• stone piers will be the cheapest
and most expeditious mode of obviating the difficulty—no
time will be lost, in getting this matter settled.
No. 5, ort, GAMELY CONTRACT.

The embankments afl each end are going on favourably
from the cutting in the centre. This is a short contract and
almost entirely earthwork.

SUMMIT TUNNEL

The works at the summit are now in a much more favour-
able position than they have been. In the western driftways
a bed of shale has been entered upon, and it is expected to
continue for some distance.

No. 1 shaft has been delayed in consequence of an accident
which happened to the engine there. It has at length, how-
ever, been put right, and the sinking recommenced. We
have been much delayed by water at all the other shafts, but
they are nevertheless steadily progressing, every precaution
having been taken to keep out the various springs. The
eastern driftways in consequence of the rock being more open
are advancing rapidly.

In conclusion, I have much pleasure in stating that the
works are going on very satisfactorily, and that much acti-
vity is displayed on all the contracts. I am, gentlemen, your
obedient servant, ALFRED S. JEE.
Dinting Vale, Feb. 16, 1841.
Examined and approved, JOSEPH LocKE.

Moved by David Waddington, Esq., seconded by Cor-
nelius Randall, Esq., and carried unanimously—
That John Parker, Esq., M.P., take the chair.
Moved by W. P. Bradshaw, Esq., seconded by John
Bennett, Esq., and carried unanimously—
That the report of the directors now read be received and
printed for circulation amongst the shareholders.
Moved by John Sidebottom, Esq., seconded by Samuel
Lees, Esq., arid carried unanimously—
That the abstract of accounts now produced be also printed
and circulated with the report.
Moved by James Bernard, Esq., seconded by Samuel
Lees, E•q., and carried unanimously—

. .
That the report of the resident engineer, certified by the
engineer-in-chief, now read be printed for circulation
amongst the shareholders.
Moved by Thomas Smith, Esq., seconded by William
Butcher, Esq., and carried unanimously—

That the declaration of forfeiture made by the directors 01
the following shares of the following parties be confirmed,
viz :

James Hopwood 15 shares, numbered 2444 to 2458 inclus
Henry Hough.... 15 do. do. 3180 to 3491 do.
Charles Bradbury 10 do. do. 2940 to 2949 do.
\Vm. Christ Hardy 30 do. do. 1101 to 1130 do.
Robert Gainsford 10 do. do. 1151 to 1160 do.
John Brown 2 do. do. 5757 to 5758 do.
\V. Burrows Naylor 5 do. do. 822 to 826 do.
Thos. Asline Ward 23 do. do. 5802 to 5821 do.
John Yeadon 6 do. do. 4419 to 4421 do.
1 61 to 70 do.
' 3887 to 3896 do.
Robert J. Gainsford 103 do. do. 4404 to 4.108 do.
118 to 1-15 do.
736 to 765 do.
5825 to 5814 do.
Moved by James Sidebottam, seconded by Benjamin
Beddome, Esq., and carried unanimously—
That the directors of the company be authorised and di-
rected to dispose of the shares of which the forfeiture has
this day been confirmed by sale as provided in the act, and
for such price as they may think fit.
Moved by James Sidebottam, Esq., seconded by Thomas
Blake, Esq., and carried unanimously—
That John Parker, Esq., M.P., be re-elected a director of
this company.
Moved by William Butcher, Esq., seconded by John
Turner, Esq., and carried unanimously—
That John Sykes, Esq., be also re-elected a director.
Moved by Thomas Blake, Esq., seconded by Cornelius
Randall, Esq., and carried unanimously— '
That Thomas Smith, Esq., be also re-elected a director.
Moved by John Sykes, Esq., seconded by David Wad.
dington, Esq., and carried unanimously—
That John Chapman, Esq., be elected a director of thi:
company.
Moved by D. Waddington, Esq., seconded by John
Chapman, Esq., and carried unanimously—
That the money, by the company's act of incorporatior
authorised to be raised by subscription, being found to bi
insufficient for the making, completing, and maintaining the
railway and other works by the said act authorised to be
made, and for defraying all necessary charges and expenses
relating thereto, or for the purposes of the act, the sum of
£233,000 be borrowed, and taken up at interest on the credit
of the railway undertaking, and that the company, or the
directors thereof, be authorised and empowered to mortgage
and assign the property of the undertaking, and the rates,
tolls, and other sums arising, and to arise, by virtue of the
act, as a security for the money advanced, with interest to
such person or persons as shall advance the same.
Moved by Thomas Dalton, Esq., seconded by Charles
Appleby, Esq., and carried unanimously—
That the directors he authorised to contract with any per-
son or persons for the loan of any sum or sums of money in
conformity with the preceding resolution, and at such rate of
interest and on such terms as they may think fit.
Moved by John Sykes, Esq., seconded by John Sidebot-
tom, Esq.—
That the grant of an allowance of £1,600 per annum to
the directors, made on the 29th of August, 1838, be now re-
considered, with the view that it be either discontinued or
confirmed.—This motion was negatived, and the grant
therefore confirmed.
Moved by Benjamin Beddome, Esq., seconded by John
Livesey, Esq., and carried unanimously—
That the best thanks of the company be presented to the
directors for their very assiduous attention to the Railway
undertaking, and to the interests of the proprietors.
Moved by John Wood, Esq., seconded by James Ber-
nard, Esq., and carried unanimously—
That the best thanks of this meeting be given to Mr.
Joseph Locke, for his able management of the engineering
department of the company.

JOHN PARKER.
Mr. Parker having vacated the chair, it was taken by
William Sidebottom, Esq., the deputy chairman, and
Moved by John Turner, Esq., seconded by Cornelius
Randall, Esq., and carried unanimously—
That this meeting gratefully acknowledges its obligation to
John Parker, Esq., as well for his able and impartial con-
duct in the chair as for his constant and zealous regard to
the interests of the company.

7(VILLIAM SIDEBQTTOM