The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-03-17 00:00:00

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

GREAT NORTH OF ENGLAND RAILWAY.
HALF-YEARLY- GENERAL MEETING.
The half-yearly general meeting of this company was held
at the company's offices at Darlington, on Tuesday the 3rd
instant ; Thomas Meynell, jun., Esq., in the chair. There
was a numerous attendance of proprietors.
The report (which was read by Capt. O'Brien, the secre-
tary) congratulated the proprietors on the improving appear-
ance of the share Hit. The energetic resolutions passed at
the last half-yearly general meeting, and at the special gene-
ral meeting, had been carried out with firmness and modera-
tion, and the directors were enabled to show as their result a'
considerable diminution in the number of shares in arrear.
They had allowed time to meet the calls on all occasions
where it appeared that enforcing the whole payment at once
would produce serious inconvenience; but against those who
had set the company at defiance the necessary legal proceed-
ings to enforce payment were then being taken. the
meantime they congratulated the company upon the exten-
sive demand for the shares, and their steady advance in
price. •

The report proceeded to state that the most material works
between Darlington and York were nearly executed. Some
delay on three of the contracts had occurred, owing to the
inability of the contractors to complete their engagements;
but these works were now being carried on under the super-
intendence of the engineer, and the lost time was expected
to be to a considerable extent recovered.
Under these circumstances, the directors were enabled to
express their confidence that the line would be opened be-
tween Darlington and York—a distance of 45 miles—in the
month of October next. Previously to this period the rail-
ways south of York would be in full operation, and there
would then be an unbroken railway communication between
London and York, the traffic of which would be ready at
once to come upon this line to Darlington. The supply of
coals from the "county of Durham to the North and East
Ridings of Yorkshire was estimated at 200,000 tons per
annum, and a large influx of passengers might also be ex-
pected at the point of junction with the Stockton and Dar-
lington Railway, upon which it was stated that 1400 passen-
gers per day had been carried in the month of August last.
Bearing in mind the straightness of the line from Darling-
ton to York, its favourable gradients, and the moderate rate
at which it would be worked, the directors could not refrain
from congratulating the proprietors upon the approach of a
period when its great advantages would be manifested.
It had been the object of the directors to complete in the
first instance the line between Darlington and York, but they
still contemplated proceeding with the line northwards so
soon as their finances would permit.
The directors concluded by stating that the whole of their
materials, and a sufficient number of passenger and tiler-
ehandize locomotive engines had been contracted for, and
would be delivered previous to the time fixed for opening the

From the general statement of the company's receipts and
expenditure to 31st Dec. 1839, it appeared that the total re-
. £372,233 5 2
68,659 16 8

ceipts were
Liabilities outstanding

Total
That the disbursements to the same period amounted

to £433,900 12 2
Leaving a balance inland of 6,992 9 8

i 0,893 1 10
A discussion then ensued upon a motion introduced by
Mr. France, a London shareholder, respecting the proceed-
ings adopted to compel payment of calls in arrear. It ap-
peared that Mr. France, along with others, had been induced
to take shares in the undertaking, and to sign the parlia-
Mentary,dceds of the company, but had sold his shares pre-
vious to the passing of the Act. When the scrip was re-
quired to be exchanged for the sealed certificates, a notice
was issued by the law clerk of the company, requesting
holders of scrip to send in their names for registration, in de-
fault of which they were informed that the original share-
holders would be registered as the proprietors of such shares
In reply to this notice, a communication was made by Mr.
France to the secretary, stating that he had sold his shares,
and renouncing his title to them, in favour of any other per-
*son who might present the scrip for registration, to which
communication no reply was made, and for two years, although
several calls for money hat: been made, Mr. France never
received circulars (according to the general practice of rail-
way companies) of such calls having been made, and con-
cluded that his shares had been duly registered in the name
of some other party. He therefore moved a resolution, that
himself and other individuals similarly situated should be
absolved from liability, by their shares being forfeited, ac-
cording to the original views of the directors.

It was urged by Mr. Oxley, one of the directors, in reply,
that the directors had strictly followed the act of parliament
and consulted the interests of the undertaking in the course
they had pursued. He assured the meeting that call circulars
had been issued to every shareholder. Mr. France, however,
denied having received one. In addition this mode of intima-
ting to the shareholders their continued liability, Mr. Ox-
ley explained to the meeting that in January, 1838, a circular
was issued to every shareholder, containing a list of all the
shareholders, including those original holders whose shares,
not having been legally transferred, were still held liable to
the company. This circular, it was contended, must at any
rate, have convinced Mr. France and his friends that their
liability still remained, and yet no notice had at the time
been taken of it. Immediately, however, that the directors
found it necessary to press the original shareholders for
calls, they were beset with letters from the Stock Exchange
urging them to forego pressing their claims, and they, there-
fore, resorted to the alternative of forfeiting the shares, sub-
ject to the approbation of a general meeting of the proprietors.
This declaration of forfeiture was not, however, confirmed,
and the directors were compelled again to adopt compulsory
means to enforce payment.

An amendment was moved in favour of the course pur-
sued by the directors, and carried,—only two hands being
held up against it.

The retiring directors were then re-elected, and after voting
hanks to the chairman, the meeting separated.

MANCHESTER AND LEEDS RAILWAY.-HALF-

YEARLY MEETING.

The half-yearly meeting of the above company was held
at the offices, Clowes's-buildings, Hunt's Bank, on Thurs-
day last at noon, and was numerously attended by the pro-
prietors. Henry Houldsworth, Esq., the chairman of the
board, presided.

The report, which was read by the deputy chairman, Wm.
Entwistle, Esq., congratulated the proprietors upon the for-
ward state of the works. The majority of the contracts,
notwithstanding the wetness of the season, were in a satis-
factory state, and will be completed before the close of the
present year, and relying upon the engineers' report, the
directors were enabled to announce that the expectations
which they had formerly held out " of opening the entire
line to the public in all 1840," is placed beyond all reasona-
ble doubt. The Summit tunnel was expected to be com-
pleted by the end of November.

The expenditure during the half year, ended 31st Dec., had
been £534 12s 6d, which had been met by money received
on account of calls, by loans on mortgage of tolls, and by
loans accepted by the directors in anticipation of calls, for
the repayment of which a sufficient portion of the calls
remaining to be (made, is specifically appropriated ; so that
whatever may be the amount of loans so accepted on the
directors' bonds, an equal amount will always remain uncalled
for, upon the shares held by the proprietors, and only be
eventually called up, when such bonds shall become due.
These loans are accepted for periods of two to five years, to
the amount of £195,000 ; and should the proprietors concur

in the views of the directors, they will continue to receive
money on similar terms, the effect of which will be to disperse
future calls over a lengthened period, leaving however to the
proprietors the option of paying such calls in advance, and
receiving interest at 5 per cent.

By pursuing the course which they have adopted, the di-
rectors have been enabled to fulfil the ;expectations held out
in their last report of " not making any calls before the
month of February or March." They consider it right,
hoivever, to announce to make, before the opening of the
entire line, three further calls of £5 each, upon both the old
and new shares, the amount of which, together with the
loans which they expect to receive during the present year,
" they fully believe will enable them to complete the present
contracts, and to provide a sufficient stock of engines, car-
riages, and waggons, for working the whole line." This
appears to them an object of great importance, considering
the extent of business which will at once come upon the line

on its being opened, as at that period the North Midland,
York and North Midland, Hull and Selby, and Great North
of England Railways, will be in full working; and a conti-
nuous railway communication will thus be formed between
Manchester and the port of Hull on the eastward, and
northward to the town of Darlington.

The partial opening to Littleborough had always been
viewed by the directors as a valuable means of having an effi-
cient establishment for conducting the business of the com-
pany, but they had not looked for any material profit to be
derived from it. It is gratifying, however, to them to an-
nounce, that the receipts up to the 3lst December exceeded
the cost of working that portion by the sum of £9,239 7s. Bd.,
and that looking to the gross receipts, or to the cost of work-
ing, which is under 50 per cent, the results may be advan-
tageously compared with the experience of other companies
under aimilar circumstances. The conveyance of goods upon
the line was only commenced upon the second of this month,
and it is the intention of the company to throw that branch
of their traffic open•to public competition, and not them-
selves to undertake the duties of general carriers.
The directors have satisfaction in repeating their convic-
tion, that the total cost of the main line, including stations,
engines, carriages, waggons, &c., will not exceed the esti-
mates furnished at the last half-yearly meeting, and at the
same time assuring the proprietors, that strict attention to
economy, so far as is consistent with solidity of construction,
would characterize their future proceedings.
The directors regret that a misunderstandinghas arisen be-
tween themselves and the Liverpool and Manchester Com-
pany, which has impeded the progress of the junction line to
be formed by the two companies, and for which a joint act of
parliament has been already obtained. The latter company
(it appeared from minutes of their board which were read to
the meeting) are dissatisfied with the estimates of traffic fur-
nished them by the Manchester and Leeds Company, and
are now disposed to retract from their share in forming this
communication, preferring to make a junction, which shall
include the • Manchester and Birmingham, and Manchester
and Sheffield Lines, upon the southern side of Manchester.
Acting upon the faith of their original understanding with
the Liverpool Company, the directors had proceeded to pur-
chase a considerable portion of the land required for the con-
templated junction at Hant's Bank. The advantages of this
line have lately been increased by a resolution of the Mersey
and Irwell Navigation Company to make the latter river na-
vigable to Hant's Bank, and the directors do not, under these
circumstances, feel disposed to allow their present powers to
expire unex ercised, but will endeavour to lay before the pro-
prietors at a general meeting such reasons as will justify them
in pursuing their present scheme, even independently of the
Liverpool Company, should they conclude to abandon the
junction altogether.

The directors announce the formation of a benevolent
society for the relief of their sick or disabled servants, and
recommend the contribution of a small sum by the company
to form a guarantee fund. They have to regret the resigna-
tion of three of their board, viz., their late chairman, James
Wood, Esq., James-Heald and John Burton, Esqrs., arising
from the views held by them on the question of Sunday
travelling. The places of these gentlemen had been filled by
Mr. Entwistle, the present deputy chairman, John Har-
greaves, Esq., and James Hatton, Esq.
We regret that we cannot give even an outline of the
engineers's report. We may, however, refer to it in our
next, as well as to a very valuable table of the traffic which
has been furnished with the report.

From the statement of receipts and expenditure it ap-
peared that the total receipts for the half year were
£577,082 Bs. 6d. ; and the disbursements (including
£21,537 ls. sd. paid for land and building for the junction
line) £534,134 12s. 6d. ; leaving a balance unexpended on
the 31st December last of £42,947 16s. By the revenue
account from the opening of the line, July 4 to December
31, 1839, it appeared that the total receipts of the six months,
from passengers, parcels, &c., were £17,908 Ils. ld. ; and
that the disbursements were £8,669 3s. sd. ; leaving a ba-
lance in hand on the 31st December last of £9,239 7s. Bd.
The meeting was addressed by the chairman in a long and
able speech explaining the views of the directors on the
merits of the proposed junction line, and after re-electing the
retiring directors and passing the necessary resolution,
separated.

WEEKLY RETURNS OF RA'
(Prom the Railway 111

I LWAY TRAFFIC.
ragazinej

NAME. Passen- 1 Cash. P.mile P.mile Passeng.
gers. pr.wk.'p. day. per day.
--;
L. L. £.
Birmingham 11016 98 14
South Western.... 2263 39 51
Great Western .... 2404 78-1 114
Grand Junction .. 6829 70.} 10
Newcastle &Carlisle 1 1625 27 4
Greenwich 26224 913 2394) 34 3746
Manchester &Leeds 11304 685 501 73; 1615
Croydon..
York &N. Midland 1498 317 22 3 214
Midland Counties.. 3259 303 19+ 3 466
Glasgow & Ayr.... 1498+ 56 54 1 220
Eastern Counties.. 4732 ' 676

•
SHIP LAUNCH.-011 Thursday next, the 19th inst., at
eleven o'clock, will be launched from the yard of Messrs.
Humble and Milcrest, in Trentham-street, west side of
Salthouse-dock, a splendid ship of 600 -ions burthen, to be
called the " Martha Ridgway." She belongs to John
Ridgway, Esq., of this town, and is intended for the East
India trade. She has been built under the inspection of
Captain Finlay Cooke, and for beauty of model and work-
manship cannot be surpassed. We would recommend an
early visit to her by those who wish to see a handsome ship.
AccIDENT.—On Friday morning, at a quarter before four
o'clock, a seaman named William Hall, of the ship Scotland,
lying in the Prince's-dock, who was in liquor, accidently fell
from the stage into the water, while crossing to his vessel.
Police-officer No. 499 (Shahan) heard the plunge, and, after
giving the alarm, ran to the spot with the grapnel and rope.
On the grapnel being thrown to the man he seized it and
was supported on the surface of the water until custom-house
officer griffin was lowered with a rope. Griffin succeeded
in bringing the seaman almost to the margin of the quay,
but being unable to retain his hold, was obliged to let go.
After again falling into the water, the man seized the rope
attached to the grapnel, and was ultimately hauled upon the
quay, and conveyed to the British Queen receiving-house,
and a hot bath applied. He is now quite out of danger,
PASTORAL AID SOCIETY.—A monthly meeting of the
committee of the Church Pastoral Aid Society was held on
the sth of March, when 12 additional grants were voted. The
society now aids 260 incumbents, having an aggregate popu-
lation of 1,943,753 souls, or each on an average 7475 souls,
while the average amount of their incomes is only £164. 126
of these incumbents are without parsonage houses. The
grants are to provide stipends for 274 clergymen and 36 lay
assistants, at a charge to the society, when all the appoint-
ments shall be made by the incumbents, of £24,244 per
annum. 179 clerymen and 31 lay assistants are now at their
important labours, supported by the society of a charge of
£15,639 per annum.
THE ASSlZES.—Although Mr. Justice Erskine sat in the
Crown Court at York from eight o'clock in the morning till
a late hour at night, on four of the seven days that the as-
sizes have been held, and although he had been assisted on
one day by Mr. Starkie, Q. C.; up to yesterday only 44 pri-
soners had been disposed of out of 123 in the calendar and
32 out on bail. It is, therefore, morally certain that the
business cannot be got through before Thursday next, the
Commission day at Lancaster; and there is, in consequence,
some expectation that the Lancaster Assizes will be post-
poned till after those at Liverpool, but nothing certain was
known at York last night.—Leeds Intelligencer.

- -- -
GARNETT V. SOWLER.—Mr. Garnett, of the Manchester
Guardian, has applied to one of the judges, but whether
successfully has not transpired, to remove the venue in this
case from Liverpool to Lancaster, on the ground that, in the
opinion of the plaintiff, the public mind in this district is too
much prejudiced to have the case decided with impartiality.
PROPOSED NEW MARKET.—We find that an address to
the Common Council, relative to the building of a market on
the site of the old Custom-house. instead of altering the
present market in Cleveland-square, is in course of signature,
and has been very numerously signed by the most respectable
part of the inhabitants of that neighbourhood.
LIVERPOOL WATCH RATE BILL.—BREVIATE OF THE
BILL.—The object of this bill is to enable the municipal cor-
poration of Liverpool to make good the deficiency of the pre-
sent watch rate out of the borough fund. The watch rate
which, under the municipal corporation act (6 Will. IV.,
C. 76, sec. 2) the town council are empowered to levy, is
stated in the preamble to be greatly insufficient to defray the
expenses of the maintenance and establishment of the day
and night police of the borough ; and the borough fund, after
the demands'upon it, is stated to be fully sufficient to make
good the deficiency. The 'bill accordingly empowers the
council, if they in their discretion think fit, but not other-
wise, to apply any part of the surplus of the borough fund,
after answering the purposes to which it is made liable by the
municipal corporation act, in payment of such part of the
expense of maintaining a day and night police as the the watch
rate authorized by the municipal act may be sufficient to
satisfy. And it authorises the council to abstain, so long as
they.think fit, from levying a rate under the powers of the act
of last session, for more equally assessing watch rates (2 and
3 Vict., c. 28.)

THE BLUE COAT HOSPITAL.—From the annual report of
the Blue Coat Hospital we learn, that the income of the
year has been sufficient to meet he expenditure, notwith-
standing that the expenses exceed any former year, owing to
the high price of provisions and the extra repairs required in
consequence of the injury the building sustained from the
storm in the early part of last year. There are 350 children
in the schools, boarded and educated at an expense of from
£lO to £lB per child. We cannot sufficiently extol the
management of this institution, nor estimate too highly the
benefits it confers upon the objects of its care : and we sin-
cerely trust, its friends will not relax in their efforts to per-
petuate its efficiency. For one hundred and thirty-two
years it has, silently and unostentatiously, been diffusing
the blessings of a sound religious and moral education to a
class of children, chiefly orphans, but all especially objects of
public bounty ; and its fruits are before the public in in-
numerable instances of individuals becoming eminent in the
various walks of society. The charity appeals with resist-
less force to the feelings of every father of a family : for in
a community where the fluctuations of trade and commerce
change the position of the people so frequently, and some-
times so unexpectedly, who can tell how soon his helpless
and innocent offspring may not be grateful for protection in
this asylum of religion and virtue?
INSOLVENT COURT AT LANCASTER.—This court was
opened at Lancaster on Tuesday last, before Thomas Barton
Bowen, Esq., at which court 107 insolvents applied for their
discharge, of which number 34 had received notice of oppo-
sition, and six discharged from plaintili;3 prior to their hear-
ing.r Counsel present—Messrs. Venables; Bateman,
has
Alo
land, James, Monk, and Sturgeon. Nothing particular
occurred, and the court is likely to terminate, ita not a
tia-
turday evening, certainly in good time on M d
ay. The
following are the most interesting particulars a
which have
o
been disclosed during the sitting :—ln the case of James
Gent, the learned commissioner censured in
the conduct of an attorney residing,a discharge (who is ai n
severe e
whor te rhi
an
ds
forwarded to the gaoler this insolventa
very
short time previous
very poor man with a large family)
before the court. He concluded
to the man being
exceedingly harsh and.
his observations hbyrosugaglint laartaiscienigul.theThwe'hcoalesetorfanloahetnioln‘.shas.
Ash-
worth,
household furniture a few months
who was a publican Manchester, and had disposed
of his stock-in-trade and
d.
before his arrest, for
remanded
sum ex
feeo
rm sixteen
calendar £300;
ewadsa
rheard n
months,
o-
Thursday, and was
having expended the whole of this large sum in gambling
_and horse-racing.----Preston Pilot.

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