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

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

SHEFFIELD, ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE, AND MANCHESTER
RAILWAY.—We are glad to be able to inform our• readers
that the points reserved for the consideration of the Court of
Exchequer, in the late actions brought by this company
against a number of shareholders, and tried at the Liverpool
assizes before Baron Rolfe, have been ruled by the Judges of
the Court in favour of the plaintiffs ; and consequently, any
legal difficulty which might be deemed to exist against the
company, in recovering the amount due front the shareholders
for arrears of calls, is now removed. The result we have no
doubt, will be highly advantageous to the company's pros-
pects, and enable the directors to proceed with spirit and
energy in the execution of the undertaking.
We have reason to believe that the majority of the share-
holders against whom actions were brought, and others whose
objections to pay up have been set at rest by the issue of the
trials, will now, all doubts of their liability being removed,
enter warmly into the interests of the scheme in which they
are embarked. The number of shares in the hands of these
parties, amounts, we believe, to upwards of a thousand, the
arrears of which, when paid up, will place a considerable sum
at the disposal of the directors.
CHARGE FOR SMALL PARCELS TRANSMITTED BY RAIL-
WAY.—We have little doubt that it will be found by the
statements of receipts upon the principal railways, which will
be laid before the proprietors at the approaching half-yearly
meetings, that the number of small parcels has materially de-
creased since the alteration in the charge for postage. We
would suggest to the directors of some of the railway com-
panies that this falling off could be effectually remedied by
lowering the charges now made upon small packages trans-
mitted by passenger trains, which we cannot but think are
extravagantly high. The cost of the smallest parcel from
London, for instance, by the Grand Junction and London
and Birmingham lines is now 2s. Gd.; and we are confident
that these companies would more than double the amount
which they now receive from this traffic, by reducing
the charge to ls. Gd. In many cases it is necessary to
transmit important documents of different descriptions, at
times when the ordinary post-office hours are inconvenient;
and the public would resort much more frequently to the
medium of a parcel by railway, if the cost of this mode of
transmission were more reasonable. The legal profession
are especially interested in such a change ; and the claims of
that profession, generally, to the consideration of railway di-
rections are not unworthy of attention.

LONDON AND MANCHESTER RAILWAY.—The Derby
Mercury contains an elaborate article, which we are sorry
our limits will not allow us to transcribe, on the advantages
of this proposed line, and of the warm and favourable recep-
tion it has met with at all the townsin its course. No doubt,
if conducted with spirit, this line will be carried out.
We understand that everything is now ready for the com-
pany of the Lincoln line of railway to go before parliament.
Mr. Gibbs, the engineer, was in London last week, and took
a survey of the intended neighbourhood of Lincoln, and then
proceeded to Bawtry and York with the same intention.
The present line is much preferable to the preceding one, and
is not likely to meet with the powerful opposition that it did.
—Doncaster Gazette..
BRISTOL AND GLOUCESTER RAILW AY.—We have autho-
rity to say that the report which has lately appeared in several
Bristol and other newspapers, as an indictment against this
company for " not obeying an order of the sessions," having
been removed into the coprt of Queen's Bench, is wholly er-
roneous, no such proceedings having ever been instituted
against this undertaking.

On Friday the Stockton, Clarence, and Hartlepool Railway
Company had several waggon loads of coals conveyed down
their new line for the first time. Stephen Walton, Esq.,
with a large party of friends and owners, previously passed
down the line in one of the splendid coaches belonging to
that gentleman. The trip was, according to report, highly
gratifying. The party partook of a splendid repast, and all
others concerned were. plentifully regaled, with roast beef,
plum-budding, and ale.—Yorkshire Gazette.
Various parties have for weeks past and are now, in Mal-
ton and the neighbourhood, surveying the line of the pro-
jected railway between York and Scarborough, and have
caused not a little speculation by their operations.—York-
shire Gazette.
RAILROAD BETWEEN BOMBAY AND CALCUTTA. —The
expediency of establishing such a communication is under
discussion. The expense is estimated at no more than
£soo,ooo.—Bombay Times.
NEWCASTLE AND NORTH SHIELDS RAILWAY.—At the
meeting of this company last week, it appears that a decided
and unequivocal advantage has been found in the use of
longitudinal bearings, as regards the ease and comfort of the
travelling to passengers, and the less wear and tear of the en-
gines. We bad never any doubt of this, and from the first
advocated longitudinal bearings for these very reasons. The
report says some of the engines have run 30,000 miles with-
out any repairs being made to the tires. We are glad to find
that the traffic on this line is gradually increasing. In the
half-year, from June 30th to December 31st, 1839, the total
number of passengers carried was 336,610, and in the cor-
responding half of 1810, it was 415,650, being an increase of
79,031, or 121 per cent. During the whole year of 1840 the
number carried was 752,045.
DONCASTER AND NORTH MIDLAND RAILWAY.—A com-
pany has been formed for the purpose of connecting the town
of Doncaster with the North Midland line, by means of a
short railway, nine miles in length, diverging from the North
Midland, near the Swinton station, and following the valley
of the Don by Coningsbrough to Doncaster. The estimate
of the traffic shows a net income of 10 per cent. on the capi-
tal of the company, which is fixed at £200,000.
Mr. Hodgson Hinde has placed a notice on the books of
the House of Commons for Monday next, that he will pro-
pose " a modification of the standing order respecting rail-
way bills, which requires a sum equal to one tenth-part of
the money subscribed to be deposited with 'the Court of Ex-
chequer." Mr. Hodgson, we presume, has special reference
to the successful line from England to Scotland, but we
doubt whether it would not be better to endeavour to obtain
a suspension of the order, in that particular case, than to in-
terfere with its operations under ordinary circumstances. No
really good project was ever strangled by the standing order
in question, and in many cases it is of much use as tending
to keep fraudulent schemers in check.

CIIURNET VALLEY RAILWAY.—A meeting of gentlemen,
desirous of promoting the formation of a railway from Lon-
don to Manchester direct. through the Churnet Valley, was
hgld at the Royal Oak Inn, Cheadle, on Thursday week.
Mr. Cattlow moved the following resolution, which was car-
ried by a large majority :—" That this meeting learns with
great satisfaction the intention of the Midland Counties Rail-
way Company to persevere in making a railway from Derby
to Macclesfield, through the Churnet Valley ; and is of
opinion that the Midland Counties Railway Company is en-
titled to the confidence and undivided support of the neigh-
bourhood.—Abridgedfrom the Staffordshire Mercury.
GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY.—The works of this railway,
in the parish of Corsham, are rapidly drawing to a close, and
vast numbers of workmen are constantly removing to other
parts of the country, where labour is more required. It is
calculated that the whole will be completed in a few days.—
Bristol Gazette.

RAILWAY BILL.—Mr. Labouchere has given notice, that
on the 4th he shall move for leave to bring in a bill to amend
the act relative to railways.