The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1845-05-13 00:00:00

GRAND JUNCTION RAILWAY

A spccial general meeting of the Grand Junction Rail-
way Company was held, yesterday, in the Cotton Sales
Rooms, Exchange-buildings, for the purpose of consi-
dering and deciding as to the following measures, proposed
to be authorised by acts of pt.rliiiment in the present
session—viz , the construction of railways from the Grand
Junction Railway to Shrewsbury, to Stoke-upon-Trent,
to Dudley and Runcorn, respfctivily ; the Trent Valley.
Railway ; and the amalgamation of the Grand Junction,
Liverpool and M.nchester, North Union, Bolton and
Leigh, and Kenyon and Leigh Railway Companies. The
meeting was very numc: ously atanded. hn Moss,
Eq., chairman of the directors, presided.
The CHAIRMAN said that, although the proprietors
had been called together apparently for a great many
things there was only one, the amalgamation of the
Grand Junction with the Liverpool and Manchester and the
adjoining lines, which world be brought before them to-day.
The other bills mentioned in t:,e circular were now being
discussed before Parliament; and the directors thought
it hardly Gir to call upon the proprietors for their consent
or approbation to them whilst they were liable to be
changed. They were not, indeed, in a stage when they
could be produced, and another meeting would have to be
called with respect to them. The chairman concluded by
ceiling upon Captain Huish, the secretary, to read the
heads of the 'Liverpool and Manchester Amalgamation
Bill, as they had passed the Committee of the House of
Commons.

Captain Iluxsu read the marginal heads of each clause.
73 in number, and Mr. CHARLES LAWRENCE moved
that the customary powers be invested in the directors to
consent to any alterations in the measure which they
might deem expedient or that Parliament might require.
Mr. Ats.roN cordially seconded the motion, but begged
to give notice that he wished to make some remarks with
respect to the differences between this company and the
London and Birmingham.
The CHAIRMAN said this meeting had beers called for
an express purpose; and the fewer observations that were
made at it upon anything except the bills now before par-
liament the better.
Mr. ALSTON would put himself entirely under the con-
trol of the directors, for he did, not mean to say one word
offensive to them or to the proprietors : and certainly
nothing injurious to their interests.
The CHAIRMAN stated he should be sorry if any re-
marks were made at this nnegling thai would call forth
any observation upon the prereedings in parliament and

elsewhere.
Mr. ALSTON. in continuation, said, that when he read
in the proceedings in Parliament that charges of fraud
were made in bringing forward one of the measures, it was
high time for the proprietors to consider whether they
were going on under a good system. Eight or nine
months ago be wrote from Scotland to an influential pro-
prietor recommending that the differences with the Lon-
don and Birmingham should be left to two or three pro-
prietors from each of the companies, who might look into
the whole question of dispute. At that moment, however,
he did not anticipate anything so serious as that they
should come to mutual accusations; and if it were per-
sisted in it, would shake the confidence of the whole pro-
prietors. The expression was that the other company
had been guilty of fraud in proposing certain things.
He could shew it in print to the meeting. He did not
agree with the charge himself; but he wanted to see a
better spirit between the two companies. for he had a pre-
fect confidence that they might carry on their measures
ultimately with more harmony. In recommending that
two or three pr:Trietors from each company should meet,
he had not the least desire to take any power out of the
hands of the directors. He bad, on the contrary, entire
confidence in them as men of honour and integrity, but
when hostility was carried to the lengths it had been, he
considered it incumbent upon him to bring the subject

forward

The CHAIRMAN said that in July the directors thought
that every thing in the I%ay of agreement might be ac-
complished. Three gentlemen were appointed to meet on
each side with that object ; but unfourtunately the event
did not so turn out ; and unless you could bind gentlemen
to perform all that was promised, he did not see how it
could
its

_ . ALSTON. You stated at the last meeting that there
was " war to the knife."
The CHAIRMAN, I do not recollect saying that. It
was said, but not by me.
Mr. ALSTON in continuation said, the observation of
the chaiiman was that there appeared to be no hope of a
settlement. He (Mr. Alston) did not appear to defend
his own interests in this railway, but as the advocate of
distant proprietors, of females, and those under age, who
could not speak for themselves. The proprietors present
represented those who were absent, and on this ground he
felt imperatively bound to state his sentiments. If he was
not justly entitled to move a resolution upon the subject
now, he should ask for another meeting specially.
The CHAIRMAN was sure Mr. Alston was the last per-
son in the world to do anything to injure the Grand
Junction Railway : but to ask for a meeting of the kind
he. had mentioned would be to stop all present proceed-
ings both in parliament and elsewhere. Perhaps the most

sore point of all with the London and Birmingham Com-
pany was, the Birmingham and Oxford line with which
Mr. Alston was himself connected ; but that was a ques-
tion which he was stye Mr. Alston would not enter upon
in this meeting.

Mr. ALSTON was obliged to the chairman for men-
tioning the Birmingham and Oxford line ; first, because
be had no selfisb remarks to make for its benefit, and
_ _

next, because it afforded him the opportunity of saying,
that the approbation of that line, without reference either
to the Great Western Company or the Grand Junction,
was universal. He was also bound to say that the direc-
tors of the Grand Junction were decidedly opposed to
anything being said with respect to it, hostile or ill-
natured towards the London and Birmhigham. With
regard to the proceedings in parliament, he had had some
experience in parliamentary business, and he was sure
that a friendly conference between two and three proprie-
tors on each side would not have prejudiced their proceed-
ings, whilst it might have done great good.
Captain Huistt said Mr. Alston had used the word
"fraud," as hating been employed in parliament.
Mr. ALSTON.—In a committee of parliament,
Captain HUIStI.—In a committee. He had been pre-
sent every day during every sitting of the committee, and
he was not aware that that word, or anything tending to
convey the same impression, had.been applied by any one
connected with the Grard Junction Railway towards any
one connected with the London and Birmingham Rail-
Way. The word " fraud" was used, but it was brought
forward by Mr. Pease, of Darlington, who appeared in
the position of an opponent of the bill ; but he was not a
a shareholder in the Grand Junction. The committee
was upon the Trent Valley Bill.

Mr. ALSTON attended the meeting as a peacemaker;
and the explanation given did not alter the spirit of his
remarks. Very strong and aggravating remarks had cer-
tainly been used, as the whole of the proceedings before
the committee showed. The power which the Grand
Junction had over the Trent Valley Bill a!so showed it.
It might be three months before there was another meet-
ing of the Grand Junction Company ; but he honed that
long before that time they might be at peace and amity
towards whom they were now at davgers drawn.
The CHAIRMAN said they were all peacemakers.
Every one wanted to make peace. But it was not always
best to endeavour to secure peace by consenting to every
! Ye U. • 1 • • '• •

the directors, be (the Chairman) hoped that three months
hence he would have cause for satisfaction, whether the
Grand Junction was in alliance with the London and
Birmingham or taking care of themselves. He (the
Chairman) had no apprehensions himself; and he had no
cause to f el uneasy at what had taken place during the
last few weeks.

Mr. RAMSDEN, as a proprietor in both lines, expressed

. _
The shareh,lders in both undertakings felt very uneasy at
the conduct of both boards of direction ; for they thought
that if the present disputes were hit to gl on as they were,
no opportunity would be afforded at all for a settlement.
The present moment be considered most propitious for
some arrangement, and Mr. Alston's plan might now be
put forward with great usefulness. The Lond,n and Bir-
mingham had lest almost all their points. They had lost
the Birkenhead line; they had been foiled in the Churnet
Valley ; they had, in some degree, lost the Trent Valley ;
and the bill for the purchase of the Manchester and Bir-
mingham line had been thrown out. Under all the cir-
cumstances be repeated that a better time for an amicable
settlement of all differences could not have occurred.

The. CHAIRMAN explained that on the occasion of the
first dispute in July last, the London and Birmingham
board had refused arbitration. From the first moment he
(the Chairman) had been connected with the Grand
Junction board, he had never heard one expression hostile
to the London and Birmingham, and they had never yet
advanced a single hostile step. What had the Grand
Junction ever done ? They had merely stood upon the
defensive. With the exception, when the time arrived
when they must protect themselves, the Grand Junction
had never moved a step.
Mr. RAMSDEN explained, that he found fault with both
boards.

Mr. CASSON contended that there had been, yet was,
and still would be a practical hostility between the two
companies. He had, himself, in the London and Bir-
mingham Company endeavoured to he a pacificator, but
he stood alone. He disapproved of the amalgamations
then proposed with the Trent Valley and the Manchester
and Birmingham. He regretted this practical hostility;
but, if the Grand Junction was to be disarmed at the
moment when the sword was brandished against it, then
they bad arrived at the proper period for a settlement;
they bad then arrived at a period for peace, which would
result in the entire sacrifice of their property. In the
present posture of affairs the moment was not propitious;
and he was prepared to vote the fullest confidence in the
directors.

After a few words from Mr. ALSTON, the Chairman
put the motion, and it was carried unanimously.
The CHAIRMAN and Captain 1-lutsu then stated that,
a good deal of anxiety had been expressed with respect to
the making of quarter-shares. Those shares were contin-
gett upon the passing of tie different bills; but, even if
the bills did not pass, the same amount of capital would
be required in another shape. Themeeting then separated.

IMPORTS or CATTLE.—Two hundred and thirty-nine
head of horned cattle and three calves have arrived at
Hull, frorn'the Continent by the Hamburgh and Rotter-
dam steamers, since our last week's publication. Many
of the beasts were excellent in appearance, and some of
the beef shown in H till market not inferior to that of the
general run of English oxen.—Hull Packet, May 9.
EXPORTATION OF HORSES.—Besides tbe lot shipped
for St. Petersburg, the Hanseatic Steam Company's ship
Hamburg, Captain Brown, took on Tuesday three tine
hunters and ten couple of foxhounds, in charge of Sketch-
ley the huntsman. Two entire horses and five well formed
mares. for double harness. were shipped yesterday by Mr.
Riby Nicholson, per tbe Transit, Captain Dickinson, for
Hamburg.—Hull Packet.

LAST NIGHT'S MAIL.

.ess trains from London,

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