The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1851-02-25 00:00:00

RAILWAY AFFAIRS.

An accident of an alarming character occurred to a
goods' train at an early hour on Tuesday on the Birming-
ham and Derby Branch of the Midland Railway. Several
waggons and trucks were thrown off the line, and their
contents were strewn on both sides of the railway. On
the train being stopped it was found that the accident had
been caused by the breakage of a waggon belonging to the
Great Northern Railway Company. Two waggons be-
longing to that company were completely smashed, and
seven or eight others, the property of the Midland, were
damaged more or less.
SHEFFIELD AND LINCOLNSHIRE RAILWAY.—The
directors' report, to be laid before the proprietors at the
meeting at Manchester on Wednesday next, has been for-
warded to us. The net receipts for the past half-year are
£21,904 16s. 6d. above those of the preceding half year,
and £33,287 12s. above that of the corresponding period
of 1849. The works at Grimsby Docks and other places
are proceeding satisfactorily. The directors urge the pro-
priety of completing the Barnsley branch, which they
believe will prove highly remunerative to the shareholders.
The present traffic relations with neighbouring companies
are satisfactory :—with the Great Northern Company
traffic arrangements have recently been effected, which
the directors believe will tend to the mutual benefit of the
two companies. The result of the half-year's operations
is, that after payment of the debenture interest there
will remain a balance of £37,555 is. Sd. applicable to divi-
dend, increased by the balance from last half year's
account to £45,249 10s., out of which it is proposed to
pay £16,741 to the holders of No. 1 Quarters; and
£21,800, being ss. per share, to the holders of £lO Pre-
ference Stock ; leaving a balance of £6,708 10s, to be car-
ried to the next half year's account.
DIABOLICAL ATTEMPT.—At Aylesbury quarter ses-
sions, on Thursday, two labourers, named Prior and
Newne, were indicted for a villainous attempt to overturn
an express train by laying obstructions on the line. On
the 19th Nov. last, as the express train from Liverpool
reached Cheddington, with a full complement of pas-
sengers, the engine-driver was thrown from his feet by
the iron safeguard in front of the engine coming into
violent collision with several substances placed upon the
rails by way of obstruction. He stopped the engine as
soon as possible. It was going at the rate of 38 miles an
hour. Auother train, the Aylesbury luggage one, was
immediately behind, and very nearly came in collision
with the express. Upon examination it was discovered
that a most diabolical scheme had been formed to over-
turn the carriages. A large piece of iron rail, weighing
more than 3001 b., had been placed upon the line, and a
dozen heavy iron chains, in a position to throw the engine
off the line. The jury retired, and found Prior guilty,
and acquitted Newne. The chairman sentenced Prior to
the highest measure of punishment which the recent act
allows--two years' imprisonment ; and at the same time
remarked upon the inadequacy of the statute to punish
sufficiently for such a heinous crime.

LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN RAILWAY. - The
half-yearly meeting of this company was held on Friday,
at the Euston Station ; Mr. Glyn, M.P., presiding. In
a lengthened speech, the Chairman described the position
of the company as most satisfactory. The accounts, he
observed, showed a large increase of traffic receipts, with
but a relatively small increase in the working expenses,
compared with the corresponding half-year of 1849. The
nett increase of profits amounted to £68,714. He had
great pleasure in stating that, during the current half-
year, a large increase in the passenger traffic was expected,
for the accommodation of which 180 new carriages would
he ready by the 10th of May. The directors had entered
into friendly arrangements with the Great Northern and
other companies connecting Scotland and England by the
east and west routes ; but he regretted that the negotia-
tions with the Great Western had not resulted in such an
arrangement as the directors could recommend to the
acceptance of the proprietors. The board concurred in
the opinion of the committee appointed at the last half-
yearly meeting, that the number of directors should be
increased to 30, and that the number retiring annually
should be six. After some further remarks, the Chaii -
man stated that the debt had been further reduced, and
the debentures which expired during the half-year bad
been renewed, or placed at the rate of 31 per cent. The
disposable fund for the half-year was £678,638 16s. 10d.,
and he begged to move that a dividend of £2 15s. per
cent., for the six months, be declared and paid. This
would absorb £527,407 13s. 5d., and leave a balance to
be carried to the next half-year of £151,231 3s. sd.—The
motion was seconded a director, and carriesl unani-
mously.—After some little discussion, the Chairman
stated, that considering the amount of capital involved in
the undertaking, a reserve of at least £150,000 should be
maintained.—The gentlemen recommended in the report
of the committee appointed at the last half-yearly meet-
ing, were unanimously elected directors; and a resolution
was next passed, arranging for the retirement of six di-
rectors annually, four of whom should be eligible for re-
election.—After a vote of thanks to Mr. C. Lawrence, of
Liverpool, on his retirement from the office of deputy-
chairman, the other business was disposed of, and the
meeting adjourned.—The dividend is payable to-day.