NEW BRIGHTON TRAMWAY COMPANY.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 8806, 29 May 1894, Page 3

NEW BRIGHTON TRAMWAY COMPANY.

The ninth, annual meeting of the shareholders of the New Brighton Tramway Company was held at Hobbs' Buildings yesterday niorniiig. Mr Geo. JVielnfcyre, Chairman of the Directors, presided, and there was a fairly large atiendance of shareholders.

The annual report for the year ending April 30th, 1894, stated that the whole of the unallotted shares had been taken up during the year. The balance to credit of profit and loss amounted to £1314 16a 6d. The Directors recommended shareholders to ■authorise the payment of a dividend at the rate of £8 and a bonus of £2 per centum per annum. This would absorb about £672, leaving about £643 to be carried forward.

The profit and loss account showed as under;—To rent, £490; wages, £1136 3s; management, Directors , fees and Auditor, £296 12a; interest, £127 12a 4d; printing, advertising and stationerj', £55 2s sd; maintenuDce, £228 16s Id ; rolling stock, repairs, renewals and stores, £211 11s 2d ; rates, taxes, aud insurance, £134 Is 6d; legal expenses, £92 13s 6d; law costs, awarded to Company and pending recovery, £112 8s 9d; band, £29 8s; stables, £1295 12a 2d; sundries, £32 19a lOA; appropriations, £275; balance, profit, £1314 163 6d —£5832 16s lid. By balance at 30th April, 1893, £1258 12s 9d, less dividend for year ending 30th April, 1893, £616 17s 2d—£64l 15s 7d ; receipts, £5263 7a 2d, les3 suspense account, unexpired season tickets, £77 5a lOd— £sl9l Is 4d—£5832 16s lid. There was a balance of £8265 6s 6d of assets over liabilities.

The Chairman moved the adoption of the balance-sheet and report, which were taken as read, and explained the various items in the balance-sheet, which called for comment. Notwithstanding the different matters .of expenditure, some of wliJch wiil nob be recurring, the Directors felt that the position of the Company was good enough to warrant them in recommending the payment of the same amount oi dividend as lbst year. Mr HowELii in ''referring to the law costs suggested that the case of obstruction had been detJfc leniently with, aud the Company should go to the full extent of its power in preventing annoyance from cantankerous persons; The CiuißaiAN , asked that the question should be left in the hands of the directors. (Hear, hear.) Mr Husband complained about the cost of management, spoke about the obstruction mutters, and remarked that so soon as they got rid of lawyers so soon would their troubles come to an end.

Mr Howell said that the case had been settled by the Judge. Mrs Knight—No it hasn'b, and it won't be. She was proceeding to speak, when

The Chairmax interrupted her by saying that she had, under the* articles of the association, no right to be present. She was there through courtesy towards her, and because she was a woman. He hoped she would not again interfere. Mrs Kjsight indignantly asserted that the Compauy had forfeited its right to go on Mr Rudd's land.

The Chairmax said the Directors were as anxious as shareholders to avoid iitigatioa and costs. The Directors were actuated by a spirit of fairness and justice, and it was untrue to assert otherwise.

Mrs Knight , said the treatment cf her was cruel and shameful, and bad been so for years. She didn't acknowledge any debt. They had .no right ou her land. It was cowardly the way she was treated, and ali tbey kept that man for (pointing to the solicitor) was to obstruct her.

Mr Money observed that Mrs Knight was obstructing the meeting. Mrs Knight—You ate cowards, all of you. Air HowELt seconded the motion for adoption, aud weut ou to speak, when he was interrupted by Mrs Knight, who said she hoped God would help them to suffer as she had suffered; that was all she wanted to say, and would go. In ihe passage she turned round, and, as a parting shot, shouted—"l hope you will suffer as 1 have ; I hope God Almighty will strip you of your tram, you mean, miserable wretches."

The enraged laciy disappeared after that, and the meeting proceeded in harmony.

Mr Connal, in alluding to certain remarks of Mr Husband, said if "that gentleman had any charges to make he should have taken a different method of doing so. So far as he ,lMr Connal) could see the management had been carried on economically and efficiently.. He supported the motion. The motion was put and carried, after several questions had been asked, and answered. . Messrs A. W. Money, H.. Lake, and G. R. Barnes were re-eleuled Directors, and Mr R. Hill Fisher was re-elected auditor. A notion was carried declaring the dividend, after wbicii votes of thanks were passed to the Directors, the staff, and the Chairman, and the proceedings closed.