TROUBLE BY DELAY 191 



quickset hedge. In spite of his obstruction, the 

 landowner himself living a long distance away, in 

 Bedfordshire, we gave the usual legal notices, and 

 an eminent land valuer arbitrated on the case. He 

 decided in the company's favour as far as the value 

 of the land was concerned, but the delay which this 

 litigation caused stopped the construction of the line 

 for several months, and threw the many arrange- 

 ments out of gear, until the terrible crisis of 1866 

 stopped the supplies for more than a year ; the works 

 were almost entirely suspended, some funds were 

 advanced by the bank, and the second portion of the 

 contract was completed. The most important part 

 remained, namely, the last five miles into Aylesbury. 

 The estimate for this work was 30,000/., and under 

 the suggestion and by the direction of Mr. Rummens, 

 the contractor, I persuaded the board to issue to 

 him 60,000/. worth of fully paid-up shares instead 

 of 30,000/ cash. I am particular in mentioning 

 this in view of the result. The line was then sup- 

 posed to be completed and ready for opening. 

 Colonel Yolland, the inspector, made a rigid examin- 

 ation, and reported that several things were of neces- 

 sity to be done before he could certify. The prin- 

 cipal items were additional signals and junctions with 

 locking apparatus ; these made an extra of 5 ,000/ The 

 board were greatly troubled at this, as there was no 

 money. The Duke of Buckingham was in India as 

 President of Madras. The Bucks and Oxon Bank 

 agreed to advance the amount on the joint note of the 

 directors then present. I happened to be one, and in 



