The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1864-02-09 00:00:00

SALISBURY AND OORSET JUNCTION

RAILWAY.

The cutting of the sod for this line took place on
Wednesday, in a field sear Downion. This in.
will maned the Salisbury and Bishopstoks brooch
with the Southampton and Dorchester brutish of the
South-Western Railway Company. It will leave
the Biehopstoke brunch at Aldsrbury sear Clarendou
Park, the mat of Sir If. H. Bathos*, Bart., sad will
peas through Downtsm, FordMibrid^ Drayhorse,
and will join tin Doraeasaar Minsk between Win.
bane asd Basswood. The lbw Saes sea presort

any very great engineering difficulties, and is
expected to be opened in about 18 months. It h.
, about 19 miles in length, and themspital of tbe corn•
pany is rzoo,ono. The object of thieundrirtaking
is to establish by the narrow gone railway a mon-
direct communication between the system of
railways conveying at Salisbury and the prin-
cipal towns in Doreetahire. The contractors
are Ilarars. Jack eon and Garrett, Parlia-
ment-street, Loudon
.; the secretary being
Horne, Eau W, of estminster. The schoo:
children of Downton formed in proceeiron about 12
o'c'ock. and headed by the town band, they lll2rnitati
to the field. where triumphal arches had been Cr. cted.
Lord and Lady Nelem were met at the entrance to
the held by the chairman of the company, M. H.
Marsh, Esq., M.P., and the Directors; and Lady
Nelson, who bad consented to perform the ceremony
of turning the sod, was conducted to the platform
erected in the centre of the held.

Rev. Banks opened the proceedings by sayiog
that they had met together to turn the geet sod of
that new hno of railway which was to connect these
important c 'unties together, and be the means of
prrxhiciiiir !loosens* advsetages to all the country
around. Mae we ask the blessing of God upon this
undertaliii4. may He prosper it and bring it to •
speedy terniiiistion, and may it be the meaty, of con•
(erring lineation IL!. benefits to all around. (Cheers.)
N. 11. M4uou, 1; 1.. M.. P. , said it was unnecessary
f, him, as 'ins soineumes the custom, to ex•
patiatu ou the arlvantages of • railway. They
• Cr., all aware of the benefit of a railway. it
increasr.l the value of. property; and it afforded
great fe,,h,ies to visit sick relatives in distant
towns. The proposed line would enaole the
inhabitants of this district to visit that great market
town, which he so unworthily represented, (No,
no,) where he was SUM they would meet with a
hearty welcome. It was usual that such under-
takings should be commenced by a lady, and they
had the gratification of having an English lady to
inaugurate their proceedings. He trusted the work
so well begun would come to a speedy and prosperous
conclusion. (Hear, hear.)

Mr. JACI:.,N then presented Lady Nelson with
a silver spa I. iot which warn the following inscrip-
tion " Preset,t,,l to Lady Nelson by the directors
in oommemoiati. n of the turning of the ara sod of
theSalishury and DorsetehlliCtioo Railway, February
3rd, 1b64.
Mr. ( sittiirrr also prweented ber ladyship with •
mahogany harrow, made in the usual form.
lady Nets.ix having cut the soil and deposited
it in the larvae, wheeled it a short distance, and
retunied with it einpty, amid loud cheers. Three
cheers were called for Lady Nelson by Mr. Marsh,
which were vocderonsly given.
The company then repaired to a tent where an
elegant luncheon bail been provided by Mr. Sam
Nash, of the Shoulder of Mutton Inn, Salisbury, at
the expense of the contractors, Meters. Jackson and
Garrett. The catering of Mr. Neigh is so well-
known in Wiltshire, that it is unn to award
any eulogy here. Suffice it to say that th. arrange-
ments were excellent, and on the usual scale, and
that the wines were very superior.
The Chairman of the Company, (hi. IL Marsh,
Esq.), took the chair, and wa• supported on the
right and left by the Earl and Countess Nelson, the
directors, solicitors, engineer, eurveyor,and secretary
of the company. There were also a large number
of shareholders, and many ladies of the neighbour.
hood.

At the conclusion of the naiad,
The Cnolitie•raoposed in soccession the loyal toasts,
which were heartily responded to.
The Climatal said he was about to propose the
toast of the day, and ha wee sure they would all drink
.It with the greatest possible enthimi ism. It was de-
lightful to see a lady such a. Lady Nelson someamongrat
them, and lake • pat in their bu-ineas, and in their
amiss' ment, and inaugurate a line of railway which
would be very useful to the majority of the inhabitant.
of the neighbourhood. They ought to feel very grateful
to Lady Nelson for having at her domatio circle, and
to have come aniong4 them on this occasion. and there-
fore he proposed that the health of Lady Nelson should
be given with all the honours. (Loud cheera)
Lord Wrung, in reply, said be thought they would
allow that Lady Nelson had managed the spade and
barrow encomium:ly 'rah (Cheers.) He knew she
was rather nervous about it, but he did not think she
had any ocemoott for it. 81,e was not accost-meal to
public speaking, and therefore she had rerinested him
to return her thanks for the h•opiraity she had re-
• and for the kind wiy they had drank her health.
He thought the Chairman mnst have made • mi-take
when he .mil that Ig•r ladyship had left the domestic
circle. le e otssquenor of the hospitality they Inol
sees., the lone-tic drabs had aneompanka Leay
Nelson, for although they had not brought nine of the
cliildn n, 11,. in sere only two left behind. (Cheers ) It
hail 'pyre Loly Nelmn very great !Pleasure to assist in
thin ceremony of that day, and they hoped great things
of t'ie ratersy. )I•fore he sat down he would propose
to theta a west, which he was sure they would receive
with great ettudanthin. and that was, "the Health of
the Overman a the Company." When they considered
theiliffloiltien that railway bad had to encounter they
oral alii,roci•to the conduct of Mr. Kush in baying
come forward as the Chairman of the Company, and
giving lit. name and esperience in furtherance of the
undertaking In fact • great dial of their ineeent suc-
cess might he attributed to hi, owning forward in the
manner he had, end be assured there —for himself and
Laity Nelson—that he considered it a great honour for
biro to have his domestic circle, and his duties la. the
repreeentatiee of Salsbury, an 4 come down her, to
take his proper place on thin occasion. He had great
pleasure in proposing the health of the chairman of the
company. (The toast gra drunk with three times
three.)... . . .

The Ciatnitas in responding sincerely thanked the
company for their acceptance of tho toast, because it
was particularly complimentary t i him in that part of
the country, a. he could be only known to a few of
them He felt that it o as hi. duty to support any
undertaking c deviated to promote the interest of the
community.and he felt certain that the propoed railway
would vastly benefit the inhabitants of the district
He had another toast to propose, and that was the
" Bishop and (lergy of the Diocese." With regard to
the Bishop he was known to many of them lie had
known him ever since he was • boy. They rowed in
the same boat 'at Oxford. and he would say without
hesitation that • better man, • kinder-hearted man, or
amore honest man did not exist. As to the clergy
they all knew their welu'ness and the position they
occupied in this country. They were frequently paid
very inadequately for the onerous duties they had to
perform, but they were alw. yo found sopportring thou
undertakings calculated to benefit the country. He
should associate with the tout the name of the Rev.
Mr. Banks, who bad so appropriately, pleoutly, and
properly inaugurated this railway. (Cheers.)
Rev. Waive brie6y returned thanks for the com-
pliment paid him.
The Cit a I RY• NI said the next tout he had to propose
was that of the contractors, who had undertaken to
construct that railway, and who hot in addition regaled
them with that excellent luncheon, of which they had
just partook. He was happy to bear also that the poor
had been cared for as well as the rich. The con-
tractors had furthered Hi. interests of the company in
every possible way, and he trusted that they would
succeed in completing the line speedily. (Cheers.)
Mr. Jacks ix moooded, and proposed the health of
the secretary, Mr. Horne. (Cheers)
Mr. HORNS said he did not deserve the compliment
they had jest paid him. They had been at work for
sometime, and almost in the dark, but on that occasion
they had brought their efforts into the day, and he
trusted they would eventually tome to a happy and
prosperous termination. That it would be a eaccestiful
undertaking he had not the least doubt, and he hoped
they would all farther its interests, (Cheers,)
Mr. T. Path, in a very facetious speech, proposed
the landowners--ineluding the name of Loral Nalinio.
Ile said the railway hut been supported with the ex-
ception of noose two by the whole of the landowners
01 the dietrict, and the directors woe greatly indebted to
them (or the liberal manner In which they had met the
demands made upon them. The majority of the land.
owner' had taken their land out in shares, or rent-
charge which, were moat important thing, in the making
of a railway, and be was therefore sore that they
would dnnk their health, with great cordiality. Ile
hoped that the sherry with which they would
receive the toot would be • sufficient stimulus
toolbar. to do likewise. It was, he considered, the
duty of a landowner to support every uadertaking
which would confer advantages on the community in
which he resided. Upon that iodate the words of that
incoionthle man, "England exueou every man to do his
duty," was moat appropriate. It wart gratifying to see
the descendant of that great man taking part in carry-
ing not an undertaking of such an immense importance
to the neighbourhood which he lived. It would fail
hint to expatiate open the valise of a railway
in that district There were very many people read-
ing there who had never visi ad the metropolis; many
who had never seen a ship or railway Han rhter), and
It would he a matter of satisfaction to the shareholders
tO ivis them an opportunity of witnessing that which
they had never seen. (Apylatise.) Mr. pain the.
as
spoke woof„htibtendaZre ttaogeoshi ate coal much
it
could he brought direct from Poole, and, this
would he • great coneideration. Ile urged upon
those present to telte op the shares as he
eras sure it would pay them a good dividend.
He -toted most emphatically that be believed the line
would pay S per cent. Popular opinion was against
such a statement ; but he would instance the Salisbury
and Yeovil Railway to prove how people were
deceived It was contended that as there was only
one coach running between Saisbary and Yeovil that
It could not pay. Sail an opinion had been negatived,
as it was now yielding • per centage of 6 per cent.. and
If it could work to own machinery it would pay 611 per
cent. Mr. Pain then in a very happy manner
showed the advantages Furiiingtiridge and Leownton
would derive by the railway, sad sonsioded by pro-
, posing the taut, irrupting with it the MAN of Lord
Nihon. (Loud cheers.)
! Lord Naukar returned thanks From the very first
I he had taken a very great Interest in the line,
and he believed, in spite of all the evil prophecies,
that it woull be a line that would prove • re.
muneratiu investment. He concurred with Mr.
, T. Pain, that the labouring population would
I he benefitted. At present Is, per mile was charged
I for every ton of coal obtained front Rabbitry ; bat, if
they obtained it from Poole, coals aould be obtained
I cheaper than at Salisbury. He disputed the argument
'that bona* very few pesungers travelled by Mr.
I Dore's coach, that necessarily the tune wait sot suffi-
cient for • railway. People journeyed from one pleee
to another for business, and railways inereued trade.
The noble lord also stated that the heath lends
of Donetshire would be improved, se they wield
be enabkd to obtain chalk, which was very noose-
eat7 for such lead. The Dowager Lady Nebon
had enclosed at his suggestion a great sashes'
of acres, in the hope of being able to FA *hat
to plus apes it. He bagged to propose the
health of Mr. T. Pala, who had takes very great
lateemit in the line, awl who had in a greet women
been laserembestal In the of the lie. What-
ever be tsek In bead be thereug eeteled elite sad It

wl' owing to his anerg;y that they had 'net there that
day. (Closiers.)
Mr. T. Paw briefly responded, and proposed the
health of the engineers, which was duly acknowledged.
Rev. - BAILS proposed the citizens of Sslisbnry,
coupling with the toast the name of Mr. Ewer.
(C1,711"-)

_
Hr. Faris, in returning thanke, imid he had no doubt
the inhabitanta of Salisbury, when they heard of the
prospects of the railway, would eagerly take opthe re-
Meinffig shores, and he was positive that they would
richt them 5 per omit. (Cheers.)
Mr. JANES KARLIXCII proposed "The Health of the
Ladies," which wan responded to by Mr. Jonathan
Taunton. June.
"The Navvies," proposed by Mr. T. PAIN. and "The
Health of the youthful Lord Trafalgar," followed, and
the company separated.