The Sun.
London, England, 1864-01-09 00:00:00

act of aggression upon British interests in Japan
would be repelled by him with all the force now at
his disposal.
"This unmistakeable reply to their invitation
will doubtless damp the ardour of the Gorogio for
discussing with Colonel Neale the important matter
of closing the port of Kanagawa ; and taken in
connection with the firm and indignant refusal of
the representatives of America and Holland to dis-
cuss or entertain for one moment the proposition of
the Japanese Government, the latter may, upon
reflection, cancel that as they did the sweeping
announcement of Ogasawarra for the exclusion of
foreigners altogether from Japan."
" From the foregoing," says the China Mail, " it
will be seen that the persistent course of repression,
which closed °sacs and put us out of Yedo, is now
being brought to bear upon Yokohama. It is, there-
fore, evident that nothing but immediate and
vigorous measures of hostility will avail us if we
wish to open Japan."

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

NORTH-EASTERN.
An influential meeting, convened by the Mayor in com
pliance with a requisition, was held in the Leeds Town-hall
on Thursday, " to consider and express their opinion upon
the projected schemes of the North-Eastern Railway Com-
pany, and especially upon those portions by which it is
proposed to cross the principal streets of the town of
Leeds."
The MAYOR presided, and said he would endeavour to
give all parties an opportunity of expressing their views.
Mr. W. B. DENISON moved the first resolution, which
was to the effect that the meeting viewed with dissatisfac-
tion the scheme of the North-Eastern Railway Company for
carrying a line of railway through the centre of the town
of Leeds, and crossing the principal streets by means of
bridges, which, while being destructive of the beauty of the
town and dangerous to the people, offered no compensating
advantages which justified such a mutilation of the streets.
In moving this resolution Mr. Denison admitted that Leeds
had for some years past been deficient in that accommoda-
tion of railway stations to which it was entitled by its size
and largely increasing population.
Mr. LUPTON seconded the resolution. He said a project
which involved an outlay in Leeds of upwards of half a
million sterling was entitled to the calmest possible consi-
deration. He thought the scheme would not be of advan-
tage to the borough of Leeds. (Applause.)
Mr. E. BAINES, M.P., supported the resolution. His
opinion was that the adoption of the scheme would be a
gross disfigurement and injury to the town—(cheers)—that
it would be, as medical men had pleaded, dangerous to
many persons passing through the town with horses and
carriages; that it would be very injurious to property, and
a very great eyesore in all the principal streets. He urged
the propriety of having a large station on the south side of
the Wellington Station, and pointed out that the North-
Eastern Company had themselves proposed an alternative
plan by which they would accomplish the shortening of the
rJute, by running along the Midland line as far as liunslet,
and going thence upon their old Leeds and Selby line.
(Cheers.)
Aldeman KITSON, one of the directors of the company,
supported the scheme propounded by his Board. He said
that the object which that company had in view was to
conmet Leeds, the conveying centre of all the great rail-
way system north of the Thames, with all those systems in
the best manner possible. At last the engineer decided
upon the present plan, which at first sight had the appear-
ance of being a bold one. But the more it had been con-
sidered the more its advaLtanges had shown themselves.
(Hear, hear.)
Mr. G. LEEHAN addressed the meeting at considerable
length in favour of the scheme.
Mr. DENISON having replied,
The motion was put to the meeting and carried, only
about 30 or 40 hands being held up against it.
Mr. JOWITT then moved a resolution pledging the meet-
ing to support a well-devised plan for giving larger and
better station accommodation and increased railway facili-
ties to the town, but affirming the opinion that land on the
south side of Wellington-street should alone be taken for
that purpose.
Mr, EAGLAND seconded the motion, and it was agreed to.
Mr. BIssINGTON moved that a deputation from that meet-
ing be appointed to confer with the Town Council, and any
other public bodies, in order that the most vigorous efforts
might be made to oppose the scheme ; and that a committee
be appointed to carry out the resolutions, and to take such
measures as they might deem beet to defeat the scheme.
Mr. LUDOLF seconded the motion, which was also carried,
and a vote of thanks to the Mayor concluded the proceedings.