The Sun.
London, England, 1854-12-28 00:00:00

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

On Sunday morning last, about one o'clock, while police
constables Bradbury and Cooper were on duty together
near Wednesfield church, their attention was at-
tracted by the suspicious appearance of a gang of men,
accompanied by two dogs, who were going in the direc-
tion of Bushbury. The officers followed them for about
two miles ; and on arriving at Moseley Court, the resi-
dence of H. Whitgreave, Esq , they encountered two of
:he men at a gate, leading to a plantation. A net was
hung across the gate, and one of the men had a piece of
iron in his hand, the other being armed with a stout stick.
The officers closed with the men, and, after a struggle,
handcuffed them together. While searching them, and
taking several nets from their pockets, the officers heard
the cry of a hare or rabbit proceeding from about half-
way down the plantation. Leaving his brother .officer
in charge of the men, Bradbury went to the spot, and
was met by a man who had a rabbit in his hand. The
man threw away the rabbit, and dealt a heavy blow
with a bludgeon at the head of Bradbury, smashing
in his hat. Another of the poachers coming up, a
deadly struggle ensued between them and the officer,
who fought stoutly against his assailants for nearly 20
minutes, each crying out for help. These cries reached
the ears of Cooper, who rema►ned in the lane having
custody of the other two men. Anxious to aid his bro-
ther officer, and equally desirous ef keeping hold of his
prisoners, he knew not what to do. At length by dint
ef threatening to physically disable them from escaping,
he succeeded in getting them over the gate, when they
laid down on the ground, and refused to proceel any
further ; he, however, compelled them to rise, and pro-
ceed to the scene of contest, where he found Bradbury
struggling with one man on the ground, the other man
standing over the officer with a bludgeon, with which
he was about to strike him. The two dogs were also
worrying Bradbury as he lay on the ground. The man
with the bludgeon took to flight on seeing Cooper, and
made his escape ; the other was secured. There can be
no doubt that, but for the opportune arrival of Cooper,
Bradbury would have been murdered ; as it was, he was
seriously injured, and has since been under me 'ical
treatment. About 120 yards of netting were found in
the plantation. The three prisoners, whose names are
Benjamin Schomast, Thomas Whitehouse, and James
Webb, were examined yesterday at Wolverhampton,
before Henry Hill, Esq., Captain Butler, and W. Tar-
ratt, Esq., and committed to take their trial at the en-
suing Stafford Assizes.—Welverhampton, Chronicle.

UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENCE.

OXFORD„ Dec. 27.
CHRIST CHURCH SCHOOL.

The following is a list of the prizes which were awarded
at the recent examination of the pupils educated at
Christ Church School :
J. G. Ireland, a first-class prize for good conduct.
J. A. Hawthorne, three prizes for history, good con-
duct, and second-class prize of his class.
Edward Phillips, prize for good conduct.
W. H. Timberlake, ditto.
G. B. Mallam, ditto.
Hawkins, sen., ditto, and a class prize.
Hawkins, jun., , ditto.
James Hall, ditto.
Carr, jun., ditto.
Clarke, a class prize.
BRAS/NOSE COLIMA.
Two fellowships iu this college are now vacant, and
will be filled up in the course of the ensuing term.
For the one, natives of the diocese of Lichfield and
Coventry (which comprised the present diocese Eof Lich-
field, together with the county of Chester, the county of
Warwick, except the deaneries of Kineton and Warwick,
and the county of Lancaster south of the Ribble), being
graduates of the University of Oxford, under eight years'
standing from their matriculation, are eligible ; the elec-
tors having regard in their choice to the preference given
by the statutes, in the first instance, to natives of Pres-
cot and Prestbury ; and, in the second, to natives of the
county of Chester and Lancaster.
The other fellowship is open to all graduates of the like
standing.
Candidates are required to exhibit to the principal, on
or before Saturday, Jan. 27, 1855, the usual college tes-
timonials, with certificates of their matriculation, and,
in respect of the former fellowship, certificates also of the
locality ot their birth.

E. H. CRADOCIC, Principal.

December 26, 1854.

IRONMASTERS' MEETING.—WoLVERHAIIPTON, Wed-
nesday.—The meeting preliminary to the ensuing quar-
terly meetings of the ironmasters of South Staffordshire
and Bast Worcestershire, originally appointed to be
hdd in Birmingham to-morrow, was held in this town
to-day. The attendance of the leading members of the
trade was exceedingly numerous. The question of future
prices was the principal and most important subject of
disc:: scion. Two or three of the makers of first-eass
iron contended that present prices might be justifiably
maintained ; a second party argued for a reduction of
20s. per ton ; while a third, and by no means un-
:fluential one, advocated a reduction of 40c. Ulti-
mately a reduction of 20s. upon all descriptions of
manufactured iron, except sheets, was agreed upon.
Upon sheets there was a drop of 30s. Prices are, ther •
fore, now as fidows :—Bars, 10/. ;
.hoops, 11/. ; and
theet,:, 111. 10s. Oidinary common hot-blast pigs are
41. 10e. to 41. 155., at which prices a, very large amount
of business has been transacted.

SCINDE RAILWAY.

Pursuant to notice, a meeting was held at the Col-
lector's, Cutcherry, Kurrachee, on Monday, Aug. 28,
1854. The meeting was numerously attended by most
of the influential members of the community. Amongst
those present were Mr. Frere, the Commissioner in
Scinde, the General commanding the division, the Bri-
gadier c)mmanding at Kurrachee, and all the heads of

departments.
Mr. FREER having taken the chair, said that he would
now say a few words as to the object of the meeting.
They were aware that the present scheme contem-
plated a line of railway to connect Kurrachee with the
Indus. After describing the great length of the navi-
gable chanr el of the Indus and its tributaries, and the
difficulties in the navigation of the Delta, Mr. Frere ex-
plained that the railway was to connect Yurrachee, the
only port on the coast near the mouth of the river, with
Jerruck, which had been selected as being the lowest
point on the stream where the channel was fixed and in-
variable, in consequence of the river there flowing over
a rocky bed. Ile then described how Mr. Hardy
Wells had, in passing over the districts between Kurra-
chive and the Indus about two years ago been struck
by the peculiar advantages it offered for the construc-
tion of a railway. Mr. Wells reported the results of his
observations to parties at home who were interested in
the subject, and forwarded detailed surveys which had
been procured for him by Major (now Colonel) Turner,
and statistical and other data furnished by the late Mr.
Macleod, &pity collector of customs, Kurrachee. In
the same season, 1352.53, Lieutenant Chapman, em-
ployed on a project for connecting the Indus with Kur-
rachee by a canal, pointed out the superior advantages
of a railway in his published report. The project was
taken up by Government, and detailed surveys ordered,
the prosecution of which was interrupted by Lieutenant
Chapman's untimely death. In the meantime, the
scheme proposed by the parties to whom Mr. Wells hod
reported in England was making progress ; and the
home Government was prepared to consider favourably
any propositions on behalf of the railway which might
be laid before them, backed by the recommendation of
the government of India. It was not necessary for him
(the chairman) to state that he felt confident any scheme
possessing such intrinsic merits, as he believed this did,
would meet with every reasonable consideration from
the Governor-General, who had organised and was no v
executing a vast scheme of railways for the whole of
India, and he felt equally sure of like support from the
government of Bombay. Capitalists in England would
naturally ask what was the local opinion as to the pro-
ject, and this was a question which the meeting might
this evening answer. The meeting would also afford
an opportunity for parties so inclined to ask for infor-
mation, which would, as far as possible, be afforded.
Colonel TURNER addressed the meeting follows :
Gentlemen,—Our chairman has referred you to me for
information on various points relative to the subject we
have here assembled to consider, and I will endeavour
to place that information briefly before you. The early
history of the proposed railway has been explained to
you. My connexion with it is set forth in a letter
written to the commissioner, on the occasion of my sub-
mitting to bins the very lucid and able report of my la-
mented brother officer, the :ate Lieutenant Chapman ;
that letter having been publi. bed by Government has, I
doubt not, been read by most of you ; but it is desirable
that you should know what has been since done in the
matter, and how far subsequent experience may have
led me to modify the opinions I therein expressed. In
that letter I stated the reasons why improved com-
munication front Kurrachee to the Indus was so ur-
gently required ; subsequent experience proves more
and more the necessity of some work fcr the attain-
ment of that object ; last year the communication
from the mouth of the main river to the tidal creeks
was cut off, and the river steamers had to pass by
a circuitous route—this year the liejjainree, a very
useful channel last year, has been closed to steam•
vessels, and the pilots on it have been with-
drawn ; it has been proposed to improve these creeks,
but though poisible, such improvement can neither be
durable nor certain, and will cost a very large sum of
money. For the river navigation it is generally be-
lieved that a class of boats larger than any now on the
river will be found the best adapted, but the Indus,
one of the, vessels now on the river, is already toe
large to be trusted in the tidal creeks, and thus improve-
ment is checked. In my letter before referred to, I
mentioned an instance, showing very palpably the
want of improved means of communication from the
river to Kurrachee. In travelling through the country
after the ieundatien of 1851, I found at a place called
Naree, a few miles above Schwan, stocks of Govern-
ment grain of three successive years—the excessive in-
undation of that year had swamped it, and it was
utterly spoiled, fit only for manure. At first I iina-
gined the kardar must be to blame, but on inquiry I
learned that there had been repeated attempts to sell it
by auction, but that no one would buy it, because the
cost of conveying it to a market would render it an un-
profitable speculation. I also explained how well the
Americans understood• these matters; in that country
it is said, that with much better made roads than any-
thing we can boast •of in this province, the cost of con-
veying wheat by such roads doubles its cost price, if
carried a distance of 330 miles, while the same result is
produced by carrying cheaper grains only 160 miles,
whereas both could be carried, the wheat 330 miles, and
the cheaper grain 160, by railway, forjess than 10 per
cent. on their oust prices.. The effect of this, gentlemen,
we all feel at Kurrachee ; we see by the prices current in
the districts how cheap grain is there, and we knew to
our test how much we have to pay to feed our horses
here. Are we not then individually interested in the
object, leaving public spirit wholly out of the ques-
tion? As an engineering work, further experience
confirms me in the opinion I have already expressed,
that there is no difficulty of any serious consequence
to be contended with. The country I consider pecu-
liarly favourable far railways—the hills may easily
be avoided, and to the two principal difficulties,
crossing the Muilear and the Bahran rivers, I attach
very little importance. In my letter before referred to
I stated say belief that an examination of the Bahran
would prove that it might be crossed higher up than the
direct line of road, without difficulty. That examination
has been made by Mr. Woodhouse, in the Indian navy,
and my expectation has been realised, for he has found a
point, not out of the way, with rock on both banks, and
throughout the bed of the river, at a depth of twelve
feet. Here we have two seasons, and the statistics be-
fore us prove that a paying goods traffic all the year
round already exists. My objections, therefore, to invest
in railways in general are not applicable to Scinde, and
I hope to become a shareholder in the Kurrachee and
Indus Railway.
Major-G-leneral Sir H. SOMERSET said that he had been
entrusted with a resolution, which he begged permission
to read to the meeting. It ran as follows :—" That this
meeting, having beard that a company is forming in
England to eonstruct a railway between Kurrachee and
the Indus, request the commissioner to state to Govern-
ment their sense of the incalculable commercial and pH-
tical advantages which such a work would confer on the
province, and that he will express their hope that the
Government of India may be solicited to assist the un-
dertaking by the grant of the same privileges as may be
conceded to undertakings of a similar character in other
parts of India." The resolution was one in the tenour of
which he so fully concurred that he felt much pleasure
in being permitted to lay it before the highly influential
and numerous meeting assembled on this occasion. The
railway now proposed was the measure most urgently
required, and most immediately called for, to promote
the well-being of this and the neighbouring countries.
After the perusal of Lieut. Chapman's careful report,
founded upon facts and figures framed from statements
of actual traffic, no one could doubt as to the returns
from commercial sources. They had just heard, too,
from Mr. Frere further illustrations of Lieut. Chapman's
opinion. He would add one important point which
had not been taken into calculation at all—and he would
beg their attention to the fact that Government had de-
termined to forward all-troops and stores for the Pun-
jaub and adjacent provinces by this route, which even
with its present difficulties is far superior to any other.
Here, then, was one source of emolument at once
secured. The Government stores, the iron and other
materials required for stupendous pnblic works, the
large supplies of porter and ale—would form a very con-
siderable item ; the recruits arriving, the invalids re-
turning to their homes, the troops relieving and relieved,
the numerous officers taking or returning from leave—
all these would swell the passenger returns far beyond
the cumbers for which calculation had been made. He
had drawn attention to those military matters only so
far as the profits of the company would be affected, for
it was to return for the outlay expended that the capi-
talist would look—and if capitalists would be convinced
on this point, it would be better than any speechifying
ionvetrlhioseek the advantagesranyotherplacien.
a purely military point ofHe could not, however,
view—the great benefit which the Government would
derive from being enabled on emergency to transport
large bodies of troops, and set them down at their desti-
nation a hundred miles from their starting point in a few
hours—or from forwarding for active service stores and
provisions, or the other munitions of war. These were
such palpable considerations that he might be exeused
for only briefly touching thereon ; but he was assured that
they will leave no small weight with the authorities in
aceording favourable terms to any company that may
contribute to the attainment of such great political and
military advantages.
Sir Henry Somerset's motion was carried by acclama-
tion without a dissentient voice.
In reference to Sir Henry Somerset's remarks as to
the number of troops and Government stores which
would take this route, the Chairman stated that last sea-
son 9,105 hogsheads of malt liquor were sent up from
Kurrachee to Ferozepore for the troops ; they had ar-
rived in excellent order, though they were of necessity
exposed on the Indus during the whole hot season. They
lcloanjsotrr
oecupiel from twenty days to more than a month in get-
uPcßt constructed get-
ting into Kotree from Kurrachee, a distance which by
railway would be traversed in five or six hours.
tY si
raei
ytbi
aa that
haes
et
oh
lei
epertoopr
ao railwaytsee,dhec on
be s considered er wasteed i
t
hisduty to bear testimony to the great commercial advan-
tages likely to be gained by it, in the transport of large
quantities of grain of all descriptions, which are pro-
duced in such luxuriance in Upper and Middle Scinde.
The quantity of grain which might be exported from
Kurrachee was immense. When Sir C. Napier was
litre, in the year of the Irish famine, he offered to have
ready 11,000 tons of grain at Kurrachee for transmis-
sion ; and such a quantity might and could have been
spared without interfering with the consumption of the
country. The cost of carriage now was so great as ac-
tually to prohibit grain as an exrort. The p: ice of
wheat and grail) wr at Shikerpoie and Hydrs.bed. je-t
one-halt its price in Kurrachee, the navigation of the
Indus rendering attempts to bring grain down as an ex-
port very hazardous. Major Preedy instanced a case
where, out OHM boats laden with grain which started

from Kotree, but one arrived at Kurrachee, tl a oti 07,
six being lest ; it one 'or two boats only out of a batch
of six or so were lost, it was generally considered a good
venture. He looked, thereto' e, upon the grain transports
alone to give a large return—a return far exceeding
what Lieut. Chapman had allowed towards the profits
of a railroad in Scinde. Personally unacquainted with
railways as he was, he could not speak of the nature of
the country as being well adapted or otherwise, but if
flat, hard, and level plains were required, he was certain
there would be no better country for a railroad than that
over which the proposed line was intended to pass. He
in conclusion, begged most cordially to support the pro-
' position of Gen. Somerset.
I❑ reply to a question from Major Forster, it was
stated that a list of applications fur shares was open at
the office of Messrs. Leckie and Co., in Bombay.

THE BALAKLAVA RAILWAY CORPS.

Several erroneous statements having appeared in some
of the public journals as to the means now being em-
ployed in this undertaking, we have reason to Lelieve
that the following will be found accurate :
The vessels engaged to carry the railway material and
workmen to construct a rail, or tramway, at Balak lava,

and to perform such other work as may be found necessary
for the siege or reduction of Sebastopol, consist of seven

steam and two sailing ships, of the aggregate tonnage o
5,491 tons, and 900-horse power, as follows :—Lady A lice
Lambton, screw-steamer, 511 tons, 90-horse power ;
Great Northern, ditto, 578 tons, 90-horse ; Earl of Dur-
ham, ditto, 554 tons, 90-horse ; Baron von Humboldt,
ditto, 420 tons, 60-horse ; Hesperus, ditto, .800 tons,
150-horse ; Prince of Wales, ditto, 627 tons, 120-horse ;
Levant, paddle-steamer, 604 tons, 500-horse ; Wildfire,
clipper sailing ship, 457 tons ; Mohawk, ditto, 850 tons.
The material consists of 1,800 tons of rails and fastenings,
6,000 sleepers, 600 loads of timber, and about 3,000
tons of other material and machinery, consisting of fixed
engines, cranes, pile engines, trucks, waggons, barrows,
blocks, chainfalls, wire-rope, picks, bars, capstans,
crabs, and a variety of other plant and tools ; besides
sawing machines, forges, carpenters'- and smiths' tools,
&c. This material is distributed over the different ves
sels in such a manner, that should any one or two ves-
sels be lost or disabled it will not endanger the efficiency
of the whole. The ships convey, in parties of 50 or 80,
500 workmen ; each party under the charge of a fore-
man and assistant, as well as a surgeon to each vessel,
and a clerk to attend to the victualling and care of the
stores. The allowance of provisions will be ou a liberal
scale ; both of the same description as usually supplied
to ships' crews. Each man is supplied with clothing
suitable for the voyage and for the service he will have
to perform on their arrival, as follows :- -One painted
bag, one painted suit, three coloured cotton shirts,
1 flannel shirt (red), 1 flsanel shirt (white), 1 flannel
belt, 1 Pair moleskin trousers, 1 moleskin vest, lined
with serge, 1 f:Arnotleit slop, 1 iinsey drawers, 1 blue
cravat, 1 blue worsted cravat, 1 pair of leggins, 1 pair
of boots, 1 strap and buckle, 1 bed and pillow, 1 psis
of mitts, 1 portable stove for every ten men, 1 rug and
blanket, 1 pair of blankets, 1 woollen coat, 1 pair long
waterproof boots, 1 par fisherman's boots, 1 pair grey

stockings, and two pounds of tobecco for present use
By the above list, it will be observed that each man is
proVided with a painted waterproof bag, capable of con-
tainieg his kit, and also three days' provisions ; no
boxes or lumber of any kind being allowed. The
fisherman's boot., reaching to the knee, are for their use
on board, as well as in wet weather in the Crimea. But
besides there are a pair of strongly-nailed beets, com-
monly called navvies' 'smote, to be served out to eaeh
man on arrival in the country. One hundred pair of
long boots, reaching to the hip, are also provided for
• the use of parties working in the water. Besides ten
boas ea eh capable of housing 40 men, 100 railway sheets
or covers, generally used to cover goods' waggons, are
sent, with a large quantity of boards and scantlings,
with the temporary tents and huts in-ier/Ml.ls to wet,
and not easily inflaninieble, can in a few hours be
erected, and are easily removed. The sheets will also
afford temporary covering to provisions or fuel likely
to be injured or de,troyed by water. Coal, coke, and
firewood are also furnished in large quantities. To
each party of ten, a portable stove, of a very portable
but efficient character, is provided, which will bail, bake,
and fry in the open air. The staff consists of one chief
engineer, and three assistants, one chief agent and three
assistants, one accountant and clerk, one storekeeper
and clerk, besides foremen and timekeepers. Whilst
everything is provided to render the work efficient, the
sanitary condition of the men has not been forgotten ; the
medical staff consists of a surgeon, four assistant-surgeons
and four nurses, selected from the first hospitals in Lon-
don. An ample stock of medical stores and comforts is
provided, and a large number of Dean and Adams's re-
volvers have also been provided in case any of the
workmen should need them. Two railway missionaries
will likewise accompany the men, and a selection of
books is provided for their use. On arrival at Balaklava,
one of the sailing ships will be appropriated as a store
and hospital ship ; the rest of the squadron will be em-
ployed as circumstances may render expedient. The im-
mense resources of Messrs. Peto and Betts hare enabled
thorn, with very little exertion, to collect, organise, and
ship off, in an almost incredibly short space of time, this
important expedition ; for when the order was first given,
only three weeks since, the greater part of the rails
were not rolled, the sleepers were uncut, the steam ma-
chinery performing its daily occupation at the Victoria
Docks, and several of the ships not finished ; but by judi-
ciously securing vessels of large carrying powers at. the
ports where the material was procured, a great saving of
time and expense was effected, as in the case of the Hes-
perus, built by Messrs. Mitchell, at Walker-on-the-Tyne;
in one yard the ves..el was being completed, and in the
adjoining one the rails were being manufactured, and
loaded on board warm from the furnace. Too much
praise cannot be given to the various builders and ship-
owners, who came forward in the most handsome man-
ner, and without any security beyond a verbal offer,
placed their vessels ae Messrs. Peto and Betts' disposal,
so that in three days th.y found themselves in possession,
by charter or purchase, of all the ships required. Among
these, Messrs. Marshall and Co., of South Shields,
Messrs. Mitchell and Co., of Walker, and Mr. Richard
Young, of Wisbeacb, deserve special notice. They at
once put on all their force, worked night and day, and, in
less than four days, had all the berths for the men built,
and the vessels ready to take in their cargo. It is ex-
pected that all the vessels will reach Balaklava by the
Ist of February, and that the tramway will be laid to
the heights before the end of that month. No one can
yet say the exact value of this auxiliary to the siege ;
but judging from the reports of the present state of
the road from Balaklava to Sebastopol, it is evident
that, if a tramway of this kind had been constructed
in the early part of the siege, an immense amount
of toil, suffering, and death would have been saved to
our gallant soldiers and sailors ; and it is likewise highly
probable that material for forming a tramway for the
conveyance of heavy guns and carriages will henceforth
form a necessary appendage to siege opeiations. As to
the gentlemen to be employed in the construction of the
present railway, they are Mr. James Beatty, Mr. Kel-
lock, and Mr. Campbell. Messrs. Beatty and Campbell
were employed by the firm of Messrs. Pete, Brassey,
Betts, and Jackson, in 1842, in making some preliminary
surveys in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, British
North America ; but Mr. Beatty was never employed
in Canada by the firm. The engineer-in chief of the
Canadian Grand Trunk (including Victoria Bridge, over
the St. Lawrence, now being constructed by the
firm) is Mr. Alexander M'Kenzie Ross, formerly asso-
ciated with the late George Stephenson, and now with
his son, Robert Stephenson, M.P. ; and the engineer
of the European and North American Railway, in New
Brunswick, also now being constructed by the same
firm, is Mr. Frank Giles. Mr. Kellock was employed
by the same gentlemen on the Ross and Hereford Rail-
way.