The Sun.
London, England, 1853-10-06 00:00:00

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at Sydenham, and to a point at B‘dam-lane ,
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here there would a station, and thence by Bromley
o Orpwood, Farnborough, and Otford, to Maidstone,
following the old line as laid down by Sir William Cubitt.
It was considered desirable that land at St. Faith's-green
should be secured for the purpose:a of the Maidstone sta-
tion, and arrangements had been made to purchase it..
The line would take a somewhat different course to that
of the landowners' line of 1850, and would in some parts
be a great improvement upon it. There would be no
gradient less than 1 in 132, instead of 1 in 103, and the
line would be the most direct and speedy that could be
laid down. The average cost would be 18,000/. per
mile, which would include the purchase of land, stations,
Parliamentary expenses, and every outlay, with the ex-
ception of rolling stock.
The Right lion. Mr. HERRIES said that the land-
owners of West Kent were deeply sensible of the disad-
vantages under which they laboured from the want of
railway- accommodation. They were, therefore, desirous
to remedy the present state of things as soon as possible ;
but, before they subscribed their capital to the extent of
the one-fourth required, they were anxious to know
from Sir Charles Fox whether the direct line from Syden-
ham to Maidstone was to be dependent upon the capital
being subscribed for the short lines, and whether they
could depend upon the rema.ining portion of the capital
being subscribed. He should also like to know what
arrangements could be made with the Brighton Company
to carry their traffic.
Sir CHARLES Fox replied that, although the intention
was to apply for three acts of Parliament, the main line
from Sydenham to Maidstone would be perfectly inde-
pendent of the others, and would in no way be contin-
gent upon their success or failure. (Hear, hear,) lie
had had a conversation with Mr. Laing, the chairman of
the London and Brighton Company, and that gentleman
had informed him that they would only be too happy to
take up the traffic from Sydenham to London. The
promoters of the Crystal Palace line were also friendly
to them, for, feeling as they did their own inability to
carry the enormous number of passengers going to the
palace, they were anxious to have feeders in all direc-
tions. He had had experience of the traffic on the Paris
and Versailles Railway, and had found that, even by
crushing 12 persons into one first-class compartment, a
proceeding which John Bull would no way relish, the
utmost that could be effected was to carry 28,000 passen-
gers in a day. With regard to the lucrative character
of the proposed undertaking, he could say that he knew
of no line with a metropolitan terminus, made for the
price of the West Kent, which could contrast with it in
a commercial view. (Hear, hear.) With respect to the
manner in which the line was to be made, the nature of
the proposal was that it should be put upon the footing
of the., East-. Kent. Lord Sondes, the chairman of
that company, had asked him to enter into an arrange-
ment with the company, the basis of which was simply
this—the local landowners and residents were to take
one-fourth of the capital, and sign the Parliamentary
contract, and he would be prepared with signatures
for the remaining three-fourths. In consideration of this
the company were not to enter into any contract for the
execution of the works for a lumped sum, which might
turn out to be fair or unfair according to the state of the
market for labour and materials, but the company were
to offer the contract to the house with which he was con-
nected, at prices to be agreed upon between the engineer
of the company and themselves—any matter in , dispute
to be left to the absolute decision of Sir William Cubitt.
These were the only terms on which he had consented to
assist in the formation of the East Kent undertaking,
and he believed they were based upon a spirit of perfect
fairness to all parties concerned.
Sir JOHN LUBBOCK expressed his concurrence in the
object for which the meeting was called, and observed
that they were all agreed upon the necessity of the rail-
way, and also upon the line proposed ; the only question
that remained for consideration was subscribing for the
local shares. He understood that the liability of the
subscribers for preliminary expenses was not to exceed
2s. 6d. per share ; and, as they had a guarantee to this
effect, the only risk which they could run was the trum-
pery loss of 2s. 6d. per share. He believed that the line
as now laid out was the best that could be devised, and
he was, therefore, prepared to give it his cordial support.
The CHAIRMAN inquired whether the Parliamentary
expenses would be limited to 15s. per share, in respect of
any bill which did not receive the sanction of the Legis-
lature.

Sir CHARLES FOX would undertake to be responsible
that the Parliamentary expenses should not exceed 15s.
per share, or 3/. per cent. Ho would be very glad to
make a bargain to take them at three per cent.
Lord HOMESDALE then proposed a resolution to the
effect that the meeting approved of the projected line,
and pledged itself to support it by subscribing towards
the proportion of shares to be taken up by the land-
owners of the county.
Mr. HENRY HUGHES seconded the resolution, which
was carried unanimously.
A list of share subscribers was then opened by the
noble chairman, and in a few minutes a large propor-
tion of the shares were subscribed for by the gentlemen
present.
Resolutions were then passed, that a copy of the list
of shares subscribed, as entered into at the meeting, be
circulated among the landowners and residents gene-
rally in the district, and that an application, signed by
the chairman on behalf of the meeting, be addressed to
each, soliciting their co-operation and support ; that a
provisional committee be appointed to carry the under-
taking into effect ; and that the members for the bo-
roughs of Maidstone. Greenwich, and Southwark, and
for the county of Surrey, be requested to co-operate
with them.

After some other routine business was disposed of, a
vote of thanks was passed to the noble chairman for
his conduct while presiding, and the meeting separated.

RAILWAY TO CENTRAL WALES.
In compliance with a numerously-signed requisition,
the Mayor of Shrewsbury, Mr. Richard Taylor, con-
vened a public meeting on Tuesday at the Guildhall, for
the purpose of considering the best means of obtaining
railway communication between Shrewsbury and Cen-
tral Wales. His worship occupied the chair.
Mr. KEATE said he certainly did not expect to have
had an opportunity, so soon, of tendering his best
thanks to their worthy chief magistrate for his kind-
ness and courtesy in having convened a meeting to fur-
ther the interest of the inhabitants and the prosperity of
the good old town of Shrewsbury. However they might
differ on minor points, they would all be unanimous in
adopting that scheme which would be best calculated to
promote the interests of the borough. The importance
of direct railway communication between Shrewsbury
and Central Wales was admitted on all hands ; and he
thought he should have no difficulty in convincing all
that the Rea Valley—not only on account of its mineral
products, but by opening a direct line of communication
between London and the North, with Milford Haven,
which he spoke of as destined to be one of the most
important ports in the kingdom--would be the mos
important, both as regarded the conveyance of person
and commodities. Until lately, the greatest diffi-
culty in forming a line of railway was experienced from
large landed proprietors. Whatever might be the opi-
nion along the whole of the line he could not say, but the
landlords of the property through which the Rea Valley
passes are most anxious for its construction, are ready
and willing to dispose of their land at a moderate cost,
and will receive the price in shares. The cost would be
7,0001. per mile, and the gradients 1 in 400. The ex-
pense of this railway would, therefore, be comparatively
trifling. They were all equally conversant as he was
with the country through which the line would pass.
It would go through Hanwood, Pontesbury, Minsterley,
Worthen, Brockton, Marton, Chirbury, Montgomery,
and so on to Newtown, where it would meet the Llanid-
loes and Newtown Railway. They all knew the enor-
mous amount of traffic which takes place to Aberystwith
in the summer. The line would also empty the rich
products into their market from Chirbury, Churchstoke,
Bishop's Castle, &c. He then moved a resolution
pledging the meeting to support the Shropshire and
Montgomeryshire Railway, via the'Rea Valley.
Mr. BLACKMORE seconded the resolution, which was
put and carried, with but two'hands held up against it.
A unanimous vote of thanks to the mayor for his im-
partiality and kindness in the chair, passed on the mo-
tion of Mr. BLAKEMORE, seconded by Mr. Coons,
concluded the proceedings.

LONDON AND BRIGHTON RAILWAY.—The directors
have just contributed twenty-five guineas to the South
Down fox hounds.
MANCHESTER, ALTRINGHAM, AND WARRINGTON,
We understand the Government inspector has appointed
Friday, the 28th inst. for surveying the line from Al_
trincham to Warrington, and that if he should certify
that the line is fit for traffic, &c., the directors
Purpose
opening it on the Ist proximo for passengers
only.
Manchester Examiner.
CARMARTHEN AND CARDlGAN.—Meetings in the lo-
cality have been held in support of this line, and the
landowners in both counties have expressed iemselves
in
DitUs v
BfaLlN"r.
AND BBA.Y.—At a meeting of the directors
just held, resolutions were passed, declaring it expe-
dient to make a c,alilltoLfpsA/5.7,
AND D BLIN.—A meeting
Kal directors of thisr
company was held in
Av
iTsRi
0I Cn
this iDtsh:eoWw: Fr:
on Friday, Viscount Bangor in the chair. The
meetingproduced
wali numerously attended. Sections of the line
w
cultieapp
by the company's engineer, Mr. Blakis-
ton, om which it
s
earecl thatsom Some matters
engineering
sdniffiess-
presented themselves.
having been disposed of, Mr. Blakiston was directed im-
mediately to proeeed with the requisite plans and sec-
tions for next session of Parliament.—Belfast Mercury.
COMPLETION OF THE RICHMOND.—It is more than
probable that the Richmond Railway will be completed
before the winter sets in, and Quebec be thus in rapid
communication with every great city on this continent.
The road is made and the rails laid in many different
places. Should the iron for the bridges and the requisite
quantity of rails arrive in time, the road will undoubtedly
be in travelling order by the middle of November next.
—Quebec Morning Chronicle.