The Sun.
London, England, 1853-08-25 00:00:00

RAIL WA

EAST KENT.
The first general meeting of this company was held
yesterday at the London Tavern ; Lord Sondes in the
chair.

The Secretary read the report, which congratulated
the proprietors on the passing of the act by which the
important district of East Kent will at length be sup-
plied with that railway accommodation of which it has
been so long deprived. Clauses were introduced into
the bill for securing the due transmission of traffic pass-
ing from or to the East Kent line to or from any of the
lines of the South-Rs-stern Company. The act further
empowers the Board of Trade, in case of dispute, to
determine what facilities are to be afforded, and to in.
flict penalties for the non-observance of any regulations
the board may prescribe. In pursuance of the direc-
tions of the committee in the House of Lords to whom
the South-Eastern Company's Strood and Maidstone
bill was referred, before which the directors appeared
in protection of the company's interests, an undertaking
has been given by the South-Eastern Railway Company,
under their common seal, and recorded in the House
of Lords, that they will not, in any future session,
offer any opposition to the passing of any bill that
may be introduced into Parliament for the purpose of
authorising the construction of a line of railway from
Canterbury to Dover. The careful examination of the
tvaffic now existing between Strood and Canterbury,
which the proceedings in Parliament rendered necessary,
leaves no doubt that the receipts of the East Kent Rail-
way will be such as to yield a highly satisfactory divi-
dend on the capital expended, independently of the cer-
tain sources of increase. The traffic will flow over the
East Kent line from the lines of the South-Eastern Rail-
way Company, as well as that which has been so long
diverted from its natural channel, and now passes by
the circuitous route of Reigate and Ashford to Canter.
bury, Ramsgate, and Margate, will doubtless be very
considerable, by bringing them upwards of 20 miles
nearer the metropolis. The directors are determined to
lose no time in commencing all the heaviest portions of
the works, for which the permanent surveys are already
advancing. Their object will be to proceed with the
works so as to produce a return at the earliest possible
period, and they see no reason why the line should not
be open for traffic in less than two-years. The bridge
across the Medway will be commenced forthwith, the
act requiring the completion of the foundations of the
bridge within 18 months. In consequence of the oppo-
sition offered by the South-Eastern Company, the Par-
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includes a considerable sum paid for the expense of
former sessions.
The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report,
congratulated the proprietors on the passing of the act
authorising the construction of the railway. They had
felt severely for many years the want of railway accom-
modation in East Kent, and they had at length obtained
the power of supplying that want, though not without a
most determined opposition from the South-Eastern
Company, particularly on standing orders. The expenses
of obtaining the act had been unnecessarily increased by
that opposition, but they had done all in their power to
curtail them as far as they could, without endangering
the passing of the bill. (Hear, hear.) The line would
commence by a junction with the North Kent Railway
at Strood, and, crossing the Medway, would pass
through Rochester, Chatham, Brompton, Gillingham,
Rainham, and Newington, to Milton and Sittingbourne,
and thence by Faversham to Canterbury, shortening
the distance from the latter place, and Ramsgate and
Margate, by upwards of 20 miles. (Cheers.) They had
obtained the insertion of clauses in the bill securing
to them running powers over the South-Eastern Rail-
way between the points of junction and the stations of
Strood and Canterbury respectively, the use of those
stations, and the due transmission of traffic passing to or
from this line from or to any of the lines of the South-
Eastern Company ' • so that, although an indepen-
dent line, it would be as effectual for public accommo-
dation as if it formed an integral portion of the South-
Eastern Railway. He considered that the undertaking
from the South-Eastern, that they would not in any
future session offer any opposition to any bill for the
construction of a railway from Canterbury to Dover,
added very considerably to the value of their line. The
total length of the line, including the branches, was 32
miles, and the estimated cost 21,0001. per mile. With
regard to the remunerative features of the line, they had
no doubt that the statement made in the prospectus
would be fully borne out ; and they were determined to
carry on the work with vigour and energy, so that the
wants of the country might be quickly supplied, and
the proprietors obtain a speedy return for their outlay.
It was a matter of great satisfaction to him, and he
believed it would be to others, that their solicitor, Mr.
Freshfield, had received a letter from Messrs. FoxHen-
slerson, and Co., to the effect that they were prepared
to enter into a contract for the construction of the line
from Strood to Canterbury, at prices to be fixed by Sir
W. Cubitt, for a gross sum not exceeding the company's
capital, unless any extraordinary works were required,
and to include in that sum a provision for the payment
of interest at the rate of 4 per cent. on the capital, from
the Ist of September, 1853, to the opening of the line,
if no delay took place. Further, that they would not
object, when the line was ready for opening, to under-
take to work the line on terms of paying the proprietors
4 per cent. certain, on condition of their paying them
half the surplus profits of the line. (Applause.)
The Right Hon. S. R. LIISHINGTON seconded the
motion for the adoption of the report. He stated that
17 years ago he had opposed the bill for making the
South-Eastern Railway by Reigate, instead of through
the district they now propose to supply, and had been
for 15 years endeavouring with his friend, their noble
chairman, to have the error committed by Parliament
rectified, and he was glad to say they had at last so far
succeeded in getting the line from Strood to Canterbury,
and he had no doubt it would eventually be carried to
Dover, in accordance with the suggestion of the late
Duke of Wellington, and would thus confer local as
well as national advantages. He thought it was impos-
sible to doubt that the line would be one of the most
remunerative lines in England.
The report was then unanimously adopted.
On the motion of Mr. BRADLEY DYNE, the following
gentlemen were elected permanent directors, in addition
to Lord Sondes, the chairman of the company—namely,
Mr. Alderman Salomons, deputy-chairman ; the Right
Hon. S. R. Lushington, Mr. T. R. Crampton, Mr. C.
J. Hilton, Mr. C. M. Lushington, Mr. J. Scott, Mr.
W. Scholefield, Mr. H. Tootal, Mr. E. Twopenny, Sir
J. M. Tylden, and Mr. M. Wilson.
The sum of 5001. was voted to the directors for their
past services, and 1,000!. per annum in future. The se-
cretary's salary was fixed for the present at 300/. per
annum. Mr. B. Dyne and Mr. Coleman were appointed
auditors of the company, and the proceedings concluded
with a cordial vote of thanks to the chairman and direc-
tors, and also the best thanks of the meeting were voted
to Mr. Freshfield, the solicitor, for the ability and
energy he exerted in obtaining the act. The meeting
;hen separated.

SOUTH DEVON.
held
meeting w
The half-yearlyat the company's
offices, Plymouth, on Tuesday, Mr. T. Woolcombe,
chairman of directors,
in the chair, who, in moving
the adoption of
the report, stated that, although the
traffic for the half-year had advanced from 46, 437/. 2s.
sd. for 1852 to 51,0761. 2s. 9d. for 1853, yet, through
the severity of the winter, the cost of repairs had been
so much that it was not considered expedient to appro-
priate more than 4s. per share to the holders of the ori-
ginal shares of 501. The merits of the line had been
completely exhibited when the Great Agricultural Exhi-
bition took place
at Plymouth, and when the recent re-
moval of heavy bodies of troops from Chobham occurred.
In his evidence before the House of Peers, Lord Har-
dinge candidly admitted the merits of the South Devon,
and thought that, although the break of gauge might be
an obstacle in the removal of ordnance stores, it would
not be so in the transfer of troops. By The Sun of
Monday it would be observed that the Lancashire and
Yorkshire Railway had paid 7,0001. to passengers in
consequence of the bad condition of their permanent
way. It would be better for the shareholders in the
South Devon to complain of the cost of working ex-
penses, than for the directors to ask their pardon for
similar scrapes. The chairman sincerely regretted the
loss of the South Devon and Tavistock bill, which was
tiatisfa.ctorily proved before the committees of the House
of Commons and the House of Lords. The Govern-
ment had, however, thrown themselves into the scale
against this commercial project. The Secretary of
War, who caused the postponement of the bill
in the Commons, to wait the report on the Devon
and Dorset bill, did not, after its reception, venture to
divide the house. There was reason to believe that on a
future occasion the Government would not continue their
opposition. The declared policy of the South-Western
Company was in favour of Southampton, and it was not to
be expected that they would expend three-quarters of a
million in carrying a line to Plymouth. A second line
could only compete for the through traffic ; the interme-
diate traffic must always remain with the South Devon.
The Times of the 17th stated that it was requisite for
the South-Western to make the stations on their line
complete. This was necessary to be done before that
company projected any new lines. In renewing the ap-
plication for the South Devon and Tavistock line, it
was intended to obtain powers to run locomotive engines
on the branch line to Sutton Harbour.
Mr. W. Fox seconded the proposition. Although at
first opposed to the Tavistock line, he was now firmly
convinced of its utility.
Mr. T. GILL, formerly chairman of the company,
moved an amendment for the omission of certain clauses
in the report, which condemned the course pursued
Western Company in •
by the South-seeking to esta-
blish a competing line. He considered that sharehold-
ers in the South Devon should sink their interests as
commercial
such in their desire to obtain additional co
facilities for the port of Plymouth. The aggressive
policy" mentioned in the clauses was pursued by
the
Great Western, and not the South-Western.
He hoped
they would speedily close their solicitor's account.
Mr. T. STEVENS, in seconding the amendment, stated
that if the South Devon did not speedily construct a