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

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. Fox, Hen-
derson, 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 1,0001. per annum in future. The se-
cretary's salary was fixed for the present at 3001. 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 fneeting
then separated.

SOUTH DEVON.

The half-yearly meeting was held at the company's
offices, Plymouth, on Tuesday, Mr. T. Woolcombe,
chairman of directors, in the chair, who, moving
the adoption of the report, stated that, although the
traffic for the half-year had advanced from 46,4371. 2s.
sd. for 1852 to 51,0761. 2s. 9id. 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 50/. 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
satisfactorily 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 bill
in who caused the postponement of the_ e
o
in the Commons, to wait the report on the
venture
to
and Dorset bill, did not, after its reception,
divide the house. There was reason to believe that
their
opposition. future occasion the Government would not continue h
Companyw a
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ae they wouldine te rexlypmenodutthh.reeilqusaercto.enratd of
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stationsite was
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done before that
complete. This was necessary,
lines.
In renewing the ap-
plication projected any new
pwliacsaitniotnendfoedr ttheeeSbotauithpDeweevrosntearundn
locomotive'ravistock engines
on on the branch line to Sutton Harbour.
Mr. W. Fox stehceonTdaevidsttheeekpurole, oshiteionw.asAnlethwoufignnh alt
first opposed to
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
by the South-Western Company in seeking to esta-
blish a competing line. He considered that sharehold-
ers in the South Devon should sink their interests as
such in their desire to obtain ad.wditeisotnpearun. l
.r.sud commercial
c aggressive
ebhy the
ep
ed
facilities for the port of Plymouth. The
policy" mentioeledadinlyidncnletohtseethtcehleasiuersusetoshlicit was
or
's account.
they w
Great Wou
Mr. T. STEVENS, in seconding the amendment, stated
eldstes speedily
that if the South Devon did not speedily construct a