The Sun.
London, England, 1838-10-26 00:00:00

RAILWAY MEETING-TIPPERARY.

A numerous and respectably attended meeting was held
at the Court-house in the town of Tipperary, on Tuesday
last, for the purpose of taking into consideration the Re-
port of her Majesty's Commissioners appointed to inquire
into the manner in which railway communications can be
most advantageously promoted in Ireland, more especially
that part of the Report which proposes the establishment
of a branch line between Limerick, Clonmel, and Water-
ford, running within five miles of the town of Tipperary.
James Scully, of Tipperary, Esq., J.P., having been called
to the chair, and Francis Scully, Esq., having been reques-
ted to act as Secretary, the Chairman briefly addressed the
meeting, and was followed by Mr. L. Smith, Mr. Quin,
Mr. J. Cooke, and Mr. N. Sadleir, when several resolu-
tions were proposed and carried in furtherance of the ob-
jects of the meeting. The thanks of the meetinc, hav-
ing been given by acclamation to Mr. Scully for his able
and dignified discharge of his duty as Chairman, the meet-
ing was then dissolved.—Tipperary Free Press.

GREAT SOUTH WESTERN RAIL WA Y

(From the Cork Southern Reporter.)
PUBLIC MEETING—MOST IMPORTANT PRO

CEEDINGS.

Pursuant to one of the most numerously and respectably
signed requisitions ever presented to the Chief Magistrate
of Cork upon any occasion, a meeting of the city and county
—consisting of our leadiag mercantile houses, and of the
landed interests of the county, as represented by several of
its leading Proprietors, was held yesterday in the City
Court-House, at the call, and under the presidency, of the
Mayor. Amongst the gentlemen present, we observed Sir
William Chatterton, Bart., Sir William Wrixon Beeper,
Bart. ; Sir Thomas Deane ; the City Representatives, Wm.
Crawford, Samuel Lane, and a numerous assemblage of
those gentlemen upon whom it usually devolves to take a
leading part in the local affairs of the City. Daniel Con-
ner, Esq., of Manch House, and Maskelyne Alcock, Esq.,
of Rough-grove House, attended, as a deputation from
Bandon, &c. The Court was filled in all parts, and the
utmost interest was evinced by the entire audience in the
proceedings, which, for importance, have seldom been ex-
ceeded at any meeting held in this City for many years.
We should say that Quinn, Esq., as the representa-
tive of the Railroad Commissioners ; and -- Smith,
Esq., and another gentleman, whose name we did not learn,
upon the part of the Dublin and Kilkenny Railroad, were
also present.
Mr. Meagher was appointed Secretary to the meeting.

The MAiolt opened the proceedings by reading the re-
quisition, which, he had no hesitation in saying, either in
point of numbers, wealth, influence, and station, was the
most important document of such a nature that had ever
been produced in Cork.—(Hear.) It represented the
parties whose signatures it bore—and they were many
hundreds—as being deeply impressed with the various and
manifold benefits which would result from the establishment
of a railway communication between the cities of Dublin,
Cork, Limerick, Waterford, Kilkenny, and several other
important towns and places—the vast employment that
would be given to the operative classes—the mitigation of
the Grand Jury and Poor-rates that would be the conse-
quence of it ; and being most anxious to promote these
paramount objects, they requested his Worship to convene
a general meeting of the Merchants, Traders, and other
inhabitants of the city, to consider the best means of giving,
effect to the Report of the Royal Commissioners, recom-
mending the promotion of the Great South Western Rail-
way. In compliance with the requisition, he had called the
meeting ; the subject was replete with interest ; and see-
ing many about him who were much more competent than
he was to speak to the great national topics to be brought
under consideration, he should desist from saying any more,
being confident that perfect justice would be done to the
subject, and the utmost propriety prevail during the pro-
ceedings.—(Cheers.)
Sir WIC-CHATTEITON, Bart., here presented himself,
and was received with loud and repeated cheering. We
are met to promote an object which involves, in no common
degree, the interests of our country.—(Loud cheering.)
The resolution, Sir, with which I have been entrusted, and
which I have now the honour to propose for the adoption
of this meeting, is as follows :
" That the interests of Ireland would be materially pro-
moted by a general system of railway, embracing within its
operations the most populous and wealthy districts of the
country."
I need not dwell on the advantages of railroad communi-
cation, for they are no longer problematical.—(Cheers.)
England is already, in a great degree, in the enjoyment of
these advantages, and they are extending themselves rapidly
in Belgium and France. And when this great force holds
out to other countries such brilliant prospects of wealth
and prosperity, surely, Sir, it is time that Irishmen should
exert themselves, and that we should endeavour to pro-
cure for our country a participation in those blessings
which this extraordinary power is likely to bestow.—
(Cheers.) We have, too, additional motives for exertion when
we reflect that, perhaps, no country in Europe holds out so
much probability for the successful application of the power
as our own.—(Hear.) The nature of its surface, to a
great extent, affords peculiar facilities for railroad construc-
tion. We have immense resources now locked up and un-
productive, the development of which would amply repay
the undertaking ; and we have cheap and abundant labour,
to bring these advantages into activity.—(Hear.) But,
Sir, one great ingredient is wanting to us—that ingredient
which is the mainspring of every great undertaking—capi-
tal.—(Hear, hear.) I trust, Sir, however, that this diffi-
culty will be overcome, and that the result of this great
meeting, and of other meetings similar to it, will be, to
give us capital from the source from which, in my opinion,
it would most beneficially flow—l mean from the Govern-
ment of the country.—(Great cheering.) And be it re-
collected, that we only ask the Government to engage
in an enterprise which, while it would bestow wealth and
prosperity on our country, would prove to the Go-
vernment a secure and remunerating speculation.
think, Mr. Mayor, that the appointment of the Commis-
sion, and where a valuable Report is now before the public,
may be considered a guarantee that her Majesty's Ministers
would look favourably on an application such as this. The
Government must be aware what great political considera-
tions this question may involve. It must know that, of all
arguments against Repeal, a judicious railroad communica-
tion would be the most effective and convincing.—( Ap-
plause.) It must see the immense importance of directing
to so legitimate an object as this the united energies of a
,rbegretted, a divided people - of ad
great, but, it is to..be.
crivine- employmentpto our poopput--
ing a measure, which, by
give us tranquillity and
lotion, would remove
wealth, and place Ireland in a position to become what
she ought to be—prosperous and happy.—(Cheers.)
Sir W. W. BECHER, Bart., said that he had much plea-
aura in coming forward to second the resolution so ably in-
troduced by his friend Sir William Chatterton. For his
part, being convinced of the extensive public good to be
achieved by the project, he should afford it all the aid
within his power.—(Loud cheering.) The resolution was
then put and carried unanimously amidst cheering.
Mr. CRAWFORD said, I will commence the duty that
devolves on me, by reading the resolution which I have to
propose :
" That deeply interested as we are in the commercial
prospects of the country, we deprecate any undue interfer-
enceon the part of Government with private enterprise ; yet,
we ere firmly convinced that the great cents al communications
in Ireland by Railroad, being too expensive to admit of com-
petition, ought not to be left at the mercy of private mono-
poly, but should be undertaken at the cost of Government ;

with a view that the nation at large should be shareholders,
and that the reimbursement should be on such a moderate
scale, as should secure to the public and the Post-office, the
cheapest, speediest, and most unrestricted mode of intercourse.
I come not here to-day as a mercantile man to advocate
that Government should become traders, but I assert that
where public interests are concerned, they should not be
made matters of private speculation ; and the Government
of the country should say, " We know we have no right
to be traders, and we will take care after we are reim-
bursed for our outlay, that you and the whole nation shall
partake of the profits accruing to the commerce of the
country from increased facility of intercourse.—(Hear,
hear.) On short lines, involving only small outlays, as for
instance the Dublin and Kingstown line, I am opposed to
the interference of Government ; but where the expen-
diture is millions, and the difference of time as four
hours to one day, competition would be impossible.
Mr. Crawford then described a trip which he made not
long ago on the London and Liverpool line. He had been
informed at the office in London that the journey would be
accomplished in (as we understood) nine hours, and was
travelling in his carriage reflecting on his pleasant and
speedy Journey, when he was roused by the voice of a
countryman of his own—such a one as would have mag-
netised the heart of any English girl—exclaiming, " By
the powers I beat them in my donkey cart."—(Laughter.)
On inquiring he was told that it was a very lucky train for
the shareholders—that the train was very heavy, and the
Company would not put on a second engine. They were
three hours late in Liverpool, and he had to remain there
for 21 hours. And in consequence of the railway being in
private hands, the correspondence of this great commercial
country was delayed for 24 hours. I think I have said
enough to prove that railways of any great length ought net
to be in the hands of private individuals.—( Hear.) It has
been suggested that the money may be borrowed from
Government on the security of Grand Jury Cess, but
I think it foreign to the duties of Grand Jurors to sub-
ject the taxes of their county to the risk of speculation ;
and what Grand Juror would consent to tax this city
and county with 100,0001. ?—( Hear, hear.) If the Go-
vernment be disposed to lend the money, there can be no
risk as long as they keep the lines in their own hands. And
when we see what they have expended on the Welland
Canal in Canada, what they have expended in Malta, in
Corfu, and in Scotland ; and what Irish money from the
Woods and Forests has been consumed in beautifying the
streets of London, is it too much to ask, ought not some-
thing to be expended on the highways of Ireland ?—( Hear,
and cheers.) Remember, too, the sums that have been
lavished on our armies and navies. But peace has its vic-
tories as well as war, and they will endure when Trafalgar
and Waterloo will be forgotten, or only remembered as
specimens of those insane times when nation rose against
nation, and country against country. I say, be it our
boast, by monuments more lasting than the Pyramids, to
span our valleys and to pierce our mountains, and to
eclipse the vulgar glare of mere military glory by devo-
tion to the interests and the welfare of our fellow-men.—
(Hear, hear, and cheers.)
Mr. THOMAS P. BOLAND seconded the resolution so elo-
quently introduced by his friend, Mr. Crawford. To the
Government he looked alone for the accomplishment of the
great object ; and his anticipations were sanguine.
The resolution was adopted without a dissentient voice.
Mr. SAMUEL LANE presented himself, and was loudly
cheered from all parts of the Court. The honour of pro-
posing the third resolution had been entrusted to him. It
was as follows :
" That, without pronouncing an opinion upon 1-te respec-
tive merits of the line suggested by the Commissioners, and
that adopted by private speculation to Kilkenny—either of
which would answer the purposes of Cork—we call upon the
Government of the Country, where the Commissioners have
reported that remuneration adequate to the highest return of
the National Funds would accrue from a much more remote
and complicated line, to construct a Railway between two of
the largest Cities in the Empire, viz., Dublin and Cork."
The best interests of Ireland were, in a dogree, involved in
the proceedings cf this day.—(Cheers.) The importance of
constructing a railway communication throughout Ireland
was incalculable—(Cheers)—and the man who did not esti-
mate such a project as of the first moment towards lifting.
the country into something like an equality with Eng-
land, sadly mistook the practical means by which such
a state of things would be brought about.—(Cheering.)
What would the meeting think of the vast advan-
tages which had already resulted from the establishment
of steam vessels between Cork and some of the English
ports, when he mentioned the fact, that in the article of
eggs alone, at the port of Cork, no less amount than
120,000/. worth were annually exported. The freight on
the article of eggs alone exported from Cork amounted to
over 10,000/. a year.—( Hear.) And when such a fact was
beyond question—when 120,000/. a-year was raised from
England, by the means of steam, off eggs alone, what must
be the result with regard to the exports of pigs, sheep,
cattle, &c.? why it was almost incredible. An opportunity
was now afforded, and he trusted that, setting aside all
personal and interested motives,save those for the general
good, there would be such a union of feeling and of senti-
ment—such judicious steps adopted, and active measures
taken, as must, as far as they were concerned, tend to the
accomplishment of the great project indicated in the Report
of the Royal Commissioners.—( Loud cheers,)

Sir Trios. DEANE said, that in coming forward to second
the resolution so ably spoken to by his friend Mr. Lane, he
was delighted with the scene before him. His fellow-
citizens and the many country gentlemen around him
had met for one common object—the practical ameliora-
tion of Ireland.—(Cheers.) Setting aside all party
feelings—forgetting those unavailing strifes by which
Ireland had too long been distinguished, the present
meeting had assembled and had enlisted its best ener-
gies towards the bringing about a state of affairs, which
if effected, would tend to more advantage for their common
country than their most sanguine notions could contemplate.
—(Cheers.) The motto upon the hearts and lips of the
people of Ireland should be " Our country's good."—(Tre-
mendous cheering.) He approved of the Poor-laws ; but
following up their introduction, what could be more accep-
table than the identification of the Government with the
formation of the grand trunk line of railroad, as pointed out
by the Commissioners ?—(Cheers.) He entirely agreed
with Mr. Crawford that the projected line should be under-
taken and sustained by the Government of the country ; he
deprecated undue interference with private speculation, but
he had ever been of opinion, that the direction of all public
roads should have been vested in the Government. Sir
Thomas Deane continued to advocate the immediate adop-
tion, practically, by the Government, of the Report of the
Royal Commissioners, and resumed his seat amidst cheers.
The resolution was put and passed unanimously.
Mr. FAGAN, in proposing the next resolution, said it is
gratifying to me to find, that my friend Sir. T. Deane has
become a convert to the doctrine—(Cheers)—it is time
that Irishmen of all creeds and opinions, should recollect that
they belong to one common country.—(Hear, hear.) Na-
ture has done every thing for us ; Providence has showered
down on us its choicest blessings ; we have spacious har-
bours—navigable rivers—rich fields—smiling hills—and
fertile plains, and we have the broad Atlantic, encircling
our shores, and ready to waft the burden of commerce to
the remotest quarters of the globe—(Cheers)—and yet
hitherto Ireland is the land, where destiny has fixed a
blighting influence—where man has spread around desola-
tion, and distress, and where every exertion has been made,
to mar our bright prospects of prosperity.—(Cheers.) It
is, therefore, delightful to find the cordiality which exists
here to-day, and the unanimity which has been so ably
recommended by Sir Thomas Deane.--(Hear, hear.)
There is nothing that improves the intellectual faculties of
man, or encreases the prosperity of a nation, so much as
facility of intercourse—rapid communication, and the con-
centration as it were of the wealth, the thoughts, and the
energies of a people.—(Loud cheers.) See the position
this country is in, from want of facility of intercourse. What
do we know of the North ? What do we know of the North-
western extremity of Ireland ? What commercial communi-
cation have we even with the Irish metropolis ? Professional
men visit it in pursuing their avocations, but the great majority
of our industrious community know much more of London,
and Bristol, and Liverpool. If by the facility of intercourse,
the North and South
were brought •
more in contact, and
that they knew more of each other, we should not have
cause to deplore the wasting antipathy that exists in the
religious feelings of the one towards the other. Mr.
Crawford has eloquently enlarged upon the danger of
committing these great national undertakings to the enter-
prize of private companies ; he has explained how injurious
to the public interests it would be to confide so important
a portion of the national concerns to private individuals ;
he has stated to you, how much expense and profit would
regulate their conduct, and how impolitic it would be, to
give a vested interest in the intercourse of the country, to
private individuals.—(Cheers.) In all countries, Great
Britain and Ireland excepted, the roads have ever been
under the management of the Government. It is so in
France—it was so in the classic period of Roman History
—some of the noblest monuments of the wealth and power of
Rome, which have been transmitted us, are their roads; these
could never have been effected by private enterprize, though
there never existed a people whose individual wealth was so
great, or that wealth was so lavishly
expended upon public
objects. How, for instance, could
the great imperial
com-
menced have been completed by private enterprise, which
in Scotland, traversed the barbarous wilds of Bri-
tain, was again taken up at the modern Boulouge, ,passed
through the forests of ancient Gaul, surmounted
the Alps,
passed through Italy, to the southern shores of the Adri-
atic—again atic—again was taken up on the coast of Greece, and
finally terminated in the plains of Asia Minor. This could
never have been accomplished by private enterprise, for
two reasons--first, it was too expensive, and next it was
too unprofitable—so it is with railway communications.
Short lines might be undertaken by private Commies, for