The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-28 00:00:00

ASTLEPS.

The performances at this favourite place of amusement
Commenced on Saturday with the representation, for the
fortieth time, of the Demon Horse; or, the Twelve Wishes
and the Charmed Bit. This popular piece was received
with all the manifestations of approval that have hitherto
marked its progress, and was announced in the bills as
one of the toany attractions to this theatre during the
whole of the present week. Mr. Batty's Scenes of the
Circle also fully sustained the long-lived reputation of
thi- house ; and those who witnessed the feats of Miss
Isabelle, the beautiful training of Mr. R. Smith's
two spotted horses, and the laughable eomicalities of the
brothers Polaski, and their black attendant, Mr. Hender-
son, must have telt that the immortal Ducrow had left
his mantle behind him, for novelty followed novelty in
rapid succession, including the singular exhibitions of
Neupert, the bottle equilibrist. But the crowning inci-
dent of the night was, of course, the pantomime. We are
never disposed to to hypercritical on subjects that are
got up solely to entertain the young, and which may ge-
nerally be considered successful if they effect that object.
Judging from these premiies, we should say that the
Forty Thieves; or, Harlequin All Baba and the Robbers'
caves, was eminently successful ; for, independent of the
usual fun and changes, among which the " open sesame"
figures Conspicuously, the dazzling brilliancy of several
of the scenes must have compelled those even to admire
who were two cynical to laugh. The regions of pearl
in the grotto of the silver stream—the ruby chariot of
the wave—the Fairy Queen, with her steeds of the illumi-
nated waters—the representation of the Wyatt-Welling-
ton statue—the rich fairy halls of dazzling light—and
the final scene of the realms of Love, Or the radiant aerial
bower, with the wondrous revolving stars—these were
chef d'auti, es in their way, and reflected equal credit on
the artists and on the management, as neither expense
nor pains could have been spared in the pethcting of
these designs and spectacles, at once boldly conceived
and brilliantly executed by the inspiration of genius.
Amongst the hits at the times—the enormous penny loaf
of the League bakers, and the rival Paddington omni-
buses, at 3d., 2d., and Id., were the most significant,
perhaps, while the devices and subscriptions, " Victoria,
England's pride ;" e Cobden and Cheap Bread ;" " Free
Trade and Sir Robert Peel," elicited thunders of ap-
plause from all sides of the house. We think it unne-
cessary to detail the plot of the pantomime previous to
the tranformation of the characters ; for who has not
read the " Arabian Nights ?" Suffice it to say, that Alt
Baba, Abdallah, and Morgiana, might be imagined to
have resuscitated for the occasion ; and the Clown,
Pantaloon, Harlequin, and Columbine,
leaped, tumbled,
twisted, and twirled, till our sides literally ached, and
our eyes grew dizzy. Fairlop Fair was admirable. In
deed this pantomime is one of the best ever produced.

17/C 7'o RIA.
The Christmas merrymakers assembled at this house
on boxing night in overwhelming numbers, and, lsng
before the curtain rose, the theatre presented a con-
densed living, though hardly breathing, mass of human
beings, abounding in unmistakable specimens of the
facetious low life of London, amongst whom Boz and his
imitators so much delight to revel. Every available
nook or corner, which afforded a seat or a sight, was
eagerly contested, and those who could not secure a full
view of the stage, were content to peer through holes
and crevices, or strain their necks over the heads and
shoulders of their more fortunate neighbours. A French
translation called the "Black Doctor" was the first
piece on the list, but, it would seem, the audience con-
sidered it undeserving of the least attention, and four
acts were hurridly p'rformed in mere dumb show.
The elevated portion of the auditory, however, amused
themselves during its representation with cracking
jokes upon each other, and now and then the tedium was
relieved by some caustic witticism giving rise to a slight
ebullition of pugilistic feeling, which invariably ended in
an appeal to a police officer, and a noisy request to
" pitch him over ;" at length the welcome sounds of
" Hat's off."—" Sit down," announced the com-
mencement of the pantomine, and immediately-
the " rebellious gods " became hushed and
still. The subject was both seasonable and
instructive, and the entertainment well merited th 3
unequivocal success it met with. It was entitled The
Birth qf the Steam-Engine ; or, Harlequin Go a-head ;
and the incidents were intended to illustrate the rise and
progress of steam, from the first descovery of its power,
through the simple medium of the spent of a tea kettle,
down to the introduction of the leviathan locomotives on
the Great Western Railway. The bubbles and follies of
the day were hit off in smart style, and the tricks, illu-
sions, and transformations being very cleverly managed,
were rewarded with a good deal of laughter, and a good
deal of applause. A capital caricature of a prize-fight
was given by the Clown and Harlequin, who, of course,
appeared in a multitudinous cast of characters—now
railway directors, next cheap steam-boat proprietors,
and, anon, the driver and stoker of a railway train. The
Wellington Statue, Westminster-bridge, London by
night, the Eastern Counties Railway, the HuLgerford
cheap Omnibus stand were all brought into requisition,
and the " oldest inhabitant" gave it as his decided
opinion, that it was the best pantomime that had been
produced on that side of the water for many a day.

FOREIGN CATTLE.—The Sir William Wallace
steamer, arrived at Blackwell from Boulogne, has brought
another entire cargo of live cattle, comprising forty-two
cows and 600 sheep, the produce of France.
CONVEYANCE OF COAL BY RAIL.—It seems pri-
bable that there will be in future considerable compet-
don in the coal traffic at Stamford, and that the public
will be supplied by a different class of persons from those
who have hitherto carried on the trade. Since the an-
nouncement that the Eastern Counties Railway Company
had determined to carry coals along the line, there have
been numerous applications at the Stamford station rola-
t've to the rate of charges and the wharfage accommo-
dation; and it is understood that several tradesmen, such
as druggists, drapers, grocers, maltsters,
enter-
ing into arrangements to deal in that article. Part of
the supplies are expected from Lynn by way of Ely, but
&c . are
it is thought that the greater portion will come from the
Thames along the Blackwell and Stratford line. It
seems that coals unshipped at Black wall avoid the Lon-
dotaillp and thus
than in the metropolis, although the colliers br;nging
wsoerotd dues,
coals
can Nith ic
bel t are
sold e
inx ceedingl y Stamford heavy,
a t
aower price
them reach within ten miles of London. It is calculated
that Yorkshire coals may be delivered here Io- 17s. or
18s. a ton, and Newcastle for 21s, or 22s.—Cambridge
Advertiser.

THE FUTURE OF CANADA.
(From the Colonial Gazelle.)
A new era is opening upon Canada. The progress of
s-ttletnent, of the development of territorial resources, is
about to take a fresh start. The recent mineral disco-
veries on the Canadian shores of lakes Superior and
Huron present a remunerative field for the investment of
capital and labour. A due admixture of enterprise and
judicious caution will soon call forth busy settlements in
that region as populous and thriving as those on the rich
agricultural peninsula between lakes Erie and Huron.
Of the extent and local features of the mineral region
our information is limited and desultory. But according
to a litter from Mr. Allan Macdonnell, of the Quebec
Mining Company, in the Montreal Times, the rich mi-
neral district on the north (or Canadian) side of Lake
Superior commences at Maimanse, only 45 miles from
Soult St. Marie, at the outlet of the lake; and according
to the statement made by Mr. Forrest Shepherd at a
meeting of the Montreal Mining Company, held on the
16th of October, it extends to Nirigon, nut far from
Fort William, which is near the western extremity of
the tongue of Canadian territory running out between
the United States and the lands of the Hudson's Bay
Company. Specimens of the ores analysed by Professor
Saharan have been found to yield from 40 to 63 per cent.
of copper, and may be expected to work on a great scale
from 30 to 50 per cent. The ore is, in many instances,
combined with iron ores, and in some with native silver.
On the northern shore of the lake numerous islands and
bays form available hat boors. Waterfalls for driving
machinery abound. Respecting the mining districts on
Lake Huron we are without information.
When public attention in Canada was first directed
towards this mineral region, licenses to explore were
issued for a short time; but an Order in Council was
soon passed by the Local Government to the elf ct that
no more should be granted. Those issued were not,
however, withdrawn; and the region has been widely
and minutely examined for mining localities, principally,
it would appear, ti parties in connexion with the two
companies named above. The provincial geologist, Mr.
Logan, passed the last season on Lake Superior, making
surveys and marking locations for the adventurers.
On the 7th of October last a minute in Council was
made under which the then several license-holders were
to be permitted to work the mines, under the authority
of the licenses which they held, with the option, either
then or at any other time within the period of two years,
to purchase locations of ten square miles, at the rate of
4s. per acre, payable one-fifth part in hand, and the re-
mainder in five yearly payments, with interest. It is
added that, when the licenses which have been issued
are all located, the lands on lakes Huron and Superior
are to be forthwith opened for sale at the minimum price
of 48. per acre in blocks of ten miles square. On the
7th of last month a public notice, issued from the Crown
Lands department, intimated some further regulations
agreed upon at a meeting of Council on the 2d. Every
license-holder, whose location is designated 1:.3 the Pro-
vincial Geologist, is entitled to a certificate of location

from the Commissioner of Crown Lands on payment to
that officer of 1501., to cover the cost of survey and
other contingent expenses. This sum is to be placed
to the credit of the locatee, as a part of his first instal-
ment, when the price shall be confirmed, ti..d shall be
forfeited to Government, and the land again offered
for sale, in the event of his declining to purchase the
location or failing to pay the first instalment within two
years. All future applicants for locations are entitled
to the same rights on the same conditions. Before any
further locations are surveyed the Commissioner of Crown

Lands is to require of each applicant to point out the situa-
tion of the land he wishes to obtain on Bay field's map, and
to receive the 150/. The Commissiober or Crown Lands

it to report on the best method of laying out the mineral
locations on Lake Superior.; and a surveyor will be ap-
pointed to lay out the mining districts on Lake Huron
whenever the applicants shall have-complied with these
requirements. All grants are to be subject to such re•
gulations to ensure the vierking of mines as may be
hereafter enacted by (the Provincial) Parliament.
Under these regulations, the Quebec Company have
already,secured locations at Maimanse and elsewhere.
Two shipments of ores have already been made by them
with a view to test their qualities, and the rate of re-
muneration which may fairly be expected for exporting
them. Mr. Shepherd, the agent of the Montreal Com-
, pany, has also secured locations with excellent
aarbours and mill sites ; has got the islands and
shores of the lake on and near which they
are situated laid down in a map, with all their
mineral and geological features ; has erected cabins,
houses, and blacksmiths' shops—in all thirty buildings,
with entrances for boats and schooners ; has prepared
ground for making bricks and for gardens, and has, in
short, got everything in readiness for setting to work
next spring. All this betokens energy and judgment,
and was accomplished " without losing a man, or a boat,
or scarcely an oar." But the most creditable circum-
stance for the company remains to be told. At the
meeting of the 16th of Oetober, the Hon. Mr. Moffatt
stated :—" Inquiries have been frequently addressed to
the trustees, to know the value of stock ; what loca-
tions the company had got, and the mineral value of
them ; and I have been asked for a copy of the articles of
assocation. The greater part of these que,tions seemed
to have in view some operation on the price of shares—
all had this tendency. The trustees resolved to be no
parties, directly or indirectly, to any influence of the
price of shares. They have never desired to see the
shares rise in price, because, until we had got our loca-
tions from Government, and until Mr. Shepherd had re-
ported the character of the discoveries he was engaged
in making, we had nothing solid, nothing in hand upon
which real value could be based. If the explorations
were to turn out unsuccessful, it was right that the ori-
ginal parties to them should bear the loss."
There can be little doubt of the eventual success of en-
terprises conducted by men animated with the honour-
able sentiments expressed by Mr. Moffatt, and the
enterprise evinced by Messrs Shepherd and Macdonnell.
The an ilysis of Professor Silliman establishes the value
of the ores, and the concurrent reports of all who have
examined the region, their abundance. Their is a fair
field of investment, and it has been entered in the spirit
of real labourers and legitimate traders, not of parkkir
and Stock-Exchange speculators. As to the regulations
adopted by the Local Government for guiding and en-
suring the bond fide working of this colonising experi-
ment, they seem fair and just, and likely to be condu-
cive to its success. Something there is, no doubt, in the
remarks of the Montreal Pilot, that the issuing of a
limited number of licenses at first, then the temporary
intermission of the issue, the holders of those issued
being allowed to proceed with their investigations, looks
like favouritism. But what is vast cure is with us past
care. The better system is now fairly in operation. If
the suspicions of the Pilot are well founded, it is a matter
to be kept in mind by the Canadians when public men
ask their confidence, but it cannot materially affect the
future development of Canadian resources.

The working of the mines over the vast mineral region
will necessarily fix upon it an industrious settled popu-
lation. The region, so far as hitherto known, is not re-
markable for fertility, and its climate is likely to be
rather inclement. It is from the fertile districts to the
south that the mining settlements must draw their stores
of provisions. under any circumstances, the Huron
district and the rest of the great alluvial peninsula of
Canada West would have as fair a chance of being their
principal garner as any of the neighbouring states of the
Union. But, as Canada West lies in the track of the
navigation by which the ores will be carried to the sea-
board, the vessels employed in that carriage, finding
botb out and return cargoes, will be able to carry from
it at cheaper rates, and thus give to the British farmer
a preference in the markets of the mining districts.
The mineral region will not only become the seat of a
flourishing and industrious population—it will accelerate
the settlement of Canada to the eastward of it. There
are two obvious lines along which industrial enterprise will
act in rivalry to make them thechannelsof communication
between the mining districts and Montreal. Montreal,
of course, either as at the head of the sea-nagivation of
the St. Lawrence, or as the western terminus of the St.
Lawrence and Atlantic Railway, is certain to be the
depot of the mining trade. The carriage of the ores
will, in the first instance, be by the lakes. But com-
paratively short and expeditious routes may be con-
structed, either from Goderich to Toronto; or by the
line projected long ago by Mr. Sheriff from the em-
bouchure of French River in Lake lluron to the waters
of tha Outawa. We look for the revival of the pro-
jected railway from Goderich to Toronto, and the un-
dertakiug of a mixed line of water and railway commu-
nication from Montreal by the Outawa to the north-east
angle of Lake Huron. And the opening of these lines
of communication will open up the country on either
side of them for settlement.

The effect of bringing into play this mineral region of
Canada will be to give the interior of British North America
a valuable article of export, and to create an extensive
home market for the agriculturists. It is pretty certain
that the simultaneous discovery of rich deposits of copper
in Australia and on the lakes of Canada will be to keep
down the price of the metal. But it is available for so
many purposes, and the population and industrial wants
of civilised (and of uncivilised) nations are so rapidly
increasing, and thereby widening the market for it, that
the obtaining a fair price need not be feared for all that
can be produced. The growth of a settled population to
the north and west of lakes Huron and Superior, and
over the whole intermediate• country between that
region and Montreal, and the settled agricultural dis-
tricts of Canada West, will give British North America
what it has been hitherto most deficient in—breadth of
settled territory. So long as Canada is a mere strip
along the St. Lawrence—a mere hem along the broad
cloak of the United States' population—it can have no
weight in the political balance of the American continent.
But when it extends in breadth as well as in length, its
substantive existence will be felt by all. The mineral
regions may find other outlets to the sea than the St.
Lawrence: they lie close to the upper waters of those
rivers which disembogue themselves at the Hudson's Bay
Company's fort of Albany.
Some will regard the opening of this new field of en-
terprise in Canada as a compensation for the " protec-
tion" of which it has recently been deprived. 'We re-
gard the removal of that " protection" as the first step
to the adoption of a new comma rcial system, under
which alone these mineral regions can be worked with
profit. The "protection," with its corresponding re-
strictions, was the remnant of that system under which
Pennsylvania was, before the war of Independence, pro•
hibited to establish founderies or manufacture grates,
pots, and kettles, lest the cast-iron ware of Great
Britain should be undersold in the American market
The abolition of "protection" on Canadian produce
must lead to the abolition of all restrictions on Canadian
trade ; for the abolition of these restrictions is neces-
sary for the prosperous development of its mineral
wealth. The claims of the Montreal Board of Trade
cannot long remain ungranted :
"1. The repeal of the Imperial differential duties. 2.
The repeal of the 3s. frontier duty on American wheat
3. Such a modification of the British Navigation Laws as
will leave us free to employ, at our option, the cheapest
vessels we can procure,whether they be British or fortign.
4. The removal of all restrictions that now operate
gnat the free trod° of the St. Lawrence, . _

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

BRISTOL AND POOLE HARBOUR RAILWAY.
(From the Poole Herald of Saturday.)
On Monday last, a public meeting ef the inhabitants
of Poole, called by requisition, which document received
82 signatures, was held in the Town Hall, for the pur-
pose of raking into consideration the proposed Bristol
and Poole Harbour Railway, and, on the event of a de-
claration in favour of the line, to determine on the steps
to be adopted in furtherance of the scheme.
H. M. ALDRIDGE, Esq., Under Sheriff, in the una-
voidable absence of the Sheriff, A. Adams, Esq., wa'
called to the chair, who, after reading the requisition,
observed that that document had been signed by many
persons, and he hoped some of them were prennt for the
purpose of supporting the objects for which tne meeting=
had been called. es i
M. K. WELCH, Esq., observed, that perhaps as one
signing the requisition, in the absence of any of the pro-
moters of the undertaking, he might be allowed to make
a few observations. The meeting had been fixed to take
place on a very inconvenient day for the attendance of
parries from Bristol. lie had heard that Mr. Goldney,
the mayor of that city, intended to be present, though he
had not arrived, and no doubt Monday, the day chosen,
had been found as great an obstacle to his leaving his
own town as it had been to others. Unfortu-
nately, also, Mr. Castleman, of Wimborne, one of the
secretaries pro tem., had written to say he could not be pre-
sent in consequence .of the Corporation of that town
holding a meeting also upon the same day, at which that
gentleman had business, though Mr. Castleman stated
that one of the directors would be present. No director,
however, hid arrived. Having thus premised, he would
proceed to make a few observations on the scheme. He
was not aware whether the prospectuses of the company
had passed into the hands of all the gentlemen present,
and, therefore, it would be preferable, perhaps, to state
broadly the object of the undertaking. The Bristol and
Poole Harbour Railway Company were desirous of
opening a communication between the port of Poole, the
Bristol Channel, and the port of Bristol, passing from
Bristol through or near the important towns and villages
of Whitchurch, Pensford, Clutton, Shepton Mallstt,
Bruton, Castle Cary, Wincanton, Stalbridge, Sturminster,
Newton, Shillingston, Stourpain, Blandford, Spettis-
bury, Sturminster Marshall, Wimborne Minster, to
Poole Harbour, and terminating, as the map showed, at
the north-east part of the town, near the Fish Sham-
bles. Independently of the communication to the
west, this line, if completed, would create a communica-
tion with the north of England, as at Bristol, lines were
already in existence with the northern and eastern parts
of the kingdom. The distance to Bristol by the line
now before the meeting was calculated at 67 miles.
He did not, of course, think it necessary to go through
the whole prospectus, but he would observe the traffic
Was considered large, and the convenience to the town
very great. With these few remarks he should call
on gentlemen present to make some suggestions on the
question.

- G. LEDGARD, Esq., was of opinion that it would be
premature to support the line now before the town,
without its advantages being well pointed out, and
that the probabilities of its being carried to comple-
tion were also shown. The town should recollect that
the South-Western and the Great Western Companies
came in the neighbourhood, and both intended to reach
Blandford. Both these companies were powerful, and
if the inhabitants of Poole came to a resolution of sup-
porting the line from Poole Harbour to Bristol, the
opposition of both would be exerted against the scheme.
—(Hear.) He thought it, under these circumstances,
preferable to come to no conlusion upon the Bristol line
at present.
Mr. PYKE inquired if the Bristol line was intended to
communicate with other great lines at Bristol, or to ter-
minate trzere

Mr. WELCH replied that the line would join others.
namely, the Gloucester and other lines, which would
carry the traffic northwards.
Mr. PYRE was of opinion that the interest of Poole,
as respected railways, had not been sufficiently cared
for.—(Hear, hear.) The Southampton and Dorchester
line bad fixed their terminus at Ham, and not in the
town of Poole. He thought by the position in which
Poole ails placed by the railway companies already in
their neighbourhood, the town should support an inde-
pendeet line. As one of the shippers of clay he should
wish a line by which clay could be carried by rail direct
to the Potteries where it was %%anted, and he thought the
Bristol and Poole Harbour Company would be able to
do so by their line. The other day he had seen and
conversed with the celebrated George Stephenson, at
Birmingham, who had gone in that neighbourhood fur
the establishment of potteries, and he had told him that
the manufacturers were enabled to carry by the rail
at the small expense of three halfpence a ton,
with the addition of half-a-farthing for the trucks.
Look, therefore, at the effect of a railway on the transit
of clay; the cost of freight of which by vessel to Bristol,
was 10s. a ton, and 10s. more in additional expenses.
Poole required a railway. He believed the town might
have been accommodated with a railway coming vid
Salisbury, had not a division of opinion taken place upon
the subject. He had no doubt that the line would have
been brought to Poole. Under these considerations,
though it appeared, no one of the promoters was present
to explain the good purposes of the line, he thought the
inhabitants of the town were, nevertheless, bound ti
support it, and he had little d. übt the project would
eventually be carried into beneficial effect.—(Applause.)
Mr. PARROTT said he agreed with some of the obser
vations which had fallen from Mr. P)ke, and some from
Mr. Leilgard. It would certainly be of undoubted rd
vantage to the town of Poole, if a company could be in-
duced to come to the town, but it seera‘ d impossible, at
least, with the lines in the neighbourhood. The Great
Western did not wish, it would appear, to come beyond
Blandford, and the Southampton and Dorchester no fur-
ther than Ilani. lie did not see how Poole could rest Fads-
fled with a connexion with three only. No place, per-
haps, in the whole kingdom required a connexion 1% ith the
manufacturing districts snore than Poole, for the cheapness
of the port was well known, arid its connexion with the
-internal part of the kingdom would, without doubt, make
*her recommendations more available. It was the bounden
duty of Poole to seize any chance that presented itself
to obtain this benefit.—(Hear.) According to his opi-
nion there were three points which made the Bristol and
Poole Harbour Railway beneficial to the town. Bristol
would be benefited by the line, though no more than
Poole. It would avoid the passage round the Land's
End, a project which, 25 years ago, occupied the atten-
tion of the pubic, he having been called on to give evi-
dence on the subject, and which passage, could it have
been effected, would have cost two millions of money.
This Land's End passage would be avoided by the rail-
way to Bristol, and bring the traffic hitherto passing
that way to the port of Poole for land transit. Ile
would not allude to the trade with Manchester, that
town being too near Liverpool to be affects d; but he
could safely say that the foreign trade of Birmingham and
its busy neighbourhood could be brought to the town in
which they were then met. Southampton could be no rival
to Poole. Southampton would answer as a port on a
large scale, where vessels of heavy tonnage came once a
year. That place could not interfere with a port like
Poole, where ships could enter often and at very small
charges. These were his points of consideration. The
fruit trade of the Mediterranean, both green and dry,
would also be brought to Poole. For these and other
considerations he thought the line of railway under dis
cussion likely to prove, if completed, of considerable
benefit to the town.
Mr. PYRE read a resolution which he thought would
support a line of railway without giving a pledge.
Mr. W. PEARCE seconded the motion. No doubt
could exist that a line of railway connecting Poole with
the manufacturing districts would be of iintnenr.e ad-
'vantage. The traffic on the proposed line would be un-
doubtedly great ; indeed it was stated as likely to be
enormous. It was not improbable that by a proper line
an important communication with France and the Conti-
nent might also be promoted.
G. LEDGARD. Esq., agreed with the necessity exist
ing of railway communication. It was very well for
Tyke and others who supplied clay to speak of
railways, as connected with their own interests, but
40,000 tons of clay were annually brought from the
Isle of Purbeck and shipped at Poole for the pot-
teries—thus employing 260 vessels. The trade of
these vessels would be lost. Much inland trade existed,
in coals, for instance, from the port of Poole. This
was carried into the interior by carts and waggons, all
rate which came to Poole, each,'perhaps, not spending in
the town less than from ss. to 7s. each visit. Besides,
the intention of this company might, after all, end in
smoke. He did not think they would be ready to make
the necessary deposit of 150,000/. by the 16th of January,
the legal time to do so. Some of the landowners did
not like the scheme, anti S:r J. Guest would not have
supported the Southampton and Dorchester if against the
interests of Poole. He thought, under all the omin/a
stances, that the meeting should stand adjourned until
the 17th of January, as by that period it would be seen
if the company hal paid its deposits, and was, there-
fore in a coedition to go to Parliament. He would propose
this as an amendment. The 17th falling on a Sunday,
Mr. Ledger(' said any other day might be named after
the day of do posit.
Mr. RICK MAN said he thought, if the line was calcu-
lated to do good to Poole, that every facility should be
shown to the project. It would be better that an earlier
day should be named, because, if proper explanations
were made, they might strengthen the views of the pro-
moters before the 16th of January. If, therefore, Mr.
Ledgard would name an earlier day, he should second
his amendment.

Mr. LEDGARD had no objection to name an earlier day.
Mr. PARROTT said he had no objection to an adjourn-
ment.
Mr. PENNEY saw no objection to an adjournment.
Mr. PYRE thought no good could result by an ad-
journment. No place in the country required railway
connexion more than Pole. The town was isolated. and
this isolation he wished to remove. If the railway before
the meeting was likely to do good to Poole, why not say
so at once.

Eventually the amendment was withdrawn, and a
general resolution in favour of the line, without a
pledge to support it, and that a further meeting be held
on the 29th instant in order to obtain fuller explana-
tions from the promoters of the undertaking, who shoul,l
be specially requested to attend, was carried unani-
mously.

ON DITS AND GOSSIP.
The shareholders of the North British have prepared
a requisition, calling upon the directors to convene a
special meeting to consider Mr. Hudson's offer for the
purchase or lease of the line. This requisition has eli-
cited au advertisement frotn the directors, rt questing the
shareholders to suspend all proceedings in the matter for
the present. It is, therefore, concluded that negotiations
are pending.
The directors of the Muichester, Midland, and Great
Grimsby have declared their intend m to wind up the
concern. It appears from an official statement that
31,220 shares were paid upon, producing 42,9271. 10s.,
being 11. 7s. paid per share. The directors state that they

intend to return 4s. 6d. per share, after all the liabilities
I are pH.
The London and York have just purchased the East
Lincolnshire, which extends from Boston to Great
Grimsby, where it joins the Great Grimsby and docks.
The terms are 6 per cent. on the capital to be expended,
with the option of taking London and York shares at
par. when that line is completed.
The certificates of the shares in the Birmingham and
Oxford Junction have been issued at Birmingham; and
to afford convenience to shareholders, they have been
supplied to the brokers in all the large towns.
The Eastern Counties and Great Northern, it is said,
are abot.t conjointly to erect two immense docks at
Wisbeach, in connexion with their lines there. One of
the docks will cover an area of thirteen acres.

The Southampton and Dorchester have applied to th•
Town Council of Poole to learn upon what terms they
will sell the quays.
The Great Western are to lease the Wilts, Somersct,
and Weymouth, and to make application to Parliament
fix powers to extend the line. In the event of the
powers being obtained an alteration will be made in the
course of the railway between Pilcombe, near Bruton,
and Rodden, near Frome. Alterations will also be mado
near Bradford in the course of the branch to Bathampton.
The South Devon are reported as being about to lease
the Ashburton and Newton. The terms are stated to be
five per cent.