The Sun.
London, England, 1848-12-19 00:00:00

Waterloo-road, yesterday, to take into cansideration a
projected alteration in the fares of the company.
Mr. GIFFARD, having been called to the chair, said
that he supposed every gentleman was acquainted with
the objects for which they were called together, which
was to consider the effect of a projected alteration in the
fares. The company had lately announced their inten-
tion of issuing season tickets at the rate of 21. 10s. per
mile—which was certainly some boon to first-class pas-
sengers, bat no corresponding boon was offered to second-
class passengers—indeed, on the contrary. it was re-
ported that the company were about to raise the price of
the return, or day tickets. On other lines issuing season
or annual tickets, the general prices charged were
11. 10s. per mile fer first-class passengers, and 11. for
second-class; but here, in addition to the price per mile
being so much higher than the average, it was proposed
so
to alter the price of the return tickets that, instead of
an al:owance of one-thira being made, there would be
only an ..a,wance of one-sixth, so that those who at
6d. 6:Ye would have to pay 2s. 11d. or 3s.
present paid
taking into account the casual-
Mr. Guy argil:4 that,
ties attending humit':‘
tile, the amount proposed to be
too high ; and that the
charged f'or annual ticke:q Was
contemplated alteration in
tie etlurn tickets was unjus-
tifiable, and injurious to the Owile:s (.21.f property along
the line. It had been stated that on the tine being opened
to Waterloo-bridge, no additional char:e.wao to be made;
but the fares had been twice increased SOne tQt event
took place, without any corresponding advaMage as.'cru-
ing to the travellers, and it was now proposed to snake ,E+
further increase in the rates. He was confident that they
must make a stand against these repeated alterations ;
they would not only obtain no redress, but have no secu-
rity that the company would not further inerem:e their
fares. The speaker then urged upon the gentlemen presents
whenever possible, to patronise any other mode of trsteefic.
open to them, and stated that already a new omnibus has
been started from Kingston, which, with those previously
on the road, were crowded daily. He begged to move so
resolution to the effect, that the South-Western Rail-
company, after obtaining
. the support of the public
way
and causing capital to be laid out on suburban property,
had unnecessarily raised
the established fares on the line
beyond an average ant. ount of what
was considered fair,
which alteration must prove injurious to the shareholders,
the public, and the holders of property on the line. He
had formerly been a large sharz3holder in the railway,
but had sold out on the fares being i's,lsed, and he would
not be a proprietor again until they n placed
he considered a fair footing. on what
Mr. HALLKTT seconded the resolution, saich *As
carried unanimously.
A series of resolutions were then carried, to the effect.
that 30s. per mile for first, and 20s. per mile for second
class was a fair average charge for season tickets ; and
as the South- Western Company charged v much more
they ought not to interfere with the second-class day
tickets ; that the meeting pledged themselves to promote
every other means of travelling where practicable if the
directors would not consent to more reasonable charges;
and that Messrs. Mallison, Giffard, Devonshire, Lee,
and Guy, be appointed a committoe to communicate
with them on the subject. The meeting concluded by
passing a vote of thanks to the chairman.
MANCHESTER, SHEFFIELD, AND LINCOLNSHIRE.—
WICKER VlADucT.—The last stone of the last arch of
this magnificent work was laid on Tuesday last by Dr.
Bartolome, one of the directors, in the presence of
Thomas Blake, Esq., another director, and o f Messrs.
William Wilson, the resideet engineer, R. Gainsford and
H. Elude, solicitors, T. D. Jeffcock and W. Fowler,
land agents to the company, Mr. Shortridge, the con-
tractor, and some other gentlemen connected with the
engineers' department. The centre key-stone of the
great or centre arch, weighing upwards of a ten, wag
lowered from the crab, and permanently fix& in lts
place by Dr. Bartolome, one of the original prommers of
the Sheffield and Lincolnshire Junction Railway, of
which the Wicker Viaduct is the commencement. W
understand that this splendid viaduct contains more cubicr
yards of masonry than any other work in this country,.
our largest cathedrals and even the new Houses of Par-
liament not excepted. We belive that the first engine
will pass over the viaduct this day.—Shetfield Timer.
GUILDFORD TO GODALMING BRANCH OF THE SOUTIV.
WESTERN RAILWAY.—The inhabitants of these two.
towns are greatly disappointed at the workmen being
withdrawn from this four-mile branch line for the pre-
sent, as it is only sixteen days .since those living in and
around Godalming had a public Meeting to congratulate
themselves, and thank the directors for going on with the
same, when the works were put a stop to in many other
places; now they are doomed to suffer a similar delay
and disappointment, yet it is hoped the progress of these
works will not be impeded beyond February next, such
having been announced by those well acquainted with
the proceedings of this company.
KNIGHTON.—In consequence of the recent opening of
the line of railway from Shrewsbury to Ruabon and
Chester, oonsiderable quantities of good coal find their
way from thez.ce even into this valley. The advantage
of a line of railway from Shrewsbury to Ludlow and
Hereford, can scarcely be estimated.—Hereford Times.
EASTBOURNE.—The rails were laid down and com-
pleted on the site of the intended terminus, and on
Wednesday last, the 13th, the ballast engine, No. 102,
came in with colours flying. A temporary station will
shortly be erected, but the transmission of passengers
will not take place till early in the spring. The Hail-
sham branch is proceeding rapidly, the rails now being
laid three quarters of a mile from Polegate towards that
town,—Sussex Express.
DUNDALK AND ENNISKILLEN.—A trial trip was made
on that portion of the above railway between Dundalk
and Castiehlayney on Wednesday last. We believe that
those present were perfectly satisfied with the manner in
which the work had been completed. This railway will
be ready for opening about the same time as the Dublin
and Belfast Juuction.—Newry Examiner.

PATENT IMPROVEMENT IN

STEAM-ENGINES.

The Warkworth Harbour Commissioners (consisting
of the lion. Capt. Frederick Grey, R.N., John Forster,
Esq., Richard Robson, &c.), and Edward Western,
Thomas Brown, George Remington, and Juhn Reming-
ton, Ezcp., &c., having recently met at Amble, pro-
ceeded to inspect the working of a new ten-horse engine,
recently erected at the harbour for the purpose of dis-
charging ballast. The engine (says a correspondent)
is upon a new construction, and involves a principle in
mechanical engineering never before attained ; for
although it does not come under the class of rotatory
steam• engines, there is no crank, no piston rod, and
consequently no connecting rod. We quote the descrip-
tion given in the Mechanics' Magazise of Saturday:—
'° These improvements consist, first, in converting re-
ciprocating rectilineal motion into rotatory motion ;
secondly, in converting rotatory motion into recipro-
cating motion ; and, thirdly, in a mechanical arrange-
ment tor reversing the action of engines. Upon the
revolving shaft is fixed, at right angles, a lever ; to the
end of wich, and ou the sides, are attacked two small
blocks. On the sides of the lever which carries the blocks
are two metal plates, each containing two slots, 000 hori-
zontal, the other vertical, and intersecting each othCr at
right angles to the centre of the plates. The revolvin,
shaft passes through the vertical slot, so that the plates
may travel freely up and down over it. The blocks,
which are somewhat longer than the breadth of the ver-
tical slot, is placed in the horisontal slot; and supposing
the lever to be upright, slightly deviating from the per-
pendicular, which is parallel to the vertical slot, and that
a downward motion is communicated from a steam engine
to the plates to the full extent of the vertical slot, the
result will be, that the blocks will travel from the centre
to the end of the horizontal slot; thus the the lever will
assume a position the reverse of the one in which it was
first placed; and thus the main shaft will have made one
half of an entire revolution. The dead centre is then
overcome by a fly-wheel, or, in the usual way, by two fly-
wheels, and an upward motion given to the plates.
whereby the revolution of the main shaft is completed,
and the lever brought back to the first position, ready
for the second operation." The engine erected at Wark-
, worth Harbour has but one cylinder, which is placed
11 horizontally, the main working shaft passing through
the transverse axis, and through the slot or opening in
the plates, as above described. In this case the plates
are inside the cylinder, and to each end is attached
piston, with metal packing, so as to fit and work in the
cylinder steam tight; and the steam is alternately ad-
mitted
motionbetweento
the
th
e pistons
plate
o t
whichhe
of
aretha
attached,
and consequently rotatory motion to the shaft. The cyl-
inder is 18 inches in diameter; the lever 6 inches in
length from the centre of the main shaft to the centre of
the spindle which carries the blocks; and the stroke of
the piston is 12 inches. The entire length of the engine
exclusive of the fly-wheel, is 4ft. 2in. and the breadth
3ft., so that the whole occupies but little space compared
to the engines at present in use. Although this was the
first engine ever erected on this new principle, the trial
was most successful, realizing the full expectation of the
patentee (G. Remington, Esq., C.E., of Warkworth),
and gratifying all who have witnessed its performance.
The principle upon which it is constructed is well adapted
for all purposes; and where saving of space and weight
of machinery are important, as in steamboats, it cannot
fail to come into general use. It is also well adapted to
give action to the shaft of the screw propeller, without
the intervention of pinion and other gear—an object
much to be desired. It is also well adapted for locomo-
tive engines, as the crank is entirely dispensed with.
Indeed the invention puts the steam engine in its sim-
plest and most useful form; and there will be consider-
able reduction in the first cost, having fewer working
parts of maintenance. It exhibits the simplest mode of
converting rectilineal reciprocating motion into rotatory
motion yet attained.—Gateshead Observer.

AN INDIAN PRINCESS ABOUT TO VISIT QUERN
VICTORIA.—There are in New York two interesting
young Indian girls, one of the Mohigan tribe, about
twelve years of age, and the other a beautiful maiden
of seventeen, a Princess of the Chippewa tribe, with jet
black hair, three feet long, who has arrived here with a
view of visiting England to pay her respects to Queen
Victoria, whom she appears fully resolved to see before'
she returns to her native place.—Ncie York Paper.
The Bishop of London, it is stated, has just had a
case of some importance referred to him. It is alleged
that a clergyman who officiates at a fashionable church
in London, long remarkable for its forms and cere-
monies, advised one of his congregation who was about
to travel to communicate with the church of Rome whilst
absent from England. This advice has been submitted
to the bishop as highly reprehensible, and the decision
of the diocesan is looked for with great interest by the
Rev. Gentleman's congregation.
It was one of the laws of Lycurgus that no portions
should be given with young women in marriage. When
this great lawgiver was called upon to justify this en-
actment, he observed " That, in the choice of a wife,
merit only should be considered, and that the law wai:
msde to prevent young women being chosen for their
riches, or neglected for their poverty."