The Sun.
London, England, 1846-09-30 00:00:00

THE GRAVESEND AND ROCHESTER RAILWAY.—At
length the long-expected transfer of this line has been
made, and on Sunday the South-Eastern Railway Com-
pany entered on their newly-acquired possession. For
some days past surveyors have been taking sections of
the line with the view to its future enlargement, the
works on which will be commenced so soon as the season
is a little more advanced, the extraordinary protraction
of fine weather at present rendering this line still one of
considerable traffic.
PARISH OF ST. MARTIN IN THE FIELDS.—
PUBLIC BATHS AND WASHHOUSES.-011 Monday a
vestry of the parishioners of St. Martin in the Fields
was held, for the purpose of choosing commissioners to
superintend the erection and management of baths and
washhouses in the parish, in conformity with the reso-
lution for their establishment, agreed to at a previous
vestry meeting a few days ago. The Rev. Sir Henry
Dukenfield, Bart., the vicar, having ex officio taken the
chair, stated that he had that day received a letter from
Sir G. Grey, at the Home-office, communicating his ap-
proval of their proceedings at the last vestry. An
earlier answer would have been forwarded, but it was
necessary to see whether any objections would be offered.
They were now met to elect commissioners, seven of
whom were allowed by the Act. He did not know
whether they would appoint the full number, but he
trusted that they would be as unanimous as they were
on the last occrsion. Mr. Staunton proposed that there
should be seven commissioners, which being seconded
and agreed to, Mr. Wilson inquired in what way they
were to be elected? The Reverend Chairman stated that
the Act was constructed as nearly as possible to give
parishioners the same power that they already possessed
in their vestries. The commissioners would be chosen
in the same way as the parochial officers were. The
seven commissioners having been named, the Reverend
Chairman assured the vestry that the most prompt mea-
sures would be adopted to carry out the proposition, and
that they had the support of the Poor-law Commis-
sioners. They had no site at present, but when one was
purchased, the building should be erected and con-
structed upon the improved principles of the Baths and
Washhouses in Gulston-square and St. Pancras.
STEAM POWER ox THE SHANNON.—There are at
present on the Lower Shannon, the Tribune and Water-
witch, screw steamers, trading between Limerick and
London ; Garryowen and Dover Castle, paddle steamers,
between Limerick and Kilrush ; Stromboli, steam-
frigate, at Tarbet ; Dee, steam-frigate, at Foynes—both
discharging provisions for the Commissariat ; Alban;
steam-sloop, and Pluto, steam-sloop, transhipping these
supplies to the quays of Limerick. On the Upper Shan-
non navigation, belonging to the enterprising City of Dub-
lin Company, for the conveyance of passengers and
merchandise, are no less than seven steamers, viz.—Lady
Burgoyne, Lansdowne, Clanricarde, Avonmore, Gazelle,
Dunalley, and Wellesley. Total of steam-ships, 15. In
addition to this fleet of steam craft, the Limerick Ship-
ping Company have twelve sail of superior fast-sailing
schooners, trading direct to and from Limerick sad Lon-
don, twice a-week, viz.—Alarm, Arbutus, Elizabeth,
Belle, Harriet, Ann, Hebe, Eleanor, Undine, Limerick
',sss, Souvenir, and Maria. 'This is entirely inde-
pendent of the vessels belonging to the port of Limerick,
the coasters and foreign traders, which are very nu-
merous.