The Sun.
London, England, 1858-08-31 00:00:00

THE CAHER PEERAGE.

Mr. Francis O'Ryan, son to the late Mr. Francis O'Ryan
!Of Cashel, and grandson to Mr. Andrew O'Ryan of Bansha
'Castle, has, it is said, arrived from Melbourne to establish
his,ciaba ta.the barony of CahK, being the next of kin to
!the late-Right Hon. Richard Butler, Earl of Glengall.

RAIL W AY INTELLIGENCE.

EAST KENT.

The eleventh half-yearly general meeting of proprietors
was held yesterday, at the offices of the company—the Right
Hon. the Lord Mayor in the chair.
The SECRETARY having read the report, a copy of which
has already appeared in these columns,
The CHAIRMAN, in moving its adoption, said he regretted
the absence of Lord Sondes and the deputy chairman (Mr.
C. M. Lushington), because the duty of presiding had de-
volved upon him (the Lord Mayor) at a time when, in
consequence of Ms devotion to other matters, he was not in a
position to present to the shareholders a full exposition of
their affairs. But he was happy to say that the gentleman
who would second the adoption of the report would in some
measure compensate for the absence of their deputy chairman
by affording such an explanation of the matters referred to
in the report as would no doubt be satisfactory to the pro-
prietors. The report they had heard read was probably mare
important in its matter than any which the directors had had
the pleasure of submitting at a general meeting, and con-
tained an account of nearly all that had transpired up to the
present time. He congratulated the shareholders on the
termination of their Parliamentary contests,which had neces-
sarily been very costly affairs. Indeed, whoever derived ad-
vantage during the continuance of such contests, unfortunate
proprietors generally suffered materially. The conduct of
the South-Eastern towards the East Kent Company showed
how essentially important it was to the well-doing of the
latter company that they should secure an independent posi-
tion. He could not believe that that conduct had been or
could be approved of by the shareholders of the South-Eastern
Company. The East Kent had been driven to very enormous
expense in fighting for what they believed to be a right; and
the South-Eastern had incurred a large outlay in defending
evlaat they must, in common sense, have known was a wrong.
When Parliament granted the line from Strood to Dover it
was qsite clear they would not be so unjust as to refuse the
small portion of a line which would extend the route and
give a through and one traffic from Buckingham Palace
to Dover. Therefore, if the SoutlmEastern were sensible
people, they must have felt that, however hard they might
fight, in the end they must be unsuccessful. (Cheers.) The
public were not satisfied, either with the mode of traffic or
the rate of fares on the South-Eastern line ; he was sure,
therefore, that the present position of the East Kent was
matter for congratulation on the part of the public as well
as that company, for in a comparatively short time travellers
would have the satisfaction of availing themselves of the
direct and independent line from Pimlico to Dover. No
company had ever combatted such difficulties and overcome
them as had opposed the coutse of the East Kent, and he
felt assured that but for the indomitable courage, untiring
application, and determination of the directors, those diffi-
modes never would have been surmounted. But, notwith-
standing the violent opposition of the South- Eastern, suc-
cess had attended the efforts of the East Kent, and he hoped
that in two years time they would witness the celebration at
THE OPEN-AIR DEMONSTRATION.
e ftr e e rtsh.e)
adoption of.
Dover of a grand gala to commemorate the opening of the
The subsequent revelry of the f 0 gods" was novel beyond throughlr. lliLnTeotNo tstfeecoVinredetd-
enthde motion
"(Loud
conception. In describing this part of the demonstration,
Saunders' says :—" The general audience, upon quitting the report. He regretted the non-attendance of the deputy
the house, were surprised to find Hawkins-street in posses- chairman, in whose absence the duty of explaining the various
sion of an enormous crowd, blocking up not merely the foot- matters to which t'm attention of the shareholders had to be
ways, but swarming on the lamp-posts and on every projec- directed devolved upon him (Mr. Hilton). The report was
Lion which afforded a point of advantage for the ardent and of a highly satisfactory character. After three severe and
enthusiastic votaries of Mettle. Piccolomini. In the centre very expensive contests they had succeeded in persuading
of this assembly were two vehicles—one the carriage in- both Houses of Parliament .to grant the extension bill, au-
tended for the conveyance of the fair cantatrice herself, and thorising this company to construct' a line from Strood to
the other a showy drag, filled, in the ordinary acceptation St. Mary Cray. Several daily newspapers, and a journal
of the term, with a corps of instrumentalists, but containing devoted to railway matters, had remarked upon what they
besides an additional freight of ' the heavenly bodies,' called the " cruel injustice" towards the South-Eastern
whose superhuman powers were fully exemplified by the Company ofsanctioning that opposition measure. He denied
manner in which they contrived to cling to and sustain that the East Kent was a competing line. He did not know
themselves upon the conveyance when in motion. Accord- what it might become, but it seemed to have been forgotten
ing to established precedent, the horses under Mdile. Picco- that the East Kent line was a portion of the Kentish scheme
lomini's carriage had already disappeared, and ire lieu which must be fully carried out before that scheme could be
thereof willing Ariels and Tritons substituted themselves by said to he complete. The South-Eastern would not carry out
the dozen; so that when, after a considerable delay, this the scheme themselves, and dog-in-the-manger-like, refused
charming vocalist made her appearaace at the stage-door, to let any other body do so. The object was not to establish a
nothing remained but to pour forth a-1110(.11)g shout, and competing line, but that East Kent should be afforded pro-
to move forward with a long pull, a strong pull, and a per railway accommodation. In order to attain that object,
pull all altogether.' The line of route wits densely thronged, fiuding it impossible to do so by any other arrangements,
and the cheering was proportionally loud; but upon passing it became their duty to seek for Parliamentary powers
over the bridge and reaching Lower Sackvilleestreet, by which they might render themselves altogether inde-
irregMar volleys of rockets commenced to shoot up pendent of the South-Eastern Company. Parliament saw
into C;e air, which notified to those at the Gresham very clearly that, great as the interest's of that company
Hotel, who were becoming uneasy at the delay, that might be, the interests of Me public were more important,
the triumphal procession was steadily approaching. The and that when both were at stake the first must give way.
scene, as viewed from this point, was unusual and highly And surely the South-Eastern people were not reasonable in
effective. First, the bursting of rockets, and the glare of red expecting that the public would long remain content to go
and blue lights compelled attention, and in a few seconds from 20 to 30 miles out of their way when it was proposed
afterwards other lights, which proved' to be torches in the to open up a more direct route. The South-Eastern Corn-
hands of breathless avant-couriers, dashed through the crowd pany must thank themselves for the present position of
at full speed. Next there was a confused rumble, a rush, and affairs. Important as was the Western extension in itself,
a deep red glare like that of fire-engines, mingling as it ap the importance was increased by the success which had
froached with strains of music, which at length developed attended the Victoria Station and Pimlico Railway Bill,
, hemselves into airs from " Traviata." Then followed more by means of which not only a Wert-end traffic would be se-
red light and the waving of flags, and ultimately the vehicles cured, but a considerable continental traffic. The honour-
with their interesting freight drew up at the private entrance able director went through the report, commenting upon the
to the hotel. There was time enough to observe all this dis- various matters therein set forth, and congratulating the
tinctly, as the steeds, however willing, were hardly as pow- shareholders upon the arrangements entered into with the
erful as those with which our ordinary ideas of locomotion Cray and the West-end and Crystal Palace Companies, with
are associated, aod the dense crowd likewise operated as regard to the making of the two miles of line between
an effectual check to any very rapid advance. Arrived Hickley and St. Mary's Cray; the doubling of the at pre-
at their destination, the great difficulty still remained to sent single line between Bromley and Hickley; the tolls to
be surmounted—how was La Piccolomini to be got out be paid for running ever the lines of those companies; the
of the carriage, surrounded as it was by a crowd of from agreement entered into with the Victoria Station and Pito-
-2,000 to 3,000 persons, all eagerly pressing forward to ob- lico Company ; and the insertion in the act of that company
tabs a view of her features? To have remained where she of a clause by which matters of dispute between the corn-
was would have been a position even less desirable, as at Panies are to be determined by the Board of Trade, or by
least either eight or a dozen persons had mounted upon the an arbitrator appointed by the board, and by which " the
roof of the vehicle, at the imminent hazard of breaking it in, agreement shall be subject also to revision, whether ten:n-
and were endeavouring to give adequate expression to their porary or permanent, with reference to the rate of
,payment
sentiments by waving gigantic flags and igniting squibs .ter passenger to be made by the East Kent Railway Com-
and coloured fires. Thus, in the centre of her self-elected pany, in any event in which it shall appear to the Board
body-guard, and surrounded by those who, in the words of of Trade that circumstances have arisen with reference to
a bystander, would have brained any one that said a cross the traffic carried by the East Kent Railway Company
word to her,' the position of the eminent artiste was for a which make such rate of payment unreasonable as regards
short time anything but agreeable, or even secure. The such last-named company, and the terms and extent of such
gods,' however, again proved propitious, and after some little revision, if not agreed between the respective companies,
struggling Mdlle. Piccolomini found herself fairly carried shall be determined by an arbitr- , •to be appointed by the
through the throng and deposited within the hotel. In an said Board of Trade." The report stated that the Western
incredibly short time afterwards she made her appearance Extension line would be ready for opening by the Ist of Octo-
with Signor Giuglini upon one of the balconies, and joyfully bar, 1860. He ( Hilton) was eanguiee enough to hope
waved her handkerchief for some minutes in response to the that the line would be finished long before the time men-
cordial applause with which she was greeted. At first the tioned in the report. Referring to the passage with refe-
cheering and general uproar were too deafening to admit of rence to the policy of the South-Eastern Company, Mr.
any other expression being heard than Carl popoli' (dear Hilton said lie was not unreasonable enough to expect that
people), which she repeated several times with great epee- that company would promote the traffic of the East
rent fervour and animation of gesture ; but ultimately it was Kent line, but he slid expect that the opposition would be
perceived that she desired to speak, and the tumult became so far a fair and honourable opposition that the South-
comparatively hushed. Speaking clearly and distinctly, but Eastern would not go out of their way to injure the
slowly, and with apparently much difficulty in finding words East Kent, sacrificing even their own personal interest
to express her ideas, she was heard to say—' My dear Irish to gratify their feeling of revenge towards this company.
friends, I cannot speak English much, but I will try to thank H e was surprised to find that they had condescended to
you. (Applause.) You have been very good to me—more subject passengers by the East Kent to every possible in-
than I deserve. (Cries Of " No, no." and loud cheering.) I convenience, detaining them at the stations, in consequence
am very sorry to leave you—(a perfect storm of vocal and of some little misunderstanding about the tickets; nor did
pyrotechnic effert here ensued)—but I will hope to see you he expect of a company like the South-Eastern, when a
soon again.' (Tremendous cheering.) Madlle. Piccolomini notice was given by titans to the East Kent of an alteration
remained for some time longer at the window, and in the existing traffic arrangements, and the East Kent
gave rise to renewed bursts of applause by adding to what wrote to them requesting them to postpone the matter until
she had already said the words Erin-ge-hragh,' and by the Board of Trade had decided what was right, that the
exhibiting the tokens of regard and admiration that had South-Eastern Con-maim emuld treat the East Kent with
been that night presented to her at the theatre, and signify- so marked a want of courtesy as not raven to answer the
fug by her gestures how much she valued them. She like- communication. He was es little prepared for the course
wise appeared to be extremely a.rateful for the kind inters- that had been taken, with reference to the inhabitants of
H
uns towards her that had led to this distinguished and rare Stroud, Chatham, and licelletter, obliging them to, pay
mark of public favour, and entered fully into the spirit of an extra shilling to get to London. obliging
hon. director
the display. Her speech was interrupted at one point mentionid other instances et what he described as the
by a slight contretemps the result of which fottunately " revengeful practices " of the South-Eastern Com-
proved to he merely of a laughable character. The deities pany, and remarked that such Conduct was unworthy of
in the drag and upon the roof of the carriage had from time a great company like the SOUtk-P
--astern. That which
to time shone refulcently throughout the proceedings, and astonished him more than anythieg else wen, that, in order
were manifestly preparing same very gorgeous display to punish the East Kent, the South-latsteru Company, if
as an appropriate sequence to Piccolotnini's observe- the receipts continued at the rate of the let five weeks,
tions, when by an untoward accident some hand unfitted would be actually sacrificing £lO,OOO per annum of the
to wield the thunderbolt inadvertently set fire to the shareholders' money. He Mel not mike it possible that the
temporary magazine, the contents of which went bursting directors could have sanctioned such a policy, much less
and crackling in all directions. E'en gods themselves some- that the proprietors were aware of what was being done with
times become like men in yielding to circumstances which their property. With reference to a statement put forth in
they cannot conquer, and, leaping from their chariot, they the report of the S',...uth-Eastern directors as to the East Kent
might for a few seconds have been seen hastening to and fro scheme, which they stated proposed to eive accommodation
seeking to avoid both the fires which they had kindled and already afforded by the Smith-Eastern line, lie would like to
the hoofs of the hoists that had taken fright at the explosion. know whether the South-Eastern directors called that ac,
The occurrence, however, was at an end almost momentarily commodation to which the East Kent public were subjected
and afforded occasion for a hearty laugh to Mom piccolo. at Landon-bridge, and at every station down the line. .The
mini herself, as well as to the bystanders. As soon as she had South-Eastern report west on to state After a pro-
retired into the interior of the hotel Signor °Menne perceived tracted investigation the bill of this company was rejected
that lie was also expected to address the assembly, and ac- by the committee of the house of Common.;' and that of
cordingly exclaimed, Irishmen, I love you all very much. the East Kent was passed. The directors felt it to be their
(Roars of laughter and applause.) Good by; God bless you!' duty to continue their opposition to the East Kent bill in
He appeared to haveincreased difficulty in expressing him- the Lords, and also to endeavour to enter into an arrgnge-
,