The Sun.
London, England, 1845-08-30 00:00:00

ISLE OF WIGHT.

VENTNOR, FRlDAY.—Pursuant to announcement, a meet-
ing of the owners and rate-payers of Ventnor and its neigh-
bourhood, including Shanklin, Bonchurch, St. Lawrence, and
Niton, was held at the St. Boniface Hotel, yesterday, for the
purpose of expressing the sentiments of the inhabitants on the
subject of the contemplated railway.
On the motion of Mr. COLE, seconded by Mr. LA NKESTER,
Sir Raymond Jarvis was called to the chair.
The CHAIRMAN, in opening the business, said, in consent-
ing to become a provisional director of the proposed line, it was
with the expectation that it was likely to benefit the island, as
he felt great interest in its prosperity. They should leave
everything having reference to an illustrious party in the
island out of the question; and if any strong objection were
made in that quarter, lie thought such an expression would
certainly be deemed by them entitled to respect. The pro-
jectors of the Southampton and Manchester Railway were the
promoters of this line. He had heard no good arguments ad-
duced to show that a railway would prove injurious. It had
been said that the place would be overrun, that it would
be demoralised, and that a railway would drive away
the gentry. Now, instead of railways driving away
people, every town was desirous of getting a railway
as near to it as possible. Such objections had been urged
when the railway was making at Southampton ; but he
lived in a retired spot in the vicinity, and only one dis-
turbance had taken place during the time of its formation.
The parish in which he lived was decidedly improved by the
railway. So far from having a demoralising influence on the
people, he thought railways promoted civilization, and tended
much to tranquillise the country. It had been said that it
wanted nothing to tranquillise Ireland but railways, and he
concurred in that opinion. He thought that in affording in-
creased facilities for enabling the artisan to see the beauties of
nature they were doing that which was calculated to make them
better men. And did they not require improvement in the
island ? Without making any invidious observations, or reflect-
ing on any parties, he would ask, are the Ventnor roads in a
proper state? Could they travel more than five miles an hour
on them ? Why, the fact was, that invalids who came there
were quite knocked up in their journey from Ryde or Cowes to
Ventnor. Then, in reference to the numbers who would flock
to the place, he would ask, why should the artisan be denied
the privilege of seeing the country as well as the man who has
honour and wealth attached to his name ?—(Cheers.) It has
been said that it was not the people of the island, but
strangers, who had projected the railway. Who carried
out the Southampton Railway ? Not the people of that
place ; they went to London and to Manchester,
and there they found as much money as they
wanted. Mr. Chaplain held more shares than
all the county of Southampton put together.
These gentlemen offered to bring money among the people of
the island; and was it possible they could have three or
four hundred thousand pounds put in circulation without being
benefited thereby ? He had no doubt of the success of a rail.
way, and should be happy to have as many shares as the com-
pany would let him have. The advantages to be derived from
its introduction in the direct communication it would afford
with Southampton were very great ; they would then be able
to go to London and back in the same day. It had been said
that a railway would destroy the beauties of the island, but this
was before it was known what route the line would take. It
was to come west of Cowes, through Newport, and thence to
Ventnor, and would not interfere wish or do injury to any pro-
perty. So far from its doing injury to property, a railway
would benefit it. He knew that land through which the
Southampton Railway passed, originally not worth 2s. an
acre, now let for 20s. They would likewise be able to obtain
the necessaries of life with greater facility than they do now,
and see 100 persons in the island for every one they saw at
present. The company will also employ the population as far
as it is possible to do so in the construction of the line. Ships
from foreign parts, desirous of landing their bags and forward-
ing them to London, will, by the facilities the proposed line will
afford, save several hours. It only required union and perse-
verance to get the measure passed through the Legislature. The
Honourable Baronet concluded a long address by reading a quo-
tation from Lord Morpeth's speech at the opening of the York
and Scarborough line, on the advantages arising from railways.
A resolution in favour of the line, proposed by Mr. HART
LEY, and seconded by Mr. W. WESTWOOD, was then carried
unanimously.
Mr. CurirELL stated that peo ;le who were at first opposed
to the line now began to regard it favourably. It would save
the island Ss. a ton in coals.

Mr. LANXESTER prefaced the next resolution in a speech of
some length expressive of satisfaction at the intimation of the
Directors that they would employ Isle of Wight labour in the
construction of the line.

The CHAIRMAN stated that letters had been received from
Messrs. T. G. Anderson, Mr. A. Bigwnod, Mr. G. Cham-
bers, Dr. Greenhead, Mr. Fidler, and Mr. Goulding, owners
of ,:onsiderable property in Ventnor, declaring their assent to
the line.

A petiti in, on the motion of Mr. T. B.Roemsoiv, seconded
by Mr. MITCHELL, was again to be presented to the Huse by
the Members for Hants and the Isle of Wight.
Thanks, on the motion of Captain HADFIELD, seconded by
Mr. F. JONES, were given to the promoters of the lme.