The Sun.
London, England, 1844-01-01 00:00:00

SOUTH-WESTERN RAILWAY.

On Saturday, a special general meeting of the Pro-
prietors in this Company was held at the Nine Elms
station, Vauxhall, Mr. William Chapman, Chairman of
the Board of Directors, presiding, to take into considera-
..

tion the propriety of extending the line to Salisbury,
Newbury, and Epsom. There was a numerous attend-
ance of Proprietors, amongst whom were Mr. Chute,
M.P., Mr. Trewart, M.P., and several gentlemen attend.
ing as a deputation from Salisbury.
Mr. MORPAN, the Secretary, read the Directors' he-
port, from 'which it appeared that Mr. Locke, the en-
gineer, had completed the survey of the proposed line to
Epsom, and which, by the construction from the parent
line of five miles of railway, touching at Ewell, would
bring Epsom within fourteen miles of Vauxhall,
the cost of the line being estimated at 51,000/.
and the traffic at 5,4121. per annum, of which a
largo amount would be derived from carrying visitors to
-the races. The proposed Salisbury Railway, from the
Bishopstoko station, by Romsey, somewhat under 22
miles, might be completed for 2301., having the advan-
tage of forming a good communication between the ports
of Portsmouth and Southampton. The total estimated
revenue to be derived from traffic would be 25,0001, of
which 14,0001. would accrue from passengers, so that,
allowing 40 per cent. for the working expenses, there
would be' 7 per cent.' profit on the investment. 'The
Directors did not propose the construction by themselves
of the proposed railway to Newbury, but proposed to
accept a lease of it in perpetuity, at a rental of .3i
per cent. The length of the branch would be about
16 miles, and could be ,constructed for 200,0001., the
traffic being sufficient, and more so, than to replace at
least 7,000/. a-year. The Directors further proposed,
on account of the accession of traffic, to increase the
public accommodation at the Nine Elms station, either
by removing the booking-offices, &c., to a new site next
the Wandsworth-road,-or by transferring thither a por-
tion of the goods trade. The Directors proposed that
the requisite capital for these branch lines, the New-
bury excepted, should be raised amongst the Proprietors,
and concluded their Report by suggesting that they be
empowered by the Proprietors in the next session to
apply for an Act of Parliament, authorising the con-
version of the share capital of the Company into stock.
The CHAIRMAN addressed the meeting at considerable
length on the topics contained in the Report, represent-
ing the great 'advantages that would accrue to the
parent line by the construction of these tributary rail-
ways, in 'addition to the traffic which it at present de-
-riied• from its being one of the great arteries of commu-
nication by means. of Portsmonth and Southampton,
with India and China, from its, connexion with
.the shipping at Portsmouth and the' military
station at Gosport, and the . general traffic of
the south-western parts of England. The New-
bury branch had the support of Lord Carnarvon, Lord
Craven, and Lord Bolton, and the' support of his Grace
the Duke of Wellington. A branch to Guildford was
also under consideration.

A long and animated discussion followed, in which
Mr. Chute, Mr. Thwart, Mr. 'rite, Mr. Gilbert, and
others took part. Ultimately resolutions embodying
the propositions contained in the Directors' report were
passed unanimously, and the meeting separated.

THE NELSON MONUMENT.—For some days work-
men have been employed on a new scaffolding around the
statue, the architect having found, as every passer-by
had found long since, that from some defect, either in the
position or structure of the statue, it had a most awkward
appearance. The deformity, it is said, is caused bythat
part of the base representing a cable, which completely
hides the legs, and orders have been given to diminish
its proportion. We are not inclined to find fault with
Mr. Railton, who has erected a very beautiful pillar, the
only Corinthian pillar of such a height in the world ;
but we have often wished, on viewing the statue from
Whitehall, that it might be speedily dashel to the
ground by a hurricane. It is a disgrace to the arts in
the present day, and, we fear, cannot be mended.
DRURY-LANE THEATRE.—The unprecedented at-
traction of the Bohemian Girl, and the new Pantomime,
has filled the theatre nightly ; and, amongst others, we
haVe noticed :—His Royal Highness the Duke of Cam-
bridge, Duke of Devonshire, Earl of Chesterfiehl,• Earl
of Cardigan, Earl of Wilton, Baron and Baroness Brun-
now, Earl and Countess of Harrington, Marchioness of
Conyngliam, Countess of Westmoreland, Count Nessel-
rode ; Ladies Fitzroy Somerset, Strathaven, Jersey,
Dungannon, Graham, Strafford, Mary Berkeley, Towns-
end: Villiers, Seymour, Mary Ross, Sheffield ; Lords
Castlereagh, novo-, Ossulston, W. Beresford, Clifton,
H. Russell, Seymour, De Manley ; Baron Ktiescbeck ;
General Sir De Lacy Evans, Sir Frederick Trench,
Bart. ; Sir Henry Hunloke, Bart.; Sir Henry Webbe,
Bart.; Hon. Cecil Forester ; Hon. Mr. Greville ; Hon.
Mr. Anson, Hon. Miss Tollemache.

METROPOLITAN IMPROVEMENTS.-011 Friday, in
consequence of orders from the Commissioners of Woods
and Forests, the occupiers of the several houses facing
Great St. Andrew's-street, Seven-dials, removed their
goods and furniture, preparatory to their belly, taken,
down for the improvements in that neighbourhood, for
which purpose they will be sold in a few days. When
removed, there will be a direct line from Upper St.
Martin's-lane, into Broad-street, St. Giles's, •Izich will
make a very spacious street. The houses which formed
Middle-row, 'Holborn, have been demolished for the
same object. Several houses in Plumptre-street, nearly
opposite to Great St. Andrew's-street, have been pur-
chased by the Commissioners, and will be pulled down
as soon as possible, in order to form the line from Ox-
ford-street to Holborn. Many houses in this line, dur-
ing the last few weeks, have been cleared away.