The Sun.
London, England, 1844-10-22 00:00:00

This undertaking, comprising a distance of sixty miles in length,
has been entered upon as a further continuation of the lines already
made and contemplated on the southern coast. But previous to
any application to the public for support, the projectors called a
public meeting, which was, ix the month of May last, held at
Southampton, and consisted of the principal nobility, gentry, and
landholders of the county of Dorset and the south.western part of
the county of Hants . At this meeting a Committee of noblemen
and gentlemen of the greatest influence in both counties was no-
minated to inquire into the practicability of the undertaking, and
they appointed Captain W. S. Moorsom, civil engineer, to survey
the country between Southampton and Dorchester, to adopt the
best line, and to make an estimate of its cost ; and, under the powers
given hint, he appointed Mr. Pare to ascertain what traffic was
likely to support the line, if made.
At a subsequent meeting, held at Dorchester on the 19th July
last (which was one of the most numerous and influential meetings
ever held in the county of Dorset), the Committee appointed at
the former meeting made a report, from which the following is an
extract :

" YOur Committee report, that on this day (the 18th July) Cap-
tain Moorsom and Mr. Pare (who had been employed by Captain
Moorsom under the powers given him by us, in the last clause of
our instructions, for the purpose of accurately examining into the
traffic upon the proposed line), attended and presented their re-
ports. These reports have undergone a thorough examination by
us, and your Committee feel justified in laying them before you,
and reporting that they are perfectly accurate, and such as will
warrant your acting upon them.

" Your Committee having duly weighed the statements made to
them by Captain Moersom and Mr. Pare, consider themselves jus.
tified in reporting to you that there are unusual facilities for con-
structing a railway from Southampton to Dorchester, by way of
Redbridge, Brockenhurst, Burley, Ringwood, Wimborne, Ham.
worthy, and Wareham ; most convenient for the public in general,
as well as for the towns in its Weeny, and that the same can be
made for the sum of 450,0001., including all charges.
" We further report that the traffie upon the line is sufficient to
e a clear net profit of net less than 610. per cent. during the
first five years, which Mr. Pare has no doubt will be increased
subsequently.
" Your Committee therefore confidently recommended the
immediate formation of a Company for carrying out an object so
eminently desirable for the county of Dorset and southwestern
part of the county of Hants.
" The friendly assistance and expressions of good-will which
Captain Moorsom's surveyors have received in the course of taking
up the line, give evidence that a general support may be relied on,
as soon as the main features of the undertaking come to be fully
understood.

" It is Captain Moorsom's opinion that the line may be opened
in twelve months from the time when the possession of the land
shall have been obtained."

It was then unanimously resolved by the meeting that this Com-
pany should be formed with a capital of 450,000/., in shares of
501. each.

Since the above report of the Committee was made a fresh esti-
mate of the traffic has been rendered necessary by the additional
trade which will flow to it out of the lines projected by the Great
Western Railway, from Corsham and Taunton to Yeovil, and
thence to Dorchester and Weymouth, with a branch to Bridport.
These calculations have justified the Provisional Committee i■
order to provide bridges and land for a double line, in increasing
the capital to 600,0001.; upon which Mr. Pare estimates a net
return of not less than seven per cent.

The advantages of coast lines for Government purposes and for
the defence of the country, are too obvious to require comment,
and the evident inclination of Parliament shown in the past session,
to. Oronaotn a continuous line of railway along the coast, coupled
rates the -greailocill 'support already shown, and the careful exa-
Aiination into the estimate of expense and traffic prier to the forma-
tion of a Company, give to this line the greatest claim to the sup-
port of the public, as tending to insure both its stability and success.
A la arrangement, subject to the sanction of the Board of Trade,
has bees made for leasing this line to the Great Western Company,
that Company guaranteeing Sk per cent. upon the capital, and
agreeing to divide the net profits equally with the Shareholders in
this Company.
Arrangements are also in a state of great forwardness with emi-
nent contractors for the performance of the entire works, at such a
sum as to render certain the completion of the undertaking within
the amount and time specified.
It is intended to apply to Parliament for an Act in the next ses-
sion, and the usual clause limiting the liability of Shareholders to
the amount of their subscription will be inserted.
Applications for shares may be made in the subjoined form to
Yessrs. W. 0. and W. Hunt, solicitors, 10, Whitehall; to Messrs.
Laurence, Cazenove, and Co., Auction Mart, London ; to Messrs.
Edward and Charles Castleman, solicitors, Ringwood ; and to
Gilbert Stephens, Esq., )3, Northumberland-street, Charing.eross,
London ; Messrs. Henning and Andrews, Weymouth ; Messrs.
Stone and Symonds, Dorchester; Thomas Phippard, Esq., Ware-
ham ; Muth' K. Welch, Esq., Poole; William Royle, Esq. ; Ly.
mington ; and Messrs. Page and Moody, Southampton. Prospec-
tuses may be had of any of the above gentlemen, and also of Messrs.
Rowe, Kentish, and Ce., lt3, Change-alley, London.
N.B. No application for shares will be received after the 25th
day of October.