The Sun.
London, England, 1845-09-08 00:00:00

NORTH KENT.

DEAL, FRIDAY.—An important meeting of the inhabitants
of Deal, Walmer, and the surrounding districts, was held this
afternoon, at the Guildhall, to take into cons deration the pro-
jected independent line through North Kent, and for the
adoption of means for promoting the establishment of a direct
communication with London.
The Mayor ( C. Vimgomill, Esq.) entered the hall, accom-
padded by a deputation from the North Kent Company, con-
sisting of George Whitmore, Esq., Deputy Chairman of the
North Kent Company, Mr. J. D. Powle, Mr. Spagnolle, the
engineer, and Mr. Stephens, the solicitor.
The Major having taken the chair, on the understanding that
he should remain neuter,
Mr. KENDIOCK proposed the first resolution, to the effect
that a connexion between London and Deal, through the
northern and most populous parts of Kent, connecting the
naval and military establishments of the country with each
other, and also with the metropolis and the Downs, is of great
national and local importance; and that a direct and inde-
pendent line will be most conducive to the interests of the in-
habitants of North Kent and to the public service.
Mr. S. CunnlNG seconded the motion, which

Mr. PRITCHARD opposed, on the ground that the South-
Eastern Company would effect all that was desired by the
meeting ; they had brought a line down to Dover quite suffi-
cient for all the purposes of the county.—(Cries of " no, no,"
and hisses.) He moved, as an amendment, that the words
" seperate and independent" be cancelled from the resolution.
Mr. POWLES, at great length, defended the proposed North
Kent line.

The MAYOR then put the amendment, but no one, save the
proposer, held up his hand.
The original motion was then put, and carried by acclamation.
Mr. Vla NOLLES then described the course of the line. The
Committee of the House of Commons did not reject the North
Kent line on account of the engineering details not being of a
satisfactory character, but principally on account of its not run-
ning to Deal.—( Cheers. ) H was assured that if they had at
first come forward with a line of a large character, and connect-
ing that town with a direct line from the metropolis, that they
would have carried it in ihe last session.—(Cheers.) They
would now have an opportunity of increasing their capilal to
such a sum as would be sufficient to construct lines to Maid-
stone and to Dover, in addition to contributing their quota to-
wards the construction of the central terminus.
Major Errata airs represented the opposition towards the
South-Eastern Company, and considered that that company
had at first proposed to give accommodation to Deal.
Mr. HUGHES proposed a resolution to the effect that the line
laid down by Mr. Vignollee, called the North Kent line, will
afford to the north of Kent, and to this locality generally, the
most direct and most advantageous line to the metropolis.
Mr. KNECYEIC entered at considerable length into the merits
of the North Kent line, and cited the case of Mr. 13onham, to
show that the present management of the South-Eastern Com-
pany was most defective and corrupt, and strongly called upon
the meeting not to trust themselves in their hands, but to con-
struct an independent line to London.
Mr. BURNA ND seconded the motion.
Mr. EDMUND TnompsoN moved an amendment, to the
effect that any decision would be premature.
The Mal-ox then put the amendment, which was lost,
there being only nine hands held up in favour of it. The
original motion was then put, and carried unanimously.

SHREWSBURY, WOLVERHAMPTON, AND SOUTH
STAFFORDSHIRE JUNCTION.
WOLVERHAMPTON, FRIDAY EVENING.—This afternoon a
meeting of the Provisional Committee, and of those inhabitants
favourable to the projected line, took place at the Swan Hotel,
in this town. The line had been determined upon in conse-
quence of some dissatisfaction which had been expressed at the
conduct of the Directors of the Shrewsbury, Dudley, and
Wolverhampton Railway Company, whose scheme was rejected
by the Standing Orders Committee early last session.
The Right Hon. Lord Hatherton presided, and was sup-
ported by Charles Smith Forster, Esq., High Sheriff of
Staffordshire ; R. C. Chawner, Esq., Deputy Chairman of
the South Staffordshire Junction ; William Chadwick, Esq.,
Deputy Chairman of the North Wales Railway ; C. Lawrence,
Esq., Chairman of the Grand Junction Railway ; G. B. Thor-
neycroft, Esq. ; W. Bland, Esq. ; H. Hill, Esq. ; F. C. Nor-
ton, Esq. ; Messrs. Payne, Witney, Hughes, Blakemore, Wal-
ker, Gladstone, Underhill, and gentlemen from Shrewsbury,
Dudley, Wolverhampton, Tipton, Bilston, Walsall, Lichfield,
and other districts which the projected line proposes to benefit.
The CatAtitatAN, in opening the proceedings, said that he
felt a deep interest in the prosperity of South Staffordshire, and
especially in the town of Wolverhampton. And it was on that
account that he felt desirous that the projected line should be
brought fairly before the public. A line for the benefit of the
town had been previously projected, but the egregious blunders
that had been made by those to whom its direction had been in-
trusted, had occasioned its rejection by the Standing Orders
Committee of the House of Commons. The Grand Junction
Company had come forward in the most handsome manner,
and had offered the most valuable assistance, at the same time
guaranteeing that all the expenses attendant on the application
to Parliament should be defrayed. He rejoiced to say that satis-
factory arrangements had been made with the Grand Junction
Railway Company, the Orford, Worcester,and Wolverhampton
Railway Company, and the South Staffordshire Junction Com-
pany, for establishing a grand central station for the joint use
of the four companies within the town of Wolverhamp-
ton ; and branches would be made to Coalbrook Dale and.
Ironbridge. The great commercial interests of South Stafford-
shire were deeply interested in this question, a circumstance
which could scarcely fail to impress Parliament in its favour,
for however powerful the landed interests might be, Parliament
would pay more attention to great mercantile interests, such as
those which existed in Wolverhampton and other districts
through which the proposed line would pass.—(Cheers.) The
Chairman concluded by submitting a resolution, affirming the
necessity of a line such as that he had described.
After some discussion,
Mr. LAWRENCE, Chairman of the Grand Junction Com-
pany, remarked that that Company felt a deep interest in the
success of the projected line, and would give it their hearty
support.
Mr. Thoreeycroft was elected Chairman, and Mr. Hill De-
puty Chairman of the Company. Mr. Wignett, ~of Shrews-
bury, was elected Secretary.
A vote of thanks to the Chairman, which the Noble Lord
acknowledged, concluded the business of the day.
At the close of the proceedings a dinner took place, at which
Lord Hatherton presided. Several speeches were delivered,
and the respective speakers alluded in terms of confidence to
the success of the line.