The Sun.
London, England, 1845-10-24 00:00:00

SOUTHAMPTON, PETERSFIELD, AND LONDON

DIRECT.

SOUTHAMPTON, WEDNESDAY.—This afternoon a public
meeting of the inhabitants of the town of Southampton, con-
vened by requisition to the Mayor, was held in the Town-
hall, for the purpose of securing to the inhabitants a more
direct communication with London than they at present
enjoyed.
Thomas Griffiths, Esq., the Mayor, took the chair, and
among th 9 gentlemen present were Alderman Lobb, Dr.
Hunt, Thomas Bradley, Esq., Alderman Towner, Alderman
Steere, W. J. Le Feuvre, Esq., George Borrett, Esq., and
Messrs. Woolridge, Rogers, F. Cooper, and Abraham, mem-
bers of the town council, and a large number of the most in-
fluential inhabitants.
The requisition, signed by upwards of 400 of the most in-
fluential residents of the town, having been read by Mr.
Pearce, the Town-Clcrk,
Alderman Loss said that, as Deputy-Chairman of the
Provisional Committee, the duty had been imposed upon
him of bringing the project before the meeting: Its main
object was to unite the important borough of Petersfield
with the town of Southampton, bringing into communica-
tion with both a large and valuable agricultural district, sur-
rounded by towns, although not termed great, of consider-
able importance, which would be embraced by the railway
communicating
.with the port of Southampton. The line
had been surveyed by the engineers, who had sent in their
report, which the Committee considered as most satisfactory.
The line as proposed from that town would commence as
near the centre as possible, and, passing over the Itcbin,
proceed on to Durley, from Durley to Bishop's Waltham,
Corehampton, and East and West Meon, passing over Win-
chester-hill. Hero a tunnel would be required of about
a quarter of a mile in length, which could be constructed
without risk or danger. The soil, too, was most favourable,
being :hard and consistent chalk. As the crow would fly,
the distance from Southampton to Petersfield was twenty-
two miles and a half—( Hear)—making only half a mile dif-
ference. The gradients, too, were most favourable; the
greatest in any part of the line was I in 150, and in general
it was lin 200, With the exception of a small curve at
Corehampton, it is a direct and straight line to Petersfield.
Having pointed out the course of the line, be might say
that with regard to the stations they must remain untouched
upon at present, but he could assure the meeting that the
sole views of the Company were the interest and prosperity
of the town of Southampton and the borough of Petersfield,
and that the whole of the surveys would be made in suffi-
cient time to enable them to go to Parliament in the next
session. With regard to the route the proposed line was to
take, he begged to say that the proprietors of the land be-
tween that town and Petersfield had not offered any opposi-
tion to the line, nor did he think there would be any.—
(Hear.) In addition to bringing Petersfield into immediate
contact with Southampton, there was another and more im-
portant point to be gained. It would bring them in a more
direct, cheaper, and better communication with the City of
London and its docks—( Hear)—by means of a direct Ports-
mouth line, or any other that might be successful, which must
pass through Petersfield. Then, again, there would be a
communication with Brighton and Cheltenham, Brighton and
Dover, and other parts, which must materially benefit and
increase the trade of the port of Southampton. They might
be asked, did they, the promoters of the scheme, expect op-,
position from other companies? He did not know of any;
but if there was, the answer would be, that they neither
feared it or dreaded it, as they were an independent line. He
had received a letter from the chairman of an influential
company, stating that no opposition to the undertaking
would be given on their pact.—(Hear.)
Mr. J. R. STEBBING moved the first resolution —" That
in the opinion of this meeting it is of great importance that
a line of railway should be formed between this town and
the borough of Petersfield, and that the line proposed by the
Southampton, Portsmouth, and London Direct Railway
Company is eminently calculated to promote the interests of
the town and port of Southampton, as well as the rich agri-
cultural district through which it will pass."
Mr. P. BotattErr seconded the resolution, feeling convinced
that the proposed line would be of the greatest importance
and benefit to the town, and much to the interest of its pro-
moters.—The resoluticn was carried.

Mr. F COOPER moved the second resolution—" That in
addition to the great advantages resulting to this town from
a communication with the large market-town of Petersfield,
the proposed railway will eventually form the best and most
direct line of communication between the port of Southamp-
ton and the docks of the City of London, thus affording to
the mercantile and trading interest a better and more direct
means of transit."

Mr. J. HILL seconded the resolution, which was carried.
In answer to a question from a gentleman in the body of
the meeting,
Alderman Loan said the Company was not pledged to any
line at Petersfield to run to London, but that the Committee
would adopt the shortest and most direct.
Mr. SPOONER proposed the next resolution—" That a pe-
tition to both Houses of Parliament be presented, embody-
ing the principles of the projected scheme, and praying the
Legislature to agree theretor."
This was seconded by Mr. H. WOOLRIDGE, and carried.
Dr. CLARKE moved, and Mr. JOLLIFFE seconded, the fourth
resolution—" That the Members for the town and county be
respectfully requested to support the prayer of the petition
by their votes and influence in Parliament.
On the suggestion of Mr. ANDREWS, it wac agreed that the
terminus for the proposed line should be in the Oundle or
Hogland, near the centre of the town, as the most convenient
spot to be obtained.

A gentleman who was present on the part of the South
Western Company said it was the intention of that Cm
pany, as soon as possible, to carry the terminus of their rail.
way into the City.—The meeting then broke up.

OGMORES AND GARN VALES, AND PORT OF
CARDIFF UNION.

Wednesday an adjourned general meeting of the provincial
directors of this proposed line of railway was held at the
London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street, to confirm certain reso-
lutions agreed to at the previous-meeting, which took place
on the 18th ult. ; and to fill up the list of members for the
managing committee.
The Hon. Viscount Ingestre, M.P., occupied the chair.
Besides the Noble Lord, there were present :—The Hon.
Wm. Gore, Sir George Prescott, Bart., the Rev. H. R.
Fowler, the Rev. Thomas Gronar, Major Moorse Cooper,
Capt. Hewitt, Richard Hastley Kennedy, Esq., James Mor-
rison, Esq., F. Meymott. Esq.,Esq.,
Evan Pritchard, Wm.
S. Potter, Esq., Richard Lewis Reece, Esq., Archibald Spens,
Esq., Philip Vaughan, Esq., E. L. Richards, Esq., Barrister-
at-Law; W. R. James, Esq., Solicitor to the Company, &c.
The Noble CHAIRMAN opened the business by stating that
they were met to confirm the resolutions come to at the
meeting held at Mr. James's offices on the 18th, respecting
the construction of lines of railway to connect the vales of
Ogmore, Fawr and Ogur Faah with the port of Cardiff.
Mr. James would be able more explicitly to place the matter
before them, and he, therefore, called on him to read the
minutes of the previous meeting.
Mr. Jamrs said that, after what had taken place at their
first meeting, little would remain for him to Say respecting
the merits of the proposed scheme. Founded on the resolu-
.

tions then agreed to, he had embodied the advantages of the
lines contemplated in the form of a prospectus, the reading
of which would be sufficiently illustrative of the merits of
the project, without an address from him. The length of
the main line would be 18 miles, and the branches up the
three valleys 16, making in all about 34 miles to be con-
structed. The branches would commence at Blaengwr in
the Vale of Ogwr Fawr ; from Blaengwr, in the Valley of
the Gaivr ; and from Blaengwr, in vale of the Ogwr Faah ;
and the three would concentrate at Bryn Centhin ; from
whence the main line would pass by Llanharran, and join the
South Wales Railway near the port of Cardiff. The country
through which the lines passed was of the most favourable
kind ; there where no heavy cuttings, expensive bridges, or
embankments required ; the gradients were likewise very
easy, so that the line would be executed at the cheapest cost.
To facilitate this, there was on the spot abundance of stone
and other material for the efficient construction of the works.
The project was supported by powerful local interest, and all
the landlords who had been consulted had given in their sanc-
tion and approval. Twenty miles of the line would pass
through property abounding with coal, iron, lime, black
band, and limestone, all of which products had not at
present the means of transit to any market whatever. The
rising and important town of Bridgend would be greatly
benefited by the scheme, and it was intended to join a junc-
tion near that town with the South Wales Railway. He
moved that the minutes of the previous meeting, which con-
sisted of a decision to organise a committee for the for-
mation of the company in question, be confirmed.
The motion was seconded, and unanimously agreed to.
Several gentlemen were then named on the managing com-
mittee, after which

Mr. RICHARDS, counsel of the Company, said he had seen
several most influential parties who had been in Wales, and
who gave the most flattering accounts of the manner in
which the schemes had been received. Amongst others Lord
Duncannon's steward declared that not only his Lordship, but
all the leading gentry of the district, were in its favour.
The meeting shortly afterwards adjourned.