The Sun.
London, England, 1845-08-18 00:00:00

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RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.
&MTH STAFFORDSHIRE JUNCTION.

- -------- - -
On Friel ey a meeting of the Provisional Committee
and supporters of the South Staffordshire Junction line
Was held at Wolverhampton, Mr. C. A. Forster, the high
Sheriff of Stafford, in the chair, for the purpose of re-
ceiviug the report of the Committee of Management re-
specting the result of overtures for the amalgamation of
the Company with the Trent Valley, Midlands, and
Grand Junetton.
Amongst the gentlemen present were—The Right
Fors-
ter,ton. Lord Ffatherton, the Hon. E. R. Littleton, C. Fors-
., barrister ; G. B. Thorueyeroft, Esq. ; R. C.
acmes, Esq ; Captain Dyott, the Mayor of Worcester ;
the Mayor of Lichfield ; P. M. Gladstone, Esq. ; W.
Matthews. Esq ; T. Badger, Esq. ; Edw. Terry, Esq.,
.1!llyor Duoley ;C. H. Brecehridge, Esq. ; Captain
L'lttiehe Secretary to the Grand Junction Company ; J.
Mott, Esq. •M. Gibbons, Esq. ;E. Elwell, jun., E-q. ;
W. G b
raze rook, Esq., and many other influential gen-
tletnen in the n •ighhourhood.
The CHAIRMAN, in opening the business of the meet-
ing• said that having so lately met the gentlemen present
at Lichfield, he had not much to remark upon, the prin-
cipal matter being the overture made to Colonel Anson
On behalf of the Trent Valley and South Midland Com-
pany, for an amalgamation of interests, but that over-
ture had been rejected ; and it appeared a battle must be
(Ought, and when they, the gentlemen around him, looked
at the position of the scheme they were met to avance,
be thought there could be no doubt of the result of the
eel:nest. The South Staffordshire Company appeared to
daily teeing in public opinion, and the advantages the
Company offered would, he doubted not, secure a vast
lOPPort in favour of their undertaking.
Mr. H. BARNETT, the Secretary, then read the
minutes of the meeting held at Lichfield last week, and
also the minutes of a Committee meeting, held previous
i° the publ c meeting, from which it appeared the Com-
kittee were of opinion that it was desirable that the
Ethrewshury and Grand Junction Railway scheme should
be, carried out, and that no more than 22,500 shares
tuould at present be allotted. It was also resolved by
the Committee that the Wolverhampton and Stafford-
..shire Banking Company be added to the list of bankers
.47 tilts Company, and that several gentlemen be added to
"le Provisional Committee.
Lord HATHERTON thought some resolution should be
Leelhe to in reference to the number of parties who should
allowed to become members of the Provisional Com-
leittee, as such appointment, carrying with it the allot-
taent of seventy-five shares, the applications were so
numerous that the Committee could not receive the
hole of them, and he thought it would be better to
leave the matter in the hands of the Committee of
management. His Lordship having moved a resolution
to this effect, it was seconded by Mr. Thorneycroft, and
Passed unanimously; after which
Mr. G. B. THORNEYCROFT said he thought it neees-
-11•ry that the gentlemen present should know whether
the reports that had been raised and circulated through-
out the iron districts had any foundation. It had been
said that the Grand Junction, by means of the present
)?ollspany, intended to cross the level of theßirming-
hamCanal in such a way as to prevent the scheme of
the railway from Wolverhampton to Birmingham, by
means of the purchase of the canal. He (Mr. Thorney-
croft) was very glad to inform them that such was not
the case, as he had inquired of the engineer, and found
that no such thing was contemplated.
At the close of the meeting between forty and fifty
gentlemen sat down to a sumptuous dinner, the sheriff
ire the chair.
The CHAIRMAN, in proposing success to the South
Stafford Junction, said—ln these days of railway pro-
tete, every town with its 10,000 inhabitants ought to
fee the advantage of railway communication; but until
present projsct was started, many populous and im-
tortant towns were left without this accommodation.
addition to the advantages which commerce derives
.4'sa railways, he conceive d that the interests of agricul-
ture would be equally benefited by them ; and with re-,
aPeet to the p oposed line, while they had Wolverhamp-
ton and Dudley (which might be considered the empo-
"uhl of the trades of the district), while they might say
Of the country up to Walsall, that it was a fine con-
suming country.; there was also a good producing
ee
-ullotry beyond it, through which their line would pass,
4114 he had no doubt their line would have the sanction
.
the popu!ation of that district. Since the South
'tefrordshire Company had preferred their claims for
?Ulic support they had been met by a rival company, for
their opponents admitted that the South Staffordshire
Project was first in the field ; but while he did not blame
their rivals fi out forming alliance, he must say he objected
any other than a fair and honourable alliance, and to
the
conversion of canals into railway s. When the gen-
tlemen present considered the position of the South Staf-
fordshire Company, the entire support they had received
from one town on their route, the almost unanimous
atlPPort they had obtained from two others, and the
vasts majority of the inhabitants who were in their
favour in the remainder, he could not conceive on what
ground the Legislature could resist the demand for
ilway accommodation in so populous and important a
district.
Lord ITATHERTON proposed the health of the chair-
man, which was followed by several routine toasts, pro-
teed and responded to by Mr. Crane, Mr. Mott, Mr.
~ewner, Mr. Gladstone, Captain Dyott, Mr. Thorney-
s't"ts and others.

OXFORD AND CHELTENHAM.
t 41- public meeting of the inhabitants of Witney, Ox-
Zdshire, was held at the Town-hall, on Thursday last,
Pqrsuance of a requisition addressed to the bailiffs, to
eo
neider the best course for the formation and mainte-
.Lin
ee of the interests of the town with reference to the
petted lines between Oxford and Cheltenham.
r

J. W. Clinch, banker, presid,d, and Mr. Leake
attended on behalf of the Great Western Company.
Mr. J. WESTALL remarked that the subject of ran-
18Y communication between Oxford and Cheltenham
ritd recently been sufficiently before the public. Several
fitles had been proposed, but until the independent line
tPrnOxford to Cheltenham was brought forward, the town
li',Witney stood no chance of any direct communication
tween the Great Western and the Wolverhampton
es ; and supposing the Handborough branch to be
Dade therefrom to Witney, they would be no nearer
tuxSord than at home. The present was the only oppor-
-14"43' to carry out and secure a line which would be
411'fieial to the town. The traffic of the town had
there ore thet a could be little doubt as to the profit which
%
railway company could derive.
kr. II BATEMAN, of Asthally, proposed the first reso-
toL°n :—" That it is essentially to the interests of the
tty,",,n of Witney and its neighb,mrhood to obtain
secure tha best possible railway communi-
tail°
th. n between Oxford and Cheltenham, and
qfttbY ea,tward of London, and westward to
telleester the Forest of Dean, Monmouthshire, and
°,.Utb Wales, whereby the traffic flowing thence
Witney, before .he construction of the Great
estern Railway
would be restored, the trade and ma-
futitetures of tho town largely increased, and the wel-
are
th and comfort; of its population, especially those of
u Poor, 1 e uro:noted by the due competition which
k
w4st thereby be excited between the Dean Forest and
elfla co 9" I fi Id•s and those of Staffordshire and the
erth '
fwhich latter are readily made available by means
the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton Rail-
thttY; by a b ran h to it from any branch line passing
Witne)."
t 1:1-4r. E. EARLY, of Witney, manufacturer, seconded
11:Jesolution. Lookii.g at the merits of the different lines,
th.uuebeved there were some considerable advantages in
'lndberough branch, but these were benefits which
wh.believ, d would equally arise from the direct line,
t%rieb would be a more general good. As a manufac-
Eier, be expected, upon the introduction of coals at a
is ueed rate, that steam might be advantageously used
dutheir town. Thus, increase of labour would be pro-
theett. the trade of the town would be increased, and'
condition of the poorer classes would be ameliorated.
Die resolution was carried nem. dis.
tioht JOHN EARLY, of Walley, moi ed the next resolu-
t*" 1 hat none but a main trunk line of railway be-
ren Oxford and Cheltenham can afford to the public
%general and confer on the town of Witney, such ac-
b,uatodatien and advantages, and that therefore the
Oxford, Witney, Cheltenham, and Gloucester
ste dependent Railway' is best calculated to promote and
those desirable objects ; and that the projected
mere
termed the Cheltenham and Oxford,' diverging as
11,,,,,ere branch from the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolver-
*o-diten Railway, at or near Shipton-under-Wychwood,
be most inimical to the interests of the town and
tiet! bourhood, by diverting instead of restoring the an-
%Nit. tragic,„and moreover effectually destroying all pos
fro 'Y uture advantages by extension and branches
Ivolulleratini, which a main trunk line offers, while it
tom,' increase the distance between Witney and Ox-
Ai and Cheltenham also."
ea? R' WARRINGTON s( corded the resolution, which was
.I"CU unanimously.
14/111,C°.°arni.tece was then formed to confer with the Com-
4illt" In favour of which the resolution was passed, con-
/44.11.F of the following gentlemen :—Mr. J. W. Clench,
blittZan Early, sen.,Mr. Edward Early, Mr. William
.4.
of
oafdt
s man.
4e16 r
ilcl kr' Mr. Warrington, Mr. J. Clinch, Mr. D. Wessell,
th
s to the chairman concluded the busi:

On Fr iday STATISTICS OF THE SESSION.
anteda return was issued, occupying 14 closely
f r _eges, giving. a list of 218 for Railways
the e arliameut during the past session, together with
v, proce,
‘iings upon each, consisting of the date. of
and n presented, of first, second, and third readings,
receiving
ti,," ef receiving the royal assent. From an analysis,
falears that 218 Bills have passed, or partially passed,
thAgh these processes this session.
the these
time, with
appear to have been read a first
Defi?•lcePtion of the following 36, which only presented
orci-,l"ns, and Were thrown out before the . standingß
s --liirkenhead, Manchester, and Cheshire ;
and Gloucester Railway Acts Amendment,B
triitipir-
csi and Gloucester Bristol and Gloucester and ird-
tivealn and Gloucester • Chester, Manchester, an
bir--1315°1 Junction ; Churnet9 Valley, Direct Northern,
ehteet
.Igorthern (Lincoln to York), Diss and Col-
ttilt" Junction, East Dereharn and Norwich, Eastern
110;),:l. Land Bury Edmund's, Eastern Union. an
ZasCien, '';'to and Harwich, Harwich, Harwich fuu
f,!rn Counties Junction, Hull and Gams-
d
iorrtugh, -Liverpool and Manchester, North Union,
Inati4ol,l and Leigh and Kenyon and LAO A tualga-
%lll
tic ive
;IL rP°Ol, Ormskirk, and Preston ; Liverpool,
znit,„.siF '4 and Preston (Skelrnersdale) ; London and 13.1 -
ZiorW4n, London and Bri h ton (Dm king Branch), ditto
td Croy'iranch, ditto Wandsworth Branch, London
Zlesr y,ch,),o (Kentish Lines), London and South
(Psora Branch), Manchester and Buxton,
01,4411,-, (rsiriningham and Gloneeler and Bristol and
ati4 71,tr), Portarlinbc-ton and Tullamore, Shrewsbury
d,_%a,kth.w.-LiZtnegrnhaLtoSiii.,rewsbury and Grand Junction,
eats ana o
°°El Branch h t Tonbridge and
, Staines and Richmond, Sunder.

land, Durham, and Auckland Union, Surrey Iron Rail-
way, Taff Vale, Wells and Dereham.
Of the remainder, thirty-eight have been read a first
and second, but not a third time, owing to their having
been rejected by the Select Committee on the merits.
They are as follow :—Barnsley Junction, Birmingham
and Gloucester (Wolverhampton line), ditto Cheltenham
Extension, ditto Worcester Deviation, Cambridge and
Lincoln, Chester and Holyhead (Mold Branch and pur-
chase of Chester and Birkenhead), Coventry, Bed-
worth, and Nuneaton, Eastern Counties (Cambridge
and Bury St. Edmund's), ditto Hertford and Biggles-
wade. Epsom and Dorking, Glasgow, Dumfries, and
Carlisle; Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock, and Ayr (Barr-
head Branch). Goole and Doncaster, Grand Junction,
Launceston and South Devon, London and Norwich
direct, London, Worcester, and South Stafford-
shire (Dudley and Sedgley Branch), London,
Chatham, and North Kent ; London, Worcester, and
South Staffordshire- (Extension from Dudley to Wol-
verhampton) ; London, Worcester, and South Stafford-
shire ; Manchester, Leeds, and Hull Associated Com-
panies ; Manchester, Sheffield, and Midland Junction ;
Midland, Ely to Lincoln, ditto Swinton to Lincoln,
Newark to Sheffield, Northumberland (Atmospheric),
Rye and Tenterden, St. Ive's Junction, Sheffield and
Lincolnshire, South Devon (Tavistock and Branches),
South Eastern (Maidstone to Rochester), Southport
and Euxton Junction, Tottenham and Farringdon-street
Extension, West Cornwall, West Yorkshire ; Wexford,
Carlow, and Dublin Junction, York and North Midland
(Doncaster Extension), York and North Midland (Goole
Branch).
Those that have been read a third time, but without
receiving royal assent, are fire in number, namely, the
Cornwall, Leeds and West Riding, London and York,
and Irish Great Western (Dublin to Galway). The
two former were thrown out in Committee on the merits
by the House of Lords, and the two latter were stopped
short in their further progress for the session on the
ground of invalidity of subscription contract. The Di-
rect London and Portsmouth (a fifth) was thrown out
by a majority of two in the Lords, and, with its com-
petitor, the Guildford, Chichester, and Portsmouth, re-
mains as yet undecided.
The number of withdrawn Bills are ten, namely, the
Bristol and Gloucester (No. 2), at its third reading; the
Direct Northern, at its first; Diss, Beccies, and Yar-
mouth, at its third; Eastern Union Harwich, at its first;
Erewash Valley (No. 1), at its third; London and Croy-
don (Orpington Branch), at its first; Manchester and
Leeds (No. 1), at its third; Manchester, Bury, and Ros-
sendale, at its third; Manchester. Leeds, and Hull As-
sociated, at its second; Sheffield, Ashton-under-Lyne,
and Manchester, at its third.

The number passing intact through the various stages
of petition, standing orders, first, second, and third read-
ings, and ultimately receiving the royal assent, amount
to 115, and are—The Aberdare, Aberdeen, Ashton,
Stalybridge, and Liverpool Junction (Ardwick and
Guide Branches); Bedford and London and Birming-
ham, Belfast and Ballymena, Berks and Hants, Birming-
ham and Gloucester (Gloucester Extension Stoke
Branch and Midland Junction), Blackburn and Preston,
Blackburn, Burnley, Accrington, and Colne; Bolton and
Leigh, Kenyon and Leigh, North Union, Liverpool and
Manchester and Grand Junction Amalgamations, Brigh-
ton and Chichester (Portsmouth Extension), Brighton,
Lewes, and Hastings (Keymer Branch), Brighton, Lewes,
and Hastings (Hastings, Rye, and Ashford Extension);
Bristol and Exeter Branches, Caledonian, Chester and
Birkenhead Extension, Chester and Holyhead, Clydes-
dale Junction, Cockermouth and Workington, Cork
and Bandon, Dublin and Belfast Junction (Branch to
Kells), Dublin to Drogheda, Dunkalk to Enniskellen,
Dundee and Perth, Dunstable and London and Birming-
ham, Eastern Counties (Cambridge and Huntingdon),
ditto Ely and Whittlesea Deviation, Eastern Union,
ditto and Bury St. Edmund's, Edinburgh and Glasgow,
Edinburgh and Hawick, Edinburgh and Northern, Ely
and Huntingdon, Epping, Erewash Valley (No. 2),
Exeter arid Crediton, Glasgow, Barrbead, and Neilston ;
Glasgow, Garnkirk, and Coatbridge ; Glasgow Junc-
tion, Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr ; Graves-
end and Rochester, Great Grimsby and Sheffield Junc-
tion, Great North of England (Clarence and Hartlepool
Junction), Great North of England and Richmond,
Great Southern and Western (Ireland), Great Western
(Ireland, Dublin, Mullingar, and Athlone) ; Guildford
Junction, Huddersfield and Manchester, and Canal ;
Huddersfield and Sheffield Junction, Hull and Selby
(Bridlington Branch), Kendal and Windermere,
Lancaster and Carlisle, Leeds and Bradford
Extension (Shipley and Colue) ; Leeds and
Thirsk, Leeds, Dewsbury and Manchester ' • Li-
verpool and Bury (Bolton, Wigan, Liverpool, and
Bury Extension) ; Liverpool and Manchester, London
and Brighton (Horsham Branch), London and Croydon
Enlargement, London and Greenwich, London and
South-Western (Metropolitan Extension) No. 1, ditto
No. 2, Londonderry and Coleraine, Londonderry and
Enniskillen, Lowestoft and Harbour, Lynn and Dereham,
Lynn and Ely, Manchester and Birmingham (Ashton
Branch), Manchester and Leeds (No. 2), ditto Burnley
Branch and Oldham and Heywood Extensions ; Man-
chester, Bury, and Rossendale; Manchester South Junc-
tion and Altrincham ; Middlesborough and Redcar, Mid-
land (Nottingham and Lincoln), ditto Syston to Peter-
borough, Monkland and Kirkintilloch, Monmouth and
Hereford, Newcastle and Berwick, Newcastle and Dar-

lington (B randling Junction), Newcastle-upon-Tyne and
North Shields (Tynemouth Extension), Newport and
Pontypool, Newry and Enniskillen, North British, North
Union and Ribble, North Wales, North Wales Mineral,
North Woolwich, Norwich and Brandon Deviation, and
Diss and Dereham branches, Oxford and Rugby, Oxford,
Worcester, and Wolverhampton ; Preston and Wyre,
Richmond, Surrey •, St Helens, Scottish Central, Scot
tish Midland, Sheffield and Rotherham, Shrewsbury,
Oswestry. and Chester, Southampton and Dorchester,
South-Eastern (branches to Deal, Canterbury, Ramsgate,
and Margate), South-Eastern (Tonbridge to Tonbridge
Wells, ditto (London and Greenwich), South Wales,
Trent Valley, Ulster Extension ; Wakefield, Pontefract,
and Goole ' • Waterford and Kilkenny, Waterford and
Limerick, Wear Valley, West London, Whitby and
Pickering, W hitehaven and Furness ' • Wilts, Somerset,
and Weymouth ; Yarmouth and Norwich, York and
North Midland (Bridlington branch), ditto (Harrogate
branch), York and Scarborough. These having re-
ceived the royal assent are in a position to commence
operations. Several have already done so, and others
are making preparations.
LIVERPOOL, ORMSKIRIE, AND PRESTON.—Last week a
meeting of this Company was held at Liverpool, when it
was resolved to amalgamate with the Blackburn line,
and also with the Leeds and Bradford. By this arrange-
ment the traffic from Blackburn, Clitheroe, and other
localities, will go on to the Ormskirk line.
RICHMOND.—On Friday a meeting was held at Barnes,
Rev. E. Coplestone, the rector, in the chair ; when a
Committee, consisting of the Chairman, Messrs. Cross,
Palin, Watts, and Ratcliffe, were appointed to treat with
the Directors of this line respecting the land required.
MANCHESTER, BOLTON, AND BURY.—The Committee
of Management have given notice that it is their inten-
tion to apply to Parliament in the next session for
powers to construct a railway from their main line to
pass through Tyldesley, and to terminate by a junction
with the Liverpool and Bury Railway, near Wigan, with
such branches as may be requisite to supply the wants
of the district, and that a survey is now in progress
under the direction of the Company's engineer.

CROYDON ATMOSPHERIC LlNE.—Experiments have
been tried during the pant ten days on the atmospheric
line of the London and Croydon Railway, under the su-
perintendence of Mr. Samuda, the patentee, and of Mr.
C. H. Gregory, the acting engineer, for the purpose of
trying the vacuum, testing the working main valves and
air• pumps ; but as yet no carriage has been taken along
the line by atmospheric action, two out of the three en-
gines only being fixed and finished. The experiments,
we understand, go far to show that the apparatus was
found to be in an efficient state, and tended materially to
set at rest the two great questions raised by the oppo-
nents of the system— namely, those of leakage and
friction. From the vacuum tables it appeared, that the
experimenters exhausted fifteen inches in seven-and-a-
halt minutes on the five miles of line; the difference be-
tween the one end of the line and the other, as indicated
by the electric telegraph, being seven-eighths of an inch
of the barometer. The ultimate exhaustion amounted
to 27,4, which leaves only two-eighths between that and
the atmosphere.
OXFORD, `JITNEY, AND CHELTENHAM. The di-
rectors state that, having received reports from their en-
gineers, to the effect that material alterations had been
made in this line, whereby the trunk line had been re-
duced to about thirty-six miles, and that the cost of con-
struction, including stations, &c., will be under 500,0001.,
they have therefore determined on reducing the capital
to 600,0001.
2t is intended that the station in connexion with the
London and Birmingham and Shrewsbury line, is to be
carried under Birmingham by a tunnel.
NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE.—An arrangement has been
entered into between the provisional Directors and the
managing Committee of the Trent and Mersey Naviga•
tion, by which the Railway Company agrees to take a
lease in perpetuity of the Trent and Mersey Canal on
the following terms : to guarantee absolutely and with
out reservation to the proprietors 5
per cent. per annum
interest on the present value of their shares (450/. each)
with a further contingency in the event of both under-
takings paying jointly more than 5 per cent. profit.