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

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.
SoUTII STAFFORDSHIRE JUNCTION.

On Friday 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-
ceiving the report of the Committee of Management re-
specting the result of overtures for the amalgamation of
the Company with the Treut Valley, Midlands, and
Grand Junction.
Amongst the gentlemen present were—The Right
Ron. Lord Hatherton, the Hon. E. R. Littleton, C. Fors-
ter, Esq,, barrister ; G. B. Thorneycroft, Esq. ; R. C.
Jones, Esq ; Captain nyott, the Mayor of Worcester ;
the Mayor of Lichfield ; P. M. Gladstone, Esq. ; W.
Matthews, Esq ; T. Badger, Esq. ; Edw. Terry, Esq.,
Mayor of Dudley- ; C. H. Bracebridge, Esq. ; Captain
Efuish, Secretary to the Grand Junction Company ; J.
Mott, Esq. M. Gibbons, Esq. ;E. Elwell, jun., Esq. ;
W. Grazebrook, Esq , and many other influential gen-
tlemen in the neighboarhood.
The CHAIRMAN, in opening the business of the meet-
ing, said that having so lately met the gentlemen present
at Lchfieltl, he had not nine') to remark upon, the prin-
cipal matter being the overture made to Colonel Anion
on 'Deltaic of the Trent Valley and South Midland Com-
pany, for an amalearnation of interests, but that over-
ture had been rejected ; and it appeared a battle must be
fought, and when they, the gentlemen around him, looked
at the position of the scheme they were met to advance,
he thought there could he no doubt of the result of the
contest, The South Staffordshire Company appeared to
be daily ri-drog in public opinion, and the advautag-es the
Company offered would, he doubted not, secure a vast
suPport 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
to the pubic meeting, from which it appeared the Com-
mittee were of opinion that it was desirable that the
Shrewsbury and Grand Junction Railway scheme should
be carried out, and that no more than 22,500 shares
Should 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
to the Compene, and that several gentlemen be added to
the Provisional Committee.
Lord HATHERTON thought some resolution should be
e°tee to in reference to the number of parties who should
besllowed to become members of the Provisional Com-
Zibee, as such appointment, carrying with it the allot-
'eat of seventy-five shares, the applications were so
numerous that the Committee could not receive the
Whole of them, and he thought it would be better to
leave the 'ratter 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 unartimouily; after which
Mr. G. B. THORNEYCROFT said ,he thought it neces-
Pary 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
Company, intended to cross the level of the Birming-
ham Canal 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-
erofo was very glad to inform them that such was not
the case, as he had inquired of the engineer, and found
that no such thine was contemplated.
At the close of the meeting between forty and fifty
gentlemen sat down to a sumptuous dinner, the sheriff
le the chair. _ _ _

The CHAIRMAN, in proposing success to the South
§taftird Junction, said—ln these days of railway pro-
jects, every town with its 10,000 inhabitants ought to
have the advantage of railway communication; but until
the present proj..ct was started, many populous and im-
Portant towns wore left without this accommodation.
In addition to the advantages which commerce derives
from rail,.vays, he conceived that the interests of agricul-
ture would be equally benefited by them ; and with re-
sPect to the p, oposed line, while they had Wolverhatnp-
tn and Dudley (which might be considered the empo-
-1.1,5m1 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
country beyond it, through which their line would pass,
and he had no doubt their line would have the sanction
2? the population of that district. Since the South
'tatrordshire Company had preferred their claims for
Public 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 ona forming alliance, he must say he objected
t'°_ any other than a fair and honourable alliance, and to
the
conversion of canals int.) railways. When the gen-
-I;!ettien presi nt considered the position of the South Stuf-
flordshire Company the entire support they had received
rem one town on their route, the almost unanimous
suPPort they had obtained from two others, and the
!au insjority of the inhabitants who were in their
lavonr in the renriinder, he could not conceive on what
Found the Lecri.dature could resist the demand for
railway accommodation in so populous and important a
district.
Lord HATHERTON proposed the health of the chair-
lUan, which was followed by several routine toasts, pro-
Posed and responded to by Mr. Crane, Mr. Mutt, Mr.
chawner, Mr. Gladstone, Captain Dyott, Mr. Thorney-
"oft, and others.