The Sun.
London, England, 1845-04-01 00:00:00

their own defence, to have boats of their ov,n, and to
erect a pier for the accommodation of the passengers who
travelled by thorn, hoping thereby to he enabled to support
thtMsel lies and families. The oqeets of tbe plaintiffs, who
were the proprietors of a rival pier, was to thwart and
oppose them in this attempt by every means in their
ewer. Ile than proceeded to argue upon the facts that
had been adduced ih evidence, and said that the plaintiffs
had no ground to compain of any obstruction, and he
submitted to the, ury that it appeared quite clear that
they had merely purchn7cd the property in question, for
the purpose of carrying out their scheme to destroy the

atermen, s pier, and thus drive all the traffic to their

Iwn. lie conefaded by ck.riVnding that no real obstrue-
ion had been made out against the pier, and that the
!efeadant was entitled to a verdict.

The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE summed up, and went
through the whole of the evidence, observing, in the
cou:.se of his address, that it ought not to make any dif-
fevenee to the jury, if they should be of opinion that the
p?aintff= had purchased the property in question solely
with a view to the present proceeding. The only ques-
tion for them to decide was, wheal( r or not the free
course of C-.e water• way had been obstructed, and wile-
th9r the dtfetidant was the party liable fur that ob-
struction.

The jury, aftf,r &liberating for a few minutes, re-
turned a verdict for the plaintiff—damages Is.
The effect of this verdict, if it is not set aside, will of
course be to do away with the fl,ating-pier alt igether.

RAIL WAY INTELLIGENCE.
LONDON, SALISBURY, AND YEOVIL
JUNCTION.

ANDOVER, SATURDAY EVENING.—This morning a
very numerous meeting of the inhabitants of the town
and neighbourhood took place'at the Town-hall, to con-
sider the subject of the formation of a line from Basing-
stoke to Andover, and from thence to Salisbury and
Yeovil.

Giles Westbury, Esq., the Mayor, took the chair, and
there were present the Hon. and Rev. S. Best, R. Etwall,
Esq., M.P., for Andover ; Colonel Iremonger, the Rev.
Walter Blunt, the Rev. Henry Fowle, Rev. W. Smythe,
Rev. C. H. Ridding, Rev. W. Powney, Rev. Christopher
Dodson, Thomas Phillips, Esq., J. S. Everett,• Esq.,
Harry Footner, Esq., Town Clerk ; and many of the
land( d proprietors, as well as many of the principal
inhabitants. A deputation from Basingstoke attended,
consisting of C. Simmons, Esq., the Mayor ; Messrs.
Cottle (Alderman), Blunden and Gibbs. Joseph Locke,
Esq., the engineer, and F.T. Bircham, Esq., were present
on behalf of the South-Western Company, and the
followinc, gentlemen attended as a deputation from the
London,'Salisburv, and Yeovil Company :—John Chap-
man, Esq., J. J. kinloch, Esq., G. Webster, Esq., W. S.
Boyd, Esq., D. NI. Johnston, Esq., F. Giles, Esq., and
Lewis Crombie, Esq.
The CHAIRMAN, in opening the proceedings, said he
had received a requisition, very numerously signed, re-
questing him to call this meeting, to consider the subject
of more efficient railway communication. The town of
Andover had long been without the advantages which
other towns of less importance possessed, and he should
be glad to find that the meeting that day would be pro-
ductive of beneficial results.—(Hear, hear )
The Hon. and Rev. S. BEST moved the first resolution, to
the effect that a line from some point at or near Basing-
stoke. on the South-Western Rail way by Andover to Salis-
bury, would promote the convenience of the public, and
be highly beneficial to Andover, and a large district now
unprovided with railway communication, connecting
them on the one hand with the metropolis, and on the
other with Salisbury and the west of England. He could
look back to a time when railways were regarded as an
evil, but he was glad to find that they had now arrived at
a better state.of feelins; on that subject, and thrown to the
winds their foolish objections. He thought the proposed
route should provide for both the eastern And western
districts every accommodation, connecting the metropolis,
ialisbury, and the west of England generally.—(Hear.)
The ,rain reason which had conduced to the prosperity

of the town of Ando7er was, that it was situwe on the
direct line of communication between the metropolis and
the west of England. The wonder of the age, as they
used to call the " Telegraph" coach, passed through
Andover on the line frOm London to Exeter. Weyhill,
with its great and important fair, ought also to come in
for a share of consideration in the formation of a line in
that district. The people of Andover would never rest
satisfied with their present position, or with a line which
took them as much time-to reach it as it did afterwards

to proceed onwards to London.—(Cheers.) The line now
pro?osed by the London, Salisbury, and Yeovil Com-
pany was the best that could be adopted. The engi-
neering difficulties or facilities would probably be ex-
plained by Mr. Locke, a gentle Man who had made a
direct communication between the metropolis of England
and that of France. If it was determined to make a
line connecting the. west with the east—Andover must
be that line. By whatever company it was undertaken,
very little time must elapse before its construction should
be commenced. He trusted that ere long the people of
Andover would be in possession of those advantages
which railway communication offered, and which had
up to the present time been denied them.
Mr. NforvrimoßE seconded the resolution, which was
put, and carried unanimously.
Mr. ETWALL, M.P., suggested that this would be the
proper time for those gentlemen who attended on behalf
of the South-Western, and London, Salisbury, and Yeovil
lines, to state their opinions, so that before proceeding
farther the meeting might be put in possession of the
necessary facts.
Mr. LOCKE said he would very readily give any in-
formation that might be required of him. His object,
however, in visiting Andover that day, was to hear the
opinions of the inhabitants. He quite agreed with the
Hon. and Rev. Gentleman who proposed the first reso-
IRtion, and he might say that if the Board of Trade
sanctioned the South- Western scheme, the Company were
determined on making the line to Salisbury vid Andover.

The Rev. Mr. SMYTHE asked Mr. Locke how far west-
ward the South-Western Company would go ?
Mr.,LOCICE replied that at present he had received no
instructions to proceed beyond Salisbury.
Mr. Join.' CHAPMAN said he regretted that important
business had detained at Lincoln the Honourable William
Ashley, the Chairman of the Committee of the London,
Salisbury, and Yeovil line, and he read a letter from the
Honourable Gentleman, expressive of his regret at being
prevented from attending at Andover on that day. That
gentleman, however, felt the greatest interest in the suc-
cess of the Ene, on no account more than for its in-
tended transit through the town of Andover. Never,
he (Mr. Chapman) thought, was there such an extraor-
dinary anomaly and oversight, that while other parts of
the country were adequately provided with railway ae-
commodation, this important drstrict was left completely
isolated. When the Great Western Company was
formed, the avowed object was a direct communication
between L,mdon end Bri=tol, at which point it was sup-
p,),et! the line would te-minate. The line had now been
extended to Exeter, and he had no doubt it would

answer the purposes of that Company. Still it did not sa-
tisfy the inhabitants of Andover, Yeovil; Salisbury, or
even the inhabitants of Exeter themselves. It appeared
to -him that the South-Western pointed -to the natural
line of railway-into the western districts of the country;
but as the great lines had shown n'.) disposition to meet
the wAnt-; of the peope of many important districts, it
become tip." duty of the inhabitants of neglected towns
to make a movement in their own behalf. Railways
cemented, as it were, a social, compact throughout the
kingdom, and b,,und men together es one family ;
Wiltshire, Dorsetshire, and part of Devon, however,
were still beyond that family circle. The Company he
represented (the London, Salisburt', and Yeovil Junc-
tion) were determined to make a line not only to An-
dover and to- Salisbury, hut to Yeovil also.—(Cheers.)
An independent company had been formed for mukin4 a
line, from Yeovil to Exeter, so that the c,)mmunieation
would he direct and complete. The A tompany he repre-
sented were quite prepared to gn on. Every encourage-
ment-had been held out to them.—(Cheers.)
Mr. GILES, civil engineer, put in a plan of the line of
the London, Salisbury, and Yeovil .Junction. It appeared

that the line will establish a direct communication be-
tween London, Salisbury, Yeovil, and the West of Eng.
land, traversing in its course many wealthy, populous,
and important districts. Commencing at Worting, near
Basinirstoke, it will proceed by Whitchurch, And ►ver,
and Salisbury, to Yeovil. by which means the connexion
between the east and west coasts will be complete. In
connexion with the projected line from Exeter to Yeovil,
it will, Mr. Gilrs remarked, form the shortest and most
direct communication between London and Exeter,
whereby a saving in distance of thirty miles will be
effectod. The distance from London to Salisbury will be
about 80 miles, to Yeovil 120 miles, and to Exeter 165
miles. The length of line to be constructed will be about
75 miles.

Mr. ETWALL, M.P., moved " That the landowners and
other influential persons interested be invited to give
their support to the Company projecting the best
line through the above-named district, and to aid
in carrying it out." He thought that the meeting
should be unequivocally told whether either or
both of the projected lines would come very near
the town of Andover.—(Cheers.) It would be the duty
of the inhabitants to watch closely the movements of
both companies, and to take care that whichever line
should be constructed should come into or near their
town.—(Hear, hear.) His Honourable and Reverend
Friend had very properly adverted to the objections
which many landowners had formerly entertained on the
subject of railways, but which were now entirely
removed. He (Mr. Etwall) had never entertained such
views, convinced as he was from the commencement that
railways would tend greatly to the promotion of the
prosperity of the country.
Mr. GILES, C.E., said the line he intended to adopt
(the London, Salisbury, and Yeovil Junction) would pass
close to the north side of Andover, and would be of the
greatest advantage to the town.
Mr, Loom, on the part of the South-Western Com-
pany, remarked that it was not from indisposition to
give information on the matter, but simply that he
was not in possession of the requisite details. He
Might, however, say that, whatever line the South-
Western Company might adopt, it would come as near the
town of Andover as possible. From this course no slight
expense would deter them. He was somewhat disin-
clined to enter into these matters, because he had fre-
quently felled that much had arisen from the
premature discussion of details.
Mr. PHILLIPS having seconded the resolution, it was
put and carried. •
Mr. .I.lxasa admitted that for a long •time he enter-
tained antiquated prejudices qu the subject of railways.
lie had now abandoned thorn, and was desirous of seeing
is line constructed such as that proposed. He would
like to see it extend nut only to Andover, but to Salis-
bury, Yeovil, Exeter, and -to the Land's-end. The
Company who would carry them the farthest should
have his support.—(Hear.,)
Mr. CROBIBIE, as one of the promoters of the Lon-
don, Salisbury, and Yeovil Junction, might ho per-
mitted to say a few words- in'-reference" to the ques-
tions which had been asked. He had no idea till he
entered- the train. at London that morning that any