The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-08-21 00:00:00

OPENING OF SIR T. STANLEY'S RAILWAY.

The opening of this railway was celebrated on Wednes-
day with uncommon spirit and liberality. Our readers are
perhaps aware that this road has been constructed at the ex-
pense of Sir T. S. M. Stanley, Bart., for the purpose of con-
veying the stone from his quarries on Stourton-hill to the
river side—his tenants, who have rented from the royalty of
these quarries, paying for the use of the railroad a certain
per centage. The reasons which led to the formation of this
public-spirited and highly useful work were the delay, incon-
venience, and expense attending the transit of a heavy ma-
terial, on common waggons, over the badly-formed and ill-
repaired roads of Stourton and Bromborougb, as well as a
desire to liberate the inhabitants of those places from the
expense to which they were put by keeping their roads in
anything like serviceable condition. The roads which an-
swered tolerably well, with little repair, for the light vehicles
of the parishioners, were quickly torn up and rendered al-
most impassable t•y the heavy stone waggons which traversed
them, inasmuch that it has been known to occupy the space
of nearly three weeks in conveying one block of stone from
the quarry to the pool, and in others it has been found requi-
site to break a large block when half way to its destination,
from the impossiblity, otherwise, of conveying it further.
These circumstances, not to mention the-complaints which
they necessarily elicited from many of the parishioners, were
a serious drawback to the tenants of the quarries, preventing
them from carrying on their operations to the extent and with
the vigour which they might have done under a more favour-
able state of things. The opening of the railway will, how-
ever, at once do away with every complaint and difficulty,
and allow the stone to be brought to Bromborough Pool in
the same number of minutes as it was wont to occupy days,
perhaps weeks. Nor will the benfits of this improvement he
trifling, or limited to the locality of the railway alone. Since
the opening of the new or North Quarry, which is allowed by
all parties to contain a harder and finer kind of white free-
stone than has been hitherto obtained from any of the Stour-
ton quarries, and which, it is confidently anticipated, will
yield a supply that will last for at least one generation, if not
many, there is a prospect of the builders and architects of
Liverpool being no longer cramped in their operations by
the want of good freestone, or of their being reduced to the
necessity of bring it hither from very great distances, and, of
course, at a very heavy expense. The quarry in question
has been rented from Sir Thomas Stanley by Mr. Walker,
who has hitherto carried on the working of it with great spirit
and perservance; but the completion of the railway will, of
course, give him, as well as the other tenants of the quarries,
the power of extending their operations in proportion with the
extent of the demand, which is expected to be considerably
increased. It is not alone in the transit of stone, however,
that this railway will he advantageous. Every one acquainted
with the higher parts of the peninusula of Cheshire is well
aware to what a limited extent manure is used by the farmers,
the cost of conveying it over the common roads being too
gieat to be borne by them. By the means of the railway this
want will in some measure be obviated, and richer crops, and
perhaps more extensive cultivation, be the consequence.
The length of this railroad is nearly three miles; it extends
from what is termed the "North Quarry" to Bromborough
Pool, where a quay has been erected for the .embarking of
the stone, &c. It is considerably inclined throughout nearly
its whole extent, so that a simple push gives a loaded waggon
sufficient impetus to descend, at a good speed, to the edge of
the pool. A velocity of twenty miles an hour has been at-
tained. Horses will be employed to draw the waggons in

the ascent. Immediately biyoild the old quarry a tunnel bas
been cut, the length of which is ninety yards. The earth-
work, excavation, &c., were executed by Mr. Joseph Jones,
of this town, and in a manner which has given the highest
satisfaction. The road was commenced in April, 1837; it
was executed under the superintendence of Mr. Henry Heyes,
engineer and land-surveyor to Sir Thomas Stanley; and has
been completed at a cost to the spirited and munificent owner
of about £12,000.

Although the line will not be ready for conveyance for some
four or five days, its opening was, as we have previously stat-
ed, celebrated on Wednesday. The event created a great
sensation in Stourton and the neighbourhood. Early in the
mot ning flags were hoisted in several places along the line;
and as the day advanced a number of gentlemen from Liver-
pool arrived to witness the ceremony and partake of the at-
tendant festivities. Several parties entered the waggons which
had. been provided, and made trips both downwards to Brom-
borough Pool, and upwards to the North Quarry, which was
a point of great attraction to the tradesmen engaged in build-
ing.- About one o'clock, amidst the discharge of some can-
non from the heights above, the playing of several muscians
below, and the shouts of the assembled people, two waggons
loaded with blocks of stone were despatched, and went down
the road at a rattling pace.
it had been expected that Sir Thomas Stanley and Sir
Richard Bulkeley would be present on the occasion ; but cir-
cumstances prevented them. Mr. Charles Stanley and his
lady, however, were present, and the arrival of the train which
brought them up a portion of the line to Stourton was hailed
with a salute from the cannon and much cheering.
In the afternoon, temporary seats and a table having been
erected in the tunnel, all the workmen employed in the quar-
ries and on the railway, to the number of 200, were there treat-
ed to a substantial dinner and quantum sub': of home-brewed
ale. Mr. Joseph Jones preside& In the midst of their feast-
ing and hilarity, they were visited by Mr. Charles Stanley
and his lady, and immediately on their arrival at the head of
the table, the health of their beautiful visitant, "Mrs. Charles
Stanley," was proposed. The vaulted dining-room rung with
the thunders of applause that followed the announcement of
the toast. Other toasts followed —" The Queen," "Sir Tho-
mas Stanley," &c., and ever and anon the rocky roof was
flinging back the enthusiastic shouts of the merry and de-
lighted crowd.
While matters were thus proceeding in the tunnel, a cold
collation was laid out in an adjoining house, to which about
fifty persons sat down, consisting of the quarry tenants, vari-
ous tradesmen from Liverpool, and such persons as had been
invited to attend the opening fete. J. Formby, Esq., of
Maghull Hall, presided, and Mr. Walker took the vice-cair.
After dinner, as the house was somewhat small for the accom-
modation of so large a party, and as the afternoon was a
splendid one, the company adjourned into a small garden in
front of the house, (whence there was a delightful prospect,)
and toast, glee, and song became the order of the day.—
" The Queen," with three times three, was first given ; after
which Mr. Gillow sang the national anthem in very beautiful
style, the company joining in the chorus. " Sir Thomas
Stanley," " Ladv Stanley and Family," and " Mr. William
Massey Stanley" followed, each being drunk with enthusias-
tic cheers, which frequently mingled with and was swelled
by the blended shouts that came from the tunnel, elicited by
a similar cause. An appropriate song or glee was sung after
each toast. Next came the health of " Mr. Blundell," the'
highly respected steward of Sir Thomas Stanley, who return-
ed thanks, in an extremely neat speech, for the manner in
which his employer's health and that of his family had been
received, as well as for the honour which had been done him-
self. in doing so, he referred briefly but pointedly to the ad-
vantages, both immediate and prospective, which were likely
to result from the completion of the undertaking, the opening
of which they had met to celebrate. The healths of Mr. H.
Heyes, the engineer, of the president, vice-president, Mr.
Latham, and J. Jones were then drunk, and about half-past
seven o'clock the party broke up. The utmost conviviality,
good humour, and good order matked the day's proceedings,
—a result attributable in no slight degree to the gentlemanly
attentions of Mr. Blundell. 'Three or four policemen were
present under the orders of Mr. Whitty, the head constable
of Easthaitr(brother to our excellent head constable) ; but
their office proved to be almost a sinecure.—Journal.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

MANCHESTER-FRIDAY EVENING.

We noticed on Tuesday that several of the leading specu-
lators were then at Wolverhampton races. Two out of the
three certainties have come off to the satisfaction of the
fieldsmen. The defeat of St. Martin, by Heron, is, however,
rather contrary to expectation-6 to 4 was the current odds
on the loser, and sto 1 against Heron. The meeting was
exceedingly well attended, and the sport good.
The following will be found the average prices of the ap-
proaching great northern race :

THE DONCASTIift ST. TIGER.
7 to 2 against Colonel Peel's lon.
7to 2 „ Lord Chesterfield's Don John.
7to 1 ~ Mr. Parkin's Lanercost.
10 to 1 ~ Lord G. Bentinck's Grey Momus.
12 to 1 „ Mr. Bowes's Appleton Lad.
13 to 1 „ Mr. Coombe's Cobham.
14 to 1 ~ Duke of Cleveland's Alzira.
22 to 1 „ Mr. Fox's Jemmy Jumps.
40 to 1 „ Lord G. Bentinck's D'Egville (off.)
Nothing in the way of speculation has taken place on the
Victoria Stakes, to be run over Kersal Moor on the 30th ; it
is generally supposed that the forfeits will be very few; but
Monday next will settle that point.

TATTERSALL'S-THURSDAY.

The betting was slack, and is still further paralysed by the
doubt which hangs over Grey Momus as to whether he will
go to Doncaster or not : until that is cleared up, his price
must be regulated by the temerity of his backers, which con-
sist mainly of the public. A rather dull afternoon closed as
under :—•

DONCASTER ST. LEGER.
4 to 1 against Colonel Peel's lon (tk.)
4to 1 „ *Lord Chesterfield's Don John (tk.)
7to 1 „ •Mr. Parkin's Lanercost.
9to 1 „ Lord G. Bentinck's Grey Momus (t.)
•12to 1 „ •Mr. H. Coombes's Cobham (tk.)
12 to 1 „ Mr. Bowes's Appleton Lad (tk.)
20 to 1 „ Mr. S. L. Fox's Jemmy Jumps.
30 to 1 ~ Major Yarburgh's Easter.
40 to 1 „ Mr. J. 0. Fairlie's The Hydra (tk.)
40 to 1 ' , Lord 0 Bentinck's D'Egville.
100 to 40 against Grey Momus and Lanercost (tk;) 12 to 1
against Talleyrand and Jemmy Jumps (tk;) 6 to 4 on the
field against two (taken.)

HEATON PARK MEETING. 1838.
This " star" of the north shines forth With still greater
lustre the present year than has been the case since the com-
mencement of the meeting. The list, as far as it has yet
gone, is attractive in the extreme; and to the various stakes
already closed are appended the names of many of the elite
of the sporting world.
The races will take place on Wednesday, the 26th of next
month, and the two following days. For the first day's sport
there is a promise of four races, consisting of the Stanley
Stakes, the St. Leger, with 100 sovs. added, for which there
are thirteen subscribers. The skim over the T. Y. C. for the
Champagne Stakes has a fair show of youngsters ; and though
last, not least, the Heaton Park Stakes, has booked an entry
of thirty-four horses. We subjoin the list, together with the
weights, which will most probably be news to most of our
sporting readers.
9 2 Harkaway, 4 yrs 7 7 The Hydra, 3 yrs
9 2 The Potentate, 6 yrs 7 6c by Priam, out of May.
8 11 Epirus, 4 yrs flower, 4 yrs, h bred
8 1 1 Jupiter, 6 yrs 7 5 Creeping Molly, 3 yrs
810 Slashing Harry, 4 yrs 7 3 Rachel, 4 yrs
8 8 The Bard, 5 yrs 7 3 Golden Drop, 4 yrs
8 7 Cardinal Puff, 4 yrs 7 2 Vesper. 5 yes
8 7 Caravan, 4 yrs 7 2 Wee Willie, 3 yrs
8 6 Black Diamond, 5 yrs 7 2 Ole Bull, 3 yrs
8 5 Mus, 5 yrs 7 1 The Early Bird, 3 yrs
8 0 Darnley, 4 yrs 7 1 .Compensat ion, 3 yrs
8 0 Altamont, 6 yrs 7 1 Percy,hyMargrave,3 yrs
7 13 Chapeau d'Espagne, 4y 7 0 Cruiskeen, 4 vrs
7 10 c. by H. Clinker, out of 6 13 Harpurhey, 3 yrs
Gasparoni'o dam, 4 yrs 6 11 Northenden, 3 yrs
7 9 Appleton Lad, 3 yrs 6 8 Opera, 3 yrs
7 8 f by Economist, out of 6 4 Fairy Queen, 3 yrs
Skylark, 4 yrs 5 12 f by Tramp, out of Barn-
-7 7 Isaac, aged fylde's dam, 3 yrs
For the second day, the only two prizes as yet announced
are the glittering donation of mine host at the Bush, and the
late steward's piece of Gold Plate. For the formerthere are
entered Richard Roe, Cardinal Puff, The Potentate, Don
John, Epirus, Zotirab, The Bard, and Cowboy. For the
latter there are sikteen engaged.
The concluding day presents the allurement of the Man-
chester 200 soy. Cup, the Claret Stakes, for which ten are
entered; and several other stakes will be announced in due
time.

We understand that the noble earl has already invited a
numerous but select party to the hall during the races. The
course has been much improved since the last meeting; and
altogether every thing has been done to render this year the
most attractive that has yet occurred.

The Duke of Devonshire, it is now said, will not go to
Milan as Ambassador from England : he merely visits the
Continent to see Lord Granville at Aix-la-Chapelle.
MR. OASTLER.—We understand that it is the intention of
the tenants of the Fixby estate to give a grand dinner shortly
to Mr. Oastler, at which a piece of plate (a silver salver),
subscribed for by themselves, will be presented to that gentle-
man,' in token of their gratitude and esteem for the many
valuable services he has rendered them during the eighteen
years of his stewardship.— tepd. Intelligencen