Tiger's Head

Kentish Weekly Post or Canterbury Journal, Tuesday 20 December 1836.

Meeting to oppose the Sandwich Railway.

A most influential meeting was held on Friday at the "Tigers Head," Footscray, to consort measures to oppose the Sandwich Railway. Among the distinguished noblemen, gentlemen, landowners and occupiers of property in the neighborhood of the Crays were the following:-

Viscount Sydney, Lord Bexley, Lord Wynford, Captain James Chapman Esq., Rev. G. Moore, Rev C. Frith, Rev. H. Warriner, Joseph, berens Esq., J. Wells Esq., N. Malcolm Esq., Thomas Waring, Esq., John Pawley, Esq., C. J. Lawson Esq., John Staples, Esq., Thomas Staples, Esq., Thomas Lewin, Esq., Rev. Leigh, L. Hull Esq., Rev. R. Brown, James Nettleship, Esq., N. May, ---- Baxter, T. Cooper, ---- Harris, H. Woodfall, W. Wyatt, Percival Hart Dyke "Esqre. Rev. J Hotham, ---- Kilpatrick Esq., Sir P. H. Dykes, bart., Isaac Minet, Hugh Johnstone, Alexander Evelyn and W. Cator. Esqrs.

Sir Percival Hart Dyke was unanimously called to the chair, and after various apologies had been made for the absence of many gentlemen, Captain Pringle produced the plan and section of the intended line to Sandwich; and Captain Catir said the meeting was called to give their opinion upon it.

A director of the new line Mr. Aimainck, we believe, asked of the chairman whether he might be allowed to say anything in favour of the line; and observed that the directors would do anything to improve the property through which the line was intended to pass, as well as to do away with everything that was ugly. He was willing to put the meeting right, before they went into Parliament with the bill, and stated that various persons who had been inimical to the project had been brought over to their interests.

Lord Wynford said, his reasons for objecting to this line was not because it would hurt his property, as the line would not come near it, but that it might hurt the property of others. His lordship concluded by saying he hoped such speculations were about to abate, as there was not any adequate remuneration for injuries done to property through which it was intended to pass to the coast, and that he should oppose it by all means in his power.

Captain Cator then asked if the Government had proposed to advance any money for this harbour (Sandwich); and been answered in the negative, said he hoped the meeting would do all in their power to prevent the line being carried into effect.

Joseph Berens, Esq., spoke in favour of the South Eastern Railway, and thought it very unfair that others should come in after the great expense they had been, and say that this or that line was better, and so do away with a compact entered into with former companies.

Mr. Aimsinck said he should hope every indicidual would give his opinion on the best line, and trusted the meeting would suspend their resolutions until the beginning of January, pledging himself that a meeting should then be called then, as at present Sir. T. Troubridge was too ill to attend the meeting.

Mr. Alderman Wood adverted to the competition in hope, and stated, his reason for supporting the new line was, that he should be able to get his hops much quicker by that conveyance that then by water. He had purchased hops at Canterbury to the amount of £30,000 a month, and would appeal to the meeting whether it would not be a desirable thing for him to have his hops brought to the market by the quickest conveyance, instead of letting so much capital lay idle, which would be the case every day they were detained from market. They asked, would not the farmers benefit by putting into his hands at a cheaper rate, by means of the certainty of this conveyance, and with respect to fruit, would it not be better for them that it should go by this line then by water.

The meeting then separated.