The Express.
London, England, 1864-03-02 00:00:00

RAILWAY AND PUBLIC COMPANIES IN
PARLIAMENT.

Yesterday the committees appointed by parlia-
ment to investigate and decide upon the merits of the nu-
merous new railway and other public undertakings before
both houaes this session met for the first time in the north
corridor of the Howe of Commons, where the attendance of
the public and of the parties interested was unusually large.
The But committee, °Desisting of Mr. G. Hardy (chairman),
Sir J. Actoo, Sir H. Brune, and Minus. Bellew and Walker,
had referred for their cosaideratiou the following suburban
railways:—Edgware, Highgate. and London • Tottenham
and Hampstead Junction (Alexandra-park satimesions) ;
Hammersmith and City Railway ; Hammersmith and
Wimbledon Railway ; Crystal Palace end South London
Junction; Crystal Palace New Railways ; Finchley, Willes-
den, and Actor. Railway ; Kew, Turnbull Green, and Ham-
mersmith Railway ; Kiegston, Tooting. and London ; Lon-
don and South Western Railway (Kensington, &c., Exten-
sion) ; North and South Western Junction ; Tooting, Mer-
ton, and Wimbledon ; Watford and Edgware Jumbo's; and
Wc:odgreen and Enfield Railway. The committee selected
for consideration first what are termed the

ALEXANDRA PARK RAILWAYS., THE EDGWARE, HIGHGATE,
AND LONDON RAILWAT, AND THE TOTTINHAX AND HARP.
rsTEAD JUNCTION RAILWAY. —/LT. Denison, Q.C., with whom
was Mr. Wilkinson, opened the caw for the promoters of
the first project (the Edgware, Highgate, and London) at
great length. Evidence for the promoters was then called.
Mr. Cawkwell in favour of the Tottenham line. Mr.
Merewether, Q.C., appeared for the competing line, the
Tottenham and Hampstead (Alexandra Extension). The
committee at 4 o'clock adjourned to 12 o'clock this day.
GREAT NORTHERN AND Luos, BLADYORD AND HALIFAX
JCNCTION RAILWAYS AHALGAHATION.—The committee act
this bill were Mr. Haseard (chairman), Lient.-Col. Stewart.
Masers. Poosonby, Bollard, sad Mills. The ease was opened
by Mr. Hope Scott, Q.C., with whom was Mr. Tellable', on
behalf of the promoters. Mr. Burke, Q.C., Mr. V. Har-
court, Mr. Salisbury, and others oppose for the South York-
/hire, Manchester, Sbeftield and Lisoulnehire, West Riding,
arid other companies. Yr. Wilkinson, chairman of the
Leeda, Bradford, and Halifax, was the principal witness
examined daring the day in favour of the proposed amal-
gamation.

The bills puled in Mr. Mraser's committee were
Mande New /idle and Hayfield Junction Railway (for
altering it and extendiag for a further period of two years
the such altered portions, and to raise 10,0001. and borrow
33,00111.) ; Southwark and Vauxhall Water Company (to
rams for the extension of the uodertakieg sod increased
water supply 3/10,0001. in addition to present capital of
P00,000X) ; Hull Docks (to raise 150,000/. and borrow
75,0001. far enlargement of Victoria Dock sod other works ;
and Southwark Perk (to enable the Yetropolitas Board of
Works to make a park for the district of Southwark and its
suburbs).
ASHTON AND STALTBIUDGE WATIRROILIJ3.—Yesterday
the case for the promoters of the bill closed, and that for the
opposing parties was opened.

ROYAL G Elt•L ANNITITT SOCIITY.—A general
meeting of this society, adjourned from the 27th ult. was
held at the London Tavern on Monday. Sir John Maxwell,
who was voted to the chair, announced the result of the
efforts of the committee of inquiry. He said that they had
found the affairs to be in a very bad state. The sub-
scribers had not beeo called together since June 1861,
until January last, when those y t, instead of adopting
the accounts presented, pared a meolution appointing the
committee of inquiry (of which he was one). This proved
to be a most useful step. From June, 1861, to this time, the
society bad been managed by only two directors. the Rev.
Y. insigne° wed Mr. J. S. Leigh. Still the annaitaate had
been paid, although minutes had not been kept, the laws
observed, or expenses restricted. The charity was in itself
a most valuable and benevolent one, and confidence would
doubtless be restored by a sew and an efficient direction,
Mr. F. F. Toole moved that Sir John Maxwell, Mr. C.
Hammond, and Mr. J. North. all of whom be bad proposed
at the last meettag, be now elected as directors, and this
being carried, the following gentlemen were also elected—
Mr. Thomas &rip, M.P., Mr. H. C. Roberta, Mr. F. F.
Toole, Mr. J. 8. Leigh, Mr. J. Moir, Mr. J. Griffith,, Ned
Mr. G. Ellis. The committee were appointed to inquire
into all the .faire, especially during the last few years,
to revise the rules, and lipase( new officers, if necessary.
The chairman said be would do his best for the good cease.
Her Majesty end the Prince of Wales were patrons, and with
Lord Derby for presidsot, the new committee had an ex-
cellent prospect before them. Mr. H. C. Roberts was, he
said, so gratified by the prosiest proceedings that the
society's acounat at his bank which he had lately closed
might sow be again opened. Several gentlemen spoke,
and the meeting adjourned, after passing vote of thanks
severally to Mr. Roberta and the chair:sine.

A Meeting of citizens of Dublin was held oil
Mooday is the Rotondo, to pianist against the retest vote
of the eorpeesties appropriating a areas is Collage-grebe to
a statue to the Prince Cowan. The promoters. Wm-
heeding soother onlaught from the Fatima Brotherhood,
limited the admission. to a very select clique, who Dam-
bared about 500 person ; about 2,000 porton were coati&
snide( adagios... it wee auweeseed is the ednetiseetteat
that the body et tin mead room would be free Mille pablie,
bat imme were admitted *so* those few weald be
relied on se Meads of Mr. A. M. ttelliran sad his party. The
meeting wee held with closed dome, sad was of wane, to a
great mint, unanimous sad quiet. The O'Dowegliwa, Mr.
A. M. &Unary mad ethers, delivered eilidreme.