Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-03-04 00:00:00

FOREIGN

The Vienna journals have assumed a more war-
like tone. The Oste Deusehe Post plainly deplares
that Austria cannot renounce the particular con-
vention which she has concluded with the Italian
States.

The Grand Duke Nicholas has just made a most
minute examination of all the Russian breeding
studs, for horses in the military establishments on
the Austrian and Danubian frontiers.
The Piedmontese Government has taken mea-
sures, in conjunction with the authorities at New
York, to have Poerio and his companions provided
with money on their arrival, and to place a steamer
at their disposal, in order to convey them to
Piedmont.

M. Alexandre, Minister of Foreign Affairs to
Prince Conza, Hospodar of the Danubian Princi-
palities, has just left for London. During his stay
in Paris he was received by the Emperor.

THE NORTHERN TIMES, FRIDAY, MARCH 4 1859

GILOUP VI.
(From our ouya .Roporter.)

HOUSE OF 0031M0N3, Thursday

The committee on this bill sat at one o'clock. It con-
sisted of the following members : 'Messrs. Ridley (chair-
man), 'Bathurst, -Russell, Tugh, and Reebom.
Petitions from the Corporation of Liverpool, the Mer-
sey Docks and Harbour
_Board, the London and North-
Western Railway, and the Great Western Railway, Were
presented against the bill, .
Mr. Alexander, Q.C., and. Mr. Webster, were counsel
for the promoters of the bill, -
'Mr. Hope Scott., Q.C., Mr. Merewethe'r, Q.C., Mr.
Sergeant .Wrangham, Mr. Rodwell, Q C.; and Mr. Burke
represented the petitioners opposing the bill.
Mr. Alexander opened4he case on behalf of the pro,
moters of the bill. He said the line which was at pre-
sent sought for was a line of eight miles from Hooton to
Ellesmere, which would shorten the distance from
Birkenhead to Warrington. The Cost.was only £107,000,
and he did not find a single petition which objected to,
the line itself being constructed. It was not so mull for
the interests of the railway company as for the convenience
of the public. He hoped ;to lay before the committee
ample grounds for inducing them to assent to the prayer.
of the promoters of this bill. There was no "Objection to
it, and it was most useful for public purpoSes that-the dis-
tance from Birkenhead to Manchester should be shortened.

Mr. Alderman Bancroft called and ex.amined by Mr.
Webster.—l. was chairman of the Birkenhead Railway in
1343, and continued chairman till 1849. Have been a
director .since that time. The existing company originally
consisted of two lines. The original line. was the Chester.
and Birkenhead Company, established under the act of
1837. In 1846 the line which was called the Cheshire
line was formed. Shortly after I joined the line, the
board was under considerable difficulty ; they had entered
into contracts on their amalgamation, and their liabilities
amounted to almost £500,000. Au arrangement was
entcred'into with the London and North-Western Com-
pany to carry the traffic to Manchester, the Birkenhead
company not being able to complete the line to
Manchester. Under all the circumstances, he believed that
to be a beneficial agreement. That agreement reserved the
power of making the Hootbn. and Ellesmere branch, the
line now sought for. The state of the clockworks at Birken-
head had something.to.do with the difficulty in which the
company found themselves. From JBl7 to 1856 very little
was done in theirconStruction. They had now passed into
the hands of the Mersey Docks and harbour Board, and were
now in progress. The time defined for their .coMpletiOn
is contained in the act. It is important this line should
be established. There was no objection, to the line; the
landowners were all unanimously in favour of it.; The
company possessed some property on the Tranmere PoOl
that- would be a useful station for the company for the
discharge of coal. The company are, in such a financial
position as will enable them to undertake the construction
of this line. The works were intended to be raised
out of the surplus. capital which the company had the
power of raising. The sums contributed by the re-
spective companies for the construction of the station at

Chester were,by the London and North-western, £67,164 ;
Chester and • Holyhead, £67,164 ; *Great Western Com-
pany, £44,776 ;, Birkenhead, Lalcashire, and Cheshire
Junotion Railway, £90,360. There is a clause con-
tained in the London and North-western Company's
act

which refers to a revision of
but not to the cost of construction

the working expenses,
The 28th section of,

the bill now before the committee • refers to the revision
of the cost of construction and working expenses. • 'The
line from Hooton to Ellesmere would save going through
this station. The state of things existing at Canning-
street is very inconvenient, owing to the lines of railway
across the street, and must be obviated sooner or later.
In 1852 an act passed requiring the company to remove

an embankment .in Canning-street, which w:as felt to be
a great inconvenience. This subject of stopping up
Canning-street was before a committee of the Idouse of
Commons in 1847, and they approved of its being stopped
up, but the bill was thrown out. by the Lords. By the

act of last year the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board
were authorised to make a great float, and also to make a
new street, for the purpose of increasing the communica-
tion between Bridge-street . and Woodside. Could not

see any objection to clauses 13 and 14 01 the but for
making arrangements about the traffic.
Cross-examined by Mr. Hope Scott : The proportions
to be contributed for making the Chester station were
settled by agreement. The Hooton and Ellesmere liuc
which was now sought for, was part of the
1844

:home of

provided once tor all for Atte revi-
sion of the proportions of the expenses incurred in.the
construction of the Chester station. There is a great
difference in the mileage of the Birkenhead, Lancashire,
'and Cheshire Junction Railway, and the other companies
going into Chester station.
Cross-examined by Mr. Merewether : The Birkenhead
company has been in not unfrequent negotiations with
other companies. Those negotiations extended as far
back as 1845, when ti' p prop Med to anialgamate ith the
Chester and Holyhead Railway. The amalgamation did
not take 'place. In 1850 entered into an agreement
with the London and North Western Company,.hy which
there was to be a very strict alliance. In 185:2 there
was a proposal with that company to work the Birken-
head Company, and to have the control of the traffic for 99
years. In 1853, introduced a bill for the purpose of leas-
ing to the London and North Western, which bill was
suspended owing to Mr. Cardwelrs motions. In 1851
had negotiations with the Great 'Western Company. A
bill was brought in in that. year; that bill receded from
in consequence' of the Great Western Company departing
from the terms of the agreement. It was not until it was
distinctly understood that the arrangement with the
London.and North-Western had .ceased that they entered
into negotiations with the London and Great "Western
Company. The clause in the bill of 1855, for .the revi-
sion of the proportions to be contributed by the, various
companies for the construction of the Chester station, was
introduced at our instance. The traffic at Chester, station
is that which pays the Birkenhead, Lancashire, and
Cheshire Junction Railway a toll. Do not recollect that
for certain objections the clause in the corporation bill
having reference to Canning-street, was struck out when
the bill was brought, into committee._ The corporation
inserted the clause at the instance of the Birkenhead and
Cheshire Junction Railway Company, the corporation in-
timating that if there was any serious opposition to the
clause, they would not endanger their bill by keeping it in,
There were rails erected across Canning-street. We
propose, in the present. bill, to stop up a portion of
Canning-street. We have entered into an agreement
with the Birkenhead Commissioners to widen Taylor-
street, to provide forUe stopping up of Canning-street.
I have not the agreement with the Commissioners. In this
neighbourhood there are lessees of the_ Corporation. •

lie-examined by Mr. Webster : 'Those rails laid down
at Canning-street are necessary for the trade of the port,
and more will have to be laid down. The Birkenhead
Cothpany have had very little peace between the London
and North-Western and the London and Great Western
Companies. We have been dragged to Parliament ses-
sion after session to defend ourselves. By the 14th sec-
tion of the act of 1847, the Birkenhead Company have
power to enter into contracts with the London and
North-Western Company, reserving to themselves the
right of making the line from Ilooton to Ellesmere.
Clauses were in preparation for carrying out the arrange-
ments entered into with the Birkenhead Commissioners
with respect to Taylor-street. The land there belongs to
the Birkenhead Company.
At the-close of Mr. Bancroft's evidence, the committee
adjourned to eleven o'clock this day.

MARRIAGE IN HIGH LlFE.—Yesterday morning, the
marriage of Lady Harriet de Burgh, youngest and only
unmarried daughter of the Marquis and Marchioness of
Clanricarde, with I'. Vernon Wentworth, Esq., only son
of F. and Lady Augusta Wentworth, of Wentworth
Castle, Yorkshire, was solemnised at St. James's Church,
Piccadilly. Long before the church doors were open,
the churchyard was crowded with elegantly dressed ladies,
anxious to be spectators_of the religious rite. Shortly
after eleven the bridegroom arrived, accompanied by his
best man. The fair bride was accompanied by the Mar-
quis and Marchioness of Clanricarde, and was attired in a
rich moire dress covered with costly Brussels lace, flowers,
and veil to match, her headdress consisted of myrtle and
orange flowers, white lilies, and roses ; in her hand was a
magnificent bouquet of hothouse flowers. The bridesmaids
were dressed in white satin, trimmed with blue silk,
blue silk scarfs, white laced bonnets trimmed to match,
with blue flowers. The bride and bridegroom, with
their friends, having taken up their position in front of
the communion table, the marriage ceremony was per-
formed by the Rev. E. Kempe, M.A., rector of St
James's Church, the bride being given away by her
noble father. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the
newly-married pair and noble friends repaired to the
vestry-room, where the marriage was duly attested.
The wedding party then repaired to 2, Carlton House-
terrace, Pall-mall, where the Marquis and Marchioness of
Clanricarde gave a splendid dejeuner in celebration of
the happy event. Amongst the company we noticed
Lady Augusta Wentworth, Lady Sligo, Lady Carew,
Lady A. Browne, Lady E. Browne, Lady Spencer, Lady
Cork, the Hon. Mrs. and Miss Bathurst, Lady Lichfield,
Ladies Anson, the daughters of the Speaker •of the
House of Commons, F. Vernon Wentworth, Esq.,
besides a very large assemblage of the nobility and mem-
bers of parliament. The newly-wedded couple, after a
cordial parting with their friends, left town for Stoke
Park, the seat of Lady Augusta Wentworth, Nor-
thampton.

THE BIRKENHEAD, LANCASHIRE, AND
CHESHIRE JUNCTION RAILWAY BILL.
ROUSE OF COMMONS COMMITTEE ON PRIVATE BILLS.--