The Sun.
London, England, 1862-05-28 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, VVED NE SD A. V* VE MING, ig AY 28, 1862,

RAILWAY AND PUBLIC COMPANIES
IN PARLIAMENT.
Yesterday the case of the Vale of Neath and Swan-
sea and Neath Railway Companies Bill was taken
in Mr. Howes's committee, the object of it being to
authorise the Vale of Neath, who have already
subscribed £lOO,OOO in the Swansea and Neath, to
subscribe for the remaining £20,000 of tbe autho-
rised capital, and to lend to the latter £40,000, with
power to the Vale of Neath to add narrow gauge
rails on their own line, and to raise for that and
incidental expenses £133,000. After hearing evi-
dence pro and con, the committee passed the bill.
The bill for incorporating the Dare Valley Railway
for the construction of mineral branches in Glamor-
ganshire, in connection with the Taff Vale Railway,
was withdrawn, and tho committee commenced
the consideration of the Llanelly Railway and Dock
Bill, for deviations and arrangements in their
Swansea and Carmarthen lines, and toraise £32,000.
The proposal of the Birkenhead Docks and West
Cheshire Junction Railway for ten branch lines in
that locality, of an aggregate length of 25 miles,
and to raise £600,000 in shares, and £200,000 by
loan, the Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire,
and Midland Railway Companies subscribing
£200,000 each, occupied Mr. Hassard's committee.
The case of the Mold and Wrexham closed with the
hearing of the opposition of the London and North
Western, and the competing line of the Whitchurch,
Wrexham, Mold, and Connahs Quay Railway, with
a proposed capital of £320,000, broke ground. The
evidence of Mr. Fowler, C.E., on the Bristol and
Clifton Railway, occupied the attention of that com-
mittee all day, and evidence for the promoters of
the Hull extension of the Lancashire and Yorkshire
is not yet concluded in Mr. Wood's committee. In
Lord Churston's committee of peers, the bills of the
Nrid Sussex and Midhurst Junction, and Kington
and Eardisly Railways were fully considered and
passed, but the final settlement of the Brighton
Compani's bill for their new lines in Lord Taun.
ton's committee is postponed to this day.

THE EMBANKMENT OF THE THAMES.
The committee resumed its sittings yesterday, to
proceed with the opposition to this bill. The Right
Hon. W. Cowper in the chair.
Mr. Miller said he proposed now to call evidence
on behalf cf Sir Robert Peel and other lessees of
property at Whitehall-place.
Mr. Galbraith, civil engineer, produced a plan of
the premises, and the height of the wall that would
be required in front' of the houses to prevent per
sons looking over from the embankment. Lord
Gage and Mr. Horsman had no view of the river
except from the front windows, and if this wall was
to be constructed that view would be shut out. By
the embankment 150 feet would be added to Lord
Gage's house. His present house is 115 feet, so that
if the ground that was to be acquired by the em-
bankment was to be added to it, that would make
his house 265 feet from the embankment. Still he
thought that would be an injury to Lord Gage's
property.
Lord Gage was then called, and he said he resided
at No. 4, Whitehall-yard. His principal view of
the river was in a direct line. It was proposed to
have a roadway in front of his house, which would
be quite destructive of its privacy, although a quan-
tity of land was to be reclaimed and to be the pro-
perty of the Crown. At present he experienced no
inconvenience from the smell of the river, and as to
the steamboats passing, they were no annoyance to
him. On the contrary, they added gaiety to the
scene. He was prepared to contribute towards the
expense of an embankment, supposing that it was
not to be a public road. If it were proved to his
satisfaction that this roadway would be a great
public convenience, and that private interests must
give way to it, then he must give way, as he would
have no choice. If a roadway was formed in front
of his house, on which persons could ride and walk,
he thought it might be a convenience, but there
would not be much pleasure in it.
Mr. Horsman, M.P., said he lived at No. 1, Rich-
mond-terrace, and held his house under a lease
from the Crown until 1929. If the embankment
was formed the privacy of his house would be de.
stroyed. He bad been invited to be a member of
Sir Joseph Paxton's committee in 1860, because he
might be considered to have a private interest in it,
and also because he did not wish to be an opponent
of an embankment which might be proved to be a
public convenience. If this was the only line pro-
posed it would be difficult for the Crown lessees to
object to it, however clumsy and crude it might
be. In that case they would have to stand neu-
tral. As to forming an agreeable promenade on
the bank of the river for the recreation of the
public, apart from any useful purpose, that would
be a proposition for which there was no precedent
in Parliament. Sir Joseph Paxton's committee
made three recommendations for an embankment.
namely—to facilitate the construction of the low-
level sewer, to improve the navigation of the river,
and to relieve the traffic. He believed that, as there
was a choice of routes, it would be a great waste of
public money to make the roadway on an embank-
ment . To disgorge a large amount of traffic into
Bridge-street could not fail to be an interruption.
He was not aware that an act of Parliament gave
powers for the compulsory purchase of land for
Battersea Park. He had never heard of it. He
believed the best plan would be to make an em-
bankment from the point proposed by Mr. Penne-
thorne up to Blackfriars-bridge. To bring additional
traffic into Bridge-street, by another roadway join-
ing it at Westminster-bridge at right angles, could
not fail to be an injury and an obstruction. He had
no doubt the public would like to have a roadway
in front of the river, but he held that business
should considered before pleasure. As to the Royal
Commission of 1861, he thought it was the worst
the First Commissioner could have appointed, as
they bad already committed themselves to this
scheme, and had prejudged Mr. Pennethorne's plan.
He did not appear before the committee as a lessee,
but as one of the public ; end if he lived in the
middle of Richmond-terrace, or at the other end of
it, he should -have given the same evidence. He was
of opinion that a much better selection of members
might have been made, if men who had hitherto
expressed no opinion had been brought to consider
the question. The chairman and Sir J. Paxton were
in favour of the present scheme, and therefore they
were not in a state of mind impartially to consider
Mr. Pennethorne's plan. He had merely signed a peti-
tion against the bill to give him a locus staluli in
supporting the alternative line of Mr. Pennethorne.
He had heard that no printed estimate had been
presented by Mr. Hunt of the expense of the em-
bankment, that it was merely a viva voce statement
made by him to the Royal Commissioners. It was
said by counsel that the Duke of Buccleuch would
have 120 feet of ground added to his garden ; but
he must express his surprise that any counsel should
have made such an observation, as there was no
clause in the bill by which that acquisition of land
would be secured tohim. As to the Royal Com-
misssioners, he believed they did their work
clumsily, and came to their report very loosely, to
say the least of it. If any plan were required that
should increase the obstruction and crowded state

of Bridge-street more than another, this plan would
gain the first prize over all other competitors. If

the Government were to make the embankmen

be lessees were unanimously favourable to a per
_ _

tentage being added to their rent to pay for the
embankment. The object of this bill was a public

one, but there was a principle involved in it, as it
interfered with private rights. In the case of the
Duke of Buccleuch, although no land belonging to
him was taken, yet his private rights were inter-
fered pith, as he was cut off from the river. The
interests of the public were prejudiced by being
adroitly mixed up with the private rights of the
Duke of BUecleuch. Nothing could be more objec-
tionable than making the projectors of the bill
Judges in determining it in committee; and, so far
from the First. Commissioner nominating certain
members of it, the whole of the committee ought to
have been appointed by the Committee of Selection.
On
that the Bth
000 of May
4, v
the police authorities reportedehicles
passed over Westminster-
bridge, of which number 1,880 were carts and
waggons; but he did
lieve the obstruction of not think it would re-
Parliament-street and
Bridge-street if about half of that num-
ber were diverted from Bridge-street and the West-)

minster-bridge and passed along the embankment
road, as the traffic joining the embankment road
would cause greater obstruction than the relief
afforded by ic. He condemned the First Commis-
sioner and Sir Joseph Paxton sitting on the com-
mittee, as they were something like the chairman
and vice-chairman of the Great Western Railway
sitting to try a bill in which they were personally
interested. He never for a moment meant to im-
pute that they had any other than a public object
in view. If a grand improvement were required,
let them take away one block of buildings in Par-
liament-street and throw it open to King-street,
which would greatly relieve the traffic, and at the
same time be a great ornament to the metropolis.
He saw no reason why the committee should not
adopt the plan so far as to allow the construction of
the low-level sewer, leaving the rest of it and Mr.
Pennethorne's scheme for consideration next year.
If the embankment is made at the expense of the
Crown, and the land so reclaimed is thrown into
the gardens of the Crown lessees, the public would
have no more right to go into those gardens than
they would have to walk into the drawing-rooms.
If the Crown had the power to purchase the land
which lies between Richmond-terrace and West-
minster-bridge, and construct an embankment, he
believed that it would prove to be a very profitable
investment.

Mr. Calvert said that was his case on behalf of
Sir It. Peel, Mr. Martin, Lord Gage, Mr. and Mrs.
Tomlin, Mr. Horsman, and Dr. Sutherland.
The room was then cleared, and remained so
until the Speaker was announced to be at prayers,
when the committee adjourned.

RAILWAY IN2ELLIGENCZ

COLNE VALLEY.

The extension of this line from Castle Heding-
ham to Yeldham was opened on Monday. The
navvies on the line were entertained at dinner, and
other rejoicings took place in honour of the event.
The works between Yoldhum and Haverhill, where
the line will terminate for the present, are being
actively proceeded with, and will probably be com-
pleted by the cud of the year.

EAST INDIA IRRIGATION AND CANAL.
The directors state in their report that the nego-
tiation with Government, which commenced so far
back as June, 1858, for the settlement of terms to
enable the company to commence its first opera-
tions, has been finally and satisfactorily concluded
by the approval of a deed of contract by the
Supreme Court of India, and the execution of such
deed by the company. They have been enabled to
appoint as their chief engineer in India Lieutenant-
Colonel F. H. Rundall, lately superintending en-
gineer of the Godavery Irrigation and Navigation
Works, an officer of large experience in the con-
struction of hydraulic works in India. The deed
of contract provides that the whole of the works
shall be constructed in accordance with plans ap-
proved by the local Government; that all land to
be occupied by such works, including banks on
either side of the canals, to whatever breadth may
be considered necessary, including sites for the
storage of water, shall be provided for the Govern-
ment free of charge ; that all water to be supplied
for irrigation shall be sold by the company to the
Government, to the extent of the public demand, at
prices to be fixed by arbitration; that the whole of
the prices so fixed, less the extra cost of collection,
shall belong to the company, up to 25 per cent. upon
the capital expended upon the works, after which
the surplus shall be divided equally between the
Government and the company; that the whole of
the profits to be derived from the navigation of the
water ways opened up shall belong to the company
solely; that the Government shall have the right
to purchase the works constructed at the expiration
of the first 20, or the first 30, or the first 40, or the
first 50 years after payment for irrigation, at the
market value of all the shares, taken at the average
price of the three preceding years. It also provides
for the settlement by arbitration of all differences
which may arise between the Government and the
company. Interest at 5 per cent. per annum will
be paid on the deposit and calls during construction.
The capital received to the 31st December last
amounted to £47,308, and the expenses to £6,126,
leaving a balance of £41,182.

ST.,4IE OF TRADE.

MANCHESTER, May 27.—There has been very
ittle business in yarn, but prices are very firm. In-
activity is the feature of every department, but
spinners are less disposed to give way than for
some time past, finding their hands strengthened
by the improved state of the cotton-market, and in
some cases are asking rather more for their yarns.
In the cloth-market there is also inactivity as a rule,
though the letters from India, which are to April
22, have caused a better feeling. In these, in fact,
is foreshadowed, for the first time during a long
period of depression, a coining improvement, which
it is believed may have an important bearing upon
our market. By these accounts it appears that a
free demand was springing up from buyers for the
interior. There had naturally been a struggle be-
tween these buyers and the holders of goods which
should have the advantage arising out of the Go-
vernment reduction of 5 per cent. on the tariff, but
sellers appear to have obtained their point, and this
gain in price, and the news has im-
is an important
parted a more cheerful feeling to shippers in the
Manchester market, though the business doing is
comparatively small. The political information
from America also seems to be well received, and
the feeling of panic which lately pervaded the
market appears to be passing away to some extent.
Buyers, however, are generally acting with much
caution, and, owing to the stocks still held by mer-
chants, any advantage in price, like any increase of
demand, will be slow in reaching the manufacturer.
Some of the home-trade house, though not doing
much in the general market, aro reported to have
been busier lately themselves than for some time
past, and, though most of their orders from the
country continue to be on a comparatively small
scale, there is a rather more hopeful feeling for the
trade here, in this and the other prospects of the
market, if nothing should occur to interfere with the
feeling of more confidence gradually showing itself.
Messrs. john Slagg and Co. report :—" Since Tues-
day last the market has gradually recovered from
the extreme depression then existing, and yester-
day and to-day, since the receipt of the last
American accounts, manufacturers have shown
less anxiety to sell, and have generally raised their
quotations. So far, however, there is no improve-
ment in the demand, buyers still acting with great
caution, and the amount of business doing continues
on a very limitect scale."

1. DUNDEE, 24th.—This has been another quiet
) week, every branch being lifeless, and both spin-
ning and manufacturing unprofitable. Several ves-
sels have now arrived from Riga with fresh flax.
The quality of the higher marks is unsatisfactory,.
but the lower are not approved. The prices asked
are considered high, and little business has been
done. One very large transaction in fresh Riga
flax afloat has been concluded with one of the chief
' spinning firms hero, at prices considerably under
market quotations. This has caused some remarks,
es the sellers are reported to be buying in Riga at
current rates. Tow and cedilla are not in much re-
quest. Jute is not active, and can be bought here
nearly as cheap as in London. For years spinners
aro now firm in their prices, which restricts the sale
to present wants. A considerable business is doing
in linens, but the demand is scarcely equal to the
production, which keeps the market languid.
LEEDS, 27th.---Thu market in the cloth halls to-
day have presented no feature of a particularly
striking character. There was scarcely an average
attendance of buyers, and those who were present
bought sparingly. The purchases of heavy goods
in the bulk state rather exceeded those of last Tues-
day, but there was not quite so much done in light.
fabrics. The country manufacturers and clo-
thiers report that they are neither better nor
worse employed than last week. Wools are mode-
rately steady in price, but, as is usually the case dur-
ing the holding of the colonial sales in London, the
local dealers are not doing much just now. At the
Pontefract wool market, on Saturday, the following
prices were obtained for the new clip ;—Best hog'

wool, 22s ti)-2tZs 6d per 14.-11 b ; two-third hog, 21s
to 21s 6d ; half-heg, 20s 3d to 20s 9d ; ewes, 18s to
18s 9,1,

ROCPDALE, 261,—The fl--,nnel market hl3 peen
a shade batter than last Reek. Within the past
few days some good purchases have been made—it
is alleged for exportation to America—which has
improved the demand to a slight degree to-day.
The Yorkshire goods trade, too, is a little better,
and there is more demand for kerseys. Prices are
steady, manufacturers generally refusing to take
orders for future delivery except at the current
rates. There was not much done in wool to-day,
manufacturers and dealers being alike disposed to
wait till the new clip comes to hand.