The Sun.
London, England, 1847-04-22 00:00:00

GROUP XL VII.

This Committee met to-day at the usual hour in Room 28,
but immediately afterwards adjourned on account of the
Commissioners reports not being ready.

GROUP L.
This Committee met to-day for the first time, in room 34
of the new houses of Parliament. The following is a list of
the Members to whom the Bills in,this group have been re-
ferred :—Mr. Bankes, Chairman; Mr. Henley, Mr. Carew,
Sir B. Hall, and Mr. Hindley.
The following is a list of the Bilts:
Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock, and Ayr, and Glasgow and
Belfast Union (No 1).
Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock, and Ayr (No. 2).
Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock, and Ayr, and Ayrshire, and
Bridge of Weir (No. 3).
Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and Ardrossan (Deviations and
Amendments).
Glasgow, Barrhead, and Neilston Direct.
Glasgow, Pai•ley, and Greenock (Amendments and Branches).
Glasgow, Paisley, and Greenock ( Branches at Port Glasgow).
Paisley, Barrhead, and Hurlet (Branches).
Paisley and Renfrew (Sale and Improvement).
Kilmarnock and Ayr Direct.
The business opened by the reading of the list of Bills, and
the petitions, with the appearances which had been put in.
The first Bill taken was the
GLASGOW, PAISLEY, HILVIARNOCS, AND
AYE, AND GLASGOW AND BELFAST
UNION (No. I.)
Mr. Talbot, Mr. Hope, and Mr. Burke, were for the promo-
ters ; Mr. Hilyard and Mr. Neill, of the Scotch Bar, on be-
half of the Corporation of Newton-upon-Ayr ; and Messrs.
Sloan and Geminell, ship-builder, in Newton-upon-Ayr; Mr.
Sergeant Murphy for Mr. John Taylor Gordon, a coal pro-
prietor.
stir. &TYE opened the case for the promoters of the Bill
which be said was put forth by the Glasgow, Paisley, Kil-
marnock, and Ayr Railway. The Bill consisted of several
branches and extensions, the principal of which was to con-
nect the main line of the Glrsgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock, and
Ayr Railway, and the Belfort Union Railway, now amalga-
mated with Aluirkirk and Glenbuck, important mineral dis-
tricts in the upper district of Ayrshire. This branch
was 26 milss in length. The others were small branches
branches to connect the ncrth and south quays of Ayr to the
manufacturing village of Catrine. The opposition was from
one or two private interests, as the authorities of Ayr, and
the principal landed proprietors, were in the favour of the
branches. The learned Gentleman then proceeded to call
his witnesses.
Mr. John Wilson, of Dundyvan, examined by Mr. BURKE,
deposed that he had an interest in extensive iron works at
Muirkirk and Auchenleck. The whole district was full of
iron, coal, and limestone. Both the blackband sad the
clayband iron-stone extensively existed along the route of
the main extension. The railway would be of great advan-
tage in connecting the works with the port of Ayr.
- Mr. Alexander, of Ballochmyle, gave evidence to a similar
effect.
Mr. Blythe, the engineer, briefly explained the nature of
the proposed connexion with the harbour of Ayr. He had
no objection that it should stop short at Messrs. Sloan and
Gemmell's slip, so as not to interfere with his building-yard.
He had no objection also that the branch should be worked
by horse-power.
Mr. Miller, civil engineer, corroborated the evidence of the
previous witness.
Mr. Miller, provost of Ayr, and Mr. Knight, traffic
manager of the Glasgow and Ayr line, were also examined
on behalf of the line.
This was the promoters' case.
Mr. HILDYARD then called Mr. Wood, chief magistrate of
Newton-upon-Ayr, and Mr. Smith, foreman of Messrs. Slow
and Gemmell, with the object of showing that the branch
would prove of great inconvenience at the crossing Newton-
terrace on the level, and would interfere seriously with the
building-yard and workshops.
Mr. HILDYARD then addressed the Committee on behalf of
the petitioners.
Mr. IL UItPHY, on behalf of Mr. Gordon, addressed the Com-
mittee against the toll clauses, especially the application of
the cx-mile clause to him.
The CHAIRMAN suggested that the point had better be left
for consideration after the preamble was disposed of.
The preamble was then declared proved.
After disposing of several clauses, their further considera-
tion was adjourned till to-morrow.