The Sun.
London, England, 1847-04-21 00:00:00

GROUP XXI.

SHREWSBURY AND BIRMINGHAM RAIL-
WAY ACT AMENDMENT AND BRANCHES.
The Committee met at twelve o'clock ; Sir J. Graham in
the chair.
The clauses in this Bill, which were passed at the last meet-
ing of the Committee, were agreed to, and the Chairman
intimated that he should report the decision of the Committee
to the House.

OXPORDI WORCESTER AND %VOMITER-
RAMPTON—EXTANSION AND AMEND-
MENT.—(No. XI.) _ . .

Mr. COCKBUILN opened the case for the promoters of this
Bill. After referring at same length to the proceedings
which took place last session, with respect to the original
Bill, he said the objects of the present Bill were
the construction of a branch from Stanbridge by Rendall
Hill, to the Oxford, Worcester, and olverhampton line,
by which the Bill was promoted; and from Rendall Hill to
near Oldbury, en the Dudley Branch, which formed a junc-
tion with the Oxford and Wolverhampton, at Dudley; for
forming a junction with the Halesowen branch of the Bir-
mingham and Gloucester; and also for the purpose of effect-
ing some necessary deviations in the main line. The cost of the
whole would be 390,0001. Both gauges would be laid down.
A line promoted by the Birmingham, Dudley, and Wolver-
hampton Company, traversing nearly the same route, from
Stourbridge to West Bromwich, opposed the line for which
he applied; but as the promoters of the line for which he
appeared were the first in the field, and as they offered
better accommodation to the district than their opppo-
nents, be trusted that the Committee would see the necessity
of passing the preamble.

BIRMINGHAM, WOLVERHAMPTON, AND
DUDLEY (STOURBRIDGE AND WEST
BROMWICH, ETC.).

Mr. WHATZLEY then opened the ewe for the promoters
of this line, the one alluded to by Mr. Cockburn.
He admitted that the line traversed nearly the same
route as the other, and that the district stood much in
need of one of the lines; but his line, in an engineer-
ing sense, was superior to its opponent. Should, however
the Committee decide in favour of his Learned Friend's line,
he trusted that the Committee would think fit to allow those
for whom he appeared to construct that portion of it between
Randall Hill and West Bromwich.

Mr. Francis Rufford, the V chairman of the Oxford,
Worcester, and Wolverhampton, said the main line was
passed in 1845, and it was then expressly stated to the Com-
mittee that it would be followed by branches like those pro-
posed, for the purpose of meeting the vi ants of the important
district which they were prepared to traverse. He admitted
that some of the proprietors of the works on the proposed
branches were opposed to them; but they were opposed to
the main line in 1845, yet it was passed, and they could not
deny that the line would offer great advantages to them.
One of the largest Congreve works was a considerable dis-
tance below the level of the line, and would be joined by a
steep tramroad.
Mr. W. MArrirEws, an extensive iron master, in the dis-
trict and in South Wales, considered that the branches were
absolutely necessary to give efficient railway accommoda-
tion to the district. He did not know that one possessed much
advantage over the other. That they should be in connec-
tion with the Great Western and the Oxford, Worcester, and
Wolverhampton, and under, in fact, the management, was
most essential, both in respect to cheapness and public con-
venience.

Cross-examined by Mr. Hors—Considered the proposed
lines simply required to complete the scheme of the Oxford,
Worcester, and Wolverhampton.
Adjourned till to-morrowathis day).

GROUP XXVIII.
The Committee met this morning at 12 ; Mr. T. D. Acland
n the chair.

BOSTON ZUVIATIONS.

Mr. PAGET stated that in order to save the Committee
trouble he might inform them, that although Mr. Cubitt and
Mr. Rastrick had been consulted, agreeably to an arrange-
ment respecting the several stations of the two companies,
he regretted to say that on an application to the Admiralty
they had been refused permission to proceed, and were there-
fore under the necessity of withdrawing the Bill.