The Sun.
London, England, 1847-06-24 00:00:00

..- - -

RAILWAY COMMITTEE

(THIS DAY.)

HOUSE OF LORDS.
Room C.
BIRMINGHAM, WOLVERHAMPTON, ANS"
STOUR VALLEY (No. IL) BRANCHES.
Their Lordships met this morning at eleven o'clock.
Mr. Robert Stephenson, C.E., was re-examined by Mr.
Hope on behalt of the promoters of the scheme. The
narrow gauge was much more suitable for the develor
ment of the traffic in the Staffordshire districts.
It
could be much more easily worked in connexion with
the existing canals of that district, and it would also
have the advantage of communicating with the great
majority of the railways at present constructed, or id
course of construction, throughout the country, without
break of gauge. By the construction of this line, Stour-
bridge and the whole of the mineral district would be
placed on an unbroken communication with the whole of
the Midland system of railways—the North-Westeed
Railways, and the Oxford and Birmingham Railway as
at
present authorised to be constructed. It was his opinion that
canals could not successfully compete for the 103 g
traffic with railways, except perhaps in such articles a‘
coals and minerals, not requiring a speedy transit; but
even in the case of coals, such a system of pilfering wad
habitually carried on, that the loss by that system fre
quently exceeded the whole cost of carriage. Coalsl
bad
also to contend against the disadvantage of drought I
summer and frost in winter. Many canal companies had
wisely foreseen the unequal contest in which they werd
about to be engaged, and had, in order to prevent the
consequences of such competition, either purchase?,
leased, or projected railways themselves; and it was purchase
most decided opinion that unless the railways of Stafford
shire could be made to work in conjunction Yin"
the canals, the public could not possibly derive
any benefit from the competition. The Prr
posed line would afford facilities for being work edted
ir!
conjunction with the canals. The line was not projec
merely as a competing line, but as one which w,_612
imperatively called for by the growing wants of tos
district which it proposed to supply.
had
Mr. Rastrick, C.E., examined by Mr. LAINGSe
gone over the proposed line, and considered it Iv!:
11
adapted to provide for the wants of the district, and
giving ample accommodation to the various coal
and iron works of the district.
In his cross examination he admitted that he had laid
out a line in the year 1836 through the same districts, ,
the gradients upon which were somewhat more favourabii
than upon this line, and if he had to lay out a line r
present in the district, he would not lay it out exact)
in the same manner as the present one; he would adopt_
his original line, with such alterations and modificatiol
as he thought the increased trade of the district align
call for.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
GROUP VI.
SERIES AND HANTS EXTENSZON.
Ascl
The Committee met at the usual hour, and proce—
to hear evidence with respect to this line.
The first witness called was Mr. John Sall, grocer, f
cI
Newbury, who gave evidence of the advantages whi
con'
he he would derive in carrying on his business if a
nexion were afforded to him with Bristol and the west °I

England.
Mr. MERREWEATIIER was proceeding to CTOSS4.-- of
this witness on behalf of the inhabitants of the town
Devises, when he was interrupted by ;„,.. on
Mr. ALEXANDER, who objected to his appear..-0
that petition.
After hearing the arguments on both sides, the °arol3l„.
mittee decided that the Learned Counsel could net
pear upon that petition, but that he could, of eetlri:,
appear on the petition of certain landowners whore
represented. yidenne
Mr. Horner, barge master of Newbury, gave e tom-
also as to the benefits which would result from —
flexion between Newbury and the west of England.

GROUP XXX.
.AXHOTAYIE (FROM LEEDS AND SSlall)d.ea
The Committee met at the usual hour, and procee
to hear evidence in favour of the proposed extension 01
the Leeds and Selby Railway.

MARLBRO'-STREET—(THIS
Morgan Jones. a sturdy young fellow, was blvtigh
before Mr. Bingham, charged with annoyin liningl,,o2
Burgoyne, at No. 2, Brook-street, by impor 70
for alms, and also assaulting the police in the exentl""
of
It their
duty.
appeared that the complainant was returning fr,;
party about one o'clock this morning, and Was gni(
entering his residence, when the prisoner pushed hin3B-*
before him, and asked for money, stating that he 1415,*
poor Welch lad out of employ,' anti starving. 'l%;
plainant told the prisoner that ihe was so destitiVe -
he described, he should apply for relief at the v/01.kg
house. The prisoner then made use of abusive langusPe*
and accused complainant with taking a bunch of ro. se,,
from him. The prisoner at length became so excessiv
insolent, that he sent his servant for a constable, and gliT
him in charge.
Police-constable 174 C, said he received cbarr! of the
prisoner, and on their way to the station he Witness(prisoner
threw him down, and kicked him violently. d
then procured the assistance of another constable, an
conveyed mto the statiC,on.
Police-co him to the station.
Police-constable 46 corroborated the evidence of
. _

last witness.
The prisoner denied begging of complainant,
refuse
stated, had taken a bunch of roses from him, and efu,s_,le•
e
to pay for them. He admitted striking the constau
but not kicking him in the manner described. 8, flor,
Mr. BINGHAM committed him to the House
r of •-•
action for one calendar month, with hard labour. 4,
O'
Edward Fox, the man who was brought before
Bingham on Tuesday last, charged with attempting
extort money by infamous threats, and the particulars o
which examination appeared in this journal of that dal,
was again placed at the bar for final examination.
that
There being no further evidence in addition to
which has already appeared, the eositions we
al at the
re takevt
and the prisoner fully committed tdo
p take lass tri
ensuing Old Bailey sessions.

...,
....----------' •
MASQUERADE AT VAuxuALL.--Last evening, after.a
the most extensive preparations to render the beetsoccasion
attractive, the gardens were thrown open, having 3
decorated on a very splendid scale. The performanc!
were commenced by a representation of the scenes let
talented
the circle, where Madame Caroline and other cl
artistes of the troupe exhibited the usual succession i!
eeraeta
the menage. The more especial fun of the magi
then commenced, and although the weather alinedben'
somewhat unpropitious during ,the day, thei d e
were thronged by a motley crowd. Three well to f
bands furnished harmony to the ;various groups 4)
dancers, and their inspiring strains seemed to furnish
the votaries of St. Vitus with inexhaustible vigour.
Under the able management of Messrs. Ryan and Lewie,
on whom the mantle of the departed Simpson appears
to have fallen, the gaiety of the night was kept up till
morning had long superseded the brief reign of her lunar
majesty.
LICENSED VICTUALLERS' SCHOOL.--The 41st Annie
dinnervv e r
evidentee e.ryi ,
yesterdayh
ion gtrthehiaest ivanaensrtdtyit thuletai
large
eh i was
Conduit celebrated
Tavern, b y a
Pentonpuble s
growing
attendance interest ta keenn bt
the
thepryebsowedna
present
inneathrliys
14a0i0seweorsrethays.chTarhiet
large
oc,
occasion,
amountingnlaiscieonns,edvictua 1 victuallers rtse
gallery of " the saloon"p was filled with
and commodious
ladies. Mr. J. C. Wood presided,Al.p andsir wasW. Clay,
M.P.; Colonel Wood, M.P.; Mr: T. supportedDuncomlabyc,
by Lord Robert Grosvenor,
Mr. Alderman Johnson, Mr. C. Cochrane, and wan)"
other friends of the institution. The number of chil-
dren of both sexes now wholly maintained and educated
lila.rr
in the society's school, Kennington-lane, Lambeth, is
117. After the usual loyal toasts, the Chairman pro;;
posed " Prosperity to the Licensed Victuallers' Sc noble
and declared his conviction that it would be impossi
to find an institution more replete with comforts to the
children, and more carefully and usefully conducted.
The cheerful and healthy appearance of the children.
who were introduced into the room during the procee
ings, lent so much force to the chairman's appeal that
the total subscriptions announced during the evening
amounted to 2,0291., including a donation from the
chairman of 52./. 10s., Mr. C. Cochrane, 211. &c. The
,
meeting having been addressed by Lord Robert Gros-
venor, Mr. T. Duncombe, and the other gentleraito
above enumerated, separated at a comparatively early
hour. Mr. Toole officiated as toastmaster,
and did his
best to maintain order, a task which the vastness of the
audience, and the consequent difficulty of hearing the
Speaker rendered one ot no ordinary difficulty.
ACCIDENT ON THE GREAT WESTERN RAILWAr.'"--.
An accident, which had well nigh been attended with the
most disastrous consequences, occurred on the bve;
railway on Monday afternoon. As the express train,
which reaches London at half-past 4 o'clock, was er
proaching Reading at its extraordinary speed, and
when
near the Roebuck Inn, about three miles distant, the
w ash,:
box attached to the engine, a new one, came off,
hi.'eerot
caused the upsetting of the ordinary luggage-van,
wh
fortunately was placed immediately behind the tender;
Strange to say, however, none of the carriages we rd
thrown off the rails, though from the suddenly- were
velocity of the train the numerous passengers WeL
thrown into confusion, and as may be imagined Or.
greatest consternation prevailed. As soon as the trisT,
could be stopped the affrighted passengers alightee.t
when it was found that not one had sustained the slighte',
injury, but all counted their safety a miraculous escape'
Immediately after the occurrence the first thing pee
saiy to be done was to give the usual warning sll4lla°o
consequence of the near approach of the up-train
minutes onPs 1P.,;
lit
same line, which arrives at Reading at 10 s'
4 o'clock, An engine from the Reading station wsrdo
once sent for, but the express train was delayed tiPwa4p
of en hour. The embankment on the up-line adja`to
to the era where the occurrence took place is close_o
the Thames, and had the carriages been thrown of. t,•Pr,
rails, they must have been precipitated into the rir,..
An inquiry has been instituted into the cause of the obi',
cident, which was entirely owing to the fall of the 0.5,,e
box from the engine, and great blame is attached gavet'
authorities in the engineering department. Men 0
since been employed in repairing the line, which
torn up in a frightful manner.
FISHMONGERS' AND POULTERERS' INSTITUTI el•
O of
Yesterday Lord Morpeth laid the foundation-se:0301,
an asylum for aged and infirm fishmongers and Pei,/
terers, at Wood-green, near Ilornsey. The ceresevioit,
was performed with the usual observances, and Was a to
nessed by a large and respectable assemblage invite r it,
celebrate the occasion. A very handsome 'dejeigle_tecl
celebration of the event was given in a pavilion erected
on the grounds, end the amusements terminated
duet:leg. Bor
lmaastn
,week`, the
well-ownoefekE,,
ui lir okhpniesan64t
reputation,
year.
eda celebratedr.
died
pi ol
yn e: c. s t -- • II
IWO