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

GROUP V.

The Committee met this morning at twelve. Present,
Lord H. Vane, Chairman ; Hon. M. Gore, Hon. M. Sutton,
Mr. Rice, and Sir E. Filmer.
WINDSOR, STAINES, AND SOUTH-WES-
TERN (RICHMOND TO WINDSOR).

WINDSOR, STAINES, AND SOUTH-WES.
TERN (STAINES TO ASCOT, dce.)

Mr. MAcAux..t.Y continued the traffic evidence in favour of

the projected lines.
Mr. Ashby, a bargemaster and coal merchant, said the
water carriage to Staines to and from London was 10,000
tons annually, and through Staines about 135,000 tons. At
present, in order to reach the south and south-west from the
neighbourhood of Brentford, much use was necessarily made
of the Grand Junction Canal to convey the goods to London,
where they were re-loaded on the railway, and dispatched so
far backwards to their destination.
A number of other witnesses were examined, and gave
evidence of the local advantages at different points on the
route to be derived from the lines.
Lord Alorpetb, as Chief Commissioner of Woods and
Forests, was then examined in reference to the line from
Staines to Windsor. He said the subject of railways to
Windsor had been very much under his consideration, with
a view to dealing with the property of the Crown Plans
were submitted for the projected line ty the South-Western
in the month of October last, showing that they
trenched considerably on Crown property in the
neighbourhood of Richmond, Egham, and Windsor. That
project seemed to him well calculated to accommodate
the wants of the district, and to give access to the heart of
the metropolis by London-bridge. He did not think his
evidence on the merits of the line would be worth much as
against any other line; but to him the public interest seemed
to justify the interference with property. The South-Wes-
tern line passed through part of the old deer-park at Rich-
mond with consent of the Crown, and crossed the Thames
by a bridge, to be executed to the satisfaction of the Crown
engineer. The present line to Egham proposed superior ac-
commodation over the plan of last year. As for Windsor, it
was proposed at first to carry a branch up the south side of the
river from Staines, but that was disapproved of positively by
the Crown. The consent of the Crown, however, was given
to a line on the north side, ending at Black Potts Ayott. The
station there, taking the town and the park into considera-
tion, was perhaps in the most proper place. With a view to
that, her Majestyhad signified that her consent would be given
to a new road being made crossing the Home Park, on certain
conditions to be strictly observed by the South-Western Com-
pany. (The agreement was here put in.) The proposed new
road fell in with certain contemplated improvements on and
about the royal residence, and would prove of very material
service in carrying them out. A plan connecting the Great
Western Railway with Windsor had also been considered by
the Board of Woods and Forests, and they thought it would
be reckoned satisfactory if both the companies could unite
in one station. The Great Western, however, would not
accede.

Cross-examined by Mr. AUSTIN, for the Great Western—
There was no inclination on the part of the Crown to oppose
the line from Slough to Windsor. The Board had most
fully considered the propriety of making the new road along
the north front of the Castle, and all the incidents to that
work which was intended for public convenience. The other
roads to Datchet, &c., would be shut up. The road would be
made at the expense of the South-Western Company, to the
satisfaction of the Crown engineer. He was at liberty to say,
that her Majesty was extremely indebted to the managers
of the Great Western line for the convenience they had in-
variably afforded her.

Cross-examined by Sir Joni; BAYLEY—The railway com-
pany was bound to purchase twenty-five acres of land at
Black Potts, for the station itself, the Crown to have
the power to purchase back such of that ground as it might
deem proper for planting, or otherwise laying out. That
ground belonged to the Dean and Canons of 'Windsor.
By Sergeant WRANG/lAM, for the South Western—
Taking all the schemes together, I would prefer the South-
Western.
By Mr. AUSTIN—The Crown had no disinclination to the
line from Slough to Windsor. He repeated that her Majesty
was much indebted to the Great Western Company ; and,
therefore, in negotiating with the South-Western, they had
always made it conditional that that company should offer
no opposi!ion to the Great Western Company's line from
Slough. His understanding was, that the Crown would give
its consent to such a line as would satisfy the House of
Commons.

Col. Reid, Sir John Walsh, Sir W. Clay, and several other
witnesses gave evidence in favour of the lines.
The engineer's evidence will be taken to-morrow morning
at the meeting of the Committee, at twelve o'clock, the hour
to which they then adjourned.

GROUP VI.

SALISBURY AND YEOVIL, AND EXETER,

YEOVIL, AI7D DORCHESTER.

The first witness examined this morning was
Mr. Sevmer,y M.P. fur Dorsetshire. He stated that he
resided in the neighbourhood of Blandford, and considered
that a central line through the county of Dorset would be of
great advantage to the county. He believed that the line
was looked upon favourably by nearly all the landowners
through whose property the line was proposed to be carried.
He was a director of the South-Western Railway, but did not
hold any more shares in the company than were requisite to
qualify him for that office.
Mr. Bennett, M.P. for Wilts, gave evidence of a general
nature in favour of the proposed line.
Mr. Alderman Humphery, was the next witness
called, and gave evidence of the great superiority of the
South-Western schemes at London-bridge over every other
station in connexion with railways running in the direc-
tion of the west of England. It would affi)rd great conve-
nience for live stock consigned to Smithfield; and even
if that market should be abolished, there would still have to
be a cattle market on the Surrey side of the river, to which
the proposed railway would afford great convenience. It
would also afford convenience for hops, cyder, leather, wool,
fish, fruit, dead meat, butter, and poultry, all the markets for
which were in the immediate neighbourhood.
Mr. Oliver, butcher cf Southampton, was a contractor to
the Peninsular and Oriental steam-ships, which frequented
the port of Southampton. The consumption of live stock
and dead meat by the crews and passeegers of those ships,
and also of the inhabitants of Southampton, was very great.
At present, owing to there being no means of communica-
tion with the west of England, there was great difficulty
in obtaining a supply of live stock, the butchers of
Southampton being often obliged to go to London to pur-
chase it. If the present lines were constructed, he would
be,: enabled to go into the west of England and make his
purchases direct from the farmers and graziers, and make
arrangements with them to send the cattle up as they might
be wanted, and there would in that case be no necessity for
him to come to London.
Mr. Dowling, meat salesman, Newgate-market, gave evi-
dence of the advantages to be derived by the conveyance of
dead meat from the west of England to the London markets.
The committee then adjourned till to-morrow, at twelve
&clock.