The Sun.
London, England, 1847-04-24 00:00:00

GROUP XL

The Select Committee appointed to consider the merits of
the Bills comprised in this group: re-assembled at the usual
hour this morning, Mr. Forbes Mackenzie in the chair.

COLCHESTER AND STOUR VALLEY (Ld•

VENHASS AND BURY EXTENSION).
The case for the promoters of this line having been closed.
the landholders' opposition was gone into, which occupied
nearly the whole of the day.
The Committee adjourned at the usual hour till Monday
at twelve o'clock.

GROUP XVI.
The Committee met this morning at the usual hour; Mr.
Remble in the chair.

GREAT NORTHERN (BRANCHES PROM
HERTFORD TO ST. ALBAN'S).
_ _

Mr. B. WALL, M.P. (a member of the Committee) intl..'
mated to the promoters of the line that he wished to be fur-
nished with the estimate, in detail, of that portion of the
line which is proposed to run from Hertford to Ware, parallel
with the line of the Eastern Counties.
Mr. Saunders said, Mr. Cubitt, jun., stated in his exami-
nation that the gross cost of that portion of the line, in-
cluding stations, would be 40,000/.
Mr. B. WALL repeated that he wished to have the estimate
in detail, and counsel promised to furnish the Hon. Member
with it to-morrow.
On Mr. Austin taking his seat,
The CHAIRMAN said the Committee had heard with
regret that his house had been destroyed by fire,
Mr. AUSTIN thanked the Committee for their sympathy.
He added, that the house was destroyed the night before
last.
The CHAIRMAN hoped he would be able to rebuild an-
other as good.
Mr. AUSTIN feared that he should be unable to do so.

The conversation then dropped.
The opposition of Mr. Smith, of Hertford, was withdrawn,
the parties having agreed to refer the matter to arbitration.
➢lr. AUSTIN said, by the permission of the Committee he
would proceed to call witnesses in support of the

HERTFORD AND HITCH= BRANCH
of the Eastern Counties, and reserve his speech in support of
the project until the close of the cases of both the lines.
Mr. Gripper, a general merchant, carrying on an exten-
sive business at Hertford—lle had resided there forty years,
and was well acquainted with the trade of the whole county,
and was constantly in the habit of attending the Hertford,
and Hitchin markets. Within a circumference of five miles
of Hertford there was sufficient water- power to manufacture
300,000 sacks of flour annually. There were also a number
of windmills and oil mills, which produced 4,000 tons of oil
cake in the course of a year. There was a considerable malt
trade at Hertford, the duty paid being 40,0001. a year, and
the trade was on the increase, several new mills having been
recently erected. Ware was the largest malting place in the
kingdom, the duty paid being from 250,000/. to 260,000/. a
year. Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire were the greatest
consumers of artificial food for cattle in England. There was
a large sale for barley at Hitchin • in fact, nine Ware and
Hertford dealers, of whom he was one, bought 38,000 quar-
ters last year. They comprised about half the number of
dealers, the total amount bought by the whole fur use at
Hertford and Ware in the course of the year being about
60,000 quarters. The witness then detailed at length the
great advantages which would be derived by the opening up
of railway communication between Hertford and the north
by the aid of the Direct Northern. The branch from Hat-
field to Hertford would not give *anything like the accom-
modation the other line would between Hitchin and Hert-
ford, as there would be considerable delay in getting corn
by that route. It was important that the Eastern Counties
should be allowed to carry on their line from Hertford to
Hitchin, in order to make it a through line between Leices-
ter and Bedford, in connexion with the lines in the course of
construction. It would create competition between the
three lines, which he considered tended towards the ad-
vantage of the public. A great proportion of the
merchants of Bedford, Hitchiii Ware, Hertford, Ste.,
would prefer the Shoreditch terminus, because it
was nearer the Bank Mark-lane, the docks, &c.,
than the Direct Northern and Birmingham stations. The
breweries consuming the greatest quantity of malt were
nearer the Eastern Counties than the other lines. When
the proposed line was made the malt from Hertford, Bed-
ford, Norfolk, Essex, &c., would find its way by the Eastern
Counties.

The CHAIRMAN said the proposed lino could not affect the
passage of malt from Hertford to London by the Eastern
Counties.

Examination continued The extension of the
Eastern Counties to the river would be far su-
perior to that of the Great Northern to the docks ; for
instance, coals were not taken into the docks owing to the
expense of the dues; and besides, it was always a disadvan-
tage to take goods from the docks, owing to the delay and to
their closing at four o'clock, after which time a great quan-
tity of business could be done. It did not pay him to trade
at St. Alban's; but as he had attended it a number of years
he did not wish to break up " old connexions." Most of the
corn merchants had left it, because the St. Alban's wheat
was of an inferior quality.
Mr. Mumford, clerk to a malteter, at Ware, gave corrobo-
rative evidence.
Adjourned until Monday.

GROUP XVIII.
The Committee met this morningat twelve o'clock ; present,
Earl of Lincoln, in the chair, Mr. W. J. O'Connell, Sir W.
James, Mr. Smythe, and Captain Jones.

CHELTENHAM AND OXFORD LINE.

Mr. Warton, itnd several other gentlemen, gave evidence
as to the reduction of the price of coals, which would ensue
in the Forest of Dean when the railway is formed, as the
cost of carriage would be reduced between three and four
shillings a ton. The trade in corn would also be much in-
creased. There is at present a broad gauge line, which runs
to the mouth of some of the pits in the Forest of Dean.
One side of the forest is at present accessible, but not the
other.
Mr. Baker said that the Monmouth and Hereford railway
gave this accommodation, and there are several tramways
which have been purchased by that company. This witness
gave evidence as to the arrangements which are to be entered
into by the Great Western Company, for the purpose of
giving a communication both to Hereford and Gloucester.
Further evidence was then offered, and the Committee
adjourned.