The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-17 00:00:00

once lost their customers, they would never be able to regain
them.—(Loud cries of "Divide, divide.")
The House then divided, when there appeared—
For the clause
Against it
Majority in favour of the clause —7B
The clause, therefore, stands part of the Bill. The result
of the division was received with loud cheers.

The remaining clauses were then agreed to without amend-
ment.
The announcement was received with loud cheers.
The House having resumed,
Mr. GREENE brought up the report, which was ordered
to he taken into consideration on the 21st of April.
The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the
House adjourned at a few minutes to Six o'clock.

RAILWAY COMMITTEES.
(THIS DAY).

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
GROUP, I.

The Select Committee appointed to consider the merits of
the Bills comprised in this group reassembled at the usual
hour this morning, Lord Granville Somerset in the chair.

THEISOUTH-EASTERN MX3)-RENT
SCHEME.

The day was occupied in hearing general evidence in fa-
vour of this line.

Mr. Alderman Lucas, a landholder on the existing line
from Paddock Wood to Maidstone, bore testimony to the
great advantage the South-Eastern Mid-Kent scheme would
afford to that part of the country.
The Rev. Mr. Cobb, of Igluhain, said at present his part
of the country was entirely without railway communication
with London. lie preferred the South-Eastern Mid-Kent
line, because he consilered it the best. It passed through
13astel Valley, a very large hop producing district, and it
would derive considerable benefit from the construction of
this line.

Mr. Woodridge. of Tunbridge, proved that the majority of
the inhabitants of that place were favourable to the South-
Eastern scheme.

Mr. Wm. Harrison, of Hadlow, said it was absolutely ne-
cessary that Hardlour ehould have a better communication
with the metropolis. The South-Eastern line he considered
accomplished that object in the best possible manner.
Mr. Win. Golding, a farmer on the route of. the proposed
line, gave it as his opinion that no district was more in want
of railway accommodation than that lt•ing between Ightham
an,Tunbridge and London. The South Eastern was the
best line of the two.

Mr. Mercer, of ➢laidstone, Mr. David Bailey-, of S.!ven-
oaks, Mr. Carter, a miller in the Bastead Valley, and a num-
ber of other residents, merchants, traders, and owners on the
line, gave concurrent testimony to the former witnesses.
The Committee then adjourned till to-morrow at twelve
o'clock.

GROUP XII.
NEWP/119.RECET AND ELY.
(Continued from our Afternoon Edition.)

Mr. Arszrx, having gone at some length into the question
of the subscription contracts, proceeded to explain the lead-
ing features of the scheme which he intended to establish by
evidence.

Mr. A. Ransome, of Ipswich, was the first wit-
ness called. He deposed that the two lines pro-
p9sed by the Eastern Counties Union Company
were much inferior to the rival schemes, and were
unanimously supported by the Bury St. Edmund's inhabi-
tants. The present scheme had their support, because it
would .qise the town a direct communication with the estern
and,mittliOd counties of England.
Mn,4Vebber, of Ipswich, gave evidence of a similar
chp.radfel,, A line which would connect Bury St.Edmund'a and
Netv'Mairief was greatly to be preferred over the scheme to
Ely,:aml it would open up the Midland Counties to the agri-
cultural produce of the East.
Mr. Deck, auctioneer, of Bury St. Edmunds, gave evidence
to a similar effect.

The Committee then adjourned till to-morrow.

SOUTH-EASTERN RAILWAY
COMPANY.—(THIS DAY.)
The twenty-first half-yearly general meeting of the nro-.
prietors in this railway was held at the Board-room, London-
bridge Terminus, for the purpose of receiving the report of
the directors, and transacting the ordinary business of the
company. James M•Gregor, Esq., chairman of the com-
pany, presided.
The advertisement calling the meeting having been read,
and the common seal of the company affixed to the registry
of proprietors,
7 The SECRETARY proceeded to read the report, of which
the following is a brief abstract :
" The Accounts of the South- Eastern Railvr3y Company for
the half-year, ending on the :31st of January, 1847, show
that the gross Rezeipts of the Company on Revenue Account
have amounted during that period to 236,404/. Os. 5d.; that
the working expenses have been 61,197/. 9s. ; the
rent of the Greenwich Railway and the IVhitstable Railway,
19,878/. 2s. 3d. •, the Rates, Government Duty. anti Toll to
the London, Brighton, and South-Coast Company, for
the use of the Croydon Railway, 31,0471. ss. Bd., mak-
ing together the Expenditure on Revenue Account,
112,1221. 17s. 4d. The Balance carried to the Account of
Profit and Loss, 124,281/. 3s. Id.; and the Profit and Loss
Account shows an amount at the disposal of the Proprietors
of 100,204/. 7s. 3d.
" The amount received for passenger traffic during the
half-year on the South-Eastern Railway, exclusive of the
Greenwich Branch, is 144,0001. 12s. 7d., of which
55,422/. 15s. Id. has been paid by 112,419 first-class pas-
sengers; 54,683/. 12s. 11d. by 247,670 second-class pas-
sengers; and 33,8901. 45.; 7d. by 381,708 third-class pas-
sengers.