The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-23 00:00:00

Uttition

SUN OFFICE, Seven o' Clock

RAILWAY COMNIITFEES.

(THIS DAY.)

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
GROUP I.
The Select Committe appointed to consider the merits of
the Bills comprised in this Group, assembled in Room 30, at
the usual hour, this morning, Lord Granville Somerset in the

chair.
THZ SOUTH-EASTERN SCHEME.%
Mr. Bidder's cross-examination was continued. He was
cross• examined by Mr. Hope, Mr. Paget, and Mr. Gregory,
on the petitions of landed proprietors; and by Sir Walter
Riddell on behalf of the wardens of the King's Ferry, on the
River Swale, who complained that their interests would be
seriously interfered with by the proposed North Kent line to
Sheerness.
Mr. Bidder was re-examined at considerable length by
Mr. ALEXANDER, in the course of which it was elicited
that as between London and Alford the cost of the
works on the Brighton line would be 250,C00/.
more than that of the South-Eastern. The interest of that
sum would pay for the locomotive power between Tonbridge
and London. He was no advocate for bad gradients where
better could be got; they were always expensive and incon-
venient. For instance, had the Brighton line been made
along, the valley it might have been a little longer, but it
would have cost less, while the superior gradients would
have admitted of the journey to Brighton being per-
furmed in less time than on the direct line. With
regard to gradients there was no comparison between the
South-Eastern and the Brighton schemes. Those of the
former were immeasurably the best, and as a necessary con.
sequence would cost the least and be worked the cheapest.
On such an occasion as the Derby day he had no doubt the
Brighton Company would be glad to use the South-Eastern
Croydon line, in order to avoid the New Cross incline of 1
in 100. _ _ _

-- - —.
The Committee adjourned at four till twelve o'clock on
Thursday.

GROUP XII.

This Committee met to-day at twelve o'clock, the Hon.
Mr. S. Lascelles in the chair. All the other members were
present.
NEWMARKET AND CHESTERFORD RAILWAY

EXTENSION.

Mr. HILDYA-SD summed up his evidence on behalf of this
scheme at great length, contending that it possessed far
greater general advantages that the competing scheme.
Mr. CALVEZT then replied on behalf of the Lynn and Ely
Extensions.

At the close of the Learned Gentleman's address, the room
was cleared for a division.

On the admission of the parties,
The CHAIRMAN stated that the Committee had decided
the preamble of the following Bills to be proved :
Newmarket and Chesterford Railway (Extension to That-
jord).
Newmarket and Chesterford (Extension to Bury St. Ed-
mund's, &c.)
Newmarket and Chesterford Railway Act Amendment, &c.
And that the preamble of the following Bills were not
proved :
Lynn and Ely (Extension to Bury St. Edmund's).
Ipswich and Bury St. Edmund's (No. 2) (Newmarket and
Ellpsy).
wich and Bury St. Edmund's (No. 3) (Bury to Thet-
ford).
The Committee then adjourned till Friday next, for the
consideration of the clauses.

STANDING ORDERS COMMITTEE
(THIS DAY.)
The Committee met this day at the usual hour for the dis.
patch of public business.
EDINBUURGH AND PERTH RAILWAY.

This was the only case which was called before the atten-
tion of the Committee. The entire day was occupied in the
examination of witnesses. Much interest was evinced to
know the decision of the Committee, but it is generally
believed that another day will be spent in the further inves-
tigation of the merits of the case. The Committee adjourned
a little before five o'clock.

BANK OF ENGLAND,
(THIS DAY.)
A General Court of this Company was held to-day at
the Board Room, to determine whether, in addition to
the dividend of 3/. 10s. per cent. for the year ending the
sth of April next, a bonus out of the interest-profits be
made of one per cent. out of the capital stock of the
corporation. There were present the Governor, Deputy-
Governor, and a large number of the directors.
The advertisement convening the court having been
read, the ballot was immediately commenced, but did
not terminate till after four o'clock.
The scrutineers then made their report, which stated
that 253 of the corporation had voted, of which 196 were
for the affirmation of the report, and 57 against it.
The Court then separated.

SOUTH-WESTERN RAILWAY
COMPANY.—(THIS DAY.)
A meeting of the proprietors and shareholders of the
above company was held this day at the Nine Elms Sta-
tion at Vauxhall.
The Chair was taken at one o'clock by Mr. Chaplin.
The SECRETARY having read the advertisement con-
vening the meeting,
The CIIAIRMAN said that the meeting had been called
according to Lord Wharncliffe's Act fur confirming the
resolutions which they had previously adopted with re-
gard to certain Bills in Parliament. The solicitor would
read to them the various Bills to be submitted for their
consideration.
The SOLICITOR then read the titles and preambles of
the Acts, which were agreed to, a 3 follows :
A Bill to amend the Acts relating to the London and
South-Western Railway, and to enable the London and
South-Western Railway Company to increase their
capital, and to complete various arrangements with
i
other companies, and undertakings, and for other pur-
poses.

A Bill to enable the London and South •Western
Railway Company to widen and improve the London
and South- Western Raiiway from the junction thereof
with the Richmond Railway to the terminus at Nine
Elms, and to enlarge their intended station at the York-
road, Lambeth.
A Bill to enable the London and South-Western Rail-
way Company to make railways from Andover to join
their Salisbury Branch Railway at Michaelmarsh, and
f.om the same branch at Romsey, to join the South-
ampton and Dorchester Railway at Redbridge, all in the
county of Southampton, to be called " The Andover and
Southampton Junction Railway."
A Bill to enable the London and South-Western Rail-.
way Company to make a railway from Salisbury to
Yeovil, with branches to Shaftei bury and Wincanton,
and to the Exeter, Yeovil, and Dorchester and Wilts,
Somerset and Weymouth Railways • and to purchase or
lease the said Exeter, Yeovil, and Dorchester Railway.
A Bill to enable the London and South-Western Rail-
way Company to make a railway from Blandford, in the
county of Dorset, to Briton, in the county of Somerset.
A Bill for making a railway from Exeter to Yeovil,
with branches and extensions therefrom, to bo called
" The Exeter, Yeovil, and Dorchester Railway."
A Bill to amend the Exeter and Exmouth Railway
Act, 1846; and to enable the London and South-Western
Railway Company to subscribe towards lease, or pur-
chase the said railway.
A Bill to enable the London and South-Western Rail-
way to make Railways from Exeter to Truro and Ply-
mouth, with various branches therefrom, to be called
" The Cornwall and Devon Central and Plymouth
Railwy."
A Bill for improving and regulating the Harbour of
Sutton Pool, within the Port of Plymouth, in the county
of Devon.
A Bill to enable the Taw Vale Railway and Dock
Company to lease their undertaking to the London and
South-Western Railway Company.
A Bill for making a deviation in the line of the Taw
Vale Railway, for making branches therefrom to the
towns of Bideford and South Molton, for enlarging the
dock, and amending the Acts relating thereto.
A Bill for enabling the London and South-Western
Railway Company to make extensions of the Guildford
Extension and Portsmouth and Fareham Railway, near
Portsmouth ; and a deviation in the authorised line
thereof, near Godalming.
A Bill for authorising the sale of part of the Brighton
and Chichester (Portsmouth Extension) Railway to the
London and South-Western, and the London, Brighton,
and South Coast Railway Companies, and the use by
the last-mentioned company of part (Wandsworth to
London) of the London and South-Western Railway.
A Bill for making a railway from Staines to Woking-
ham, with branches to the London and South-Western
Railway.
A Bill for making a railway from Richmond to Wind-
sor, with a loop line through Brentford and Hounslow.
A Bill for making an alteration in the line of the
Southampton and Dorchester Railway, and branches
therefrom to Lymington and Eling, and for other
purposes.
A Bill for making a Branch Railway from the South-
ampton and Dorchester Railway to Blandford, and for
other purposes.
A Bill tor making a Branch Railway from the South-
ampton and Dorchester Railway, at Moreton, to Wey-
mouth, and for other purposes.
A Bill for making a Railway from Southampton to
Cheltenham, to be called " The Manchester and South-
ampton Railway."
A SusaErtonneasainquired what was the estimated cost
of the execution of these various projects?
Mr. LOCKE said about 6,000,000/.
The common seal of the company was then affixed to
the bills.
The Chairman expressed his regret that so little ad-
vance had been made by the directors since last meeting,
but they
had been compelled to wait for Mr. Strutt's
bill being
completed, which would not be until after
Easter.
A SIIIREKOLDER wished to make a few observations
with regard to the Bill introduced by Mr. Strutt. It
was a Bill which had very much criticized and
handled by the various companies, r
ries, and it was consi-
dered as affecting the interest of railway property in a
very material degree. It was criticized as haying not only
a prospEctive, but a retros,;ective effect, and in that shape
upon railway-
it would inflict incalculable injury
property.
He knew perfectly well that the chairman, in
common
with the other directors, had organized an opposi-
tion against the measure, but in his opinion
the opposition should have been carried to a larger
extent. It appeared to him that a petition signed by
the whole of the railray proprietory, would have great
influence in Parliament.;The Chairman in the Commit-
tteep of which he was a worthy member, had presented a
petition against the measure; but the view he took of it
was—that the proprietary, one and all, should have
joined in that petition against Mr. Strutt's Bill. It was
a measure calculated to inflict serious injury upon vested
interests. The Government might as well interfere with
their landed properties, for when they had pur-
chased shares, they bad looked at their rights,