The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-26 00:00:00

IRISH DISTRESS-NEW BRUNSWICK.

Mr. HAWES brought up a dispatch from the Go-
vernor of New Brunswick, stating that the Council had
voted 1,2504, in aid of the Irish distress. This was the
second subscription from our colonies for the same
purpose.

The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and
the House adjourned at a Quarter to Seven o'clock.

RAILWAY COMMITTEE
(YESTERDAY.)

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

GROUP I.

The Select Committee, appointed to consider the merits of
the Bills comprised in this group, re-assembled in Room 30
at the usual hour this morning, Lord Granvill Seomerset
in the chair.

THE SOUTH-EASTERN SCHEMES.
Mr. Robert Stevenson confirmed the testimony of Mr.
Bidder. In point of gradient, speed, and regularity, there was
no comparison between:the lines of the South-Eastern and the
Brighton Companies. The Brighton lines rose 40 feet a
mile, and with the New Cross incline, it would be impos-
sible to work them without two engines. With
regard to the argument of making the lines
upon bad gradients, and relying to the improvements
in the locomotive to overcome the difficulties, he entirely
disapproved of it, because it would be leaving the railway
system just where it was now. Such an argument went to
affirm that bad roads ought to be preferred when improved
or better horses could be obtained. With the gradients on
the Brighton line the communication with Dover would in
winter occupy the same time that it did now on the cir-
cuitous route, while in summer the saving would be very
trifling, and then it would be only to light trains. Punctua-
lity in the running of trains depended mainly upon good
gradients, and to convince the Committee of the importance,
he might mention that nine accidents out of ten arise
by want of it. An engine adapted to bad gradients would
become comparatively useless upon the good. The Mid Kent
line would be much used for continental express and sudden
trains, and it was of the last importance that the gradients
of such line should be the best the country would afford.
,Vith regard to the branch to Bromley, he considered it would
be a great inconvenience to place that local traffic upon a
through line. As an example, he might mention that it was
admitted on all hands that it would be highly inconve-
nient to accommodate Croydon traffic through the me-
dium of Brighton trains. lle did not lay out the Croy-
don branch so much with the view of putting Partsmouth
in direct communication with Woolwich and other North Heat
districts, as to placing the South-Eastern Company upon an
independent footing with regard to the Brighton Company.
At present the South-Eastern obtained access into the metro-
polis along the Brighton line, and in the event of the two
companies quarrelling, the Brighton Company would be in a
position to shut the South-Eastern Company out of London
altogether. But independently of these considerations, a line
must sooner or later be made to Lewisham and Bromley, and
even were the two companies friendly, he was confident, upon
a consultation, they would determine to make this new cheap
line to Croydon. At present the South-Eastern Company
had to hand over to the Brighton Company the whole profits
of the traffic, minus the expense of working, besides the main-

tenance and expense a six miles of the Brighton
line, between Reigate and Croydon, and therefore
should it unfortunately happen, that fur the sake
of a foolish system of competition, the Committee
should grant the Brighton Mid Kent line, ',they ought, in jus-
tice to the public and the South-Eastern Company to concede
the new Croydon line with it. So impressed was he with
the conviction tl)at it was not only dangerous but ridicu-
lous to think of tunnelling through the Broughton-hill,
which the Brighton line proposed to de, that in the outset he
announced kis intention to the South-Eastern to decline being
the engineer to any line that pursued such course, and, upon
his recommendation, that insurmountable obstacle to a direct
North Kent line hadi been avoided. 'With reference to an
extension of the line from Canterbury to Dover, it might
eventually become necessary when the success of the
South-Eastern Company had, become well established,
but at present there was by no means sufficient traffic
to justify the construction of such a line. lie was
quite willing, however, to leave such a question
to be decided by the Board of Trade. He had never heard
of a more monstrous proposition than to tunnel the Brough-
ton-hills between Canterbury and Maidstone in the manner
proposed by the Brighton Company. Such a line ought not
only not to be made, but it never ought to have been proposed
either to the public or a body of proprietors. He disposed of
the question of competition by declaring that where com-
bination was possible competition was impossible. Amongst
corn dealers, where the traders were numerous, competition
was not only practicable, but wholesome; but in the case of
two railways the idea could not be entertained for a
moment. Indeed the two parties here did not differ upon
that head. The Brighton Company did not want competi-
tion, but they wished him to give up what he considered was
the best line, and then they were ready to consent to amal-
gamation. Of course he refused to concede that.
The CHAIRMAN—Suppose these lines were to be delayed
for the present, could lines with better gradients, and better
calculated to serve the purposes of the public, be obtained?
Mr. Stephenson—Certainly not. For the last three years
I have been ransacking the country, and let whatever lines
be passed, or whatever delays take place, I am quite con-
vinced the continental traffic will ultimately settle down on a
line running as the South-Eastern Mid Kent proposes to do,
through the Durant Valley.
Mr. Stephenson was cross-examined by Mr. Talbot, but
nothing material was elicited.

The Committee adjourned shortly after four till twelve
o'clock to-morrow.

PETITIONS ON PRIVATE BILLS.
HOUSE OF COMMONS.
(Before Mr. Examiner MAY.)
UNOPPOSED.
PORTSMOUTH PAVING, LIGHTING, AND IM-
PROVEMENT.
This was a petition for additional provision. The cus-
tomary formal proofs were completed.
'HOLYHEAD HARBOUR.
The customary proofs were also in this case submitted,
approved of, and completed.
OPPOSED.

EDINBURGH AND NORTHERN BRANCH FROM
BURNTISLAND TO DUNFERMLINE BRANCH, &c.
(No. 2.)
The further consideration of this case was postponed until
Friday (to-day), when the usual proofs will be entered upon.

PARLIAMENTARY DIVISIONS.

(From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons.
. _

TUESDAY, MARCIE 23.
POOR RELIEF (IRELAND) BILL.
(IN THE COMMITTEE.)
Clause 10 (And be it enacted, That whenever the expenses
chargeable to an electoral division of an Union in Ireland, in
any one half-year, shall exceed a sum amounting to one
shilling and threepence in the pound on the net value of such
division, a portion of the said expenses, amounting to one
shilling and threepence in the pound, shall be charged to the
said electoral division, and the remainder thereof shall be
charged to the Union at large):—Amendment proposed,•p.
4, 1. 25, to leave out from the word " That" to the words
" shall be charged," in line 31, in order to add the words,
" all expenses to Le henceforth incurred for the relief of des-
titute poor persons in Ireland, whether under the provisions
of this Act or of the said hereinbefore recited Act, of the Ist
and 2d Vic. c. 56 :"—Question put, " That the words pro-
posed to be left out stand part of the Clause." The Com-
mittee divided :

MAJORITY-AYES, 120.
Acheson, Viscount Ellis, Wynn Mllnes, R. Monckton
Acton, Colored Escott, Bickhasn Monahan, J. H.
Adderley, C. B. Evans, William Mostyn, E. M.
Aldam, William Fielden, John . Newdegatc, C. N.
Anion, Colonel Ferguson, Sir R. Northland, Viscount
Antrobus, Edmund Finch, G. O'Brien, A. Stafford
Archbold, Robert Fitzgerald, It. A. O'Brien, C.
Baring, F. T. Forster, Mathew O'Conor, Don
Barnard, E. G. Fox, C. R.: Owen, Sir John
Bat eson, T. Fuller, A. E. Parker, John '
Bellew, R. M. Gisborne, Thomas Patten, J. W.
Bentinck, Lord G. Glynne, Sir S. Perfect, Robert
Bentinck, Lord H. Gore, W. R. 0. Philipps, Sir R.
Berkeley, Captain Gore, Robert Plumridge, Captain
Blakemore, R. Goulburn, Henry Protheroe, E.
Bodkin, J. J. Graham, Sir James Repton, G. W.
Botfleld, Beriah Gray, Sir G. Rich, Henry
Bowring, Dr. Grimselitch, Thomas Romilly, John
Brooke, Sir A. B. Grogan, E. Ross, D. R.
Buller, Charles Guest, Sir J. Russell, Lord J.
Bunbury, T. Hamilton, G. A. Sandon, Viscount
Busfeild, William Haunter, Sir John Shaw, F.
Byng, G. S. Hawes, Benj. Shell, It. L.
Carew, W. H. Pole Heneage, Edward Smith, Vernon
Cavendish, C. C. Henley, J. W. Stuart, V.
Chapman, B. Hobhouse, Sir J. Strutt, Edward
Chichester, Lord J. Hoskins, K. Thompson, Alderman
Cholmeley, Sir J. Inglis, Sir R. Thornely, T.
Clay, Sir W. James, William Trollope, Sir J.
Clerk Sir G. Jervis, Sir John Tyrrell, Sir J. T.
Cole, Hon. H. A. Jones, Captain Vane, Lord H.
Colebrooke, Sir T. Kirk, Peter Verner, Sir W.
Coote, Sir C. R. Labouchere, Henry Walsh, Sir J.
Copeland, Ald. Lascelles, W. S. Ward, H. G.
Courtenay, Lord Lefroy, Anthony Wilshere, T. W.
Craig, W. G. Llndsay,:Colonel Wood, sir Charles
Crawford, W. S. Mackinnon, W. Wyse, Thomas
pawson, T. V. Macnamara, Major Young, John
Denison, J. E. Manners, Lord J. TELLERS.
Disraeli, B. Hanle, Fox Hill, Lord M.
Dundas, Sir David Maxwell, Hon. J. P. Tufnell, H.

Blake, M. J.
Bright, John
Brotherton, Joseph
Browne, W.
Callaghan, D.
Collett, John
Darner, Colonel
Dennistoun, J.
Duncan, George
Ewart, William

MINORITY—NOES, 25.
Fitzwilliam, G. W. O'Brien, W. S.
Hall, Sir Benjamin O'Connell .John
Hatton, Captain V. Wawn, J. T.
Jolliffe, Sir W. G. H. Williams, W.
Ker, D. S. Yorke, Henry B.
Lawless, Cecil
Layard, Major
M'Carthy, Alex.
M'Donnell, J. M.
Napier, Sir Charles

TELLERS.
O'Connell, M. J.
ltawdon, Colonel

STANDING ORDERS COMMITTEE.
The Standing Orders Committee met yesterday at the
usual hour for the dispatch of public business.
EDINBURGH AND PERTH RAILWAY.
This case, which it will be recollected stood adjourned
from Tuesday last, again came before the Committee.
A great number of witnesses were again examined; after
hearing a variety of proofs
The Committee adjourned without coming to any decision.
Great interest was manifested throughout the day to ascer-
tain the result.