The Sun.
London, England, 1847-04-20 00:00:00

(YESTERDAY.)

_DOUSE OF COMMONS.

GROUP I.

GROUP XVI.

The Committee to whom the following Bills have been re-
ferred met this morning in No. 23 Committee-room, at half.
past twelve o'clock; Mr. Kemble in the chair :
London and North-Western (St. Alban's, Luton, and Dun-
stable ).
Great Northern Railway (Hertford, Hatfield, and St.
Alban's).
Eastern Counties Railway (Hertford to Hitchin, &c )
Enfield and Edmonton Railway Extension.
The CHAIRMAN said he entirely concurred in the justice of
the rule which had been laid down by many of the other
Committees, that no counsel who was absent at the exami-
nation in chief of a witness should be allowed to cross-
examine him, except under special circumstances, and by
the express permission of the Committee, because enormcus
expense would be thereby obviated; but they did not think
it necessary, in the present instance, to adopt that rule; yet,
at the same time, he begged distinctly to state that the
Committee bad reserved to itself the right of acting upon the
rule at any time they might think fit.
The appearances for the various parties having been
entered,
The CITAIRMAN intimated that they were ready to hear
Mr. Sergeant Wrangham open the case of the Great Northern
(Hertford, Hatfield, and St. Alban's).
Mr. Sergeant WRANGIIAM said he was prepared to pro-
ceed at once; but as the Railway Commissioners had not
yet reported on the capital of the Eastern Counties' branch,
and as in some respects it might be looked upon as a com-
peting project, he suggested to the Committee whether it
would not be advisable to postpone the consideration of the
two lines until they could both come before the Committee in
a similar position, so far as the reports of the Railway Com-
missioners were concerned.
After some discussion,
The CHAIRMAN intimated that he would first take the
GREAT NORTHERN BRANCH,
and, at the completion of the case, they would take the
Eastern Counties project.
Mr. Sergeant Waxxonaar then proceeded to open the
case. He said, at present the county of Hertford was
traversed by three lines of railway—towards the west by the
North-Western, the east by the Eastern Counties, and
directly through the centre by the main line of the Great
Northern Railway, and that one of the great objects of the
branches was the supply of that great desideratum to the
county—namely, a connexion between these three lines.
Although the county was, as he had said, traversed by these
three lines, each line only accommodated the districts in its
immediate vicinity, and then only northward and south-
ward, not giving any lateral communication, which was
mach needed. For instance, the two great towns of the
county, Hertford and St. Alban's—and at the first the
sessions and assizes were held, and the county business trans-
acted—were entirely cut off from each other, so far as rapid
and cheap railway communication was concerned, and they
were but fourteen miles distant from each other. To get
from Hertford to St. Alban's by railway, a person must go
round by London, and strike off at Watford, on the North-
Western line, and travel to his destination by the Luton
branch. The connexion, therefore, of the three lines, by
stretching across the county in a lateral direction, was suffi-
cient, if that were the only advantage of the branches, to
ensure the passing Of the fill. By them every town or dis- I
trict possessing 2,000 inhabitants would have rail way corn •
munication. Barley would be transmi;ted from the districts
in the west to the malting districts in the east—Ware,
for instance—and at one quarter of the present
rate by cart, which was Bd. per ton per
mile. By the Luton line, a communication would
be given with the manufacturing districts, with which the
Birmingham line was connected, and coals would be brought
to the district, by the aid of the area Northern, at 163 per
ton, instead of 305., as at present. The Hertford and Hitchin
branch, proposed by the Eastern Counties, omitted all the
important towns in the county. True, it would be four miles
and a half shorter between Hitchin and Hertford than by the
Great Northern and the Hertford branch ; but what would
that avail, when it would afford little or none of the local
communication sought by the county, and would cost
270,0001., whilst their line, which would offer accommoda-
tion to one-fourth of the population, would cost only
300,0001.? the length of their line being fifteen miles
and a half, and the Eastern Counties fourteen miles.
His Learned Friend might say that the Eastern Counties
could bring coals from Huntingdonshire to Ware at half the
price they (the Great Northern) could, on account of the
difference of the distance to which he had referred ; but a
clause was inserted in the Direct Northern Bill compelling them to charge for the transit of goods only by the geogra-
phical distance. The line would commence at Hertford in
connexion with the Eastern Counties line, and run to Hat-
field, where it would join the Great Northern; it would then
run on to St. Alban's, where it would join the proposed Luton
and St. Alban's line. After referring to the opposition
which the Great Northern had experienced at the hands of
the Eastern Counties and the Midland Company, he con-
cluded by confidently trusting that the Committee would
pass the preamble of the Bill.
The Marquis of Salisbury, examined by Mr. Sergeant
KINGLAZE.—His Lordship said, his residence was at Hat-
field. He had lived in the county all his life, and had paid
much attention to the railway wants of the county, and was
well acquainted with the sentiments of the resident gentry
on the subject. All the general business of the county was
transacted at Hertford. The liberty of St. Alban's amounted
to about one-third of the county, and the county business
transacted there was considerable. The connexion of the
three lines was indispensable. Hertfordshire was an
agricultural county, and the great markets were St.
Alban's and Watford for the west, and Hertford
and Ware in the east. There was a great demand
for malt for malting at Ware. Formerly there was some
demand at Hitchin, but it was not great now. Straw plait-
ing was carried on at St. Alban's, which would find an outlet
by the proposed line. He did not understand the use of the
Hitchin line, but the other he considered would be most
advantageous. There was a general feeling in the county in
favour of the cross lines.

Cross-examined—Had insisted upon a deviation of the
London and York, which brought it nearer his house, in
order that it might not be seen from it. Hertford
was
generally in favour of the line. The Hertford and St.
Alban's markets were on the same day. Gave evidence last
year in favour of a St. Alban's and Hatfield line, which was
rejected. There were no public conveyances between the
two points of the line.
Cross-examined by Mr. ROWE, for Baron Dimsdale—Was
It ot aware of the way in which the line would interfere with
this nobleman's property, but if it crossed immediately op-
posite the house, and ran for a distance of 500 yards on an
embankment 13 feet high, and cut off communication with
the gardens, it would be a great inconvenience, and would
intercept the view.
His Lordship was examined with respect to Mr. T. Smith's
'property at llertford, but nothing material was elicited.
Re-examined by Mr. lit • - • P Hes attended both
Mertford and St. Alban's markGeLtsAoknl'—the L'Me day.
Lord Verulam, the Lord-Lieutenant of the county, was
next examined. He said his seat was in the vicinity of St.
.Alban's. If the line wer
''
county would, as heretoforneotbpassed, the western part of the
; toe shut out from railway com-
munication with the count
quislSalHisebugreyn.
in the evidence of the Mar e r
Ta lhl ye
octohnecru
ma- e
gistrates, he believed, generallyoconcurred*in the necessity of
the line.
8 11. A3olb,
peace, slid, the population
Mr. Durand, the clerk of the
.a the county, including the libert
157,207 ; the population of St. *Maui"
aull'aer;tfworads
6,668. Jurymen were summoned from St. Aiblan's to attend
the assizes at Hertford. Magistrates residin
side of the county did not attend the assi!eosnitnhethweesetasen4
Owing to the want of proper communication.
Other evidence in favour of the line having been adduced
the Committee adjourned until to-morrow (this davl. ,

GROUP XXVIII.
EASTERN COUNTIES EXTENSION.
The Committee on this group, comprising Mr. T. D. Ac_
Sand (in the chair), the Earl of March, Sir,R. Lopez, the Hon.
Ed. Harris, and Lord Edwin Hill, met this morning at twelve
o'clock, when, after some discussion, as to the right of oppo-
oition held by Mr. Sergeant Clark, the Committee proceeded
with the

BOSTON DEVIATION BRANCH.
Afr. PAO Err opened in its favour, by stating that this was
is very short line, in or near the town of Boston. By the ori-
ginal Bill, the loop branch of the I.ondon and York line
passe through the town of Boston, but would be in a very
IDCOlTveniant position, and the object of this Bill was to change
the course of that loop in the town of Boston, So as to bring
it into the centre of one of the principal streets. The first
gobject, therefore, was to gain a more convenient station, and
then to cross the river Witham at a more convenient distance
for the traffic than that originally designed. The London
and York Company, and the Eastern Counties Company, had
both obtained their Acts, and had agreed to form the devia-
tion, but yet it was necessary that there should be an Act
for the purpoee.

RAILWAY COMMITTEES.

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; Mr. W. O. Stanley in the
chair.

THE BRIGHTON MID RENT SCHEME.
The Right Hon. J. C. Herries gave general evidence in fa-
yam- of the Brighton line. He understood the Brighton
Company were prepared to bind themselves—at least he had
oeen told so at one of their meetings—to charge 2d. for first,
11-Ad. for second, and id. for third-class passengers, and, on
that account, more than any other, he was disposed to sup-
port the line. Besides, neither he nor his neighbours had
confidence in the sincerity of the South-Eastern in proposing
a Mid Kent line. He was decidedly an advocate for compe
tition.

In cross-examination he admitted that he thought the
saving of the Croydon toll to the South-Eastern Company
was a sufficient consideration to induce them to make their
proposed line. He was not aware that at one of the Kent
meetings, Mr. Wilkinson, the Deputy Chairman of the Lon-
don and South Coast Company, pledged his company, in con-
sideration of the Mid Kent line being conceded to them, to
charge I%d. for first, Id. for second, and 1/2d. for third-class
passengers, which pledge was afterwards repudiated by the
South Coast Company.
A number of witnesses from Sevenoaks, Tunbridge, and
Maidstone, were examined, but their testimony all bore upon
the same point, namely, that they preferred the Brighton
line to the South-Eastern.
The Committee adjourned at the usual hour till twelve
o'clock to-morrow (this day).

GROUP VI.
SOUTH-WESTERN SCHEMES—SALISBURY
AND IrEOVII., AND EXETER, YEOVIL
AND DORCHESTER.
The Committee met this morning at twelve, Mr. Deedes,
in the chair.
Mr. Squarrey, a farmer residing near Salisbury, was called
to give evidence in favour of the South-Western extension of
the line from Salisbury to the West of England. The rail-
way would, if constructed, afford him considerable advan-
tages in sending his stock to the metropolis and other parts
of England, and also effect a saving of at least sixpence per
head on the present mode of conveyance. He believed that
a break of gauge at Salisbury would mar the beneficial effect
of railway communication, by causing considerable injury to
the stock in the process of removing from one truck to the
other. The railway would, if constructed, afford also great
advantages for the conveyance of lime, with which the dis-
trict abounded, and also coals, manure, and other articles.
Mr. James Crew, grazier, from the neighbourhood of
Salisbury, gave evidence favourable to the line. If the line
were constructed it would effect a saving to him of at least
30s. per head on the expense of sending his cattle to London.
The terminus of the South-Western Railway, when com-
pleted at London-bridge would also afford greater facilities
fbr removing cattle from the railway to Smithfield. Great
quantities of dead meat would also be sent to London by this
railway, which it was essential should be constructed on an
unbroken gauge.
Mr. T Mathews also deposed to the advantages which
this line would afford in the conveyance of live stock, killed
meat, and other agricultural produce.
The Committee then adjourned.