The Sun.
London, England, 1847-06-05 00:00:00

GROUP 111.

This Committee met to-day at twelve o'clock; Mr. Ver-
non in the chair.

LONDON AND BRIGHTON AND SOUTH
COAST (LONDON-BRIDGE STATION EN-
LARGEMENT AND ARRANGEMENT).

This Bill was proceeded with.
Mr. Downes, C.E., was examined as to the engineering
features of the scheme, and the mode in which it would affect
St. Thomas's Hospital.
Some further evidence having been taken against the Bill,
Mr. Sergeant WRANGHAM addressed the Committee, on
the part of St Thomas's Hospital, against the scheme.
The Committee then adjourned.

GROUP VI.
GREAT WESTERN.

The Committee met this morning at twelve.
Mr. Saunders, the secretary to the Great Western Com-
pany, examined by Mr. TsLuoT—There was a Bill before
Parliament for the purpose of reducing the maximum tolls of
the Great Western to as low a point as any railway in the
country, in many cases lower than the tariff of the London
and North-Western Company, and considerably lower than
the tolls on the South-Western. The following table would
show the comparison between the two lines :
a. IV. S. W.
per mile. per mile.
Passengers: Express trains—first class 2l/2d...... 3d.
second class
Ordinary trains—first class
second class .
third class ... 1
Horses ••• ...
Horned Cattle
Calves, Sheep, Pigs, and other small animals 0!4
Carriages... ....
Goods—first class, including coals, lime, &c.,
if not exceeding 50 miles
~ above 50 miles
Second-class Goods
above 50 miles... ,
Third and fourth classes
above 50 miles 2
Great facilities were afforded by means of express trains and
the return tickets, which applied to all the trains. The
system of return tickets was carried out to a greater ex-
tent than upon any other line. The station at Paddington
covered thirty acres, which was barely sufficient for the
great traffic upon the line. The station at Paddington was
the most convenient for the West-end traffic ; the greater
preponderance of the traffic was West-end traffic. Returns
had been made in compliance with the wishes of the Termi-
nal Commissioners, and the result was, that 4,205 cabs went
to the westward of Temple-bar, while only 1,834 went to
the eastward of it. He did not think that the station at
London-bridge would afford much accommodation for a large
traffic; cattle would be seriously inconvenienced. A pro-
longation 'of the line already sanctioned to Fulham was
before Parliament, for the purpose of obtaining a communi-
cation with the South-Western Railway at Nine Elms, and
he had no doubt that. ultimately, they would obtain access
to London-bridge. With respect to the alleged superiority
of the South-Western Railway in point of speed over the
general traffic of the Great Western Railway, there was a
great fallacy in the argument. as it was a comparison of
things totally different, the Great Western trains being
compelled, in consequence of their divergence of traffic, to
break up their lines frequently, whereas the only necessity
for breaking up the train on the South-Western Railway oc-
curred at Bishopstoke. There was not the smallest doubt
that the Great Western trains were much superior in point of
speed and power to those of the South-Western, and with a
greater load he had not the least doubt but that the trains
would travel much faster than those of the South-Western
Company. As to the conveyance of troops, there would not
be the least difficulty in the Great Western affording every
requisite accommodation in that respect. The good feeling
between the Bristol and Exeter Company bad been latterly
broken .ff. He had no doubt that this arose from narrow
gauge influence. Mr. Hudson, having purchased at a consi-
derable price the Bristol and Birmingham lines, was natu-
rally anxious to obtain a continuation of the line to Exeter.
The proprietors in that company were opposed to a renewal
of the lease of their line to the Great Western Company. He
had no doubt that it was the object of the narrow gauge in-
terest to shut out completely the broad gauge from the
western districts. He had not the slightest fault to make
with the conduct of the Bristol and Exeter Company towards
the treat Western Company. He would have no objection
to the Taunton and Castle Cary branch being given to the
Bristol and Exeter Company. provided the line should be
grunted on the broad gauge between Exeter and Yeovil.
The question of the breach of agre• ment between the Great
Western and South-Western Company was then fully gone
into by the witness.
The cross-examination of this witness had not concluded
when the Committee rose.