The Sun.
London, England, 1847-04-21 00:00:00

GROUP V.

The Committee met this morning at twelve o'clock. Pre-
sent, Lord Harry Vane, Chairman ; Hon. Mr. Gore, Hon.
M. Sutton, Mr. Reid, and Sir E. Filmer.
WiTirDSOlt.„ Iarr.A.TWIRS. . SIONTILIMMTZS.•
TERN (2.ICMYZONX, TO WIEDSOR).

WINDSOR, STAINES, AND SOUTH-WEB-
TERN (STAINES TO ASCOT, &C.)

Mr. KENNEDY, counsel for opposing landowners, previous
to the merits of the Bills being opened, raised the question
before the Committee which was lately broached in the
House of Lords, and reported upon by the Railway Com-
missioners—whether the acts of the South-Western Company
had not been such as to disentitle them to a hearing.
The CHAIRMAN intimated that he had considered the
point before, and he was of opinion that it ought not then
to be raised, but that, if the Committee thought well, it
might be entered upon at another stage of the proceedings.
Mr. HOPE, in the absence of Mr. Hill, Q.C., who, with
Mr. Macaulay, had been retained for the company, opened
the merits of the two projects. He said, they applied to a
district which was bounded on the north by the Great
Western broad gauge line, on the south by the South-
Western, and on the west by a narrow gauge line, the Read-
ing, Guildford, and Reigate. In the same direction there
was another line in the course of constriction on both
gauges, from Reading to Basingstoke, so that, if the district
so bounded were properly intersected by lines, it would have
most ample communication with the north, with the south,
the west, and the metropolis. The Wandsworth and Rich-
mond line being already in working by the South-Western,
they proposed by the present Bills to carry out the main line
to gtaines, with a loop at Barnes, passing by Chiswick, and
returning to the trunk line at Hounslow ; from Staines, to
pass a branch on to Black Pots, near Wilidior, to carry a
through line by Egham and Bracknell to Wokingham, there
to join the Reading, Guildford, and Reigate line, and to
throw out two branches near Egham, south to Chertsey and
to the Southampton line, near Farnborough, to Bislev. In
all, there would be about fifty miles of railway, accommo-
dating most thoroughly the district, at a cost of about 20,0001.
a mile.

Mr. William Ashby, in the course of his examination, said
he lived at Islewortb. Was a cement and plaster of paris
merchant, manufacturing 12,000 tons of these articles a year.
He was of opinion the loop line by Barnes would be a great
advantage to Isleworth, where about 18,000 tons of flour
were ground annually. The millers, no doubt, would avail
themselves of the company's depot in London, if the line
were made, and they would be greatly advantaged by the
line passing to Wokingham. as opening to them a great
barley country. To Staines 20,00) tons of goods were car-
ried yearly, at a minimum expense of 6s. a ton, which could
be reduced to something like 2s. 9d. He re,:koned the pre-
sent carriage to Windsor at I's. 6d. which would give 15,0001.
a year, which by rail might be carried for 8,5001.
Cross-examined by Mr. GURNEY for the Great Western—
__

He had been a member of a committee of inquiry, instituted
by the Great Western, and paid by that company.
Messrs. Bradshaw, Hammond, and Card, and other wit-
nesses gave evidence of the necessity of the projected lines,
and the advantage they would confer upon the country.
The witnesses were cross-examined by Messrs. Gurney
and Talbot, Mr. James, and Mr. Kennedy, on the part of
the Great Western and proprietors.
The Committee then adjourned till twelve o'clock to-
morrow (this day).