The Sun.
London, England, 1847-05-01 00:00:00

GROUP L.

The Committee met at twelve; Mr. Bankes in the cbair.
GLASGOW. Z.II.NCARNOCE, AND ARDR,O9.

SAN (AMENDMENTS AND DEVIATIONS;

Sergeant MuftPuT addressed the Committee for the
irromoters.
Mr. Fogsmt replied for the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmar-
nock, and Ayr (No. 2).
Mr. WHATELY, Q.C., shortly addressed the Committee
for opposing proprietors.
The room was cleared, and parties, on being re-admitted,
were informed that th«. Committee declared the preamble of
the Ayr Company's Bill proved for the Louden Branch, the
West Colliery Branch, the branch from Melton-bridge to
Busby,and the unopposed branches to Towratt toll, Hill End,
Sm.; but the continuation from Busby to Bushton, and the
Auchinhervie Branch were thrown out. The preamble of the
Ardrossan Company's Bill was declared proved for the Fennick
Branch.
The Committee then decided for the Bog branch, proposed
by the Ardrossan Company, and against the Byrchill branch
of the Ayr Company.
After evidence from the Messrs. Caldwell, proprietors
opposing the Beith branch, by the Ardrossan Company.
The Committee decided against it, and then adjourned till
Monday.

GROUP LI.
THE CALEDONIAN (BRANCHES AND
LEASES).

The Committee--consisting of Sir John Yards Buller
(chairman), Mr. Newdegate, Mr. Tollemacbe, Lord John
Manners, and Captain Plumr►dge—met in Room No. 29, at
twelve o'clock. and proceeded to take the above line.
Mr. Rastas(Aw was proceeding to call witnesses on the
branch line from Ecclefechen to Annan, when _

The CHAIRMAN interposed, and said that as this portion of
the Caledonian scheme was not intended to oppose the Dum-
fries line, it could not be considered as then before the Com-
mittee. _ _ _

Mr. Brand, agent for the British Linen Company, and also
writer in Annau—lt would be of the greatest importance to
the town of Annan to have a direct and speedy communica-
tion with the Annandale district, extending thirty miles
around it. This communication would be given by th-
branches of the Caledonian Railway. There was a consider-
able trade in the district in sheep and pigs. Annan, a town
containing nearly 6,000 of a population, was generally con-
sidered one of the best ports in the Solway. It exported a
considerable amount of goods, but its import trade was still
greater. The registered tonnage in the last year was nearly
60,000. The country, as far as Dalmakedder was an agricul-
tural district, but the country north of Moffat, was exceed-
ingly barren. The distance from Annan to Ecclefechen by
the present Caledonian (the only line which gave any com-
munication), was from seventeen to twenty miles, but if a
proposed branch were allowed to be constructed, !hat dis-
tance would be reduced to one-fifth. Coals and clayefor
agricultural purposes would be extensively transmitted along
the line. Two steamers sailed per week from Port Carlisle,
and Annan, aid Liverpool, and a considerable passenger and
cattle trade existed between these places. He believed
that 70,000 sheep and about 2,000 fat cattle were annellv'
exported from, Annan, and a considerable number of these,
perhaps from a third to a half, came by the Caledonian line
from the districts he had already referred to.
Cross-examined by Mr. ANDHAWS—His partner was Mr.'
Farish, town-clerk of Annan. That gentleman had at
tended a public meeting to consider the propriety of repeal-
ing the leasing clause in the Dumfries Act, but he had not
opened his mouth there. He had never heard his partner
express an opinion on the subject of the lease. He bad him-'
eelt attended the meeting and opposed the repeal of the:
clause, but the chairman intimated, on a show of hands:
being taken, that he was in a minority. The proposed'
branch to Ecclefechen would make the Caledonian the:
shortest line to Edinburgh—shorter than either the Dust-.
fries or the North British lines. Dalmakedder was not a
large town—it was a simple farm-house. (Considerable.
laughter was occasioned by Mr. Andrews pointing out Dal-
makedear upon the map of the Caledonian Company, where it
was indicated as a place of considerable importance.) He
knew that there was clay upon the line of the Dumfries
Company, as well as at Annan. In the event of the railway
being finished, it was still his opinion that a large number of
the fat sheep would still go by sea.'
Mr. AUSTIN was proceeding to cross-examine, when,
Mr. Raersuaw obj. cted that no petition was presented
other:landlords, against these
Mr. RAMSHAW —The cost of trans-
as against 30s. per
pbbranches.
Dukeas r
The
_hot
for
exr
objectionaßsmh ei cnec
ep!
de u
bw cyl
was
dr 8 u
bs
et
oe
s. d
railway. The difference of time would be three hours longer
per sea.
Robert Brown confirmed the preceding evidence.
Mr. David Steel, member of the town council of Annan,
said that no direct communication would be afforded between,
the town of Annan and the district called Annandale. He
corroborated the former witness on the subject of the cattle
trade. He believed, that if the port of Kirkcudbright were,
opened to-morrow Annan would still remain a shipping
station. .
Mr. Henry Ferran, of ScalesbyHall, had employed him-
self for twenty-seven years in agricultural pursuits, and he
believed that the Brampton branch would greatly benefit the
district traversed by the branch (eleven miles), and a con-
siderable extent to the westward. That district was greatly
in want of lime, but, for want of a railway, they could not
get it, as the expense of cartage was too great. He had tried
lime on some land that was not in a cultivated state, and he
had reaped from every acre about sixty imperial bushels. It
was an extraordinary crop. There could be no doubt that. a
large quantity of lime and coal would be carried along the
branch.
Viscount Morpeth, examined by Mr. Sergeant MURPHY
—His Lordship was well acquainted with the country
around Brampton, and he knew that the district between
Brampton and Longtown was in great want of coal and lime.
Ile thought that the wishes of the inhabitants of the town
of Brampton were in favour of the Caledonian branch over
that of their rivals. They preferred the Caledonian scheme
because it g av e better acct. tumodation to the town and avoided
some very steep ascents.
Cross-examined by Mr. TALBet —The Dumfries and
Carlisle Railway would not give the same accommo-
dation to the inhabitants of Longtown that the Ca-
ledonian would, but this objection would be got rid of by
the North British Railway. The difference in the ascent be,
tween the Caledonian and Dumfries branches at Brampton
of five feet was of no great importance.
Mr. Nicholas Wood, civil engineer, was aware that in
the Duinfrics Bill of last year there was a clause
leeeing the portion of country between Gretna and
Springfield to the Caledonian Company. He thought that
the railways north and west of Glasgow would use the New-
castle coke. The collierie, with which he was con-
fleeted made about 3,000 tons of coke per week.
He
thought that this branch should be in the hands
of the Caledonian Company. in order that there might be no
interruption front the clashing of rival interests. He thought
the Caledonian were entitled to this advantage. because the
greatest extent of main line was already in their hands, and
because the north of Scotland could be better supplied by
their central line than by any other rival Company. He
did not think that Canobie coals would be carried to Kirk-
cudbright, when the port of Annan was so much nearer ; and
it was absurd to think that coals would be shipped from the
first-named port for Ireland, when that country could be better
aria more abundantly supplied front Ayr, Troon, Irvine, and the
other pore; on the Clyde. He considered that any interrup-
tion r t trailk by one or other line at Annan could be avoided
coneenuously from Brampton to Annan. He bad no doubt
Railway carrying the traffic
ley the Newcastle and Car lisle
that title aereement would be entered into if the present
Committee eauctioned this branch.
Cross-examined by Mr. TALBOT.—He knew no cases in
which. where two railways ran to the same terminus, a por-
tion of the line of the one was leased by the other. He
knew no instance in which, as in this case, the key of the
one line was put into the pockets of the other.
Mr. Swift, solicitor to the London and South-Western and
the Lancaster and Carlisle Company, was called to state the
result of an attempt to negotiate with the view of arranging
the: differences between the Caledonian and the Dumfries,
but after some discussion between the counsel on either
side, the Committee decided that they should not receive it
until both parties were willing that it should be given.
The Committee adjourned at four o'clock.

Late arrivals from. the United States bring intel-
ligence of the death of Mrs. Davis, of Boston, mother ()flans.
.hcroft, the wife of the AlllO/iCALI Minister.