The Sun.
London, England, 1847-05-18 00:00:00

GROUP XVIII.

GLOUCESTER AND STOREHOUSE 317 Nat

TION.

The Committee on this 'group assembled this morning at
twelve ; the Earl of Lincoln in the chair, when they took the
line from Stonehouse to Gloucester, upon which
Mr. HILDTARD was retained. He said that this was an
undertaking of the very greatest importance, as it was the
only means of connecting the port of Bristol with the system
of narrow gauge lines of from 800 to 1,000 miles in length.
There was now a power in the possession of the company to
lay down a narrow gauge line between Stonehouse and
Gloucester, and then to lay down a narrow gauge line
concurrently with the broad guage line between Stonehouse
and Bristol. For this purpose a line had been laid out in
1843, but the Act contained a clause that the company
should not interfere with the broad gauge line between the
two points for which this Bill was sought.
The Earl of LINCOLN thought that this Act had better be
produced, in order that the Committee might dearly under-
stand its provisions.
Mr. Bass, the principal agents for Messrs. Pickford, the
carriers, was then called, and stated that his principals were
the largest carriers in England, and that great inconvenience
was felt from the break of gauge.
Mr. Saunders, the inspector of the Gloucester and Bir-
mingham line, was giving evidence of the inconvenience, when
The Earl of Liu coix suggested that perhaps Mr. Stephen-
son might show some reason of an engineering character why
a different system should be adopted between Gloucester and
Stonehouse from that between Cheltenham and Gloucester.
Mr. Daniel, on behalf of the Midland Company, said that
there were several objections beside the break of gauge.
There were the stations, the inconvenience of the number of
trains, beside a variety of other evils.
Mr. Cripps, on behalf of the Great Western Company, said
that there was already an agreement by which the Midland
Company were bound to work over the broad gauge line.
Mr. Stephenson was then called.
The Earl of Lixcout inquired what were the peculiar en-
gineering difficulties which prevented the same plan from
being adopted between Stonehouse and Gloucester as was
adopted between Cheltenham and Gloucester.
Mr. Stephenson replied that the saving of the expense was
so trifling, compared with the advantage derived from the
avoidance df danger and the equal benefit derived from the
separation df the stations. If he were the engineer of two
independent companies, both adopting the same gauge,
whether broad or narrow, he should still advise the formation
of two separate lines. To the inquiry as to why the same
system of management was not adepied throughout, he said
that below Gloucester there would be a necessity for using
different engines, a separate staff, and the expense would
consequently be very great.
To Sir WALTER JAMES Mr. Stephensoa replied, that that
could not possibly be effected, as the engines and the carriages
could not possibly be accomplished, as the buffers of all
would have to be changed.
Mr. DANIEL stated that the Narrow Gauge Company
were ready to give the utmost compensation that could be
required for the breach of contract.
Mr. Saunders, the secretary of the Great Western Company,
explained that if such a proposition were adopted as had been
anysuggested, there would be a far greater evil than any which
compensation could recompense, for; unless there was a
broad gauge traffic over those joint gauges, all the business
southward of Bristol would be abstracted.
The Earl of Llxconit suggested that some agreement might
be entered into, if the case were to be adjourned till to-morrow.
The Committee sat there in a double capacity, not only to
adjudicate fairly between two great contending parties, but
also to save a great expense to the public,
an object which,
in his capacity of a Member of Parliament, he was very
desirous to effect.
After a long conversation, in which
Mr. SAUNDERS stated, on behalf of the Great western
Company, that they had no objection to the laying down of
the narrow gauge lines, provided the Midland Company
• would consent to work a certain number of broad gauge
engines between Bristol and Gloucester,
L Mr. DANIEL said that the Midland Company objected to
the working of the broad gauge engines, but were willing to
allow any compensation which the Committee might deem

air.
Some further discussion ensued, after which it was decided
that parties authorised on both sides should meet for an

GROUP XTX
This Committee met tc- day at twelve o'clock; Mr. Den-
nistoun in the chair, all the other Members present.
OXFORD, Elizannty, AND COVENTRY