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

BOSTON DEVIATION BRANCH.

Mr. PAGErr opened in its favour, by stating that this was
a very short line, in or near the town of Boston. By the ori-
ginal Bill, the loop branch of the London and York line
pas,..ed through the town of Boston, but would be in a very
inconvenient 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
object, 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
vnd 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 purpose.
Mr. Cubitt, the engineer of the London and York line,
stated that as the line was now planned, the passage would
be above the grand sluice, where the whole of the traffic of
the county passed. By he alteration sought by this Bill
the crossing would be below, instead of above the sluice,
where, in fact, there is already an iron bridge, and where the
crossing would in no way interfere with the trade. ,fit was
proposed by the present Bill to carry the railway traffic on
one line, and at one rate. The new works would cost about
3001. more than those originally designed ;_and those works

were to be executed at the expense of the London and York
Company, and the change would be of great advantage to
the country at large.
Mr. Sergeant CLARK was about to oppose the Bill, when
some discussion arose as to his right to appear, as the title of
the Bill had been changed.
It was stated by the agent that the Bill had been originally
introduced under one title, but was now prosecuted by the
agency of another, under the sanction of the Committee of
Selection ; but as it was shown that the petition of the land.
owners, for whom the Learned Sergeant appeared, had been
put in against the Bill under its original title, he was allowed
to proceed.
On cross- examination, Mr. Cubitt stated that Mr. Locke
was originally employed as the engineer of the London and
York, but he had himself been engaged in the October of last
year ; and although the line designed by Mr. Locke was a
good line, that which he had himself was a better, although
be would not say that there was a better through Boston, for
there was but the property on both gides of the river pre-
vented its adoption.
_

To the CHAIRMAN—Mr. Cubitt described the position of
the loop branch of the London and York line, of which this
formed a part _ _

To theCizAtamAx—Mr. Cubittreplied that the Act of the
London and York Company was obtained last year, and that
the line of the Ambergate and Boston line had been subse-
quently devised, and the station now designed
was to be close
to the 'station of that company, but in his opinion it would in
no way interfere with the station, although the alteration
would cross the Ambergate station rails.
An objection was here taken that the application required
theby tAhaemlielwtya,yhsutCeoftnseorlmideaetihondisAcuctseiheanditnwoat
sbaelelnewneid that
etot
the application had been made, but the answer had not been
Admiralty.
To had been, in reality,
i
received. This, however, in no way invalidated the advisa-
bilityalleged of
on
To the CHAIRMAN'S suggestion, it was replied that there
was an understanding that, in the event of the Eastern Coun-
ties and the London and York companies receding, tither
the
ee
line,
part of f°
ther no
A
or both companies might ge over the Ambergate lines.
Mr. COCKBURN, Q.C., wished to know what the proposi-
tion really was, and after some further discussion,
Mr. PAGET said that the company had no objection to
withdraw the branch, provided they had an outlet granted
to them, and this they might obtain if either the East
Lincolnshire or the Ambergate Company would enter into
arrangements with them. The East Lincolnshire Company
were at the present moment in possession of the ground in
consequence of their Bill being passed previous to the Act of
the Ambergate Company.
After some further discussion between the counsel engaged,
it was arranged that the Bill should be adjourned till to-
n.orrow (this day).
SLEAPORD
Mr. Sergeant WaaNGIIAM opened on behalf of this branch,
whi,lll is to form a continuation of the London and York
branch, but the evidence isjto be taken to-morrow (this day).

GROUP XLVI I.
This Committee met to-day at twelve o'clock, the llon.
E. Yorke in the chair.

WILSONTOWN, MORNINGSIDE, AND
COLTNESS (BRANCHES TO 31ENHAR)
BILL.
This Bill was then proceeded with.
It was petitioned against by Mr. Mann, the agent of Mr.
Dixon' an ironmaster in the district, for whom Mr. Sergeant
Murphy appeared. Mr. Andrews was for the promoters.
Mr. ANDREWS opened the case, stating that the line was
a short mineral branch, to open up the Benhar mineral dis-
trict with Glasgow and Edinburgh. It was estimated to cost
24,705/., and would prove highly remunerative. The coal
and limestone that would be opened up amounted to many
millions of tons.
Mr. M'Creath, mining engineer, gave evidence as to the
mineral capabilities of the district, and the benefits which
the line would insure.
Mr. William M'Creath—He had examined the coal-fields
and reported to the promoters of this project. Hs had bored

in two places and found that the aggregate depth of the
working seam was ten feet, and that there were some
16,000,000 of tons in all, that might be brought to the sur-
face. The whole country was rich in coal, and he had never
heard that a doubt had existed as to the existence of coal in
great quantities in this particular locality.
Mr. Williamson, mineral surveyor, gave similar evidence.
He had no doubt that the opening of these fields would, in a
considerable degree, lower the price of fine coals in Edin-
burgh, and he believed that the furnaces—some seventy in
all, would be principally supplied from Benhar.
The Committee adjourned at four o'clock.

GROUP LI.
This Committee met for the first time to-day.
Members present—Sir J. Y. Buller (Chairman), Lord J.
Manners, Hon. G. H. Cavendish, Mr. Newdegate, and Cap-
tain Plumridge, to whom have been referred the following
Glasgow, Dumfries, and Carlisle, and Glasgow, Paisley, Kil-
marnock, and Ayr (No. 1).
Glasgow, Dumfries, and Carlisle, and Glasgow, Paisley, Kil-
marnock, and (Ayr (No. 2).
North British (No. 2).
Caledonian (Branches to Canobie, &c.)
Caledonian (Lease of part of Glasgow, Dumfries, and Car-
lisle Railway).
Ayrshire and Galloway.
On inquiry it was found that the only Bill in a position to
go forward was the
AYRSHIRE AND GALLOWAY.
It being the only one in which the Railway Commissioners
had as yet reported.

Thisbeinian unopposed Bill, it was agreed by the Com-
mittee to refer it to the Chairman of Committees, and the
Members who brought in the Bill.
After entering the appearances on behalf of the other Bills
with the petitions against them,
The Committee adjourned till Thursday next, when it is
expected all the reports will be ready.

GROUP V.
The Committee met this morning at twelve. Present,
Lord H. Vane (chairman), Hon. M. Sutton, Hon. Mr. Gore,
Mr. Rice, and Sir E. Filmer.

LONDON AND SOUTH-WESTERN (WIDEN,

ING THEREOF, ETC).
Counsel for this Bill, Mr. Austin, Mr. Hill, and Mr. Hope
agents, Messrs. Dorrington and Co.
Mr. Atm= in opening the merits of the Bill, said the
object of it was to widen that part of the South-Western
line extending from Nine Elms to the junction
with the Richmond line at Falcon-bridge on the one
hand, and to Hungerford-bridge on the other, so that
four lines of rails might be laid down to meet the great
increase of traffic which would press upon that portion of the
line. The cost of that would be about 24,0001., and the only
opposition likely to be made to it would arise from two pro-
prietors in the neighbourhood of Falcon-bridge.
Mr. Locke, the engineer of the company, in the course of
his examination proved the amount of estimate for the two
miles of two additional lines of rail to be 24,8001., and the
property about Falcon-bridge interfered with by the Bill to
be of no other importance than to give the owners a claim
for compensation. The York-road Station was estimated at
78,000/. land cost, and 40,000/. cost of erection.
Mr. BoviLL, on the part of the proprietors at Falcon-
bridge, cross-examined the witness; but immediately after-
wards intimated that he would not persist in his opposition
to the general Bill.
The CHAIRMAN then declared the preamble proved; and
the Committee proceeded to go through the clauses, which,
with some amendments, were agreed to; and the Chairman
announced that he would report the Bill to the House.

PETITIONS ON PRIVATE BILLS.
HOUSE OF COMMONS.—(YESTERDA).
(Room 23, before Mr. Examiner MAY.)
CORNWALL AND DEVON CENTRAL PLYMOUTH
RAILWAY.
This case, which is on the opposed list, again came under
the consideration of the Examiner. After a number of
formal proofs had been tendered the case was further ad-
journed.