The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-02 00:00:00

GROUP XXXVII,

SHEFFIELD, ROTHERHAM, BARNSLEY,
WAKEFIELD, HUDDERSFIELD, AND
GOOLE.
(Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.)
Mr. Holt, mineral surveyor, was examined much to the same
effect. In cross examination he stated that some branches, ori-
ginally contemplated by this company, and in his opinion necessary
for the acc)mmodation of important parts of the district to be passed
through, had been abandoned. He did not know that the abandon-
ment was for the purpose of preventing opposition on the part of the
South Yorkshire Railway Company. •
Mr. W. BMgley, surveyor and Commissioner of Inclosures under
the Ecclesiastical Act, examined by Mr. R. HALL—Gave evidence of
a similar general character in favour of this line. He pointed out
upon the maps large tracts in the West Riding, which were mere
grouse shooting-grounds at present, but which were capable of re.
donation by lime manure. This would be rendered available by
means of the railway under consideration.
Several other witnesses, equally acquainted with the nature and
wants of the district, were examined, and their evidence was mainly
of the same character.
The Committee adjourned at four o'clock.

This Committee, of which Mr. Stafford O'Brien is the chairman,
re-assembled at twelve o'clock this morning, in Room 26 (New
Houses of Parliament), and proceeded to hear further evidence in
support of the
YORK AND NoliTH MIDLAND (LEEDS
EXTENSION).
Mr. Fox, cross-examined on behalf of the Leeds, York, and Mid.
land Junction—l believe that Mr. Hudson's line has not any advan-
tage over the Midland Junction line as regards the accommodation to
be afforded to the consumers of coal raised in Miss Gaskin's pro-
perty. The Midland Junction scheme passes through very extensive
limestone fields.
Re-examined—Leaving out of the question' the local traffic up on
the two lines, and taking the traffic at York, you must of necessity
enter upon the York and North Midland line, if their line is con-
structed. Do yon think there is no advantage in sending your coals
dhethceoiallierpyarotvlyeraavalirnethuandLeraeodnae
a! i management,yark
,ai
partly insteado
of
vheary
thein
g
fotroothsmeerntline ?—lt would certainly be a great L. dvantage to have the
coals y
there carried by one
and the same company throughout, and prac-
ticall will be new advantages developed to us by the con-
struction of the Leeds and York line.
George King, land agent, residing at Abbotford, said he was
agent to Colonel Markham, proprietor of an extensive estate
in that district over which this line would pass. He had been ac-
quainted with the district for the last forty years. He had duly
considered the merits of the rival lines, and he was decidedly of
opinion that this line, whilst it would inflict the least injury on private
property, would give the greatest accommodation to the public. This
line would also be more direct than its rivals. There were extensive
quarries of such stone as York Minster had been built with, lying along
the district through which this line would pass. This line would give
accommodation to the important town of Tadcaster, where there are
wereseveralthwheichrind for the district of Leeds. If this line
saving to the people, in the shape of transit of
Colonel I kl
be immense.
3 ar iam considered that
their goods, would
advantageous to the public. The people
constructed, e corn-mills
rn-nli 11
8
in favour of this in the
district where he resided generallyCom-
pany'sthislm•
line.
Cross-examined be the most
were
quicker on lines that had the few
four miles
which was only twenty-
on this line,
was a market-town.
Cross-examined by Mr. ILkunelta—t
junctions,Believed tahnadt
tnpearratiweserteranvoellleased
than seven junctions
He believed that Tadcaster was equal
) in point of commerce. The
in length. Tadcaster had not a regulartnfawire, it
the Leeds and York proposed to erby (through which
he was not of opinion that if Ytho
coals, but
there in more plentiful quanti-
ties,and coals were brought
districts lying between Wetherbypaasnsd
constructed, arkLawadaereanidn
Sergeant WILRINs—Had always said that
YgreOrkatlinneeel weref
Cross-examined by
Mr.
ever said that the North Midland
the best. Had n
that article would be much cheaper.
this line was
couldnot say
that he had ever heard of there being any reserved shares in this
Junction was the best, and ought to win the day. He co n
Company. He had not heard that there were any reserved
shares for Colonel Markham,
whether the
self to his knowledge.
He &onld
through a more nor werneotthearaey any for him-
North Midland Junction did
1r Hudson's. Did not know
went through the coal fields as well as 3 .
ex-
tensive district of lime beds. Heilo also believed that that line
go
supposing the two
the gradients of the two lines. He believed that,
preferable for
that line which had better gradients would be
lines affording equal facilities for opening out the district of coal-
fields,mineral trafilic. He did not know where the station Of the North
Midland Junction would be in the district of Abbotford.
Re-examined—Colonel Markham had petitioned against the North
Midland Junction.
Mr W. Wordsworth, land agent, of Blackgate, near Leeds, said he
had been in the habit of inspecting collieries in that neighbourhood.
The Leeds and York Railway would pass over a district where the
coal was already worked out, and as a mineral line it was of little iin-
portance. He was acquainted with the route of this and the North
Midland Junction lines, and he believed that this was the more pre-
ferable scheme. If the accommodation which this line proposed to
give for the transmission of coal and lime were not given to the
people of York, the coal of Durham would be sold in York, and the
people would be thus driven out of the capital of their own county,
as respected their coals.
Cross-examined by Mr. HARDY—The district lying between
Wetherby and York was not well supplied with coal. The Durham
coal was decidedly better than that found in the fields of the Misses
Gaskins, and that in the district of Dewsbury.
Cross-exby Mr. SergeantJunctionliner
would be a very advantageousWiLittris— one
to the public, and
should that line be a mile shorter than that under the consideration
of the Committee, it R ould certainly be the more preferable. Ile
considered that it would be preferable to carry heavy mineral traffic
along such a line as the North Midland Junction, than one where it
would be obliged to wait for the transit of London traffic.
Mr. Thomas Lockwood, of Tadcaster, assistant-overseer there for
the last twenty-five years, said, that the trade of that town had
suffered of late most materially, in consequence of railways having
been constructed In the neighbourhood of Durham, whereby the
coal of that district was conveyed for sale to York, and
put the Tadcaster coal-merchants out of the market.
The population of Tadcasler at the last census was upwards of
26,000. Mr. Itherley, an extensive miller there, sent 8,000 tons of
flour to Leeds (seventeen miles) annually, and it could not be con-
veyed, under the present circumstances, at less than 2s. per quarter.
The Comm= intimated that they had heard quite sufficient et-
,. deuce as to traffic.