The Sun.
London, England, 1846-06-05 00:00:00

birti Nbittion

suiv OFFICE, Seren o'clock.

RAILWAY COMMITTEES.

(THIS DAY.)

HOUSE OF LORDS.
GROUP I.
LONDON AND HORN (THE EASTERN
COVNTIES).
(Continued from our Afternoon Edition.)

Mr. Sergeant WRANGIIAM then proceeded at some length
into the question of the estimates of the line. The cost of
constructing the London and Birmingham and the Grand
Junction Railway was not more than the estimate for the
proposed London and York. Their Lordships would not,
he was sure, sanction a scheme which proposed
to lay the traffic of the north of England by a
circuitous route on a crowded line. With reference to
the residential injury to the palace of the Archbishop of
York, that would be avoiled 6y a deviation. In conclusion
he zoned upon their Lordships to sanction the London and
Yo:k in preference to any other scheme proposed, as it had
the confidence of the public, and afforded the most direct and
continuous line from London to York, and the north of Eng-
land and Scotland itself.

A. t tl.e ;;;Cru;ion—tithe Learned Counsel's observations,
which occupied the whole of the period of the sittings of the
Committee,
The NOBLE Loan intimated that the Committee would
reserve their decision till Monday next.

Room A.
ELECTRIC TELEGRAPII COVIP.A.NT
inquire
i Committee appointed by their Lordships to
i ,to the merits of this Bill assembled for the first time this
hco-ning.
Mr. HILL, Q C., appeared for the promoters, and in a
speech of some length stated the interests likely to result to
tae country from the establishment of this company.
The Bill was opposed, as it had been in the Commons'
Committee, by Mr. A. Bain, who claimed priority of inven-
tion, and who also stated that the last improvements which
had been patented by Messrs. Cooke and Wheatstone were
not of a nature to benefit the public.
The Committee intimated that Mr. Webster, who appeared
for Mr. Bain, must confine his evidence solely to the ques-
tion of the piracy by Messrs. Cooke and Wheatstone of Mr.
Bain's invention.
Tile Committee then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
GROUP XVII.

MANCHESTER AND SOUTHAMPTON, AND
SOUTH-WESTERN (ROMSET AND LED-
BRIDGE BRANCH). Al*
__.

The Committee met this morning at the usual hour, the
1-1,,n. E. Yorke in the chair.

MANCEESTIM AND SOUTHIIIVIPTON.

The cross-examination of Mr. Edwards, collector of the
port of Soutliampo -, was resumed by Sir T. Pitieents, on
behalf of the Great Western Railway and landowners on the
route of the proposed line. The witness detailed the
various items and quantities which made up the aggregate
quantities and sums adduced in his evidence yestei day. It
will be roe 'fleeted that he estimated that the traffic of this
line to the north would be 88,000 tons, 30,000 of which were
estimated as the probable increase, owing to the facilities
which it would afford. The imports at Southampton would
be materially increased on account of direct and moderate
communication with the north ; corn, for instance, would
come in greater quantities from Russia, Sweden, Denmark,
Prussia, and, in fact, from the whole north of Europe. The
aggregate quantities were made up of the following:—
raw silk, 300 tons; mohair yarn, 12 tuns; worsted,
20 tdns; saffron and gums, 150 tons; goat's hair,
187 tons; manufactured silks and stuffs, from France,
300 tons merinos, green and dried fruit, wines, spirits,
and other articles from France, 2,0C0 tons; corn from
France, 2,400 tons; goods of various kinds from the Channel
'steeds' 1,000 tons ; front the Mediterranean, 1,000 tons; East
Indies, 400 tons. 12,000 tons of corn now sent by orate: and
ether n:odes'of communication to the north, would he diverted
to this line, 200 tons of coffee, 150 tons of manufactured and
unmanufactured tobacco, and 6,000 tons of the present coast
traffic. When he estimated the cost of transmitting a ton
of goods from Southampton to Manchester at 11 , he (lid so
at the rate of a penny per mile, which he considered would
before long be the:general rate of charge for goods on all the
railways in the country; and the Great Western, he ex-
pected, would be tee first to set the example. When he said
the cost of transit at present was 3/. Is. 60., he did so at the
rates now charged by the existing lines, and included the
charge of transit between the termini of the South-Western
and London and Birmingham.
Re-examined by Mr. ALEXANDER—He found that the
charge would be the same for all the proposed lines which
ran in any way towards the north, and that the Manchester
and Southampton, owing to its direct and short route, pos-
sessed an advantage to that extent over all. By the proposed
line, the saving in transit to the public in the 88,000 tons
would be 6,600 tons. If the line were now made there
could be no doubt that 58,000 tons of goods would go by it,
and instead of the increase being 30,000, it could not fail to
be much greater. The necessity of such a line had long ex-
isted in his mind, and he had even suggested its construction
to individuals connected with the Great Western, but they
had not thought proper to take it up.
A. Mildmay, Esq., M.P., one of the Members for South-
ampton, examined by Mr. JAMES—Had received frequent
communications from his constituents and from the public
bodies of the town with respect to obtaining more direct and
cheaper communication with the manufacturing districts of
the north. tie considered that such a communication as
that afforded by the proposed line would be of great advan-
tage to the inhabitants of the town. Another independent
station would also be en advantage.
Cross-examined by Mr. SMlTll—Bullion was landed at
Southampton, and not at Falmouth.
Mr. Joseph Lobb, deputy-lieutenant of the county and
mayor for the third time of Southampton, and a director of
the South of England Steam-packet Company, stated that
a resolution was passed at a meeting of the town council, in
July last year in favour of the Manchester and Southampton,
and calling on the 11I!mbers for the borough, for the county,
and for the Isle of Wight to support it in Parliament. A meet-
ing of the inhabitants of the town was held on the 12th August
at which resolutions in favour of the line were passed, and a
petition signed by parties paying more than half of the
assessment of the borough. That feeling continued up to the
present time. At a meeting held in London, in compliance
with the sessional orders, he held 5,000 shares belonging to
persons in the town of Southampton who assented to the
line ; others, who were present also, held large numbers of
shares, and, in fact, the meeting was unanimous for pro-
ceeding with the line. The inhabitants of the town
generally were in favour of the line. The opening up
of a direct communication with the north would
be of the utmost advantage to the line. A station on the
pier would also be of advantage; besides an independent sta-
tion, and an independent line would lead to competition, by
which the public would be benefited.
By Mr. Mfg:lN—Had fifty shares allotted to him, which
he 'sold at 51. ss. premium. He had since bought five shares;
he could not say at what price, as he had not paid for them. He
could not say whether the other Town Councillors held shares
but-if they did not they ought to he ashamed of themselves
He did not simply look at the saving of the distance to the
north by the Manchester and Southampton, but to the ad-
vantage which it possessed over any other proposed line on
account of avoiding break of gauge, which was a serious
drawback. About 7,000 shorts were allotted to pereons in
Southampton.
Re-examined by Mr. JAMES—The shares were not at a
premium when he appliel for them. lie did not think
of a premium. He applied in August, and received his allot.
meat in October-7,000 bore lgut a slight proportion to the
number of shares applied fur. Only one shareholder, hold-
ing twenty shares, was dissentient at the meeting rcferitd"
to, notwithstanding the depreciation of the shares of the last
lines since the autumn of last year. Toe town was %lite
as unanimous in favour of the line. A company vas fii
C )tirse of formation whose boats would no doubt effect the
pas. ag! between Southampton and Havre in from eight to
ten hours.

Mr. W. A. Somers, partner in a steam boiler foundry and
iron ship-building establishment at Southampton, examined
by Mr. CmPrs—He received from 950 to 1,000 tons of piz
and bar iron in the course of the year from Stafford'-
ships and Shropshire, and from 1,200 to 1,300 tons of
coal and coke from Newcastle. The iron generally
came by canal to London, and from thence to South-
ampton along the coast The coke and coal came from
Newcastle by coasters. The delay occasioned great
inconvenience, and compelled them to use a greater amount '
of capital in their business in keeping stock than would be
necessary if they had direct communication with the north.
So great had been this inconvenience and loss of time, that
they had recently had some of it by railway—by the Birm-
ingham and South-Western Railway. The breaks of gauge
I?yy. the course authorised by Parliament would be of great
ocztr viantage, in addition to being eighteen miles longer.
come all the way from Southampton in the same
It was elicited by the Chairman that the line would run
from Manchester to Southampton on lines made or to be
constructed, and that thela
wholeti of them were in favour of it,
as it could not be other else
adjourned until
important feeder;
The Committee then until eleven o'clock to-
morrow.

GREAT MUNSTER RAILWAY.
_ (THIS D4Y-..).

A meeting of the Shareholders in.this prejecctwas Bela, at
es
three o'clock
to-day, at the Company's , 23,
ment• street.
accounts of
rateheCi:
calling
Colonel DAMER, having taken the chair, csthlleedmoenetitnlige.
Secretary to read the advertisement
He then said that the gentlemen
cial Committee had
present would be aware
that at a former private meeting
been appointed to examine, the accoa
and that this meeting had been oiled to nr
report,
which one of the gentlemen appointed would read.
said
Mr. D. W. HARVEY, one of the special Committee,
this meeting tad been called for a specific purpose, namely,
to say whether this lino should be prosecuted or abandoned.
At a former meeting a Committee had been appointed to
examine into the conditi,a and prospects of this Company,
with a view to shareholders coming to a vote this day. The
committee had discharged the duties which devolved upon
them, ar d hid formed their report, which of course, when reao,
would influence the mind of the shareholders by as much as it
might appear worth. He then stated that the attention
of the Committee had been called to one point in their report
since coming into the room. Tney had reported that the
Provisional Committee in February last, when it was for
them to decide whether they should go on or not, were in a
deficiency in respect of the deposits required by the stand-
ing orders of both Houses, amounting to 10,0001.;
whereas it appeared that they bad faith in hand reducing
that deficiency to 7,0)01., although as it affscted the liiiances
of the company the correction would ultimately leave them
as t'ley were.
Mr. IlAnveY then read the report, which stated the
original capital of the Company was 1,100,0001., and 22,000
shares, at 501. each, wiAl a deposit of 21. 10, ; but of these
shares only 14,350 had been allotted, and Only 11,670 had
been r paid upon, realising 29,1751., which, with interest
allowE by the bank, was, 29,4131, the total capital of the
company. The expenditure up to the present time had been
16,6181, and the unadjusted; conjectural claims against
the company would nearly absorb the disposable capital.
In February the amount of capital in hand was 12,7941., or
near;10,000/. less than was required to be paid in accordance
to the standing orders of the House. The report concluded
with an opinion that it would neither be practicable nor
prudent to prosecute the Bill, and recommended the
appointment of a select committee of three share-
holders, "who should institute such proceedings, and
make such arrangements most conducive, under all the cir-
ri & row sure the largest return of the deposits."
• Til moved an adjournment, that the share-
t • ve an opportunity to consider the report.
said the point before the meeting, and

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which they had to decide, was, whether they should prose-
cute the Bill to a third reading, or not ?
After observations had been made by several persons, this
question was put to the vote, when there appeared—
Against proceeding 3,746 share?.
For

Majority against proceeding with the Bill 3,090.
It was moved and seconded that the report of the Special
Committee should be adopted.
This was put to the meeting and carried unanimously.
The CHAIRMAN then retired, and
Mr. D. W. HARVEY, having taken the chair, proposd the
adoption of the Committee's recommendation to appoint a
Select Committee of their shareholders for the purpose stated
in the report, and added the following resolution :
" That only those shareholders should be entitled to the
benefit of these arrangements, who had given in their names
on or before the 15th of June instant, and that all expenses
be borne rateably by the shares, and on the understanding
that expenses should not be incurred above 2s. per share,
without calling together the owners themselves, who, at
such meeting, should be at liberty to retire altogether,
after paying such expenses, not being more than 2s. per
share.
These resolutions were carried unanimously, and the fol-
lowing gentlemen were nominated on the Committee:—Mr.
C. H. Baldwin, M.P., Mr. Harvey, and Mr. Whalley.
The meeting, after a vote of thanks to Mr. Harvey, then
broke up.

WEXFORD, WATERFORD, and VA-
LENTEN RAILWAY.—(THIS DAY.)
A Special Meeting of the Subscribers to the deed of this
Company, took place this day at the George ant Vulture
Tavern, in order to receive a report from the directors re-
lative to Valentia Harbmr. W. Richardson, FAT, in the
chair.

A report from Mr. Walker to the Lords' Commissioners of
the Admiralty, on the Harbour of Valentia, was read. It
strongly recommended the adoption of the Harbour, as an
American Packet Station.
A resolution to withdraw the Bill for the present session,
in order to oLtain the support of Government to it in the
next, was agreed to by an almost unanimous vote.
The meeting then separated.

BANK OF ENGLAND.
(From this Night's Gazette.)
An Account, pursuant to the Act 7th and Bth of Victoria, cap. 32, for
the Week ending on Saturday, the 30th day of May, 1846.
ISSUE DEPARTMF-ICT.

Notes issued— •• • • 27,993,880

Government debt •• 11,015,100
Other securities •• • • 2,981,900
Gold coin and bullion 12,062,507
Silver bullion • • • • .. 1,931,283

£27,993,880

I X 27,993,880
M. 31ARSIIALL, Chief Cashier.

Dated the 4th day of June, 1846.

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