The Sun.
London, England, 1846-04-01 00:00:00

taken first.
Mr. MACAULAY, in the absence of Mr. Austin, then opened the case
on behalf of the promoters. The proposed branch commences on the
Bedford line, a little south of Kettering, and terminates
by a junction with the Ely and Huntingdon Railway, at
Huntingdon, crossing and farming a junction with the line
of the Northampton and Peterborough Railway. By this
latter branch the chain of railway between Birmingham
and Great Yarmouth will be complete. The length of the branch is
twenty-three miles seven furlongs, and it is estimated that at least
half a million of persons would be supplied with coal at half the cost
which that article at present costs them. The promoters have agreed
to subscribe 600,0001. towards Its construction. The principal points
for the consideration of 'the Committee in deciding on the merits of
the competing lines for completing the railway communication from
Birmingham to the Eastern branch will be the amount of capital
required, the ' length of new railways to be constructed, and
the extent of accommodation afforded. The country through which
the Rugby and Huntingdon Railway passes from the point where it
leaves the Northampton and Peterborough Railway, to Rugby is,
with the exception of the towns of Kettering and Market liar-
borough, most thinly populated ; and this line of country would be
fully accommodated by the Rugby and Stamford Railway, for which
a Bill was at present before a Committee, pmmeted by the London
and Birmingham Railway Company. The proposed line Lon don
supported by a large and powerful company who had subscribed the
amount required. The competing line would be longer, and involved a
greater expense. The Learned Counsel submitted that, if these
grounds of superiority be sustained they would be sufficient to en-
title the promoters of the South Midland scheme to the passing of
their Bill in preference to that of their competitors.
Mr. W. Coote, a merchant, residing at St. Ives for thirty years, was
then examined—He dealt hi corn, coals, &c. The average number of
sheep brought to St. Ives weekly was 4,000, and of cattle 800. The
quantity of corn brought to market was 100,000 quarters a year.
From 9,000 to 10,000 tons of coal were consumed there yearly, but a
larger quittitity passed 41irouglt- it. it Ins verrbadly aocomtnodsted
in means of communication, so much so as to be almost excluded
from Birmingham. Leicester, and Manchester. The only convey-
ance was by canal, and the length of time occupied in conveyance by
canal to Manchester was three weeks. The price of coals to the
consumer at St. Ives was 205., a priee extremely low, owing to the
mild winter. They get a quantity from Yorkshire, through Lynn,
but none from Leicestershire, from the want of means of convey-
ance. Tile district about St. Ives was very fertile one.
Cross-examined—It would be an object to get as quickly as pos-
sible from Birmingham to Huntingdon, but he fancied that he could
get to Rugby very well by the South Midland project. He admitted
that the most direct line would be by the Rugby and Huntingdon line.
By the CHAIRMAN—His general reasons for preferring the pro-
posed line to the competing one, was the saving of 29 miles, the
saving of capital to tke amount of 11.0,0001., and the less expense
which would be incurred by passengers. He saw no reason of pre-
ference, as far as regards increased accommodation to the east.
Mr. John Edward Lacon, a banker, living hi Yarmouth, was next
examined. The staple trade of Yarmouth was the fisheries. The
greater part of the salt fish went to Hull, and the fresh fish to
London. This was owing to the want of accommodation to the
Midland counties. The price of fish at present was raised in Yar-
mouth, owing to the railway communication being opened to London.
Formerly a turbot could be got at Yarmouth for 45., now it was 165.,
and every other kind of fish was raised there in proportion.
James Fields stated that he lived at St. Ives. Be was a master
waterman, and owned four gangs of lighters. He was acquainted
with the river trade, and took an account of all heavy goods which
stopped at and passed St, Ives. The total tonnage for four weeks,
the time he calculated the tonnage, was 9,100 tons ; the largest por-
tion of this tonnage was coals. There were nearly 7,000 tons of coals.
Ile took another account for fourteen days more recently. The
amount of tonnage then was 3,377 tons, 2,664 of which were coals.
Mr. James Morton examined—Was an ironmonger at Huntingdon.
Ile got his coal and coke at present from Newcastle, by Hull, to
Lynn. Ile would prefer to get coal from Nottiughamshire and South
Derbyshire, if it was as good. Ills iron came from Wales, and there
was delay, inconvenience, and expense, particularly in the winter
time, in obtaining it. A railway conununlcatlon with the midland
counties would be of great advantage.
Mr. George Betts Pomfret, a maltster and brewer, living in Hunt-
ingdon, corroborated the evidence of the last witness as to the want
of railway communication.
Mr. James Baize, farmer and maltster at Kettering, examined—
The feeling of the inhabitants of that town was entirely in favour of
the projected line.
The evidence of this witness was objected to, because the commu-
nication to that town was at present under consideration before
another Committee, to which the General South Midland was referred.
Mr. Harwell, an irenfounder, at Northampton, was then examined
—He had been three times mayor of that town. Frequent public
meetings were held in that town about railway communication
passing through it to the Ea stern Counties. In consequence of the
repentance now felt by Northampton in consequence of the opposition
they gave to the London and Birmingham Railway, which made
that Company pass by the town at a distance of four miles, it made
the town now more desirous of a direct communication, principally to
the north and east.
Cross-examined—The competing scheme was never brought before
the town, and they had therefore never expressed an opinion upon it.
The Secretary of the South Midland Company having given the
formal proofs of the estimates, directors, &c., the further considera-
tion of the case was adjourned till to-morrow, when Mr. Stephenson
will be the first witness examined.
The Committee adjourned at four o'clock.
•

GROUP XXXII'.
This Committee assembled to-day at twelve o'clock. Present—
Hon. W. Cowper, Lord Duncan, Hon. Montague Gore, Mr. Walpole,
and Mr. Saunders Davies.
GREAT GRIMSBY 11. ND ssErrszLii
(HUMBER TERRIES).

The consideration of this Bill was resumed.
Mr. Hors said that, since yesterday, they (the promoters of the
Bill) had been making every endeavour to meet the objections raised
by the Corporation of Hull with reference to the Humber Ferries.
They were ready to strike out of the Bill everything with reference
to the ferry in question which might be objectionable. Unfortu-
nately, however, he understood that a question had arisen with
respect to the rights of the Crown. The people were anxious to de-
stroy those rights, and the Government to *serve them, so that the
promoters were placed in a very awkward position.
Mr. HILL said, he had heard with great pleasure the observations
of his Learned Friend, who had perfectly comprehended the require-
ments of the Corporation of Hull There were but two ferries on the
Humber which could stand the. test of legal examination. They
were neither of them perfect, but on the contrary very imperfect.
The right of ferry possessed by the Corporation of Hull, was from
New Holland to Hull, and that of the Government was from Barton
to Hull. The inhabitants of Hull had become impressed with an idea
that it would be desirable to give up entirely all pecuniary advantage
accruing from the ferry over the river Humber. The corporation at
their own cost had constructed docks, and they were now about
expending 10,0001. in the improvement of those decks. The
corporation and the inhabitants of Hull were willhig
that this railway Company should have a free pass-
age over the river; but what they did object to
was, that the Company should clone. themselves with any
exclusive rights. But they said they were waling to give uP
such. Under these circumstances, liiieedwtolulllditwwisah. out
ration of th I 1
e 111 should be adjour
they wore to act with reference to tile rights of the Crowrn.
thlaelocetolnslitdoev;
Hon. Mr. GORE—Might there not be a elause introduced into the
Bill to protect the rights of the Crown ?
Mr. TEMPLZ said be appeared on behalf of the Hull and Lincoln
Railway, which from its connexion with the present Bill, he trusted
he would be excused referring to it, as it might regulate them with
respect to their proceedings in reference to the other Bills
on the list. The line for which he was concerned
would not come on before the Committee sooner than Good
Friday, and it would be for the convenience of all parties if the
whole remainder of the group were adjourned till after Easter. It
would, in allprobability, conduce to the public interests if such an
adjournment were agreed to.
The room was cleared, and on our re-admission,
The CHIORMAN said that in compliance with the suggestion of
counsel they would adjourn the farther consideration of the Grimsby
and Sheffield Bill till Friday next.
The CHAIRmax gala that on Friday next the Committee would de-
termine on what day after Easter they would meet.
The CnAIaMAN said also, that the Great Grimsby and Lincoln
Extension, Lincoln and Louth, and Lincoln and Barton Bills were
adjourned till after Easter.
The Committee adjourned at half-past one o'clock, until Friday next.

Sub-Committee, No. 1.
This Committee met to-day at twelve .o'clock in room No. 7. Pre-
sent, Mr. Strutt (Chairman), Mr. Clive, Mr. Brotherton, and Mr.
Beckett, and resumed the consideration of the
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, EDINBURGH, AND GLASGOW
JUNCTION. _

The allegations of inaccuracies, &c., in the plans and sections, wire
further gone into.
After going through several allegations, which were disallowed,
and the standing orders declared complied with, the decision, we un-
derstood to be, was, that the Bill should go up to the Committee of
Standing Orders on two errors proved yesterday.
OXFORD, COVENTRY, AND BURTON-UPON-TRENT.
The object of this Bill is chiefly to connect Burton-upon-Trent
with the Birmingham Railway hoes. The length is about 814 miles ;
the estimated cost, 2G0,000/. The engineer, Mr. Radford ; the
agents, Messrs. Dorrington ; the solicitors, Messrs. Woodcock, Twist,
and Co. ; and Messrs. Troughton and Co., of Coventry.
A petition from Mr. Jervis against the Bill was presented by !Ir.
Parkes, complaining of inaccuracies in the plans and sections. Most
of these were unimportant, but two or three were sustained, and so
far the standing orders were not complied with.
GLASGOW AND DUNDEE JUNCTION.
The formal evidence having been brought in, the Committee ad-
journed at four o'clock.

Sub-Committee No. 2.
The Committee met at twelve o'clock in the room NO. 6 (cloisters).
Presen—Sirß (Chairman), Mr. Kemble, Mr. Welker,
Mr. E, t
Yorke, and Mr.uller BTROISteII, and resumed the consideration
of the

GREAT EASTERN AND WESTERN.
Some allegations of the petitions were disposed of against the Bill,
under these circumstances, of some curiosity. The petitioners al-
leged that the required deposits were not made with the parish derkS
would pass, and
of some patishes in Wales through which the
a line
ersOnS with whom the deposits
parish clerks were produced to prove the allegtions. But, en the
other hand, it was shown that the p
were made, and who represented themselves as the parish clerks,
and reedued the fees upon the deposits, 25. 6d. in each Case, were in
reality only the vestry clerks.
The Committee in these cases (with apparent hesitation) decided
that the allegations were proved.