The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-26 00:00:00

GROUP XVI I

LONDON AND SOUTH WESTERN (ROMSZY
AND REDERID GE JUNCTION), NI/INCHES..
TER AND SOUTHAMPTON, MANCHLS.

TEE AND POOLE.
The Committee to whom these Bills had been referred met this
afternoon at one o'clock, in No. 8 Committee-room. The Hon. E.
Yorke in the chair.

Appearances against the first Bill were entered from the
Commissioners for improving the port of Southampton, landowners
&c., of Redbridge, the Corporation of Southampton, Mr. Perkins.
Sir J. B. Mill, Bart., Corporation and inhabitants of Romsey and
Andover ; Andover and Redbridge Canal; ratepayers and inhabitants
of Southampton; Trustees of Knowles' Charity ; and against the
Manchester and Southampton (for which Sergeant Wrangham, Mr.
Alexander, Mr. James, Mr. Cripps, and Mr. R. Gurney appeared as
counsel), trustees of Cheltenham Turnpike-roads (for clauses) ;
Great Western Railway, London and South-Western, Southampton
and Dorchester (for clauses), landowners on the line, farmers and
flock masters in Dorset and Somerset ; scholars of King's College,
Cambridge ; Southamptoa Dock Company ; Commissioners of Beck-
hampton Roads ; and the Commissioners for Paving and Improving
the Port of Southampton ; the Corporation of Southampton (simply
by the insertion of clauses) ; Manchester and Salisbury and Yeovil
Junction Railway.
maNcumwrzsr. AND POOLE.
agrMreidElto
ItOIVZSEIt AND rz.zzonizspar TUNCTXON.
LwcioirdarEa,wthitefoargtehnet
prfo,rse2tibtissessl3ll.l%.said its promoters had
Then rsCto.mmittee intimated their
silnudtnthewx,iantiwasodenisnptoteoelfrrinpelreiscattemoeeredfolingßauynn,thwiwae
jarthmischtlltiailand
been handed In,
Mr. umt„ Q. C., proceeded to open the case—He said the line
would be 5 miles and 4 farlongs in length, and the estimated cost
proofs having
lln3i
The
usual
formal:ondglisiPelgourtthOMiltliamees
-
stoke 6 0 ,
betweenOooai
and
, dotwo abliositueurytslbeil
atomrpetaoen
communicationh to t
would run from Romney on the first, to Redbridge on the second
yw wash
ie hobliged i
übt
Oa
rgo ra
no
proposedu n d d
to t )
Southampton
avoid, B i sl le
bp
ys t o k
meeting
as ili order
htho
ret
mentioned line. At the present moment, a person going from South-
haßtarlislpointe
between
as possible. The line would be as direct as the crow flies.
would save a distance of four miles, and would accommodate a dis-
trict now suffering from circuitous railway communication. There
was a canal from Redbridge, which he understood had been purchased
by the Manchester and Southampton Railway, and which ran along
a portion of the proposed line, but he need hardly tell the Committee
that a more expeditious mode of communication was required.
Mr. Alexander Fletcher, a timber merchant and estate agent, at
Millbrook, close to Southampton, for the last shirty years, testified to
the advantages which the line would confer on the districts it would
traverse. The cost of conveying timber would be reduced two-thirds,
and other articles would also be reduced In proportion. Vessels
going to Redbridge would save great'y in dues, which would be
charged at Southampton.
Cross-examined by Mr. JAMES—This line was started about two
months after the projection of the Manchester and Southampton.
Was in favour of a railway communicating with the north. The
Manchester and Southampton ran along the river frontage, where
several wharfs were situated, and where a greater number might be
constructed. A river frontage would be of equal advantage to
either of these lines. The Kennet ar.d Avon Canal crossed the
Manchester and Southampton, and would perhaps, if connected with
a railway, convey timber from Devizes and its neighbourhood to
that railway, and which would carry it on to Southampton ; but it
was more probable that timber cut at Devizes, and south of that
town, would go to Salisbury by laud carriage, and so on by railway.
to Southampton.
, By Mr. Rawiausois, who appeared for Sir J. B. Mill and other
landowners—A vessel going to Redbridge paid twopentse a ton for
dues at Southampton, but paid nothing at Redbridge, except
than at six-
penceßed-
per ton for wharfage. Was not aware that the dues at
South-
ampton were threepence per ton, and consequently less __ ..
were
bridge. Could not say whether the dues for corn at to
neeriage
one penny per ton, and only a halfpenny at Southamp
the wituesa
Mr. HILL objected to his Learned Friend examining
d hich woul n t
with reference reference to parts of the line w
ed Sir J. B. Mill,o ch the affect the
airnian of
perty of those for whom he appear e ,
the Manchester and Southampton ompany' for instance.
Mr. RAWLINSON maintained, for
that as those whom he appeared
urged in their petitions that the line was a bad one and that a better
line could be
made, he was entitled to examine witnesses with re,.
spect to any portion of it.
The CHAIRMAN intimated that the Committee did not consider the
cross-examination irrelevant and approved of the course of mos/.
examination.
Mr. HILL, however, contended that it was necessary, at the cOul-
mencement of an inquiry which promised to be a protraeted one, to
lay down rules for the guidance of counsel, and that a landowner
whose property was affected had only a right to examine witnesses
with respect to that portion.
The CHAisiAls (after referring to the petition of Sir John Parker
Mill) said Mr. Rawlinson might proceed, as the petition alleged that
a better line could be made, and that counsel were entitled to support

such allegations by evidence.
Mr. RawLiNson eontinued—The Manchester and Southampton
Railway, from Reihridge to Romsey, except faro very short die-
tance would run along the Andover Canal. The Manchester and
Southampton would not offer the same facilities between Romsey and
Southampton as the other. The Romsey line ran through a tunnal—
that certainly was an objection. Did not think whartb could be con-
strUcted on the banks of the water along the course of the Mb a-
cheater and Southampton, because the water was deep and muddy..
By the Citantmant—The further railways are extended to the
latter. the Manchester and Southampton had a station at ItAid-
bridge itlf would afford the same facilities as the Other line ; but If U