The Sun.
London, England, 1846-06-26 00:00:00

RAILWAY COMMITTEES

(YESTERDAY•)

HOUSE OF LORDS.

Room A•

-
CAMBIUDOM AND OZPORD.
Their Lordships met at eleven o'clock, in the above room, Lord
Mornington in the chair. All the members were present.
The case for the promoters was continued.
Captain Moorsom gave evidence corroborative of that given by
Mr. Locke and Mr. Denton yesterday. He was well acquainted with
the district through which the line passed, having been over the line
several times about three years ago. His evidence was highly fa-
vourable to the line.
In cross-examination by Mr. CALVERT, he admitted that he did
not see the plans until yesterday; but said that he thought that
quite sufficient, when his knowledge of the country was taken into
account.
Mr. AUsTur was about to call several other engineers ; but the
Committee expressed their opinion that it was unnecessary. After
some discussion, the room was cleared on this point, and the Com-
mittee consulted for a few minutes. They then decided that they
would hear some further engineering evidence, but limited Mr.
Austin to two witnesses.
Mr. Bratly, civil engineer, gave evidence similar to that of Captain
Moorsom.
Mr. Pilch, traffic-table accountant, gave traffic evidence, and put
in the traffic tables of the line. The tdtal estimated revenue from
traffic was 51,7891., being upwards of five per cent. on the capital.
In taking the tables of traffic foot passengers were not included.
Mr. Vesey, solicitor of the line, and clerk to the magistrates at
Royston, gave evidence in support of that of Mr. Pilch, and gave his
opinion that that gentleman's estimates of traffic were rather over
than under the real amount. _ _ _

Mr. Wm. Horne, secretary to the Chichester Railway Company,
and connected with the South-Western Railway, said that he was
very familiar with railway traffic-tables, and that he thought the
estimates were very moderate. He was not acquainted with the
districts through which the line passed, but he could easily judge
from statistical information, &c.
It was here stated that there was but one more witness to be
called on the part of the promoters, and that he was not present. As
it was then but half-past three o'clock, it was agreed that the evi-
dence on the part of the petitioners should be commenced, but that
their case should not be opened at present.
Mr. Fletcher, a coachman, formerly keeping a coach between
Oxford and Cambridge, was next called, and said that fn c°nseT.ll,:ida ce
of the want of traffic between those places, he had been compelled to
abandon his business, which had never paid him. He should
all
think a donkey and a pair of panniers would carry the traffic
.
between Oxford and Cambridge.—(A laugh) All the traffic ran
north and south. There were formerly some roads =mug north
and south, crossing the Oxford and Cambridge road, which used to
supply him with a few passengers, but since they had been stopped
be had none at all. the former a livery-stable keeper,
Mr. Beasley and Mr. Newington.
the latter a carrier, at oxford, gave corroborative evidence.
Mr. Swan, carrier, at Cambridge, also gave evidence as to there
being no traffic between Oxford and Cambridge.
It being now past four o'clock, their Lordships rose, and adjourned
till to-morrow at eleven.

Room C.
SWANNINGTON AND LEICESTER.

The Committee assembled this morning, Earl Fortescue in the
chair.
__

•
______
Mr. Liddell, the engineer, was called to prove the particular cir-
cumstances of the line, and stated that four turnpike roads would be
crossed on a level.

Mr. WanntaaToN cross-examined on the part of Mr. Harris, Mr.
Miller, and other landowners, through whose property the line is in.
tended to pass, and endeavoured to show that it was unnecessary, in
consequence of the passing of the Leicester and Bedford line; but the
Committee ruled that that question could not thus be opened.
In continuation the vtitness stated that he had laid out another
line, but it would materially affect the town of Leicester. The
country on every side presented beautiful slopes ; and it is necessary,
when entering a town, to cross whatever roads may be the commu-
nications with other places ; and here the evil would be reduced by
the abstraction of all the tratlie from the present public roads.
Mr. WADDINGTON again attempted to open the opposition of the
Leicester and Bedford interests, but as that line was not before the
Committee as a competing line, and therefore the evidence upon it,
one way or the other, would be of little value; for, if made, it
would not serve the purpose of the Leicester and Leamington line,
though the latter would supply the object of the former, it was not
entertained.

Mr. Ellison, deputy chairman of the Midland Railway; and a di-
rector of the Southampton and Leicester Company, as also a dealer
hi coal and a considerable occupier of land in the immediate neigh-
bourhood of Leicester, testified to the feelings of Mr. Harris and Mr.
Miller when this line was first projected.
A long dispute ensued respecting the value of the property affected
by the line, the object being to show that Mr. Harris's land es-
pecially was particularly adapted for the building of villas, and was
like the rest of the land in the neighbourhood, of an undulating cha-
racter.
Mr. Mellor, the barrister, who had given evidence, chiefly stated,
also, that the land taken for the Leicester and Bedford line is marsh
land, so low as to be incapable of drainage, and utterly unfit for the
erection of residential property.

Earl MoRToN here required that a section of the line of the pro-
moters should be put in.

On re-examination, Mr. 31ellor Stated that he was not aware that
the Corporation of Leicester were under an engagement to the Lei-
cester and Bedford Company to make a street parallel to the Brams-
ton-gate, in order to obviate the inconvenience of crossing that
street on a level, although he was not aware that the company had
agreed to pay 1011/. a day, to the Corporation so long as the line
passed Bramston-gate on the level.
The examination then sent on to show the position and nature of
the goods and home of Mr. Harris, which are close to the town of
Leicester. Dannett's Hall was formerly better situated, but in con-
sequence of the present neighbourhood of coal-wharfs and factories,
Its position is now much worse than Westcoate, the seat of Mr. Har-
ris. Some property which he had himself bought in the neigh.
bourhood of the town, had risen in consequence of his making a new
road from 275. to 21. 10s. an acre, and some of it, since the purchase,
to 41. an acre. Indeed, he might let the whole at that price if he
would consent to cut it up into small portions.
. _

The evidence was continued till foul' o'clock, when the Committee
adjourned till to-morrow.