The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-20 00:00:00

SOUTH-EASTBUN (MID KENT).

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The next line taken by the Committee was the South-Eastern (Mid
Kent) scheme, which was represented by Mr. Alexander. The line
was opposed by Mr. Sergeant Talfourd, on behalf of the Kent Atmos-
pheric, and by the Croydon Railway Company, and several land-
holders, but before going into the case the Committee decided that
the lattekcould not be heard.
A witness having been called to prove that the resolutions of Mr.
Duncombe, so far as they applied to this line, bad been complied with,
Mr. Coexaunri opened the case for the promoters. The object of
the line was to afford railway accommodation to the midland dis-
tricts of Kent, to shorten the route between the metropolis and
Dover, and to shorten the distance between Hastings and London.
The lines would shorten the distance between London and F'olkstone
and Dover by thirteen miles, and fifteen between London and
Hastings, while the distance to Maidstone would be shortened by
twenty miles, and Tunbridge by eighteen miles. ' The line
commenced at a point on the Greenwich line, passed through
Bromley by Maidstone and on to Chard, where it jollied the existing
line. Another line branched off at Riverhead, crosses," the existing
main line at Tunbridge, where it joined a line running through Tun-
bridge Wells, and so on to Reigate and Hastings, which had already
received the sanction of the Legislature. The competing scheme was
the Kent Atmospheric ; but the gradients and engineering features of
the South-Eastern were so very mach favourable to its rival,
that he was sure the Committee would have no difficulty in seeing
that the south-eastern lines were the best. Besides, the
atmospheric system, as applied to long lines, was still
a matter of speculation ; and he hoped the knowledge
of this fact, added to the severe gradients and bad
engineering features of the atmospheric lines, it would be quite suffi-
cient to justify the Committee in throwing out the latter scheme.
The total distance of the main line to Chard was forty-nine miles and
three-quarters, and of the Riverhead branch ten miles and three-
quarters. The total estimate was 1,500,0001.
Colonel Middleton was the first witness called, commandant of the
military deptit at Maidstone. He said Maidstone was the cavalry
depot for all the regiments serving in the East, and he considered
the proposed line would be of considerable advantage to the public,
and to the service. He calculated that about 3,000 individuals, con-
nected with the establishment at Maidstone, would take advantage
of the existing railway communication, and he had no doubt the
number would be considerably increased if this line were made.
Sir Edmund Filmer, M.P. for West its.ut, Lord Camden, Mr. W.
Stone, M.P. for Rochester, Mr. Turner Baldwin, Mr. Wilds, soli-
' eitor, of Maidstone, Mr. W. Hone, the Rev. Mr. Cobb, rector of
iHythan ; Mr. John Carter, of Rotham ; and Mr. Charles Ellis, of
Maidstone, gave evidence in favour of the South-lantern scheme.
The Committee adjourned at four o'clock.

GROUP XVIII.
EXETER, YEOVIL, AND DORCHESTER,
LONDON, SALISBURY, AND YEOVIL.

This Committee met at the usual hour ; Mr. B. Denison (chairman);

The first Witness called on the part of the promoters was
Mr. Seymer, M.P. for Dorsetshire—He considered that a connexion
between Exeter, Portsmouth, and Southampton, was very desirable.
The difficulty of proceeding eastward from Dorsetshire was very
great at present. The preseut line would remove that difficulty.
Its also considered that there was a very strong feeling in Exeter its
favour of the carrying out the whole line between Salisbury and Lon-
don, and also that it should be a direct and Independent line. He did
not consider that the small portion of the Wilts. Somerset, and Wey-
mouth Railway between Milton and Dorchester, which was a broad
gauge line, would be any serious obstruction to the formation of the
proposed line. Ile thought the proposed terminus at Hungerford-
bridge would be more convenient than the Great Western terminus
at Paddington..
Cross-examined by Mr. DENISON—ne did not speak of the advan-
tages of the London terminus in consequence of any mercantile
knowledge.
Mr. W. Lee, innkeeper, of Honiton, stated that Honiton had suf-
fered considerably in consequence of the diversion of the traffic.
They had now but one coach, whereas they had before eighteen.
This inconvenience was severely felt by himself and the inhabitants
of the town, and there was, in consequence, a very strong feeling in
favour of the communication proposed to be opened up by the Exeter,
Yeovil, and Salisbury lines.
Mr. Wilson, a large timber grovier, residing in the neighbourhood
of Exeter, considered the proposed line would be of great advantage
to him in the conveyance of his timber. At present he had to send
it to Southampton and Portsmouth, at au expense of is. per foot. It
was also very inconvenient for him to get to London by the present
mode of communication—he had either to go to Southampton, and
thence by the South-Western Railway to London, or to proceed to
Bath , a distance of seventeen miles, and then proceed to London by
the Great Western Railway.
The examination of this witness completed the proceedings today,
and the Committee then adjourned till twelve o'clock to-morrow.