The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-07 00:00:00

GROUP XI.

The Committee assembled at the usual hour this morning, Mr,
Ileniey chairman.

Ziznionxz AND SIATEGATE JUNCTION,
AND EDINSUEGIE AND EAT GATE.

The time of the Committee was occupied the entire day in going
through the several clauses of these two Bills, all of which were
agreed to.

The Committee at :is rising adjourned until Monday, tho 25th lnsl

GROUP VIII

The Coramittee met to-clay at twelve o'clock, Sir W. Clay In the
chair. *Members present, Earl Jermyn, Lent Shelburne, Mr. Cur-
tea, 'and Mr. P. Ainsworth.
7DITIVIrRISS, AND CARLISLE.

The evidence on behalf of this line w. resumed.
Mr. Blythe was recalled and briefly examined on the estimates
constructing the line.

Mr. Miller, civil engineer, examine,l.--ife agreed with the evi-
dence of Mr. Blythe. The line was laid down in the best way to
suit the convenience of the country. He estimated the working of
The line at 33 per cent. on the gross receipts, the Ayrshire Company-
agreeing to work it at the rate. The line, by this arrangement,
could be worked more economica;l,y' than by independent arrange-
ments.

Crosl. Hir examined by Mr. ors --
Ise proposed that the whole schemeecalculated
would in the arrangements
, carriages
be
each way daily, with about six passcuc__ o
lie could not give the average width of theline
traversed
t o eachfour train.
times
'scheme was substantially the same as last year, only
throughout.
shorter
a
at each
e
end, a portion having been cut off at Cumnock and Carlisle. Last
year the line was classed as a competing line with the Caledonian
Railway, but it was so elassekl against his w!ll. lie then admitted that
the Dumfries line Would take pas enters as expeditiously as the Cale-
olonian line, and, therefore, that the further was the one that ought
to be made. The Committee, however, did not a,lopt this view, as it
-was considered the Caledonian was better Cr, national objects, as di-
Teetly connecting the north with the south. The Caledonian scheme,
If perfec,tedwith the, he adm
exception of the pOrtioll between Cumnock and
Dumfries.
The CHAIRMAN asked if the promwers had any traffic tables to
put in. showing the receipts expected from the different parts of the
line ; that was the expected traffic on the Dnmfr:es and Cumnock
portion. the Carlisle and Dumfries portion, and the two branches
seP arately ?
- - -

-Mr. TALBOT said they were mot prepared with those tables at
present, but should the Committee not he satistee with the evidence
already given, they had more witnesses to call, whc would furnish
the details.

Mr. COCKBURN said that the case of the promoters hail been placed
before the Committee on the supposition of there being ,uflicient
local traffic to warrant the copstruclon ~t the lino. It had been
brought forward on Its own merits. That there was such traffic as was
alleged, he, on behalf of the Ca!edonian Company, totally denied, and
tnaintatned that the Dumfries line could not he worked .vithout taking
away a considerable portion of tho Caledonian traffic, to the great
prejudice and loss of that company! It had been proved that year

thEtt 03.► through traffic wonl‘l,‘
ue mere than sufficient to pay for the
constriction of ong and give a fair interest in the capital in-
vested by the latter company,

The 6IAIRMAN was of opinion that if the promoters of the Cale-
donian scheme considered that their case materially depended on the
question of local traffic, and that the company on the Dumfries line
must depend on the taking away a portion of the Caledonian through
traffic, then the Committee would order the room to be cleared and
decide upon, the point raised as to the detailed traffic tables being
furnished.

Mr. TALSor had not the slightest obJectoti Whatever to IMP'
plying further evidence on local traffic should the Committee
require it, but he was not then prepared with tables to the effect re-
quired. If time was given the tables would be got ready, and in the
meantime he would go on with the further evidence, which, with
that already given, the tables would be founded.
Mr. Cocaauas trusted the tables would furnish precisely the par-
ticular sources from which traffic was expected, as he maintained
there was no local traffic to warrant the construction of such a line,
and that if it were formed it would only lead to a ruinous competi-
tion between the two companies, that would end in an amalgama-
tion, in which, from the double capital invested, would lead to rates
by which the public interest would be sacrificed. He hoped the
tables would be furnished by to-morrow morning, as the whole case
at Issas depended on the question of traffic under consideration.
After some thrther conversation pro and con. to the same effect, it
was arranged by the Committee, in compliance with Mr Cockburn's
application, that tables of the details of traffic should be made out, to
be supplied in the morning, and that, in the mean time, evidence
might be taken as to the points on which the tables would be based.
Mr. AUSTIN then called Mr. Geddies, who was giving general evi-
dence in support of that tendered by Mr. Christie yesterday, when
The CHAIRMAN interfered. This was general evidence, which they
had had already before them. What was wanted were the particu-
lars on which
ottomheowittae
jbnolumesofw,tehareendßthonabi:ethfthoounengdhteatdb.lbeessHtpeucttharcoula,agwhthtedeint
twaonoypuirdeovlt.iee.
bedetntecer atth eonpere
them might be submitted.

The Committee, in consequence of this, adjourned till to-morrow
at twelve o'cjock.

GROUP TIC'.
NORTH KENT DISTRICT (SOUTH-
EASTERN LINE.)
The Committee to which the lines traversing the North Kent dis-
trict are referred, met to-day at twelve o'clock, in Room No. 30 ;
present, Mr. Pretheroe, chairman, Lord Emlyn, Mr. J. O'Connell,
and Mr. Grogan.
Mr. Sergeant lITRANnnAbc proceeded in his address to the Com-
mittee in support of the North Kent case. His observations referred
chiefly to those engineering details which have been already fully
given in Mr. Vignolles' evidence. In conclusion, the Learned Ser-
geant urged on the Committee the necessity of not en-
trusting the important district of North Kent in the
hands of a Company which was impoverished by its
gigantic speculations and schemes, and which having another
line of access to the termini of the North Kent line, could not
possibly feel so mach interested in accomodating the public
as a company which possessed that line alone, and which knowing
that it was their all, would leave no means untried to secure the
patronage of the public.

Mr. COCKBURN said, that with the consent of the Committee, he
would put: in a letter from the Lords of the Admiralty, assenting to
the passage of the South Eastern line through Greenwich Park.
Mr. Sergeant WRRNOHAM objected to the admission of any such
document, as the proceedings in both cases were closed, and more
especially as he did not consider that portion of the South-Eastern
line as having been actually brought before the Committee.
The CHAIRMAN decided that the document could not be admitted.
After some deliberation on the part of the Hon. Members forming
the Committee,

The CHAIRMAN announced that the Committee would give its do,
cision at half-past three o'clock to-morrow.

GROUP XVIII.
SOMERSETSEIRE MIDLAND.
This Committee resumed its sittings this morning, at 12 o'clock,
Mr. B. Denison in the chair.
Mr. Serjeant KINGLAKE commenced by cross-examining Mr. Hill,
the engineer. On his cross-examination, Mr. Hill admitted that an
original prospectus, stating .he capital of the Company fo be 150,0001.,
and describing the proposed route of the railway, which was then
surveyed to a considerable extent, had been published without his
sanction or authority, before the line was surveyed by him, or any
estimates made of the probable expense. He could not remember
going into any details with reference to the amount of earth-work or
the number of bridges. He merely walked over the line for two days.
The only report that he made to the Directors with reference to this
preliminary survey was that the sum of 320,0001. (the sum proposed
by the Directors), would be rather a low sum, as the gradients and
cuttings would be severe. In the estimates before the Committee he
had estimated the total amount of earthwork, at 1,590,194 entire
yards of this quantity there were 154,525 entire yards of limestone
cutting, at 3s. 6d. per yard; 98,560 yards of freestone at 3s. ; 204,020
yards of a mixture of freestone and marl at Is. 6d. per
yard, of hard clay there would be 242,465 yards at Is. 3d ;
marl mixed with gravel and stones at Is. 4d. per yard ;
there would be 290,215, and 292,579 yards of common earth
which he had estimated at Is. 2d. per yard. He had made six
borings, In order to determine the several kinds of earth work. The
slopes would not be more than Ito 1. There were six miles of an
ascending gradient of a bed character. He did not know of any
existing railway with a worse gradient considering the length, there
was a descending gradient of three miles of 1 in 104.

Captain Morrison, R.N., was then examined on behalf of the pro-
moters. He knew several lines where the gradients were more
severe than the present one. The Hartlepool Railway had a gradient
of one in thirty for two miless in length. There would be no
danger if proper care were taken in working a single line. He
was acquainted with the working of the Taff Vale Railway, which
was a single line of rails. He did not consider it absolutely ne-
cessary to the safe working of the line that there should be an
electric telegraph along it. He had estimated the cost of con-
struction at about 20,0001. less than the estimates of Mr. Hill, and
could obtain responsible parties to complete the works for the sam
which he had estimated.

. Mr. Miller, C. E., had examined the section% of the line. He did
not think, although of an inferior character, that they would be of
serious inconvenience. He was working a line himself with a gra-
dient of one in forty-two, and found no difficulty.
Mr. Lewis, a contractor for the construction of railways, proved
the general accuracy of the estimates of earth and bridge work fur-
nished by the engineer.

Mr. Biraoz, a contractor, also proved the same, and would be
very happy to undertake the contracts on the terms mentioned in
the estimates.

Colonel Coles, a magistrate in Somersetshire and a director of the
company, was the next witness called, who proved that the directors
had endeavoured, as much as possible, to meet the wishes of Mr.
Somerville by changing the route of the railway, he being a peti-
tioner against the Bill.

This witness elosed the case of the promoters.
The Committee then adjourned till to-morrow at twelve.

GROUP XXX.
This Committee re-assembled to-day at the usual hour. Present,
Lord Charles Wellesley (chairman), and the other Members.
AYLESBURY AND THAD= :UNCTION