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

SOUTH MIDLAND RAILWAY (HUNTING-

DON BnANcH).
After some discussion as to the order of precedence of the remain-
ing lines in this group, it was arranged that the above line should be

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 firming 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 railisays to be constructed, and
the extent of accommodation afforded. The country through which
the Rugby and Huntingdon Railway passes from the point where it
leases the Northampton and Peterborough Railway, to Rugby is,
with the exception of the towns of Kettering and Market Har-
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, promoted by the London
and Birmingham Railway Company. The proposed line was well
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
thea examined—He dealt in 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 quantity passed through it. It was very badly accommodated
in means of communication, so much so as to be almos. 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 price 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 a inyey-
once. The district about St. Ives was very fertile one.
Cross-examined—lt 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 lino would be by the Rugby and Huntingdon line.
By the CHAIILMAN—His general reasons for preferring the pro-
Posed line to the competing one, was the saving of 29 miles, the
saving of capital to the amount of It 0,0001., and the less expense
g=rl.4pd
which would be incurred by passengers. He saw no rea- on of pre-
ference,r as far as regards increased accommodation to the east.
'1 • John Edward Lacon, a banker, living in Yarmouth, was next
• rtThoe staple trade of Yarmouth was the fisheries. The
London. This r the salt fish went to Hull, and the fresh fish to
Midland Was owing to the want of accommodation to the
counties. The
and every other kind offishb
mouth, °wino,e le price of fish at present was r.:ised in Yar-
to
James Fields stated that
Formerly a turbot
could be
communication being opened to London.
got at Yarmouth for 45., now it was 165.,
was raised there in proportion.
waterman, and owned four
with the river trade, and torogkangs
he lived at St. Ives. Re was a master
stopped at and passed St. Ive of lighters. lie was acquainted
an account of all heavy goods which
the time he calculated the totsm.
Interewia,s 9,100 tons ; the largest por-
tion of this tonnage was coals. The total tannage for thur weeks,
He took another account for fourtee:ere nearly
ge then was 3,377 tons,i (aYs
7,000 tons Of coals.
—Wasn
2,1304 or Which were
more recently. The
ironmongerw at Huntingdon.
present from amount of tonnage
coal from Notthighcaanslt*, by
ailizandaSouth
Mr. James Morton examlanted
He got his coal and coke
Lynn. lie would preter to get
Derbyshire, if it was as good. His iron came from W
was delay, inconvenience, and expense, particularly in the whiter
time, in obtaining it. A railway communication with the midland
counties would lie of great advantage.
living in Runt.
ingdon, corroborated the evidence of the last witness as to the want
Mr. George Betts Pomfret, a maltster and brewer,
of railway communication.
The feeling of the inhabitants of that town was entirely in favour or
Mr. James Baize, farmer ani maltater at Kettering, examinel—
the pri.jected line.
orde The evidence of this witness was objected to, because the comb
foreu-
nlcation to that town was at present under consideratione
another Committee, to which the General South Midland was referred.
Mr. Barwell, an ironfounder, 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 Eastern Counties. In consequence ol the
repentance now felt by Northampton in consequence of the opposition
they gars to the London and Birmingham Railway, wl.ich made
that Company pass by the town at a d stance of four miles, it made
the town now more desirous of a direct communication, principally to
the north and east.
Cross-examined—Tte 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 haying 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.
• I The Committee adjourned at four o'clock.
Ler

Sub-Committee, No. I.
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, EDINBURGH, AND GLASGOW

JUNCTION.

(Costinued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.)

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 lines. The length is about 8 miles ;
the estimated cost, 260,0001. The engineer, Mr. Radford ; the
agents, Messrs. Dorrington ; the solicit-rs,'Messrs. Woodcock, 'twist,
and Co. ; and Messrs. Troughton and Co., of Coventry.
A petition from Mr. Jervis against the Bill was presented by Mr.
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.