The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-01 00:00:00

311.1tb; CEIES).

The gmeral evidence as to the necessity for such a line as that
proposed, the advantages it wctild coar upon the people of
the districts through which it passed, and the probable
antot:nt of traffic, occupied the Committee the greater
part of the day. A portlon of the engineering evidence was given,
hut in the absence of Mr. Stephenson It could nut be completed. It
app,a, ed, however, that the steepest gradent was 1 in 40, which
only occurred in one place, near one of the stations. The prevailing
gia&tilt was 1 in 100.
At t, Stepwo o'Clock, the parties being unable to proceed with the case
tmtil Ir.
iieuson's evidence could be given, the case stood over,
and

'the Committee rose and aciJoiumed till to-morrow at twelve o'clock.

GROUI.
This Committee re-assenthled P toXXV-day lat the usual hour; Sir C.
Lemon in the chair.
NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE (THREE LINES).
phis day was entirely occupied with the allegations of the peti-
tioners vt 110 opposed the line, principally Lord Bagot, Messrs, Whel-
don; and the inhatetants of Leek.
Attar a series 01 lengthened, uninteresting, and extremely tiresome
discussions and examinations of witnesses, on the injuries which the
construction of the lines would cause to the properties in question,
and to the eligibility of other lines to meet the wants of the district,
The Committee could stand it no longer, and the room was cleared
for the decision on the merits.
parties were readmitted, and
ge'retlahAetalalitilieouiftanifiettLedmittilutet"decision of the Committee —" That
the preamble of the Ilareeastle sandbach Bill was proved ; as
also those Of the Churnet Valley and the Potteries."

The Committee then adjourned till twelve o'clock to-morrow.

KOU P XXX.

This Committee met to-day, sLortly after twelve o'clock. Lord
Charles Wellesley and the:other members present.
CAMfIEXDGE ANZ

The evidence in this Bill was resumed.
railway,
iyd-
„era:I:11;11;1:i tal— lineLivoedr
this
ist I neighbourhoodkind
wlbea
vantage. It was extremely desirable to Hitching, at the market of
which he sold his sheep. greoaft tadheL
Mr. V. Prior, a magistrate of Heritudshire—Resided at Bolton.
Malt was the chief trade there, which had been decreasing in con-
sequence ot the r.creased modes of land conveyairc.c afforded to other
places, which prevented them entering into zuccessful competition.
There was a good deal of 'liking carried on which afforded a great
deed of employment, and which would no doubt be increased it there
were an improved laud carriage. He considered that the proposed
railway would be of great advantage to his neighbourhooo.
Mr. W. Hopkins examiaod—Lived at Oxford, where he was a car-
rier. There was a great quantity of timber sent to London annually.
The station of the termini of the Great Western was very inconve-
nient for sending timber by, and the station of the proposed railway
would be much more preferable.
Crers-examined— Elm was the wood that he carried chiefly to
Thame. He could not say the exact quantity —perkaps it ;night be
two hundred tons. Beech was used in the manufacture of chairs.
Did not know whether the price was much increased by the quantity
consumed at 1 Mime. If the proposed dinghy and Oxford Junction
were esablished they would be able to supply Aylesbury from
Oxford et one pound a ton with coals. It would be delivered at
Oxford at 15s. or 16s. a ton. Did not think the breakage of the coal
of any great consequence in any coal except that from Newcastle.
There was some timber sent by the Creat Western. He understood
front the most correct sources that the quantity sent last year by-
that way was 2.700 loads.

Mr. J. B. Denton, engineer and surveyor, was employed under Mr.
Locke to prepare the levels and sections. In his judgment the line
before them was the best that could possibly be made, item the hare-
ful examination that had taken place with respect to it, and on
those results it wee formed. Every care had been used to
avoid intent:rig; with the house property on the line.
The Stations of the proposed railway were the most eligible that
could be Eeleeted, and gave general satisfaction to the parties in the
neighbourhood where they were situated. There was no gradient
under one in a hundred. The gradient on leaving Cam-
bridge wns 1 in 246. The first ttuniel was on the
twenty-eighth utile from Cambridge, in length 1,320 yards;
the second tunnel was on the 29th mile, in length 240 ya-ds; the
third tunnel was en the 30th mile, in length 330 yards ; and the
fourth tunnel was on the 39th mile, and was in length 530 yards.
All these tunnels were made through chalk.
The cross-examination of witness was postponed till to-morrow.
Mr..loseph Locke examined—Surveyed the country for the present
line, and considered it the best line that could he made tor the local
accAnmodation of the country. There were no engineering dill:feta-
ties on the line, which he considered to be a first-rate one. The
heaviest cuttings were made in chalk. The sharpest curve was at
the station, at Luton, and the danger was less from baring a sharp
curve at the station, than any where else. lie considered this line
as one of the best he had ever laid down, from the number of places
which it accommodated.

Cross-examined—The present price of iron on contract was 91. 10s.
per ton. Thought that iron wauld fall instesdof rise next month.
Ile did not think the present iall in price temporary. Indeed he
knew it was so. The course of traffic naturally tended
towards London, but all places could not expect that
common point. The object was to connect places so situated
at one point, and then give them a common direction. Would cer-
tainly wish that there was nut a gradient at the stations at starting.
The gradients on this line, hawever,were not difficult. 'I he gradient
at Dunstable was one in a hundred, wuich, as it was a descent at
starting, he considered an advantage. Ile did not rely much on what
was meant by compensation of momentum. The surplus of the es-
timate included the Parliamentary expenses. Three-fourths or the
distance was made in chalk, and nearly all the bridges were of brick.
Lord Dacre examinee.--Owned some property in the county
through which the railway would pass in Hertfordshire. Considered
the railway would be most advantageous to the agricultural interest
on the line.

Samuel Mills, Esry., examined—Had estates at Hertfordshire, and
tpprovud of the railway which was to pass through that county,
which was greatly in want of such a railway.
The Committee then adjourned till to-morrow.