The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-06 00:00:00

GROUP X33V11,

WA/C.EFIELD AND SHEFFIELD RAILWAY
The Committee on this group assembled to-day in room No. 21 ;
Lord Seymour in the chair, with Lord Ebrington, Mr. Fitzstephen
Ffrench, Lord E. Hifi, and Sir it. Lopez, when the consideration of
the above line was resumed.

Mr. Harris, of Darlington, engineer, was cross-examined by Mr.
Pickering, to ascertain the rolative positions of the railway and the
several collieries in the Derby and West Riding coal fields.
To Mr. R. Hale the witness confined his examination in chief as to
the facilities afforded for this coal field.
a Mr. Vlgnoles, engineer, testified that this was the best line which
the country afforded, and that the estimates were given at a
moderate rate, much lower indeed than those on which he was now
working.

Mr. Fowler, a surveyor, had valued great part of the land on the
line, and stated that the whole value of the land was upwards of
31,0001., being at the rate of upwards of 270/ an acre.
Mr. H. Hill, surveyor, testified to his valuation of the other part and
the advantage of the line to the several collieries.
A disquisition then arose as to the right of hearing the case of Mr.
Tees, whose property was likely to be affected by this line ; at which
point the room was cleared, when it was decided that this gentle-
man's case would be better taken at a future stage of the proceed-
ings, but that counsel might be heard on behalf of the opposing
company, viz., that known as the Barnsley branch.
Mr. Pictuaisio then proceeded to address the Committee, and
insisted upon the general right, not only of those who were parties
to the opposing companies, but those who were also acting in
their private capacities. The Learned Gentleman then read the
agreement between this Company and the South Yorkshire Com-
pany, by which it appeared that the latter Company agreed to con-
struct a certain portion of the line, and this Company transferring
the power to make it, or to apply to Parliament In next session, for
such portions of it as should be agreed upon by two members of each
board ; and if, in the judgment of these two members, a better line
could be formed, it was decided that the deeision of the Committee
should be set aside.

SHEFFIELD, ASHTON, and MANCHESTER.
(BARNSLEY BRANCH).

Mr. PICKERING addressed the Committee in favour of this line, it
being a competing line with the preceding one. Leaving the Shef-
field and Manchester line; near Penistone, it proposed to pass by
Barnsley, where it would join a branch fromithe Midland Counties
Railway. The length of the line was ten miles seven furlongs, and
the estimated cost 330,0001.
The formal proofs required by the standing orders were given in.
Mr. T. Dunne, coal-master, of Sheffield, gave testimony, showing
that the Sheffield, Barnsley, and Wakefield line, was not required
for the wants of Sheffield.

The Committee then adjourned till twelve o'clock en Wednesday,

GROUP XL.
LEEDS AND YORK LINE.

The Committee on this group resumed this morning on the Leeds
and York line, Mr. Stafford O'Brien in the chair, with Lord Norreys,
Mr. Bright, Mr. Sheridan, and Mr. Dugdale, when evidence was ad-
duced on the part of the promoters to support the traffic of the line,
but upon cross-examination by the counsel for the opponents Mr
Elsworth stated that there was a delay at Milford, which was only
only relieved by the advantage of the Hull traffic, which was very
considerable, the Manchester and Leeds traffic still remaining the
same.

Mr. Charles Smith, a large butcher at Leeds, in the habit of al

tending the Leeds and York !cattle fairs for thirty years,
stated that the principal cattle fairs which supplied the neighbour-
hood, were the York, Witherby, Darlington, and Newcastle. He
was acquainted with the district between Witherby and York, and
believed it to be a rich farming district.

After an observation from the Chairman and Lord Norreys, ailud•

ing to the evidence of Mr. Baker, given yesterday, and whic'h was
spoken of with a view to show that the Committee were in possession
of the evidence on this point already, it was agreed that the exami-
nation should proceed, when

Mr. Smith stated that he had frequently been delayed for an
hour, and that his cattle also had been delayed in its progress
to Witherby. The cattle, however, were generally fed by the farmers
in the neighbourhood, especially in the environs of Tadcaster. The
district between Witherby and York was chiefly of an arable nature,
but could not say that it was of a light nature. These last remarks
were in reply to the cross-examination of Mr. Liddell, to whom he
farther stated that he could net assert that this would be any suffi-
cient advantage, or that the cattle would be better carried by this
line than the other.
Mr. Scofield testified to the fact of the greater convenience of the
proposed line than of that which was already opened.
Mr. Jackson gave similar testimony, stating that the cattle had
been frequently delayed, and that the proposed line would suit him
best, and that of the Leeds coaches generally.
Cross-examined by Mr. Sergeant Mummers—Mr. Jackson con-
firmed his previous evidence.
To Mr. LIDDELL, the witness stated, that the mail-trains had been
altered, but he did not require their assistance ; but could not speak
to the fact of there being no delay in the mail-train, or of the ad-
vantages proposed by the improvements. Generally there were seven
beasts in a track.

To Mr. ROBINSON—Witness had no objection to beasts going by
trucks, were it not for the extraordinary delay on the North Midland.
Never saw half a score of beasts at Tadcaster on a Thursday. There
was better accommodation at York End. Buys 1,200 cattle in the
course of the year. York was the largest market.
Mr. Sergeant WRANGIIAM stated that he had called the last witness
to prove that delays were constant on the North Midland.

Rev. T. Dayrell, Rector of Marston—His uncle, Lord Wenlock, was
a large proprietor. Land about Marston waschiefly arable. This wit-
ness in general, answered in favour of the Leeds and York Railway
to queries put by Mr. Sergeant Wrangham.
To Mr. LAN—Held 100 shares in the Direct Leeds and York.

Mr. Branden, owner of large collieries, at Middle Ton, Wai;f;(our.
able to the proposed line.

Mr. Bran.don's superintendent spoke to there being a sufficient
supply of coal, in the neighbourhood of Leeds, to last for the next
162 years and a half. The best coals sell for 6s. per ton, In Leeds ;
ngineers' ditto, for 45.; slack, 3s. and 2s. per ton, There was a good
market for coals at linaresborough, were there was convenience for
conveying it.

To kr:Robinson—The junction would not extend more than 700
or 800 yards. About 14ft. 61n. the difference in level.
This witness, in answer to the different counsel, gave testimony
entirely of a character descriptive of the system pursued In the Col-
lieries, for carting,
The Committee adjourned till twelveL,'f!:_'-

CM P
iue iminmittee appointecrto conablerT the merits of the lines in-
cluded in this group mot at one o'clock, in Room No. 33 (New
Houses of Parliament). This room is one of the two only incom.
modious rooms in the new buildings. The other room is No. 27,
occupied this morning ley the Committee on Group XLIV., and these
are the rooms in which the two orial windows looking out on the
river are situated. They are the smallest of the new Committee-
rooms; they have but one door, and the arrangements of the furni-
ture, the position of the bar, &c., render them, when crowded (as
they usually are), very difficult of access, apparently a great annoy-
ance to the members, to the council, and certainly to the reporters.
The members of the Committee were Mr. W. Miles (chairman),
Sir T. Colbroke, Mr. Bellew, and two other Hon. Members.
The appearances were made by the agents and counsel on the part
of the following Bills, being the whole of those:included in the group-
1. Leeds and Thirsk (North Eastern Extension). 2. East and West
Yorkshire Junction. 3. Leeds and Thirsk (Nidderdale Dale). 4.
York and North Midland (Whitby and Pickering Extension). 5 and
6. Great North of England, Boroughbridge, and Bedale Branches.
7. Leeds and Thirsk (St. Helen's Deviation).
The 3d, 4th, sth, 6th, and 7th Bills on the list being unopposed,
Were referred by the Committee to Mr. Greene,

The Committee took first the case of the --
EAST AND WEST OF TOILICSEIRE
JUNCTION.

Mr. Bowles and two other counsel appeared for the promoters; Mr.
Booothy and several others for petitioners against the Bill.
Mr. BOWLES having addresscd,the Committee at great length on the
part of the promoters of the Bill, called several withnesses, who gave
general evidence as to the advantages to be derived from the pro-
posed line, &c.
Evidence of this description occupied the Committee up to four
o'clock, when they arose and adjourned till to-morrow.