The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-29 00:00:00

GROUP XXXII.

The Committee met this morning at twelve ; Mr. J. E. Denison
in the chair.

OXFORD, WORCESTER, AND WOLPER..
HAMPTON RAILWAY (BRANCHES).
__ _

-.-
Mr. COCKBURN laid a statement before the Committee respecting
the Stratford-on-Avon Canal and the Stourbridge Canal, both at
xhich_the Jiall3YaS_COLODItilY M*o.ooBe.,taking powers in their Bill to
proceeds to Kingswood, and joins the Warwick and Birmingham
Canal, and then goes on to Stratford. The original shares of 1001.
were reduced to 301., and were at present worth no more than 24/.,
and 2 per cent. only had been paid last year. The Stourbridge
Canal, incorporated in 1837, was constricted principally for minerals.
and cost about 49,000/. In 1840 it yielded no return, and last year
the return was 4 per cent.

Mr. COCKBURN said the railway would cause both canals to he
most unprofitable concerns. The railway company seeing that the
canals would suffer, and would oppose them to the utmost, proposed
to purchase up the interest in the canals, and they proposed to pro-
vide for this purchase either by borrowing or by a rent charge.
The CHAIRMAN inquired whether the railway company meant to
shut up the canals ?

Mr. COCKBURN said they proposed to keep them open, and use

them for heavy goods • and they would, if required, bring up clauses
binding them to that effect.:
Mr. LAING offered opposition on the part of the Warwick and BIN
mingkarn Canal, but
The CHAIRMAN suggested that Mr. Laing's clients would be safer if
Parliament should take security that the water communication
should be kept open, and that tolls should be fixed within a reason-
able limit.

Mr. LAING bowed to the suggestion of the Committee.

The Committee at this point ordered the room to be cleared.
On re-admission, parties were told by the Chairman that various
matters had been discussed during the interval, but the conclusion
was that the Committee decided that the preamble of the Bill was
proved.
Mr. LAING did not know that the room had been cleared with a
view to considering this point, otherwise he would have interposed to
offer evidence on the part of opposing landowners as to the insult..
clency of the capital of the company and other matters.
The Csratitscis said the room had not been cleared at first for that
purpose, but the Committee would suspend the decision, that no in-
justice might be done to Mr. Laing's clients.

Mr. LATNG said there was a line before another Committee almost
parallel with that before this Committee,ttbrough the same district
of country ; and his end would be gained if the Committee would.
adopt a resolution which would have the effect of impeding the pro-
gress of this Bill, that both projects, this and the Hampton and Ash.
church, might be considered together.

The CHAIRMAN had no po;N:er to do what had been asked; bat
he would lay the circumstances of the case before the House when
it came on to be considered there.
This was agreed on.

Mr. SELFE addressed the Committee on the part of the ironmas-
tera between Kidderminster and Dudley, with a view to obtain
clauses compelling the company to accommodate them with the
narrow gauge, and to revise their tolls.
The CHAIRMAN said the Committee were determined to revise the
tolls on the whole line, and would advise the accommodation of the
narrow gauge ; this request was very reasonable.
As some clauses were produced by opposing parties, and application
was made for time to consider them,
The Committee adjourned at 3 o'clock till 2 o'clock to-morrotr,
when they will meet to go thrnugh the clauses of the Dill.

GROUP XLIV.
The Committee met this morning at twelve o'clock ; Lord Palmer-
ston in the chair.
THE It InA.CICI3 trativ, CLITH ER OE. AND