The Sun.
London, England, 1846-06-15 00:00:00

BRANCH).

The Committee met this day at eleven o'clock.
Mr. Sergeant NVaasonem appeared for the promoters, and in a
speech of great length and ability laid the points of the case before
the Committee.

After the Learned Sergeant concluded, evidence was called.
Mr. Beckett Denison, Mr. Lasceles, and several merchants were
called, who spoke to the great necessity of the Wakefield branch of
the London and York line.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

NEWCASTLE AND EDINBURGH AND
DIRECT GLASGOW JUNCTION RAIL-

WAY.

The Committee met to-day at eleven o'clock when the cross-exa•
minatien of Mr. Green was resumed, Mr. John Miller, Mr. Taylor,
Mr. Bell, and other witnesses were examined as to the estimates,
price of land, &c.

Mr. Marshall, of Leith, was examined as to the traffic on
the route of the proposed line, which appears to be rapidly in-
creasing, as was also the trade of the manufacturing district
around Galashiels and Hawick. The gross income from the
various sources of traffic he estimated at 28,3621. He described
the direction in which the traffic to and from the manufac-
turing district was now carried. That it was carried partly by Berwck
and partly by Leith, the two principal seaports through
which goods Were forwarded to and from England. That a circle
with a radius of seven or eight miles embraced the who:e of the
manufacturing towns, such as Galashiels, Selkirk, Melrose, and
Hawick, with other towns, such as Jedburgh, and Roxburgh, and
that from the centre of the same district, the distance to Newcastle
would be about forty miles shorter by the route of the present line
than by way of Kelso and Berwick. The witness then entered into
details of the population, showing that the rate of increase was
actually greater at Galashiels and Hawick than in the
manufacturing towns of Leeds, Manchester, and Glasgow.
That while Use population of the first-mentioned
towns had increased 35 and 40 per cent. since 1831, the in-
crease at Leeds, Manchester, and Glasgow, was respectively
23, 30, and 35 per cent. He next proved from the value
of the manufactured goods, and from the amounts col-
lected at the toll-bars, that the traffic was doubling itself
about every five or six years. The value of the goods manufactured
in itawick had increased from 140,0001. in 1839 to 270,0001, in 1845.
He considered the extension of the line to Jedburgh, an object of
the greatest importance to Hawick, Galashiels, and other ma-
nufacturing towns, as the trade with England was ra-
pidly- and steadily increasing. In his cross-examination,
witness entered into additional details shoeing that the
rate of Increase in the passenger traffic was in almost
every instance much greater than 150 per cent. That its districts in
Scotland similar to the one that the proposed line would intersect,
the rate of increase was so high as 400 or 500 per cent. The cross-
examination of this witness was continued on some other points,
but nothing was elielted to affect the evidence which he had pre-
viously given.
The Committee then :adjourned to twelie to-morrow, when Sir.
Stephenson, civil engineer, will be examined.

GROUP 11.
CORNWALL.
(Continued from our Afternoon Edition.)
IMPORTANT DECLSION.

——- • -
Mr. AusTrar replied at considerable length. At the conclusion of
his speech the room was cleared. Upon the parties being
called the Chairman stated that the Cmmittee had
decided that the preamble of the. Cornwall Railway was proved,
with the exception of the Donnboys branch. They gave no opinion
as to the'eentral line. The question of central accommodation will
be left open for a future period.
The Committee then adjourned at six o'clock till twelve to-
morrow.

GROUP XIII.
AYRSHIRE AND GALLOWAY.
(Continued front our Afternoon Edition.)

Mr. Blythe, civil engineer, was examined, for the purpose of show-
ing that the estimates would not be sufficient to construct the works,
and that the line, from the nature of the country, would be difficult of
construction.

Mr. Anderson, accountant, who had on a previous occasion taken
the traffic along the route of the line from Dalmellington to Castle
Douglas, deposed that he calculated the probable amount from pas-
sengers, goods, sheep, and cattle, at 7,4131. This was allowing 150 per
cent. for increase. The promoters of the Bill set it down at 14,0001.
Mr. Miller, C.E., corroborated the evidence of Mr. Blythe as to the
insuffielency of the estimates and the nature of the country. It was
a route for a railway such as he would never have advised.
Mr. Sergeant Bzoossis then summed up the case for the oppo-
sition.

The Committee adjourned till to-morrow at twelve o'clock, when
counsel for the Bill will reply. .

GROUP XIV.
DOVER AND DEAL.
(Ccutinued from our Afternoon Edition.)
The Committee adjourned ehortly before four o'clock, till to-
morrow.