The Sun.
London, England, 1846-06-18 00:00:00

DRAINAGE OF THE BEDFORD LEVEL.

The clauses of the Bill for protecting the drainage of the Bedford
level were next gone through with some amendments. the chief f
which was to allow the London and York Company to pass over a
part of the line. The report was ordered to be brought up to-morrow.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
GROUP
WEST CORNWALL.

The Cominittee met at the urual hour, when the business haring
been proceeded with,
The room was cleared, and after a short consultation, strangers
were readmitted, when .

The CAATIIMAN announced that the Committee had come to the
resolution that the preamble of the Bill, for malting the St. Ives
Branch of the West Cornwall Railway was not proved.
The Committee then adjourned, the parties not been prepared to
go on with their other Bills.

GROUP XVI I

MANCHESTER AND SOUTHAMPTON, AND
ROMSEY AND REDBRIDGE BRANCE
(SOUTH WESTERN).
'ontinued from our Afternoon Edition.)

Mr. Robert Stephenson was then called and examined by Mr.
GURNEY—He said he was joint engineer to the line with Mr. Bidder,
and that it had been under their joint direction. The country which
it traversed, and he was well acquainted with it, was of au impor-
tant character and much required direct communication. The
station at Southampton was well adapted to meet the wants of the
town, and to facilitate exportation and importation. The
construction of the line along a portion of the Southampton
water presented no difficulty. The Andover canal was well adap.ed
for carrying a railway along its course, so many facilities did it
afford, and so easy was this portion of the line be of construction,
that the line from Southampton to Andover could be opened in
twelve months. In addition to this it would not interfere with
private property. It went on from Andover to Weyhill and Apple-
shaw, where large cattle and sheep fairs were held ; passing through
Marlborough it proceeded to Swindon, where it crossed
below the Great Western, which could be effected with-
out interfering with the traffic of that line. A junction
was proposed to be formed at this point between the two lines, and if
the companies were in unity the public convenience would be greatly
promoted. The passage of the Coteswold hills involved no engineer-
ing difficulties of any moment. The local traffic- would he con-
sidered be sufficient to pay, and there could be doubt at all that it
would amply remunerate the Shareholder for the outlay which it
would involve. _ _ . . .

Cross-examined by Mr. KEATlNG—Calculated that a great portion
of the trek between Cheltenham and Swindon would come on the
proposed line, because it would have better gradients. A separate
terminus at Southampton would he required if this line were made.
No line could be connected with the present station witheut crossing
several pubic streets, and by the adoption of several objectionable
curves.

Mr. Forman, collector of the port, and Mr. Gowen, gave evidence
with respect to the eligibility of the tramways and the general ad-
vantages of the line to the town.
Mr. E. Jesus having handed in the assents and dissents, Intimated
that this closed the case on the part of the promoter:.
The Committee then adjourned until to-morrow at twelve o'clock,
when the evidence in support of the opposition of the South Western
will he considered.

GROUP %XXI.
(Continued from our Afternoon Edition.)

BRISTOL AND BIRMINGHAM (ASH.,
CHURCH, TEWKESBURY, AND MALVERN.)
The engineering eNidenee was then gone into, and the Committee
adjourned.

IMS.OUP XXXII'