The Sun.
London, England, 1846-06-12 00:00:00

GROUP XXXIII,

The Committee on this group met to •day at twelve o'clock, in room
No. 24 (Grand Corridor) ; present, Sir Robert Ferguson, chairman ;
the Marquis of Worcester, Viscount Norreys, Mr. Fellowes, and Mr.
Smollett. They proceeded with the consideration of the

RUGBY, LEAMINGTON, AND WARWICK.

Mr. WAKELEY, Q.C., for the opponents of the Bill (petitioners from
Leamington), addressed the Committee. He said that the evidence
for the opposition was concluded yesterday, and that evidence ap-
peared tq him to be of so conclusive a character, that it would not be
necessart to occupy much time in summing it together, or comment-

tag upon it. The Bill was one of a great number which the London and
Birmingham were endeavouring to pass through Parliament for the
purpose of obtaining possession of the whole country. It was quite
evident that the promoters of the Bill were not very sanguine of
their prospects, after having heard the witnesses against them ; for
they now proposed that the preamble should be postponed until the
evidence upon all the London and Birmingham projects should have
been gone through. The Learned Gentleman then went at some
length into a review of his evidence, contending that there was not
only no necessity for the proposed line, but that its construction
would be detrimental or inconvenient to the districts through which
it would pass. It would compel the traffic to be taken by a cir-
cuitous and expensive route, and prevent the formation of a more
convenient and less costly accommodation. He hoped the Committee
would see that a sufficient case had been made out to reject the
preamble of the Bill, instead of postponing it.
Mr. HILDITARD replied, and It having been stated to the Committee
that three of the opposing petitioners had withdrawn their opposition,
The CHAIRMAN said that theCo
of thismmittee Billha cl
until theydetermined had to g
a
post-
pone their decision on the preamble
through the cases of the others in connexion with the London and
Birmingham Company.

They then proceeded with the
LONDON AND BIRMINGHAM (11/11,111ING.
HAM EXTENSION).

The object of this Bill is to enable the company to erect a station
In New-street, Birmingham, and to make a new street to the back of
;he Grammar School.

The Bill is opposed by several inhabitants of Birmingham whose
relations are buried in a cemetery, with which the extended line
from the present station would interfere.
The late Mayor of Birmingham, and other gentlemen connected
with the municipality of the borough, gave testimony in favour of the
proposed site, as the most eligible that could be chosen for a central
station. The Town Council had passed recently a resolution in favour
of the plan.
In the cross-examination of the witnesses, it was elicited that
there was a great repugnance in Birmingham to the removal of
dead bodies, and that some years ago when such a removal was
effected there was a serious riot, for which several persons were
tried at Warwick, and were acquitted.
The Rev. Mr. Lee, master of the Grammar School, gave evidence
to the effect that the proposed extension would be a great improve-
ment to the central part of Birmingham. It would certainly not be
detrimental to the school, but on the contrary, by removing a
particular class:of houses, the proximity of which was burtild to the
school, it would be a great benefit.

In his cross-examination, the witness stated that he did not think
there was any objection to the mode in which the extended line
would pass through the graveyard.

In answer to the Cnaritatioi, it was explained that there had been
a petition presented from the trustees of the Grammar School against
the Bill ; but the object of the petition was only to secure the inser-
tion of clauses for the protection of the school property. These
clauses had been agreed to, and the trustees had consequently given
their sanction to the Bill.
After further evidence of the same character,
The Committee adjourned at four o'clock to twelve to-morrow.