The Sun.
London, England, 1846-04-02 00:00:00

GROUP XXIX,

This Committee re-assembled thts morning in Room 19 ; present,
the Right Hon. H. Labouchere (chairman), Sir William Molesworth,
Sir T. Duckworth, Mr. John A. Smith. and Colonel Rawdon.
SOUTH MIDLAND (HUNTINGDON
BHA. ." CH).

The evidence on behalf of the promoters of this scheme was re-
sumed. •
sir. Robert Stephenson, the engineer, was the first witness
examined -- His attention generally had been called to the district
south of Leicester, with a view to railway accommodation. He was
asked to become engineer to the Rugby and Iluniingdon (competing)
line, ;.ut he refused on the ground that the scheme was uncalled for,
.ind would prove ruinous to the shareholders. His reason was,
first, the exceedingly difficult nature of the country which
lie had surveyed betore that for the Loud to and Birm ligham line.
He also thought it would not he so good a line as others that might
he selected tor the accommodation of the district. The proposed
branch had been laid out in connexion with the scheme of the South
Midland Railway Company, and would in his opinion be much pre-
ferabls to the competing scheme. Winless then went lire
a comparative statement of the relative merits of both
projects, from which lit concluded that the South Midland
was preferable, on the the ground of the greater accommodation it
would :Wont, the less distance which would require to be ewe
s4ucted, and tSe consequent less expense which the branch
would cost. The proinoiers of the present line would start
with a balance in their favour of 700/. per mile over their
competitors. The on, schtine would take only an outlay of new
capital of 300,0001., while the other line would take an outlay of
700,0001. It must thereore be evident that the former would be able
to charge less fares, and at the same time be a more remunerative
ulsdixbe miles
accomplished shorter,
undertaking. The gradients of the projected line were much more
the favourable,disuu,ce
baenti.l
w etehr
igihwitthile,gdoothiie,rinshßettirbywwaos
sooner by the proposed scheme in consequence of the easier gradients.
Cross.examined There could not be much difference in the rela-
tive merits of the two schemes as regarded the communication with
the south-west. The Rugby and Huntingdon line, of which he spoke,
may not have been the present Company. What he meant was that
no direct line from Huntingdon to Rugby would ever pay a penny.
Considerable time was here spent in discussing the propriety of
confining the questions to witness to the relative merits of the two
competing lines per se, or to view them in connexion with other more
extended lines, of which they in reality form a portion.
The Committee was of opinion that it would be better for counsel
on both sides to confine themselves as much as possible to the
branches immediately under the consideration of the Committee.
The Cuadaarate again intimated that it was the wish of the Com-
mittee that the counsel for promoters should confine the question as
to gradients to that part of the scheme between Huntingdon and
Stanwick as compared with the competing scheme. By this means
the investigation would be considerably narrowed.
Mr. Liddel, civil engineer, was then examined, and corroborated
the evidence of the last witness. The steepest gradient on the whole
of the proposed branch was lin 100. It was on the west side of the
Blisworth and Peterborough Railway. The length of it was one mile
and three-quarters. From Huntingdon to Stanwick the steepest
gradient was 1 in 144. There was no gradient so severe as that
on the existing line. On the competing line between Kettering
and gtanwich the steepest gradient was one in a hundred. The
length of that gradient was one mile. Witness then gave the formal
proofs as to the curves, estimates, &c.
Cross-examined—The worst gradient on the competing line was
one in a hundred, and its length was one mile. There was a gradient
in the proposed line of one in a Inuidred, the length of which was
one mile and three-quarters.
Mr. Morrison, superintendent of the goods' department of the
London and Birmingham Railway, was examined, with the view of
proving that that Company charged by the line from Northampton
to Peterborough, as well as to London, by the geographical distance,
or " as the crow flies," for all goods.
Mr. Charles P. Berkeley, a land valuer, deposed to having valued
the land over which the proposed line passes. 72,6531. was the
amount of the total valuation. That was a high average for the land.
This closed the case for the promoters, subject to putting in a list
of gradients.
dient s.
Mr. DEJEX, on the part of Lord Sandwich, addressed the Com-
mittee
against the propos( d line. He complained that it ran for a
considerable distance along his park, and unless public necessity
made it imperative, he did not wish either the proposed or the com-
pethag line to be made, but of the two he would prefer the competing
onee.ntreHattlitneg LthoendcoonnunanidtteeY
would be completely hemmed in. The Learned Counsel concluded
by
consideration, as they did that of Lord Harborough in the case of
the Syston and Peterborough line, and give him that protection which
his c sae required.

There being no other opposition this' case closed.
Some discussion then took place as to what line should be taken
next in order, and the Committee, on referring to the minutes of
the first day's proceedings, round that they had decided
on taking the projects in the order they were read the se.lond time,
irrespective of any other consideration, and whether they were com-
peting
the
ingillines or uot. In conformity with this decision, the next 11111
was

ILTIGI3-7 AND STAMFORD.
This was a branch railway projected by the Lon•
don and Birm 1
logs in this casein.
g_imia
Railway
Company from their main line at
Rugby to join the S
ham, about six miles from Stamford. The length of the branch was
thirty-five miles,
Mr. LANG. on behalf of the promoters, opened the proceed•
andys tpo:
sed Railway,
through gbh uag 1 i
favourable
a t
line
o South l f
c
Luffen-
i
The estimated cost was 600,0001. The Learned Counsel then went into
a detail of the advantages which it would confer on the district
through which it would pass. Great benefit «as expected from the
coal, which will he brought along the Syston and
croentevreby(aino'cueghWltailway---or the South Midland Railway, if sanctioned
by Parliament—direct from the coal fields of Leicestershire, Notting-
shire, anti Derbyshire; the present selling price of coal at Mar-
ket Harborough was about 21s. per ton, and it has to be
carted from that place to the different villages on the line, at
an expense which cannot be reckoned at much less than Is.
per ton per mile. The railway would afford the means of deliver-
ing the coal in all parts of the line at from 10s. to 12s. per ton.
It was also proposed to give to this branch the benefit of the low
scale of tolls intended to be inserted In the Bill amalgamating the
London and Birmingham, Grand Junction, and Manchester and
Birmingham Railway Companies. Petitions in favour of the Bill
were numerously signed from all the towns and villages on the line.
There were on each side of the Welland valley, through which
the line passes, a succession of large and populous villages,
almost entirely of an agricultural character, the innabitants of which
expect to derive the greatest advantage from the projected railway
as a means of conveyance for their cattle, corn, and other produce,
as well as giving them the facility of attending personally the mar-
kets before named. In this respect the line greatly resem-
bles that of the, Northampton and Peterlorough, sanctioned
by Parliament in 1843, on which this particular description
of trade has far exceeded the most sanguine expectations.
The Learned CoIiDIKI stinitte4 that UM potato were pm,*
•

which he proposed to do by the witnesses he would call, there could

rr.

The Hui
He knew the line of country well through w

would paBs, and no district was more in want of railway communi-
cation. He thought this accommodation would be given by the pro-
posed line. The opinion of the people in the district was entirely in

And with

avnee of the

mittee reserve tons,

tioli :Or

FLOOD, On bet
that the cram

greed

living

.mford, Mr. Tibbert

. a carrier, were examined to the same
,pinion. that there was conkieterahle

taintord and Binni

Sub-Committee

Ad Ulf

t of this line being made

malt, was examined

.rnoa till twelve

This Committee met o'clock in teem _
present Mr. Strutt (chairman), Mr. Y..ef..kett, and Mr. Clive, and
proceeded to the further consideration of the
GLASGOW AND DUNDEE JUNCTION.
The formal prow were ricetr ed yesterday at the clal,z of the
sitting.
The object of the BM is to form a railway from Dundee to join the
Scottish Central Railway at or near Stirling.
The projected length is litty-one miles, the estimated cost 9G9,678/.
The engineers ate Messrs Leslie, Mitchell, and J. G. Gunn. The
solicitors are Messrs Mackenzie and Reid, of Perth. The Parlia-
mentary agents are Messrs. Spottiswoode, Robertson. and Co.
There are a great number of petition against the Bill on the usual
grounds of imperfections and inaccuracies lu the plans and section&
Several allegations were sustainAl, and in respect to some others
the standing orders were declared to be complied with.
In respect to the datum line, the Committee el,cided that the
standing orders were not complied with.
EDINBURGH AND PERTH.

at t

No. f,

The object of this line is to connect Edinburgh and Perth.
The length, 39 miles. The.cstimated cost, 1,000,000/. The engi-
neers, Mr. G. Rennie, Mr. Bateman, and Mr. Gunn ; the agents,
Messrs. Spottiswoode and Ri bcrtson.
The formal evidence was given, and petitions against the line were
received, and the Committee adjourned at four o'clock.

Sub-Committee No. 2.
This Committee met to-day, at one o'clock, in room No. 6; pre-
sent Sir J. Y. Buller (chairman), Mr. Kemble, and Mr. Yorke.
OXFORD, WORCESTER AND WOLVERHAMPTON.
In this case, which has peen before the Committee since Monday,
it was ultimately decided, that in several instances the standing
orders had not been complied with. But, in consequence of the ah-
settee of some of the witnesses, the consideratioa of additional allega-
tions was postponed.
The Committee then proceeded to the case of the
IPSWICH AND BURY ST. EDMUNDS (ELY EXTENSION

WITH BRANCHES THEREFROM).
This Rh was also belbre the Committee yesterday. The consi-
deration was resumed this day, and additional evidence adduced on
the part of the promoters and opponents, but of a very unimportant
character.
The further consideration of the Bill was postponed, and the Com-
mittee proceeded with the
LONDON AND BIRMINGHAM (COVENTRY AND NUNEATON

B
The formal evidence in respect to this Bill was taken, and the
Committee adjourned.

Sub-Committee No. 3.
The Committee met to-day in room No. 3, at twelve o'clock, when
The enAtutss.w (Mr. Aglionby) stated that they has considered the
point reserved yesterday in respect to the

YARMOUTH EXTENSION.
In that case, it had appeared to the Committee that the _Bill com-
prehended other objects than those set forth in the petition, and that
this was not in accordanee with the intentions of the House in pass-
ing the standing order which requires that the Bill should be attached
to the petition. The object of this order seemed to be, that there
should be secured the greatest possible conformity betweea the two.
However, upon examining the Bill and petition in this case, the
Committee were of opinion that the difference was not such as
altogether to contravene the order. At the same time, it
was not to be inferred tom this that any laxity in
makirg the Bill conform with the petition would be permitted.
The Committee then took the
NORFOLK RAILWAY EXTENSION (THETFORD AND REED-
RAH BRANCH). _ _

The object of this Bill is to connect Thetford and Reedham with
the. maim Norfolk lines. The length of the branch is forty-eight
mils, and the estimated cost 360,5361. Tho engineers are Messrs.
Bidder and Stephenson ; the agents, Messrs. Burke and Co. ; the so-
licitors, Messrs. Parker and Co.
The formal evidence was then gone into, and the case was partly
heard.

The Committee decided that in respect to alternative lines laid
down in the plans deposited the standing orders were not complied
with. The case was then ajourned.

Sub-Committee No. 4

The Committee met at about a quarter past twelve. Sir W. Heath.
cote in the chair ; preceut 41W, Mr. It. Johnstone, Mr. dhirley, and
Mr. L.gh.

WHITEEIAVEN AND FURNESS.

The consideration of this adjourned case WAS resumed.
It was objected that the course and terminus ttf the proposed line
were not described alike on the notices and plans, and its the Bill—
the notices and plans being for a lino front Dalton to Hesbink, with a
branch from Flukeborough to Dirkgate, and the Bill taking powers
for a line from Dalton, through Flukebourough, to Dirkgate, Dirk-
gate and Hesbank being eight miles apart.
After considerable disussion the Committee declared the standing
orders not complied with.
A point was then raised similar to that, as to the rivers Claim
and Levan, raised yesterday, and evidence was given to show that
cer'ain " rivers" crossed by this line were navigable rivers, and on
the other side to show that they were only estuaries.
This point, as well as several others, was reserved for further con-
sideration.