The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-06 00:00:00

GROUP XVI

The Committee met at twelve o'clock. Present, Sir C. Douglas
(chairman), Mr. Lockhart, Hon. 0. Duneombe, and Mr. Blewitt.
READING, GUILDLFOED, AND REIGATE.

•
Mr. HILL, Queen's Counsel, who was retained for the London
and Brighton Railway, which opposes the present Bill, was
heard at length upon the returns under Mr. Duncombe's reso-
lutions, when he argued that these returns were untrue
in, many respects, that the allottees were in two Companiesv(the
Reading, Guilford and Reigate, and the Reading and Reigate Com-
pany), but the return made it appear as though they belonged to but
one ; that many on the provisional committee had not signed the
Parliamentary contract ; that up to Feb. 3, they were not in a condi-
tion to apply to Parliament; that on that day many who had
executed the deed, executed the deed again, and no shares
had been allotted on that second occasion ; that many of the
parties who executed this deed were of the Reading and Reigate
Company, handed over by the directors of that company, and yet
the money purported to have been obtained from the Reading, Guild-
ford, and Reigate Company ; that there was nothing on the face of
the returns to show that this company had allotted all their shares ;
that the contract before Parliament was not binding, and that the
allegations were untrue and calculated to mislead the Committee.
The room was then ordered to be cleared.
On being re-admitted, parties were told that the Committee would
consider their report, and make it to the House, probably, on Thurs-
day; but till they had made their report, they could not go on with
the present Bill.

AS no other Bills were in a condition to go on immediately, the
Committee adjohrned till Thursday, when they will meet at twelve
o'clock, to consider their report, and afterwards to proceed with the
South-Western Amendment Act.

GROUP XIX

BRISTOL AND EXETER (CREIVICERNS
BRANCH), CHARD CANAL RAILWAY, AND BRIDGEWATER

AND TAUNTON CANAL, RAILWAY, AND HARBOUR

The Committee to whom these Bills have been referred met this
merning at twelve o'clock, Lord Harry Vane in the chair, and pro-
ceeded with the last-mentioned Bill.

It will be recollected that the case for the promoters was opened
by Mr. Wells about a week ago, when it was adjourned till to-day.
The line will be twenty-one miles in length, and begins at Stelfort,
where a harbour is proposed to be made, and runs to the:Bridgewater
Docks, and from thence to Taunton. The portion of the line between
Bridgewater and Taunton will be along the course of the existing
canal. The estimated cost of the line Is 390,0001., and of the har-
bour 182 5971.

The line is opposed by the Bristol and Exeter Company.
Mr. Hale, the engineer to the line, was examined at great length.
The gradients and curves were extremely easy, the country being
very favourable for the construction of a railway. The line and
harbour could be constructed within the estimates.

The witnesses, in their cross-examination by Mr. FITZBERBERT and
other counsel, on behalf of the• Bristol and Exeter Railway, stated
that that part of the channel where they proposed to make a harbour
was not more muddy than the Thames, and that neither adverse
winds nor low tides would prevent ships from entering it. The limits
of the harbour had been arranged with the Admiralty, as laid down
on the map. The foundation of the pier would by the means of
diving-bells. Various alterations had been made since the plans
were deposited in November, relating to the pier and harbour, but
they were of an advantageous character, and would not affect the
estimates. Whatever portion of the canal was used could not, of
course, be used for the purpose of navigation, so that, in fact, If
they used the canal, and they might avoid it within their
limits of deviation, the present water communication between Bridge-
water and Taunton would be destroyed. They would cross the river
Tone by a viaduct near Taunton, but would not further interfere
with it. The level, 5 miles and 24 chains from Stolfort, was 70 feet
above the datum line ; at 5 miles and 50 chains about 66 feet ;
5 chains further on it was 64 feet ; at the 6th mile, 56 chains, it was
much about the same, 67 or 68 feet. Re airs described the levels
for several miles along the line, but they only varied a few feet from
those stated in the preceding evidence. The steepest gradient was
1 in 100 for about a quarter of a mile in length ; at the 17th mile,
near Taunton, 22 public and 3 turnpike roads were crossed on a
level. No trustees of turnpike roads had petitioned against the Bill.
They would only cross the Bristol and Exeter once, and that at
Taunton.

In his re-examination, he stated that the loading of coals would
not cost more than a halfpenny a ton, which would be more the*
saved by the reduced cost of transmitting them to their destination.and Taunton, and of tho
a ed by the Admiralty. Ile was acquainted
as the one proposed by
Ile was
which
with in
nfht-ele reamavlattTtirtlfr. Telford on the subject, and perfectly
cutrance to the
...v.—a
an
th bim nrim -
canal, an usetut sahterittir 'me snips during the prevalence
of severe gales, and would besides relieve the neighbouring bay from
being crowded with shipping. It was a common occurrence to cor.-
struct piers and harbonrs in the way proposed by Mr. Hall. He was
satisfied that the line and harbour could be constructed
for the estimated sum. He considered that Mr. Hall
had selected an excellent position for his harbour, and that his plan
for constructing it was a good one. He advised the promoters to
carry their line along the course of the existing canal. Vessels of
300 tons might go into the harbour. He should have no hesitation
in constructing the pier as proposed by Mr. Hall, although he had
never seen the foundations so laid down.

At the conclusion of this evidence the:Committee adjourned until
:o-morrow.

GROUP XX.
WINDSOR, SLOUGH, AND STAINES
ATMOSPHERIC.

(Continued from our Afternoon Edition of ye3terday.)

The followin,, witnesses were then called In support of the scheme,

Mr. Seeker, town clerk of Windsor, was then examined by Mr.
Mew:a...kV, to prove the necessity for the proposed line, in
regard to despatch and direct communication to Windsor, and
the great facilities it would afford In increasing the accom-
modation for the conveyance of the traffic, &c.
The Rev. Mr. Cookesley, one of the masters of Eton College,
was examined to show that Etou College would not be injured
by the proposed railway, but rather relieved from the number of
omnibuses, cabs, &c., which were at present plying to and from
Windsor and Slough, in consequence of the defective accommodation
afforded by the existing railway communication from Windsor to
London.

The engineering evidence wilt be proceeded with to-morrow.
The Committee adjourned at four o'clock till to-morrow.

GROUP XXVII.

This Committee reassembled to-clay+ at the usual hour ; Sir C
Lemon in the chair.

NORTH STATTOILDSHIRM (THREE LINES),
The remaining clauses of these Bills occupied the consideration of
the Committee the greater part of the day. As they relate prin-
cipally to tolls severance and the other details of railway Bills, the
particulars are of no interest.

The clauses on this line having been dispoked of, the Committee
were about to adjourn till to-morrow, when
Mr. MELLoa, on the part of the Secretary of the Leicester and
Bedford Railway, objected to the case of the South Midland being
opened, till the allegations of the petition presented by the secretary
of the above line, in reference to the proposed line, were gene into.
These allegations were a suppression of truth, and a deficiency in the
returns which the promoters were bound to make, in compliance
with Mr. Duncombe's resolutions. He wished, therefore, that the
Chairman should apply to the House for :lose returns, that they
might be examined.
Mr. IDLYARD, on the part of the promoters, contended that the
allegations as to the deticiences in the returns had no reference what-
ever to the Bill at present under the consideration of the Committee ;
that the Committee had nothing to do with the original " concep-
tions " and schemes, out of which the present projection rose, such a
consideration being quite foreign to the business for which the Com-
mittee was appointed, and that everything the standing orders re-
quired was complied with, as far as the Bill under consideration was
concerned.

The Committee decided that sufficient grounds had not been given
why they should apply to the liouse for the returns moved for.
It being four o'clock, the Committee adjourned till twelve o'clock
to-morrow.

GROUP XXX.
CANCII2II2IOI3 AND OXFORD.
(Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.)
At this stage the room was elesured, in order to give the Committee
an opportunity of deciding whether they should receive further evi-
dence with respect to the traffic.
The CHAIRMAN (on ear re-admission) said, the Committee having
already heard partially the evidence relating to the traffic, hate to
state to Counsel that they might take whatever course they wish to
adopt, at the same time he had to inform them that the Committee
did not attach much importance to the question of traffic existing
along the line.

M. Sergeant CT anatz said that he had no further evidence to offer
and would therefore conclude kis case.
The case for the Aylesbury and Thame Railway was then for-
mally opened, after which the Committee adjourned till twelve
o'clock to-morrow.

GROUP XXXIV.
GREAT GRIMSBY AND SREEITzT.T% smr
EULL
TENSION (No. II.) AND---
DIRECT. AND LIN-
COLN
(Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.)
Mr. John Hall, Senior Brother of the Trinity-house, said that the
Trinity-house was not private property. They examined parties
who proposed themselves as pilots, and if competent parties they
gave them license to act in that capacity on the eoast of Hull. sex_
veys of the navigation of the Humber were frequently made by the
members of the Trinity-house. He was chairman of the committee
appointed to inquire particularly into the navigation when Goole
was made a port. The coast line of the river was taken at
that time. A chart was published by the Trinity-house, and was
received as authority. Subsequently another survey had taken place,
when it was found that the sands in the Humber had changed consi-
derably, and another corrected chart was published. This was long
before he became aware of the Hull and Lincoln Railway having been
announced. He' was satisfied of the accuracy of the last edition of
the chart published by the Trinity House. The witness then gave
a lengthy explanation of the way in which the Humber
was traversed by boats at Barton, Hessel, and New Holld.
A powerful vessel might cross the river in less than ten minutes.
The navigation in that portion of the river referred to was capable of
much improvement. The haven at Barton was capable of accom-
modating between twenty and thirty vessels. The passage from
Hall to New Holland was subject to much variation. A haven was
absolutely necessary for the safety of vessels navigating in such
a river as the Humber. If a railway were constructed
there would be a good deal of unloading into lighters,
and the Barton haven would give much more accommodation
to lighters than the haven, such as it was, at New Holland. There
is a serious cranch at the month of the river Hull, which renders the
navigation dangerous. That cranch is daily increasing. In crossing
from New Holland to Hull they had occasion to cross the roadstead
of the port of Hull. The roadstead was the place where the vessels
lay at anchor. If they wished to avoid it they must go round by the
bottom of the sand. The most prudent plan was to take the outside
of all the shinning. In going from Bgtom t 0 i3es§.l, they had no
feakletead M

Cross-examined by Mr. Pears (who appeared fbr the Great
Grimsby and Sheffield Company)—He had served seven ye.rs as a
seaman in Government service. The third edition of "The Trinity
House Chart" had been published about two months ago. A survey
for that plan was made, but he did not personally superintend that
survey. It was a nautical chart, and his attention had been more
particularly drawn to the sands. He was acquainted with the pas-
sage of the Mersey. at Liverpool, and the shipping there was as
great, perhaps, as that in the Humber. He had some attachment to
the Hull and Lincoln Railway.

Re-examined—Independently of any pecuniary interest which he
might have in the Hull and Lincoln Railway, he conscientiously be-
lieved that that scheme would be much more beneficial to the peo-
ple of Hall and the public generally than the Great Grimsby and
Sheffield.

The room was cleared at this stage of the proceedings, and on our
re-admission

The Citalamas said, the Committee had come to the decision that
the preamble of the Run and Litroln Direct Railway Bill was not
proved,

- The Committee then proceeded to discuss the clauses of the Great
Grimsby and Sheffield Railway Bill.
Several new clauses were inserted in the original Bill, the whole
of which, together with the old clauses, were agreed to. The Com-
mittee also agreed to the report which they intended presenting to
the Howe, and then adjourned until the 18th instant.

GRUP %XV.
This Committee met for theO first time to-day at half-past twelve
o'clock, in room No. 8 ; Mr. George Bankes in the chair; and were
occupied the greater part of the morning in arranging the order of
business.

A.MHERGATE, NOTTINGHAM, AND
BOSTON.
Mr. TALBOT stated the case for the promoters at considerable
ength.