The Sun.
London, England, 1846-07-27 00:00:00

Room D.

GLASGOW, DUMMIES, AND CARLISLE.
(Continued from oar Afternoon Edition.)

Mr. Locke, civil engineer, examined by Mr. COCIEBURN—He was
engineer of the Caledonian line, and perfectly familiar with the
railways in Sco:land. He quite, agreed that the estimate of the
Caledonian Company for the Dumfries and Gretna branch was
a correct one. He would advise the directors to-morrow to accept
tenders for such works as .those named in the Bill sanctioned by
Parliament. The prices which Mr. Collister had attached to the
various Reins were less than those paid on the Caledonian, and he
thought the latter fair and reasonable, and was prepared to defend
them. He agreed also in the evidence given by Mr. Collator on the
cuttings, bridges, and permanent way. The rock en this line was
similar to that on the Caledonian line. The particular rock which
had been re.erred to was, trap, or grawicke. The same ridge extended
across the Caledonian line. Iledid net believe the works could be con-
structed for less than stated by Mr. Collister. Mr. Miller's estimate
for the Dumfries and Gretna portion of the Nlthsdale scheme was
251,0001. ; his was 338,751/. lie had originally, at the recommenda-
tion of the Commissioners, given up Annan on the route of the line.
He did so reluctantly, though he still calculated on the Annan traffic
as belonging to the Caledonian, and so did the Commissioners. The
same applied to Dumfries. He believed, also, that 48,00 W. was as
little as the line could be worked for per annum.
Cross-examined—He did not know that Mr. Robert Stephenson
or Mr. Brunel bad changed their systems. lie believed Mr. Brunel
let his works by competition. as did Mr. Vignoles and Mr. Hawk-
shaw. The last great work of Mr. Stephenson was not let by com-
petition. The whole estimate of the Caledonian line was 2,000,0001.,
but at that moment he could not say how much it 11,114 per mile.
The levels en the route of the .1471thside line were very favourable.
The line of railway recommended by the Commissioners' in the
year 1840 •had a gradient of 1 in 113. This was the severest.
The present Caledonian line had a gradient of I in 75 for four miles,
and lin 80 for four miles. The severest gradient on thelgithstlale
line was 1. in 150, which was a good gradient ibr general purposes,
though not for a heavy ascending mineral traffic.
Mr. Thomson, assistant to Mr. Locke, deposed that he had sup-
plied the quantities from the sections of the line to Mr. Collister, and
they were correctly made up.
Cross-examined—He had taken what was rock and what was not
from the sections. He could not say who had written the words
on the sections. He believed all the words wer: written on at the
time he made the calculation. With regard to the word " trap," he
believed it was written on the sections at the time he took the quan-
tities, but he could not say positively that it was.
Re-examined—All he had to do in the present matter was simply
to take the cuttings and slopes from the sections and calculate ac-
cordingly. He had nothing whatever to do with the marking of the
rocks, or as to what kind of rock should be marked at particular
places.
Mr. CorxisTEß, civil engineer, was recalled and briefly examined,
to the effect that the writing in pencil on the sections, which had
been referred to, was written on them at the time the calculations
were made. As far as the outline and general character of the line
were concerned, the plans and sections from which he had calculated
were a perfect copy or those deposited in the Private Bill-office.
Mr. COCKBURN intimated that this was the evidence he had to
offer on the question of engineering and estimates.
Mr. ANIMIEws then said he proposed to recall Mr. Miller.
Mr. CoexacaN objected, as the case for the promoters was closed.
Mr. ANDEEWs said he wished to recall Mr. Miller, to offer expla-
nations on the points alluded to respecting the price of the works on
the line;and to prove that similar contracts were being executed at
leis prices on other lines. It would be recollected that his Learned
Friend carefully•omitted to cross-examine Mr. Miller 011 those points
when he was before the Committee.
The CHAIRMAN intimated that they did not think it necessary to
call Mr..Mlller.

The room was then cleared for the deliberations of the Committee.
After a few minntesthe parties were called In, when

The CHAIRMAN said the Committee wished that Mr. Cockburn
should be restricted to one speech, and therefore they thought it well
to inform counsel for the Caledonian that they did not think the evi-
dence for the estimates of the Nithsdale line had been shaken by the
counter-evidence adduced. The Committee were, therefore, now pre-
pared to hear evidence on the Dumfries and Canobie branches of the
Caledonian Company.

The case on behalf of these branches was then resumed.
Mr. Locke, civil engineer, examined—Deposed that the Caledo-
nian branch, between Dumfries and Carlisle, was shorter than the
Dumfries scheme. In other respects it was the saan shltrught
it would be better for Dumfries that two comp
meet
there, rather than being placed entirely under one company . -
specting the Canobie Caledonian branch, which went to Lain'thoinie,
it haul better gradients for mineral traffic than the Nithsdale branch.
Cross-Examined—The inhabitants of Dumfries, he believed, were
very generally in favour of the Nithsdale scheme, tuld also the land-
owners along It. With regard to all traffic passing from Carlisle,
through Dumfries up •Nithsdale", there would be as much incon-
venience from the two lines meeting at Dumfries as at Gretna. lie
thought his Dumfries line towards Edinburgh was much preferable
to the Si thsdale and Crawick branch.
ke-examined—He did not think it would be possible to run trains
from Dumfries to Edinburgh by the Crawick branch in connexion
with the Caledonian, and thus there. would be a considerable loss of
time. The Caledonian line had a project which would have to sonic
extent supplied the accommodation sought to be given by the Crav kit
branch—the Caledonian Extension. No doubt the Caledonian in
time would have supplied the district with lateral branches.
Mr. Errington, civil engineer, corroborated the evidence of the
previous witness respecting the branches proposed by the Caledonian
Company, and their superiority to aceOrnMotlate the southern and
Edinburgh and Glasgow traffic, over the Nithsdale scheme, including
the Crawick branch.

Mr. Brandt, banker of Annan, examined—lie was In favour of the
Nithsdale scheme last year, because the Caledonian branch did not
touch Annan. He thought tie proposition of the present year would
Accommodate Annan better than the ICithadale scheme, in as far as
communication with the north and Edinburgh and Glasgow was
concerned.
Cross•examined—He seconded a resolution at a public meeting
bet year in favour of the Nithsdale line, but that was before the.
Caledonian Company altered its proposal with regard to Annan. Lie
was a shareholder hi the Caledonian, and also in the Nlthsdale
scheme.
Mr.'Elliot, farmer, in the neighbourhood of Dumfries, eximined—
He said the opinion of a great number of persons in nis neighbour-
hood was, that the Caledonian branches would better supply the
more populous portions of Dumfries than the Nithsdale scheme.
Cross-examined—The Caledonian would not accommodate parties
between Dumfries and Cumnock, or persons coming from Ayrshire,
The Committee then adjourned till to-morrow at eleven o'clock.

Room E.
EXETER, YEOVIL, AND DORCNESTEZ.
(Continued from our Afternoon Edition,)
Mr. Bedford and Mr. White were examined with regard to gene-
ral traffic.
Mr. Jonathan Neill, examined by Mr. DErnsox—Would not put
cattle on a railway, except they were very fat. Preferred driving
sheep across the Downs to sending them by the railway, except
ewes heavy with Lamb.

Cross-examined by Mr liimaraxu—Have had a few smothered
on the Southampton Railway.

Mr. Charles Misson coincided with the foregoing evidence.
Cross-examined by Mr. llmnraan—Cattle prefer the broad gnage.
Should rather walk them, than send them by the narrow guage.
Bad a bullock once smothered on the narrow guage.
Mr. Diglis, examined by Mr. DENlsON—Cattle are not comfortable
on the narrow gauge. People might laugh, but their comfort ought
to be considered.
Crciss-examlned by Mr. Ihmaga--Could not go to Smithfield and
pick out a broad or narrow gauge bullock
Lord Da Morley, examined by Mr. DENISON—Was an original pro-
moter. of the Southampton and Dorchester. Preferred the Exeter
Great Western to the other.
Mr. William Moore, of smallbridge— Should not use the proposed
going to
railway.
by Mr. HILLIER—CouId not use it in
Cross-examined
Shepton -Mallet. The chief market from Smalibridge Was Poole.
Mr. Sly, malster
wine merchants—The moat important
inarkets are Batii and Br:stoi
Cross-examlned—Two petitions had been signed at Wincaiton in
favour of the present line.
-Mr. Richard 'thane, grocer, Shaftesbury, considered that the effect
would be ruinous to that-town. Should prefer the Wilts and Somer.,
set line which would better accommotlate the Shaftesbury trade,
which chialy lay in the direction of Bristol.
31. James Poole, land surveyor, at Desborough—Knew the landed
property between Salisbury and Yeovil. Knew there was a great
quantity of timber between those two places.
The Committee then adjourned.

Room H.

AIRDRIE AND BATIZGATE JUNCTION.
CALEDONIAN (GLASGOW, GAMNICXSZ,
AND C OATBILID GE PITR.CB a SE) NAXMWAY.

The Committee met in Room II (New Houses). The Members
present were, the Marquis of Westminster (Chairman), Lord Man-
ners, the 3forquis of Hertford, Earl Spencer, inhl Lord Seagrove.