The Sun.
London, England, 1846-07-22 00:00:00

Room 1).

GLASGOW, DITNIVIZIES, AND CASILTSZaI.
On the assembling of the Committee to-day at 11 o'clock,
Mr. CocKatmai said, that after the unexpected decision which the
Committee had come to yesterday—a decision which had taken his
clients somewhat by surprise—he had an application to make ; it was
that the Committee adjourn for the day, in order to allow him time
to prepare the evidence he would have to offer on the points In the
case of the promoters that were now open to him to dispute.
Mr. ANDREws protested against grplting the application, as most
unusual, and inconvenient to the promoters of the Bill. All the wit-
nesses against the Bill were in town, and there could be no difficulty
in his Learned Friend going into his case at once, as he must have
been ready beforehand-to go into that portion of the case if necessary.
Mr. COCKBURN said, that the question of competition being shut
out by the decision yesterday—a point on which the opponents of the
811 l would have been prepared to show a strong case—the other
points reserved for investigation had come rather suddenly upon
them. If the Committee would adjourn till to-morrow, he pledged
himself that his case would be closed within the two days, that was
by Friday evening.
After some further conversation, the room was cleared.
On our re-admission,

The Cfwamarr said that they were willing to grant the adjourn-
ment sought for, on the distinct understanding that the Learned
Gentleman (Mr. Cockburn) would condense his case into the two
days.

dr. Cockburn and Mr. Sergeant Murphy, on behalf of the other
petitioner against the Bill, pledged themselves to this course.
Mr. Blythe, civil engineer, having supplied the opponents of the
Bill with some details respecting the estimates which they required,
the Committee adjourned till to-morrow, at eleven o'clock.

Room C.

BLACZWALL RAILWAY (WIDENING).

The Committee re-assembled this morning, Lord Hatherton in th
chair.
The first witness called was
Mr. John Duncan, solicitor of the Eastern Counties Company, who
was examined at considerable length as to the contents of draft
of arrangement which had been entered into between the Eastern
Counties Company and the Blackwall Company, which he stated
had nothing whatever to do with the arrangement of traffic. The
term " facilities " in that agreement had reference, In his opinion, to
the right to be conceded to either Company of passing over the line
of the other Company. On this point Mr. Duncan underwent a
long examination, but nothing contrary to •the facts adduced was
elicited.
Mr. Durant, an extensive silk-broker in the City, stated that the
diminishing of the light in the silk warehouses would present a
formidable impediment to the carrying on of the silk business.
Mr. Bidder, engineer orthe Easterli Counties Railway, stated that
he did not conceive that the short traffic to be obtained by a junction
of this line with the Blackwall iatilway would be of ally ad-
vantage, for, in the calculation of that advantage, the
Directors had altogether overlooked the competition of the omni-
buses, which, for short stages, were decidedly the most convenient ;
as a proof 'of this it had been estimated that there would be as many
as 1.800,000 passengers from the station at East Ham, while
he did not believe that the whole of the passengers carried
was 50,000 per annum. In the statement to Parliament
there was a computation that 4,800,000' passengers would be
carried by the Blackwell line, and on those they had
calculated a fare of sixpence each. He believed that it was only
in consequence of the arrangement with the steam-boats that they
got any passengers worthy of consideration. If they had lowered
their fares a penny a passenger, they would have had no reason to
make the extension to Yenchurch-street from the Minories. He was
certainly the engineer for the Company, and under his advice,
though not by his suggestion, the money had been expended. He
conceived that there would be great difficulty and danger in the con-
duct of these short trains, especially at Bow, where accidents have
already occurred at that spot. There were ahead, twenty-five trains
in and out of the Shoreditch station at the present time, and these
were sufficiently difficult to manage. The omnibuses could at all
times give greater accommodation to the short passengers, and lbr the
long passengers it was not worth while, as the distance ftom
the suburban to the City terminus was so small. He had ad-
vised the arrangement with the Blackwell Company, whereby
there was to be a mutual use of the proposed connexion between
Stratford and Stepney, because he saw the Blackwill desired it,
and the arrangement would hinder strife, and the latter
Company would never attempt to make the line at all.
They had not yet, in fact, put a single spade into
the ground. In his opinion, by his opposition to this
scheme he conceived that he was doing the best possible service to
the 'proprietors of that company by preventing the outlay of a great
expense, for which not a single shilling would be returned. He
believed that unless the fares were reduced far below those of the
omnibuses they would get no passengers at all. The fare
at present from Tottenham was Bd., 6d., and 4d. for the classes
respectively, and if the estimate of the passengers--1,700,000—a fare
of 4d. would be necessary to give a gross return of 12,0001. a year.
In fact, it was a matter of rate of fare, and he did not conceive that
it would ever be in the power of the Blackwall Company to make
it a remunerating line ; and certainly the station in .Fenchurch-
street was quite inadequate for the traffic anticipated.
Mr. Knight, superintendent of the warehouses of the East and
West India Dock Company, stated that the warehouses of the East
India Company had beep• purchased on the expiration• of their char-
ter. Those warehonses in London were bonded warehouses. A
small portion of those warehouses had been taken on the extension
of the Blackwell line from the Minories to Fenchurch-street. Some
promise had been made on that occasion of conveying the goods of
the Company, but it had not been kept, and only samples were sent,
and the goods from the docks at Poplar were now carted for the sake
of convenience. This evidence was going on, when
Mr. ADAMS, on the part of the promoters, proffered an arrange-
ment to confine themselves to the taking a certain amount of pro-
perty, and to pay for any difference of loss ; but it was rejected en
the ground that no money would pay for the loss,
Mr. Knight's examination was resumed. Ile stated that the light
would be much hindered.

At this point, the room was cleared, and on the re-admission of
the counsel and parties,
Lord HATRERTON stated, that the . Committee had talked the
matter over, and, without expressing any decision on the general
question, they would suggest that the opponents should retire, and
Corns to some agreement with respect to the station. They were
sufficiently acquainted with this point.
Mr. FORSYTH objected, and said no arrangement would suit his
clients.

Mr. ADAMS, on behalf of the promoters, said that they were ready
to do anything in reason, and would either leave it to the decision of
anY competent professional man. or to one of their Lordships.

Room F.

This room first became a Lords' Committee-room this morning.
It is in fact Room 34 (Grand Corridor). The two next rooms (33
and 32) hey. also been adopted as Lords' Committee-rooms, under
the names of Rooms G and 11.

3132NAZINGNART AND 03ENVILD XUNCTXON-

AND DRANCNES.

A Select Committee on these Bills met to-day, at eleven, in the
above room. The Members are, Lord Ripon (chairman), and Lords
Sondes, Eldon, Wynford, and Montfort.
Mr. Cockburn, Mr. Talbot, Mr. Whately, and Mr. Cripps appeared
for the promoters of the Bill. Mr. Austin, Mr. 3ferrewether, and Mr.
Mellon, appeared as counsel for some, and Messrs. J. Parkes and Co.
and Mr. Carter, Parliamentary agents, appeared for others, of the
following petitioners :—The Warwickshire and London lines (the
competing scheme, which was rejected in the Commons' Committee,
Group 33, during this session); the London and Birmingham line;
the Birmingham and Gloucester line; the Warwick and Birmingham
Canal ; the Marquis of Hertford (on two petitions), the Earl of War-
wick, the Elul of Abergavenny, Mr. Wyse, Mr. Groswolde, cart •
n
ownere and occupiers, Sec. &c.
Mr. TALsor opened the case for the promoters of the Bill. The
Learuod Counsel, with minuteness, went ()with° history of