The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-15 00:00:00

GROUP XIII.

The Committee met to-day at the usual hour. Sir Wm. Clay, in
the chair.

CALEDONIAN RAILWAY AND BRANCHES.
The case on behalf of the promoters of this company was pro-
ceeded with, on the assembling of the Committee.
Mr. Locke, civil engineer, was re-called and examined on the esti-
mates for the Caledonian branches. He stated that the estimates
for both the Dumfries and Northern branches was 500,0001. The
Dumfries branch ,was set dawn at 338,752/. ; and 147,0641. for the
Northern branch. These items were for the construction of the
branches, 20,0001. was allowed for the stations. The Nithsdale Com-
pany had estimated their Dumfries and Carlisle line at 33
per cent., but that he thought was an under estimate. He did
not think they ought to have put it down at less than that
estimated for the Caleionian. There were no engineering difficulties
in the construction of these branches. He estimated the working
expenses of these branches at 16,0001., on the estimated receipts of
24,0001. The Caledonian Extension, as a conception, was brought
before the notice of the Lords' Committee last year.
Cross-examined by Mr. Andrews —He estimated the Dumfries and
Langholme branch of last year at 178,0001. He could not give an
estima'e of the Ca edonian Extension. The Kelso branch of this
extension had been lost en the standing orders; but the western
portion into Ayrshire still remained. The estimates had been made
out for the whole, and he had not deducted from the estimates ior
what had been thrown out.

To Mr. LIDDELL, who appeared for Lord Mansfield, and the Duke
of Buccleuch, and Lord Queensberry—The Springfield branch went
through Lord Mansfield's property for some extent. It also went for
hall a mile through that of the Duke of Buccleuch. There were no
very heavy cuttings or embankments, and there would not be
much damage done to farm-buildings. A number of occupation
roads were crossed, and the line ran for some distance
parallel with the turnpike road. The branch went for three miles
through Lord Queensberry's property, but the works were about the
same as the others. There were no heavy works. There were very
few farm buildings on the line of deviation. The works on the Dum-
fries Branch, through Lord Queensberry's, were of a similar cha-
racter. Two roads were crossed on a level. On the Duke of Buc-
cleuch's property on the same branch, very little damage was done
to farm buildings.

Re-examined—With regard to the first-named branch, the Niths-
dale Branch went nearly in the same route, and would consequently
do as much damage. No damage was done to residential property.
It was as feeders to the main line that these branches were most
desirable.

Mr. COCKBURN said, as the evidence on behalf of these branches
was closed, it was necessary they should consider the propriety of hav-
ing all the lines before them that constituted the whole or perfect scheme
on each side. He submitted that no decision should be come to
till the whole extension schemes in relation to the two Companies
were gone into, and the evidence in support of them taken. The.
question mainly depended on whether the Nithsdale line and the
Caledonian line could co-exist, and before a lair decision could be
come to, it was necessary that not only the Caledonian extension
should be heard, but also the case for the North British, Hawick and
Carlisle extension. It would save time, as he would not sum up till
the whole evidence was gone through.
Mr. ANDREWS must decidedly appose the application, as most
monstrous. It would be deterring the decision almost indefinitely,
as the Caledonian extension would not be ripe till Monday week, the
25th. That was the earliest day in which it could be heard, as it
could not be Tead a second time till Monday next, and seven
days would have to transpire to allow petitions to be presented. It had
been admitted by the agent of the Caledonian scheme at the begin-
ning of the sitting that the Caledopian extension did not necessarily
compete with the Nithsdale scheme; the competition being in
reference to the southern branches of the Caledonian scheme. His
clients had done every thing to push forward their bill, and had the
second reading of it carried through at the earliest day ; whereas the
Caledonian Extension had been delayed to the latest minute. There
was, therefore, no reason why the Nithsdale Company should be
made to suffer by being detained here day by day to watch the pro-
ceedings which hail no strict relation to their own case. Still less
reason was there that the Nithsdale Company should wait until
the North British Extension, in which they were not in the least
interested, either for or against, was entered upon. He submitted
that the application should not be allowed.
Mr. TALBOT, on behalf of the petitioning landholders against the
Caledonian branches, followed on the same side. He objected to the
application on the ground of hardship to his clients, and that the
granting of it would mix up a great deal of new matter that had no •
thing really to do with the case.
Mr. Sergeant BELLASIB, on the part of the North British (Hawick
and Carlisle Extension). protested against the delay in relation to his
scheme, which was involved in the application.
Mr. COCKBURN replied, going over the objections on the other side.
The Legislature had granted the Caledonian main line last year, and
extensive contracts on the faith of that fiat had been gone
into. Now the whole of the lines had a strict relation to
the Caledonian scheme. The latter was threatened on the one
side by competition with the Nithsdale scheme, and by the North
British Extension on the other ; and no just decision in relation to
the interests of the Caledonian line could be come to till the whole
of these schemes were fully before the Committee. They ought to
do so, in order to learn whether the Caledonian line, which had r-
ceived the solemn sanction of Parliament last year, could exist, in
the event of such competing lines being granted, and whether, with.
the branches proposed and the Caledonian Extension, the wants of
supplied.asshtohuel
should
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ttheed country
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.
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The room was then cleared for the decision of the Committee.
not
submitted b e
ast the l lapplications)

GROUP XLIV.
Lord Palmerston took the chair at twelve o'clock, in Room 25
(New Houses of Parliament). The same Members were present as
on former occasions.

LIVERPOOL, MANCHESTER, AND NEW—
CASTLE-UPON-TYNE JUNCTION.
This Bill, together with the Lancashire and North Yorkshire h
(wit
which it had been amalgamated), and the York and Carlisle and
Yorkshire and Glasgow Union, stood over since Monday, in order
that the time might be given for an arrangement between the par-
ties, as to which of them should form a certain branch from Leyburn
to Hawes, which formed part of both schemes.
The case of the Liverpool and Manchester was called on at the
meeting of tae Committee, and the arrangement of the clauses occu-
pied about an hour. No question of any public interest arose. Some
of the clauses were altered and the remainder passed as they 111.004,