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 ItAIL WAY AND Da/INCHES.
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-ca.led and examined on esti-
mates for the Caledonian branches. He stated that the estimates
for both the Dumtrici and Northern branches was 500,0001. The
Dumfries branch was set down at 338,7521. ; and 147,0641. for the
Northern branch. These items were for the construction of the
branches, 20,0001. was alto ved for the stations. The Nitlisdale Com-
pany has estimated their Dumirirs and Carisle line a.t. 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 Caleioniaa. There were no engineering difficulties
in the construction of these branches. He estimated the working
expenses ot these branches at 16,(,001., on the est mated receipts ot
24,0001. The Caledonian Extension, as a conception, was brought
beforc 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 or the - Ca'edonian Extension. The Kelso branch of this
extension .had been lost on the standing orders; but the western
portion into Ayrshire still remained. Tile estimates had been made
out for the whole, and he had not deducted irons the estimates tor
what had been thrown out.
To Mr. LIDDELL, who appeared for Lord Mansfield, and the Duke
of Buceleueh, and Lord Queensberry—The Springfield branch went
through Lord _Mansfield's property for some extent. It also went for
halt a mile through that of the Duke of 13uccleuch. There were no
very heavy cuttings or embankments, and there would not be
Much damage done to farm-buildings. A number of occupation
roads we. e ' crossed, and the tine ran for some distance
parallel with the turnpike road. The branch went for three miles
through Lord Queensberry's property, but the wor.is were about the
same as the others. There were no heavy works. There were very
few farm buildings on tile line of deviation. The works on the Dum-
fries Branch, through Lexd Queensberry's, were of a similar cha-
raeter. Two roads were crossed on a level. On the Duke of Bue-
cleuch's property on the same branch, very little damage was done
to thrm 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 porlect 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 beard, but also the case for the .North British, Ilawick and
Carlisle extension. It would save time, as he would not sum up till
the whole evidence was gone through.
Mr. ANDREWS must decidedly oppose 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 read 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 Caledonian extension did not necessarily
compete with the Nithstlftle scheme; the competition being in
reference to the southern branches of the Caledonian scheme. His
clients had done every thing to push forwara their bill, and had the
seco d reading of it carried through at the earliest day.; whereas the
Caledonian ExtensLn 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 BELLASIS, on the part of the North British (Hawick
and Carlisle Extension), protested against the delay in relption 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 bad 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 whble
of these schemes were fully before the Committee. They ought to
do so, in order W learn whether the Caledonian line, which had re•
ceived the solemn sanction of Parliament last year, could exist, in
the event ot such competing lines being grauuted, and whether, with
the branches proposed and the Caledonian Extension, the wants of
the country would not be as fully supplied as the traffic of the country
warranted. Ile submitted the application should be granted.
The room was then cleared for the decision ot the Committee.

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 occAsiens.

TAINTERP 00L, Ibt.AN CHESTER, AND NEW..
CtISTIM-UPOICI—TYIigM JUNCTION.
This Bill, together with the Lancashire and North 1 orkshire (with
which it had been amalgamated), and the York and Carlisle and
Yorithire and Glasgow Union, stood over since Monday, in order
that the time iniglit be given for an arrangement between the par-
ties, as to which of them should form a certain branch Iron Leyburn
to Hawes, which formed part of bock schemes.
The case of the Liverpool and Manchester was called on at the
meeting of tie 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 a. the remainder passed as they stood.
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