The Sun.
London, England, 1846-06-12 00:00:00

GROUP I.

LONDON AND YOWL,
The Committee met again this clay at a quarter past v.r o'clock,
the Earl of Lovelace in the chair.

Mr. Sergeant ItANGHAM appOd to their Lordships cr leave .to
proceed 'with the Wakefield -44.: Leeds }4tension. He hoped the
Committee would not decide against his application, for the effect
would be to have the Bill referred to a Committee, which would re-
quire all the evidence of the London and York line to be gone over
again. The inquiry before the present Committee would not occupy
more than a third of the time it would before any other tribunal.
Mr. Alexander and Mr. Hope, on the part of the landowners, could
not promise their Lordships that the case would only take up so
small a portion of time as was promised by their Learned Friend.
They would feel themselves hound to oppose the line, and, according
to the evidence brought forward by the promoters would depend the
length of their cross-examination.

The Noble CHAIRMAN—He should make an application to the HOMO
of Lords this evening, which he hoped would relieve them from further
sitting.

Lord VIVIAN—We are in the hands of the House, and cannot
entertain anything in this group without the sanction of their Lord-
ships.

The Committee then inquired the length of the various lines yet
to be heard, for the purpose of making a report to the House of the
facts of the various cases.

Their Lordships then adjourned at a quarter past live.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
GUOUP XIII.
The Committee met to-day at one o'clock, Sir William Clay in
the chair.

AYRSHIRE AND GALLOWAY.

The evidence on behalf of this scheme was resumed.

Mr. iii;Kniiiitwas recalled, and explained that he made a mistake
in giving the quantity of land for the line yetterday. It should have
been 540 imperial acres. The cost of the whole, however, would
remain as he had given it then.

Captain Moorsoin, civil engineer, was examined at considerable
length on the various points of a report he had furnished to the
Admiralty relating to the construction of a harbour at Balcary Bay.
Firs evidence, which in substance was the same as the report, was
to the effect that the bay afforded a good position for a harbour, and
that the works necessary to make it efficient in this respect would
not be very great. It was a good point for a railway terminus, and
it would be the interest of the company to construct such works as
he recommended.

Mr. M`Callum, the engineer, who was examined yesterday, was
re-called and cross-examined at great length, with the object of
showing that his estimates were much lower than the character
of the works and the management of the line warranted.
At this stage of the proceedings, Lord Selkirk, who is a witness
for the opposition, was called and examined, it being intimated that
he could not attend to-morrow. His evidence was to the effect that
he thought the manner the line intersected Colonel Maxwell's pro-
perty decidedly objectionable, and that from his knowledge of the
country, he did not think the scheme would be very profitable to the
shareholders.
The Committee then adjourned till to-morrow at 12 o'clock.

GROUP XVII.

MANCHESTER. AND SOUTHAMPTON AND
SOUTH-WESTr.RN (ROMSEY AND RED-

BRIDGE BRANCH).
The Committee met this morning at die usual hour; the Hos. E.
Yorke in the chair.

MANCHESTER AND SOUTHAMPTON.
Mr. JAMES handed in the corrected statement, on which the pro-
moters rest their case. An error—merely a numerical one—had
occurred, which made the population of the districts which the line
was proposed to traverse 200,000 more than it actually was. It was
set down at 1,859,000, whereas it should be 1,659,000. •
Mr. Matthews, a farmer, at Stockhead, near Cirencester, was re-
called and examined by the Chairman and Committee with respect
to the saving which the line would effect to him. He said he farmed
800 acre?, but that he had only made a calculation on 640. The
cost of the wear and tear of carrying his goods at present to the
nearest market town in the cuurze of a year was about 781.; but he
calculated if the railway was made that he should save two-thirds, er
53/., besides loss of time.

Sir Willoughby Gordon, Bait, Quartermaster General, examined
by Mr. JAMES—It is of importance to have direct communication
between the inland districts and the various parts of the kingdom.
Railways afford great facilities to the public service, and the more
direct and the less break of gauge In them the better. It would be
ofogurteha. t
sionyt
horatina npct
oent, ea.]
d: a
tvheedmi reacntucommunicatioing ni
tbetweenm nPoortr
The movement of troops was invariably accompanied by incum-
hrances, such as women—CA laugh)—baggage, ammunition, &c. Large
bodies of troops were stationed at Birmingham, Coventry, Weedon,
Chester, and Preston. Assuming a line to be made like the Man-
chester and Southampton, without break of gauge, it would be used for
the transmission of troops from the south to the north, and to Ireland,
and vice versa, It would also facilitate the passage of troops from the
north to the Channel Islands.
By the Committee—lt would be of great importance to Gosport,
Winchester, and other towns to have such a communication with the
north.

By the CHAIRMAN—The Manchester and Southampton is an ex-
ceedingly important national work.
By Mr. AUSTIN—As at present advised should send troops for Ire-
land by Liverpool. Portsmouth must always be considerad a more
important town on account of the garrison. Was aware that there
was a line to Basingstoke, and from Basingstoke to Reading ; but he
would, with all submission, leave it to the consideration of the Com-
mittee, whether a line from Oxford to Rugby, and thus establishing
a new connexion between the south and the north, would be of more
advantage than the proposed line. A difference of eighteen miles
and break of gauge would be disadvantageous; but the saving of
expense was a great object, so also was the saving of time, and an
easy mode of conveyance. Liverpool was more favourable for the
embarkation to Ireland than the ports in the south.
Mr. J. A. Gardener, Lord of the Manor of Cheltenham, examined
by Mr. JAMES—A meeting was held in that town:in August last, at
which resolutions were passed in favour of the Manchester and
Southampton Railway, and petitions were agreed to in
accordance with those resolutions which were signed by
668 electors and upwards of 1,000 of other respctable
inhabitants. Considered that the feelings of the inhabitants had not
altered since that meeting, and that if the line were made, the traffic
between Southampton and the Isie of Wight would be greatly in-
creased. The present mode of communication was very defective.
By Mr. BROCKLEHURST, a member of the Committee—Had 100
shares, 50 of which he now held. A great number of shares were
allotted to Cheltenham, a great portion of which, he believed, were
now held by those to whom they were allotted, thus evincing their
interest in the line.
Mr. GURNEY said he should call one of the Directors of the Com-
pany as soon as he came into the room, who was engaged in the
allotments, and who would state the numbers allotted to each of the
towns which the line would intersect.
Mr. BROCBLEHURST said he did not ask the question with any view
to show that there was any unfairness in the allotments of the shares,
but simply in order to ascertain, with as much accuracy as possible,
if many of the shares allotted were held by the parties
Mr. GURNEY said the promoters would adduce evidence to show
the numbers allotted to each of the towns and the numbers now
held.

Mr. CHURCHILL, proprietor of the Plough Inn, Cheltenham, said,
great numbers of persons went from Cheltenham to Southampton.
If the line were made, the journey to the Isle of Wight and back
again might be made in a day.

Mr. Dfiou, one of the magistrates of Southampton, and formerly
Mayor, spoke to the desire in the town for direct communication
with the works, and the eligibility of the terminus of the Manchester
and Southampton. _

By Sir T. Puttuys—Had not had opportunities of judging whether
the line to the north, via Basingstoke, would be advantageous or not;
but that communication which was direct with the manufacturing
districts of the north would be preferred.
By Mr. GuaraT—Understood that the Pier Commissioners had
petitioned in favour of the line, and that five out of the six parishes of
Southampton had also done so, no opinion having been given by the
sixth.

Mr. Reeves, curate of a parish near Marlborough, and who, with his
father, farmed a quantity of land, said the soil in that vicinty required
a quantity of salt, that a great deal more would be used if the pro-
posed railway were made. The salt came from Droitwich.

Mr. Lee, a salt manufacturer at Droitwich, sent a large quantity
of salt to the south. In 1845, he sent 2,764 tons to tha south, and
6,200 to Liverpool, also for the south. The 2,764 tons were sent to
Gloucester, and thence by boats to Southampton, Portsmouth, and
other parts.
Mr. Bin, manager of the Clay-cross Colleries, Chesterfield, said,
that if the line were made he anticipated that the coals raised in

that colliery would be in greatdemand in the south. By the line
they could supply coals to Cirencester at 14s. 2d. per ton ; Crick-
lade, 14s. 6d.; Swindon, 155.; Marlborough, 15s. 10d. ; Andover,
17s. ; Romsey, 16s. 6d.; and Southampton, 19s. ; in fact, the line
would reduce the price of coals all along the line. He calculated
the cost of transit at three farthings per ton per mile.
Mr. Hoskings, the mayor of Portsmouth, considered that the line
would be of considerable advantage to that town. A meeting of the
council was held ix May last, at which a resolution was passed una-
nimously in favour of the line, and a petition, to which the seal of
the corporation was affixed, presented to Parliament in accordance
with the views of the council. The town was generally in favour of it.
The Committee then adjourned until twelve to-morrow.

GROUP XVIII.
EXETER (ORNAT WESTERN).

The Committee met at the usual hour, Mr. B. Denison, chairman.
The Earl of Hchester was examined this morning on the subject
of the injury occasioned to the property of Earl Digby and ~Sir W.
Oglander, by the construction of the Exeter and Yeovil line.
Lord Portman gave similar evidence ; ho also considered that the
line between Salisbury and Basingstoke was not called for, and if
constructed would be injurious to the interests of the public. He did
not think that snore of the laud of the country should be taken for
railroad purposes than was absolutely necessary.
Mr. Brunel, C.E., was then examined. The line had been laid
out with a view of affording the greatest local accommodation.
There would be four tunnels upon the line. The quantity of road
proposed to be constructed, and the expense of the same, would be—
Length Estimate
Miles Chains
The main line •••••.• • • • • • • • £873,425
Sidmouth Branch 97,231
Bridport ditto ••••••• • • • ' • • • 13 68 ••••• • • • • •
••• • • 269,704
Chard ditto • . ...... ....... 3 17 •
...... •••• .. .. 25,536

70 15 £1,265,896
The curves and gradients were about equal to those of the competing
ive. The line proposed by the Great Western Company from Yeovil
to London, via Reading, would accommodate 220,000 inhabitants; the
line from Yeovil to London, ria Salisbury, would accommodate
120,000 only.

Mr. Sergeant KINGLAKE then examined Mr. Brunel with reference
to the injury done to Mr. Frampton's property, at the conclusion of
which the Committee adjourned till twelve to-morrow.

CROUP XXIV.
THETFORD.

The Committee met at twelve o'clock, Mr. Granville Vernon in
the chair, when the formal proofs of the Thetford Branch were
put in.
Mr. Isaacs, a land valuer, stated that the estimate for the
land from Bury to Ely was 5,5321., and to the Ely station
18,802/. ; the total being 24,3411. ; the value of the building property
was not more than 2,0001.
The engineering evidence of the Thetford branch having been
given, and which was to they effect, that passing through a flat
country, the earthworks will be light, and the gradients nearly equi-
valent to a level.
Mr. CUERDON opposed all the Bills on behalf of Mr. Lee, whose
property is likely to be affected by them all.
A long dispute then ensued, as to the course of proceeding, espe-
cially as to the point whether the Ipsvrich and Bury line, and the
Bury
and Ely line having, to a certain extent become identical,
ther that circumstance put Mr. Guerdon out of court as to the objee-
tion to passing through 31r, Lee's property, that gentleman having