The Sun.
London, England, 1846-08-14 00:00:00

RAILWAY CommirrEES
(THIS DAY.)

HOUSE OF LORDS.
There were no Railway Committees this day in their
Lordships' House.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
Coil= FaNSr wATlvaronto.
GROUP LXXII.
The Committee to whom this Bill is referred consiets of
the lion. E. Yorke (chairman), Colonel Thomas Wood, Sir
D. Le Merchant, Mr. A. Smith, and Mr. Brown.
Counsel for the promoters, Mr. Sergeant Murphy, Mr.
Talbot, QC., Mr. Hope, Mr. Ponsonby, and Mr. Welsh.
On the petition of the scripholders and shareholders of the
Cork and Waterford, Mr. Sergeant Wrangham and Mr.
Murphy, Q.C., appeared for those parties.
Mr. Sergeant WRANGIIAM stated to the Committee that the
ground ofopposition on the part of hie clients had been removed
by a satisfactory explanation from the promoters of the
scheme. It appeared that at a meeting of the proprietors
there had been 52,000 scrip shares polled, although origin-
ally there were only 40,000 shares allotted by the Company.
This increase was accounted for by the fact of an amalgama-
tion which had taken place with the Cork and Youghal
Railway Company, who held more than the surplus number
of shares in the Cork and Waterford Railway, by virtue
of the agresnu nt made for the carrying out the said amal-
gamation. The petitioners, therefore, withdrew all opposition.
Petitions against the Bill of Cooper Penzose, Esq, Alex.
Deantry, Esq., and other proprietors of land on the line, were
called upon, but no parties appeared on their behalf. The
Committee then proceeded to the formal evidence (the Bill
having passed the House of Lords).
Mr. Tai.eoT, Q.C., then opened the case on behalf of the pro-
moters; he stated that the line would continence near St.
Patrick's-bridge, in the city of Cork, terminating at Water-
ford, and would accommodate, amongst others, the towns or
places of Cork, Cove, New Glanmire, Glanmire' Cloyne, Car-.
rigtohill, Middleton, Fermoy, Glanworth, Mitchelstown,
Rathcormac, Castle Martyr, Killeagh, Lismore,
Cappoquin, Tallow, Dungarvan, Stradballv, Kilmacthomas,
Bonmahon, Tramore, and Waterford, embracing a popula-
tion of 200,000 souls, exclusive of the age icuitural districts.
The line of railway would unite two of the largest cities in
the south of Ireland—Cork and Waterford—and would also
be the medium of direct communication with all the harbours
along the south coast, securing by its junction with the
Waterford and Kilkenny and Waterford and Limerick linee,
now in progress of construction, an important connexion
with the counties of Kilkenny, Tipperary, Limerick,
and the midland counties generally ; while, by its
junction with the Waterford, Wexford, Wicklow,
and Dublin Railway (which had received the
sanction of Parliament in the present session), and by means
of the South Wales Railway, it will afford the most certain
and rapid communication between time south of Ireland and
London, t he waist ante being 55 miles shorter than by the Dublin
and Holyhead route. The proposed line would also, by means
of the Waterford, Wexford, Wicklow, and Dublin Railway,
complete a coast communication between Dublin and Cork.
The line also embraced the valuable mineral districts of the
south of Ireland, more particularly those of Stradbally and
Bonmahon ; the importance of which might be understood
by considering the amount of annual increase in t he produce
of copper ore from the Knockmahon wines since 1836. Not-
withstanding the great impediment which want of com-
munication opposes to the full development of its resources,
in 1836 there were raised 3.588 tons, value 33,1661.,
and 1844 upwards of 10,000, value 75,0001., and
which affords employment to from 1,600 to 2,000 people.
• A direct and rapid communication will also be opened between
this district and Cove, the great naval arsenal of Ireland,
to the obvious advantage of the Government of the country.
There is no competing scheme. The support of all the large
landowners is afforded to the undertaking. The Bill has passed
the House of Lords, having received the unanimous assent
of the Committee, after a minute and lengthened investigation.
The districts traversed by the proposed line would be bene-
fited by a better and cheaper conveyance for grain, cattle,
and other articles of export, as well as for coal, timber, and
iron, and the numerous articles of import. The internal
communication for lime, sand, salt, seaweed, and other
articles, would also be materially benefited. The fishing
interest would also partake of the advantages of the line.
By means of the branch to Fermoy, communication would
be opened with the northern parts of the county of Cork, and
the great military depot of the south of Ireland,
which contained accommodation for 14 field-officers,
169 officers, and 2,516 non-commissioned officers and
privates, with stabling for upwards of 150 horses. The
length of the main line was 78 miles 8 chains. The
Fermoy branch was 18 mile::, and the branch to Tramore 1
mile 16 1s chains. '1 he Bill had passed the House of Lords,
and the principal landowners upon the line had petitioned
in favour of the scheme. Having stated these facts, he
would pro_eed to call evidence as briefly as possible.
Several witnesses were then called who gave general evi-
dence in favour of the line.

Mr. Beamish, C.E., engineer to the line, stated that the
steepest gradient was 1 in 70, that there were several
curves of 20 chains radius, a tunnel of the length of 1,470
yards proposed to be made through a favourable strata, and
the total estimate for the construction of the line was
1,500,0001., which was ample.
The CHAIRMAN then declared that the preamble of the
Bill was proved.
The several clauses were then agreed to, and the Bill was
ordered to be reported.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

(THkS DAY.)

HOUE k)F COMMONS.

The SyslocEit took the chair at Twelve o'clock.
The Lords' amen iments cm the following Bills were
agreed to:—
Brighouse Sewering, Drainage, and Lighting,
Huddersfield and Manchester Railway (Oldham Branch).
Norfolk Estuary.
Wexford Harbour Improvement.