The Sun.
London, England, 1846-04-08 00:00:00

GROUP IX.

This Committee met to-day at twelve o'clock, Lord Wcrs-
ley in the chair. All the members of the Committee present.

WEST 01' SCOTLAND JUNCTION.

Mr. ANDREWS then proceeded to reply on behalf of this
line of railway. He would occupy the time of the Cemmit-
tee as little as possible while he addressed himself to the ob-
jections brought forward against the Bill, and placed before
the Committee the principal grounds on which he submit-
ted the Bill for the favourable consideration of
the Committee. In doing so he was persuaded he
would be able to prove that these objections
were far from being unsuperable, and that the measure was
imperatively necessary. He would first address himself to
the objections brought forward. It had been said that the
promoters of the Bill had broken faith with the Glasgow and
Gamkirk Railway and the public of Glasgow, by the aban-
donment of the Harbour branch and the Queen-street
station. This was not so; they brought forward the scheme
in entire integrity, and it was only when the Clyde Trust en-
deavoured, by witnesses, to impress the mind of
the Committee with the idea of danger and inconvenience,
that the promoters abandoned the harbour branch and the
junction in the tunnel. He never said that the harbour
branch should not be made, or that it was valueless. No,
the promoters of the Bill gave it up because they thought
the junction over the Clyde was more important than the
harbour branch, and because it was intimated that the two
could not be made conjointly without danger to the public.
There was no breach of faith, therefore, either with the
Clyde trustees, or the Glasgow and Garnkirk Railway. Ile
denied, moreover, that the land fur the Stole cross docks bad
been purchased, because the Mineral Harbour branch was
carried last session ; for, from the evidence adduced, it ap-
peared that in maps of Glasgow, long before last year, these
docks were laid down; and it had also been shown, that the
land was purchased not for docks to accommodate the
mineral traffic, but to give increased accommodation
to the general trade of the harbour, which at
present was so ill supplied with room. He regretted
that he had had to address the Committee before the natural
and understood period on which he expected to be called on
to do so, as he could then have better shown the character, of
the opposition banded together. That the Greenock Railway
Company should oppose the Bill, would, if it were an inde-
pendent company, exhibit a shameful dereliction of duty, on
the part of the shareholders, in cutting off the great advan-
tages which the proposed connexion would confer on the
pert cf Greenock. But the true state of affairs
would have come out, had the Caledonian scheme
been gone into, as then. it would have been shown
that the real motive was, not the general benefit of Glasgow,
but the advancement of the interests of a rival Company,
that did not appear in its real position before the Com-
mittee. With respect to the alleged inconvenience to the
harbour of Glasgow, that had been shown to be but little;
bat even were it worse than represented, the real question
was, " what is good for the public?" If it had been shown
that Greenock, Ayrshire, Edinburgh, Perth, Dundee, and
Aberdeen, in fact, Scotland generally, would be greatly
benefited by the Baltic, then ought the public interest
to be consulted before that of Glasgow. The damage
done should not be allowed to neutralise and defeat a
great national measure like the present. That was the true
way in which to view the case. The letter of the Admiralty,
on which so much had been said, meant merely that the
Committee should hear all the evidence, and judge
according to the facts adduced. It meant that the
Committee should decide, and they (the Admiralty)
should then deal with the matter. If the Bill was
agreed to by the Committee, the power of veto
might still be exercised against the Bill, or it might be
stipulated by the Admiralty that the works should proceed
under their inspection, and upon such plans as they might
think best. With such a power in the hands of the Ad-
miralty all idea of danger to the harbour was at an end.
His Learned Friend Mr. Hope had talked a great deal of
the Provost of Edinburgh and Perth being anxious to have
the junction in order to get a good supply of capons and
eggs and bacon. He would only say in answer to that
attempt at wit, that the Provosts of those two cities were not
the only witnesses called to show the necessity of the junc-
tion, but commercial men had been called from all parts of
Scotland, and some parts of England, to prove the absolute
necessity fur the line; and more would have been
called had not the Committee expressed their satisfaction
on this point. But those who lived in glass-houses
should take cafe how they threw stones If the Provost
of Edinburgh liked good capons, his Learned Friend (Mr.
Hope) represented the Provost of the turtle-loving city
of Glasgow; and perhaps the secret of much of the opposition
offered would be (outlet in the fact of the pleasure arisingfrom
a trip to town in the spring time of the year for a month or
two, living at a splendid hotel, and faring sumptuously every
day. That might have a great 'deal to do with the proceed-
ings before the Committee. The care of traffic had been
so satisfactorily made out to the Committee, that they
stopped the further examination of witnesses. The
Learned Gentleman then referred to the crossing
over the streets, commenting on the evidence, and main-
taining that no junction through Glasgow could be made
with less injury to a town than the present. So little injury
would be done that, notwithstanding the strong banded op-
position against the Bill, not a single inhabitant of Glasgow
bad been called to prove any damage to property, or to
speak against the way in which they were to be affected by
the line. Last year it was complained of that the bridge was
too far down, and the arches were objected to; so to meet the
objections then urged, it had now been proposed that the
viaduct should be brought close to the present bridge, and
the arches and piers be made the same, so as to offer as little
obstruction as possible to the currrent of the stream. The
space to be occupied by the viaduct would not be 108th part
of the harbour, while the Stob-cross docks, it had been
shown, would furnish every necessary accommodation that_
might be required for the crowded shipping of the river.
But even with regard to the space to be occupied, it had been
shown, that from the height of the arches, the
smaller vessels, and the steam-boats would still
be able to use the space. Regarding the viaduct and the
opposition of the Bridge Trust, he would call the attention of
toe Committee to the resolution of the Bridge Trust since
last year, to the effect that they would abandon their opposi-
tion if the promoters of the line would not pass over the top
of the existing bridge. This had been agreed to, and though,
in compliance with the desire of Lord Ellenborough,
the piers of the two bridges were proposed to
touch each other, the two bri.lges were essentially
independent, and would not interfere at all with each
other. Nor had it been shown that danger would arise from
the foundation of the bridge. The present bridge had been
built several years, and though the river had been deepened
two or three feet below the brick-work of the foundation,
yet the bridge was as firm as ever. The water was now
running daily against the top of the piles yet no sand es-
caped, and the bridge appeared to be as firm as any in the
kingdom In respect to the foundation Mr. Walker
was called, and he only gave hearsay evidence, which had
been derived from Mr. Atherton. He had not examined
the foundations himself. Against the opinion •of Mr.
Walker he would place that of Mr. Miller, who had planned
nearly all the great railway works in Scotland, and had
came i a great number of them into successful operation.
He had staked his reputation on constructing that bridge,
and he hal no doubt satisfied himself that it could be erected
without difficulty. The opinion of Mr. Miller was fortified
by Mr. Lyon, the foreman of Mr. Gibb, the builder of the
present. bridge, and Mr. Gibb, the son of the con-
tractor, both of whom affirmed that no foundation
could be better for a bridge—that it was good
hard sand. These were two witnesses of the greatest expe-
rience, against whom they had the statement of Mr.
Atherton, the resident engineer, who was looked up fur
at. the last hour to give evidence against the Bill. The two
former, he submitted, in taking their evidence into account,
had much greater opportunities of knowing the nature of the
foundation than the latter, and were more entitled to loth'.
once the minds of the Committee. Clearly, then, the balance
of evidence on the point of foundation was in favour of his cli-
ents. But to put an end to all doubt, he was willing
that a clause should be inserted in the Bill to the effect that
whatever damage should be done should be made good, or
that the bridge should be rebuilt if necessity should be seen
for it from any injury done to the present bridge. The
Learned Gentleman then addressed himself to the proposal
made for joining the two lines passing round the c.ty. Con-
tending that it would be utterly useless as' a passengers line,
from going over so many mineral lines, and could not ha
seriously entertained as a measure to till up the gap between
the north and south of Glasgow. The Learned Gentleman
having recapitulated the leading points of his case, concluded
by calling on the Committee to admit the preamble of the
Bill as proved. • e
The room was then cleared. In a few minutes tile par-
ties were called in, when
The Citeirotax said the Committee had come to the de-
cision that the preamble of the Bill was not proved.
The Committee then adjourned till after the Easter
holidays.

GROUP XIV.
SOUTII-EASTEEN.
(Continued from our Afternoon Edition.)
Mr. CALVERT, on the part of Mr. Angerstein and Mr. Syd-
ney Smith, of Lewisham, cross-examined Mr. Stephenson
with a view of showing that the property of those gentlemen
would be most materially injured by the proposed line.
Mr. lite.;G elicited that a fresh station would have to be
erected in Maidstone (although there is one now in exist-
ence there) in consequence of the difference of the levels of
' the proposed and the existing lines.
A solicitor in the Lodzi of the c3urt put some questions for
Mr. Vaward Lovett, of . ttiogbourne.
Mr. ALEXANDER having re-examined, stated that he had
now concluded on the landowners cases, and 2b; it was im•
possible to conclude the re-examination on the whole case
that day, perhaps the Committee would see the propriety of
adjournment.
The CHAIRMAN assented, and tue k,ommittee rose for
the Easter recess.

GROUP XIX.
BILIMGMVATEZZ AND raiwzazzin

WAY AND PLEIR.
The consideration of this case was mimed by Mr. Greene,
an engineer, and Mr. Thompson, also an engineer, who stated
they were acquainted with the country laying respec-
tively between Bridgewater, Taunton, and Minehead con-
sidered that thedescription and undulating state of the land

situated between the latter places offered greater facilities for
the construction of a railway than the proposed line now under
consideration. The evidence of these witnesses related en-
' tirely to the engineering difficulties to be anticipated in the
construction of the proposed railway and pier, and to the in-
cornprebelisivecess of the estimate, considered that a more
advantageous line might have been selected between Bridge-
water and Minehead, which would not require such an out-
lay of capital, affording equal accommodation to the public,
and not depreciating to such an extent the value of property.
Mr. M'Neal, an assistant to the last witness, spoke to the
gradients, &c., he took on this line, disagreeing in many of
those taken by the engine:rs promoting this scheme. In his
crcms-examination by Mr. Cockburn his testimony was some-
what shaken.

The Committee on its rising adjourned until Tuesday, the
27th inst., when the consideration of this case will be resumed.

Sub-Committee, No. 6.

WAILVVICIESHIHE AND LONW)N (HAMP-
TON AND BANBURY LINE).
(Continued from our Afternoon Edition.)

An allegation of omission with reference to property in
the parish of Bsnbury, marked 33 and 34, was not sustained.
It was next alleged that five houses situated in the parish
of St. Nicholas, Warwick, were not numbered on the plans
deposited with the clerk of the peace for Warwick and those
in the Private-bill Office.

Evidence having been heard, the Committee found that
the allegation was sustained.
The next allegation was to the same effect, with reference
to the property marked 8, in Leamington Priors, which
consisted of a house, outbuildings, and a yard.
It was stated on behalf of the promoters that it was im-
possible to mark every point accurately, and that the mark
28 on the plan was sufficiently descriptive of the property
in question.
The CHAIRMAN said that the Committee must report that
the standing orders in this case had not been complied with,
but would accompany the satne with the explanation given
on behalf of the promoters, which the Committee considered
quite satisfactory.
Several other allegations to the same effect, and under
similar circumstances, were admitted.
It was next alleged that there were discrepancies between
the:respective plans, which allegation was abandoned, and
several others of a similar character were entered into, but
not sustained. _ _

The case for the petition having closed, the Committee
found that the standing orders had not been complied with.

CALEDONIAN EXTENSION.

This Bill, which was re-committed, was again considered.
Mr. BURKE appeared in support of a petition from certain
landowners, &c., along the line complaining of non-compli-
ance with the standing orders. He said that the promoters
of the Bill had laid down two alternative lines. Now, accord-
ing to the 16th clause of their Act, they should have given
due notice to the landowners, &c., on the line of the branch
from Ayr t 9 Muirkirk, and that the necessary notices had
not been served, giving an accurate description of the line.
Mr. GRAHAM, who appeared on behalf of the promoters,
offered a few observations in reply to the effect that the line
in question was not an alternative line, but a branch, and
produced evidence to show that such was the case.
The portion of the line alluded to was from Cumloch to
Muirkirk.

The CHAIRMAN ordered the room to be cleared, and, on
our re-admission, stated that the Committee were of opinion
that the allegation was not sustained.
It was next alleged that there was an error on the datum
line, which was sustained.
The Committee adjourned shortly before five o'clock to
the 21st instant.

EASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAY

MEETING.-(THIS DAY.)

A special general meeting of the Eastern Counties
Company was held to-day at the Station in Shoreditch,
at one o'clock—G. Hudson, Esq., M.P., in the chair—for
the purpose of obtaining the sanction of the sharehol-
ders to the following Bills now before Parliament:—
A Bill to repeal so much of the Cambridge Improve-
ment Acts as, might authorise the levying of any tolls
on railway carriages.
A Bill to enable the Eastern Counties Railway Com-
pany to make a railway from Tottenham to Barnet.
A Bill to enable the Eastern Counties Railway Com-
pany to make a railway from Hertford to Huntingdon,
with a branch to Bedlord.

A Bill to enable the Eastern Counties Railway Com-
pany to make a railway from Tottenham to Farringdon-
street.

A Bill to enable the Eastern Counties Railway Com-
pany to make a railway from the Eastern Counties Rail-
way at Cambridge to Lincoln, with branches.

A Bill to enable the Eastern Counties Railway Com-
pany to make a railway from Lincoln to the York and
North Midland Railway, at South Milford, in the county
of York.

A Bill to enable the Eastern Counties Railway Com-
pany to enlarge their stations in London and at Strat-
ford, and for other purposes.
A Bill to enable the Eastern Counties Railway Com-
pany to make a railway from Epping to a point of junc-
tion with the Eastern Counties Railway, at or near the
Ilford station thereon.

A Bill to enable the Eastern Counties Railway Com-
pany to make a railway from a point of junction with
the Brandon and Peterborough Extension of the Eastern
Counties Railway, in the hamlet of March, in the parish
of Doddington, in the Isle of Ely, and county of Cam-
bridge, to the city of Lincoln.
All the Bills were unanimously approved. The only
observations that occurred, were made by the Chairman,
to the eff ct that the connexion with the York and North
Midland line would be likely to carry out the anticipa-
tions which he had held out at the last meeting, of in-
creased profit. The Lincoln and March line was a loop
line originally announced by himself at Derby, and was
übsequently taken up by the London and York Com-
pany.

'lle CHAIRMAN sail that he was happy to congratu-
late the meeting on the unanimity which prevailed, be-
cause he believed it was a good augury of future success.
There was another source of congratulation in the in-
creased traffic fur this week—it had been 7,4451. 4s. 7d. ;
they had carried 2,000 head of cattle and 4,200 sheep.
There were now forty-eight trains per day in
and out of the station at Shoreditch ; and though
all might not yet be done which it was desirable, yet
still much had been effected, and he did not doubt but
that the traffic would prove as much as 10,0001. in
August. The shares were still far under their ultimate
value, but they hrd passed well through the late panic,
and he had no doubt but that in the course of time they
would be fairly appreciated. There had been a severe
check, it was true, but there was another similar check
in 1846, but which was then partially occasioned by the
disarrangement of the American trade. In addition
there was a great jealousy in Parliament of all railway
schemes, but it was underiable that the country did
require the facility for traffic, and under the circum-
stances none were such eligible parties for providing it
as the old companies who were altaady estab-
lished, and who, if assistance were required, no
parties would be so able to go to the money-lender
with a good chance of success. Such being the case, he
felt assured of ultimate and complete prosperity, and he
might appeal to the proprietary as to whether the pro-
perty of the Eastern Counties Railway was not in a far
intter position than it was twelve: months since. This
being his feeling, he was gratified in being
able to say that the public were impressed
with the fact that in the support of competing
lines they would have to pay for too capitals instead of
one, and thus it was very probable that the wildness of
speculation would cure itself. The object of railway
policy was s:mple in the extreme : to work a line as
cheaply as was consistent with true economy, to
secure as much accommodation as possible for the public,
and to obtain as large dividends as was consistent with
fairness. The electric telegraph had already been com-
pleted. Pere the Honourable Gentleman read a com-
munication just received from the Chesterford station,
which announced the arrival of the train at that place at
twenty minutes past one o'clock, the time being
then about twenty minte.ei to two o'clock.] This
would, no doubt, be of great advantage in pro
viding additional security for the public in
the event of any derangem,nt of the trains.
With respect to the opposition of competing lines now
before Parliament, be had been astonished to hear an in-
fluential Member the other day state that it matterest
not what the differential cost of a line might be, whether
500,000/. or 800,0001., for it was a well known fact, that
no line with the exception of the Stockton
and Darlington line had been formed without
the Company going into the money market for a
loan, and as the old companies were the safest and the
best customers. the probability was that the new com-
panies would have to borrow under very disadvantage-
ous circumstances. This was a point the more im-
portant, inasmuch us Parliament was just now very in-
tent tit on the abstraction of money from gt neral com-
mercial enterprise to the formation of railways. He
had endeavoured to rectify the evil which might arise to
original shareholders in new companies. As the matter
stands at present a scripholder who had purchased from
the original allottees might, in the event of the concern
turning out a bad one, put his scrip into the fire, and
leave the individual who had signed the, contract deed
to pay whatever loss might be incurred. The remedy
he had himself proposed was to compel the scripholder to
sign within a definite period, and thus take upon himself
the reTonsibility whi ;h was otherwise sustained by a
party by whom it ought not to be borne. In conclusion,
he trusted that the Directors would be able to give a
better dividend each succeeding meeting for some
time to come, and that they would be able
to say that the traffic amounted to 10,0001.
in August. He was happy to say that the utmost
unanimity prevailed among the directors.
The Hun. Gentleman was continually cheered through-
out his address, and after a few inquiries from a share-
holder, respecting Mr. Atwood's Harwich line, to which
the Ohairman replied that the Eastern Counties Com-
pany were likely to receive from, and were ready to give,
every facility to that company, thanks were voted to him
and the meeting separated.

PRIVY COUNCIL.-(THIS DAY.)
The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council met to-day
in the Council Chamber, Whitehall. 'rbe Lords in esent
were, the Lord-President (the Duke of Buccleuch), the
Vice Chancellor Wigratn, filo Judge of the Admiralty Ceurt,
the Chancellor of the Duchy of Cornwall, Sir Alexander
Johnstone, Sir H. East, and Sir Edward Ryan.

IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION OF EDWEE BYRAMGEE,
OF BOMBAY, AND OTHERS.-THE PARSER MURDER. CASE.
The arguments in this ca-le, which were commenced
on Saturday, were resumed and concluded to-day. The case
came before their Lordships upon the petition of Eduljee
Byramgee, of Bombay, now a prisoner at Singapore, on
bthalf of h►mself' and eight other Parsee natives of Bombay,
for leave to appeal against the judgment of the Supreme
Court of Judicature at Bombay, sentencing them to trans-
portation to Singapore, for the wilful murder of a Parsee
named Muncherjee Hormusjee.
The facts of the case may be thus stated. In the town of
Bombay the population was divided into political parties,
and a person of the name of Muncherjee was a workman in
the office of a newspaper, published in the Parsee language,
called the Chabook. It appeared he was a person of great
bodily strength and violent habits, having been several times
imprisoned on charges for assault. On the 21st of April,
1944, a person named Burjorjee, with whom Muncherjee had
frequently fought, accompanied by a body of his friends,
came into the street in which the newspaper-office WA&