The Sun.
London, England, 1846-03-26 00:00:00

GLASGOW AND WEST or SCOTLAND

DmST Z.T.

The Committee sat at twelve o'clock, in the Common
Pleas. Members present—Mr. V. Smith (chairman), Mr.
Hamilton, hl r. Langston, Mr. D'Eyncourt, and the Hon. W.
Fitzmaurice.

GL A SG® VT, naLIVEILUNCCE, AND
aminzossaar.

The consideration of this Bill was resumed.
Mr. John Williamson, examined by Mr. Sergeant BEL-
LASIS—Witness lived at Edinburgh, and had been employed
as mining engineer for thirty-six years. He had been exten-
sively engaged in making mining surveys, and was well
acquainted with this district. The whole course of the line
was onemineral field of coal and iron, with the exception of
two interruptions, where trap rock intervened. • Coal, lime,
and iron stone appeared in regular rotation, as the line pro-
ceeded westward. He had no doubt that iron works would
be built, if the proposed line were once opened. Some smelt-
ing furnaces were then in process of construction at Eglinton,
and no doubt lime works and coal-pits would be soon in
existence. A ready market would be found for the coal in
the valley of the Lavern, as the coal-seams in the neighbour-
hood of Barrhead were nearly exhausted.
Cross-examined by Sir T. Piimeirs—There were a few
coals left at Hurlet, but Mr. Coates's pit was at present
drowned, in consequence of the late fire in it, and he ques-
tioned if it would be ever worked again. The Barrhead dis-
trict was at present supplied from the Busby pits. Glasgow
was built upon a continued coal field, but all was required to
meet the demand. The iron stone leased on the proposed
line by Mr. Dixon, and others, were then being proved,
and it was stated to be 45 per cent. of iron. The witness
proved certain coal sections, the seams of which varied in
depth from twenty inches to six feet.
Colonel Mair, of Coldwell, examined by Mr. HILDYARD—
The acreage of his estate was about 1,000 acres. Lugton
Bridge was in the centre of his estate, and the railway
would pass through five or six miles of his property. He
was a director and vice-chairman, and he became so from a
conviction that it would confer great benefits upon the district.
It bad been recently discovered that valuable minerals lay
below the surface near Lugton Bridge. He or his agents had ap-
plications from Mr. Baird, of Gartsherrie ; Mr. Dixon, of
Govan ; Messrs. Cunningham and Murray, and the Portland
Company, to leave the minerals on the district. Other pro-
prietors had also similar offers to himself. He had seen
specimens of the ore, which yielded from 40 to GO per cent.

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140

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31
18
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136
1 dis.

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21,i,

12%
3 dis

GROUP XIV.
NORTH KENT.

Of iron.
Mr. John Mann, nephew to Mr. Dixon, of Govan, and ma-
nager of his iron works, said that his uncle had leased 700
acres on the Lugton Water for the sake of its minerals. They
had tested the quality of the ore, and found it of an excellent
quality. They found near the surface about three feet of
workable ironstone. He considered that this railway was
required to develop the mineral rssources of the county.
Mr. Chapman, partner in the Portland Company, knew
that the leases had; been taken of some grounds on the Lug-
ton Water.
Mr. W. M'Janett spoke to the great benefit to the town
and neighbourhood of Irvine from the construction of the
proposed hue. The Glasgow and Ayr was, as respected
Irvine, most disadvantageous.
Mr. Moffat, engineer, and manager of the Androssan rail-
way and harbour, proved that the harbour was an excellent
one, inasmuch as it could accommodate six steam-vessels
of the first class with quayage, and forty vessels of from
500 to 1,000 tons, in a wet dock, having twenty feet of water.
If the proposed line were constructed it would add greatly
to the traffic of the harbour. The witness also corroborated
the evidence of previous witnesses, as to the mineral qualities
of the district.

The Committee on thin group of railways met at twelve
o'clock.
Mr. BIEIsEWETHIR, after briefly addressing the- Com-
mittee, proceeded to adduce evidence in support of a petition
presented against the proposed line by Messrs. Hall, iron-
founders and machinists in Dartford.
Mr. Loftus stated that he is a surveyor, and has surveyed
the property and premises of Messrs. Hall. The proposed
railway would run quite through Messrs. Hall's premises.
Mr. James Snowden stated that he is draughtsman to
Messrs. Hall, at Dartforl Has prepared a plan and drawing
of the premises. The North Kent line would pass through
the found!), attached to them. The moulding-room would
also be injured. Cannot say whether, in the event of the
moulding-house being destroyed, the Messrs. Hall would be
enabled to rebuild it without pulling down some other part
of their premises.
A long discussion here ensued concerning the correctness
of the datum line, as laid down on the plan of Messrs. Hall's
foundry, the promoters maintaining that the line would only
interfere with a few feet of the outer portion of the foundry,
and the counsel for the petitioners maintaining that the line
would encroach so far as to materially interfere with the ope-
rations of the foundry.
TheCittiastax at length intimated that the question would
bo set at rest by a re-examination of Mr. Vignoles.
Mr. Vignoles stated that the line, as it was to be laid
down, would make very trifling encroachment, and the p: e-
seut road to the foundry would •be very little diverted from
its present position. dr
Mr. Cornelius Day, a draughtsman employed by Messrs.
Hall, stated that he had been employed 22 years in the fac-
tory. The new foundry was built in 1825. The works
have been continually increasing since he has been there.
If one part of the building were removed, the whole of the
building would be useless. Messrs. Hall employ from 150
to 200 men. If one of these buildings was removed, there is
no other place where it could be rebuilt, so as to be of any use.
The proposed viaduct along the lane would interfere with the
free access to the foundry. The lane is already too narrow.
By Mr. Tax.ncer—Cannot say whether the lane belongs to
Messrs. Hall. Believes that it is a public road. The build-
ing of the viaduct would be a considerable inconvenience,
but would not have such an effect as to cause the workmen
to be turned out of employ.
Mr. Hawter stated that he was an iron-founder, and has
been in the business forty years. Had known Messrs. Hall's
premises forty-five years. They have gone on increasing
for that period. The line as it is proposed would interfere
very materially with the carrying on the works.
By Mr. TALBOT—Does not know the course of the in-
tended line, but cutting away part of the foundry would in-
terfere with the business. The business could be carried on
under a viaduct, but it would be a great interference.
Mr. Callow also proved the injury that the line would be
to the foundry. The factory is beneficial to Dartford, as it
employs a great number of hands. The feeling of the in-
habitants of Dartford is against the proposed line.
By Mr. Tar sor—Hasbeen employed for theSouth-Eastern
Railway. Did net give any evidence in favour of the pre-
sent line last year. Gave it as his opinion that a railway
was necessary in Dartford, but did not give any preference to
any particular line.
Mr. Locke, an engineer, stated that he had made viaducts
through foundries in cases similar to the present one, and in
each case the premises had not only sustained no damage, but
had been improved.
By Mr. MEREWETHER—BeIieved that the space given
under the arches of the viaduct will counterbalance any in-
convenience that might be caused.
By Mr. TALBOT—It is the " most unmitigated moonshine
that was ever uttered " to say that the viaduct would stop
the operations of the foundry.
Mr. Suravvie,wbo appeared in support ofa petition presented
against the proposed line by Mr. Stevens, of Peckham,
who possessed 290 acres of land, all of which would be af-
fected by the line, then briefly addressed the Committee, and
characterised the estimates for the line as insufficient.
Mr. Wreakin, a surveyor, produced a plan of Mr. Stevens's
property. The formation of the railway would materially in-
terfere with this property, which is good building land.
Mr. Stone, the district surveyor of Camberw
ansell,b proved
that there had been 500 houses built within the p
the last year.
of t h
The Rev. Mr. Dailey, the incumbent of St. Mary Mag-
dalen, at Camberwell, proved that the embankment
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darken Peckham
the wouldwin
dninterfere
church. It would also interfere with the road to the church.
By Mr. Tar.sot —The site of the railway is not between
the road and the church.
Re-examined by Mr. SELWYN—The line of deviation
would be within two or three yards of the churchyard. The
height of the embankment would be 40 feet.
Mr. Driver, a surveyor, stated that the railway would
totally ruin the property in the neighbourhood of Hanover-
park, near which he lives.