The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-06 00:00:00

GROUP %XXVII,

This Committee met to-day at twelve o'clock, Lord Seymour in the
chair.

SHEFFIELD AND MANCHESTER (BARNS.
LEY BRANCH.)

John Parker, EF.q., Member for Sheffield and chairman of the
Manchester and Sheffield Railway, was examined, and gave his
evidence in favour of the line as the best in the field, and one of great
Importance for the purpose of promoting intercourse between the
Humber and the great trunk lines westward, as well as for the ad-
vantage of Barnsley, Goole, &C., and their intercourse with the coal
district.

Mr. Ellis, deputy chairman of the Midland Counties and a director
of the London and Birmingham, was of opinion that no inconveni-
ence would arise from the increase of carriage by the junction with
either of the lines.

The Rev. Mr. Thorpe, of Homersly vicarage, York, in giving his evi-
dence said, that the district through which the line passed, was the
largest unwrought coal bed in England, being 5 feet 6 inches, and 6
feet thick in the Silkstone bed, and 9 and 10 feet thick in the neigh-
bourhood of Barnsley. Yet that only 16,000 tons had been shipped
at Goole last year, 220,000 tons at Hull and Goole, while 7,000,000
tons had been shipped at Durham, 'in consequence of the greater
facilities of conveyance offered in that district, although the York-
shire coal was superior to the other.
Mr. Rigby, a coal viewer and mining engineer, gave further evi-
dence as to the coal field, giving it as his calculation that the coals
available in the immediate vicinity of the railway amounted to
381,959,200 tons.

The several witnesses were cross-examined on behalf of the South-
Western, the Sheffield, Barnsley and Goole, the Dartileld branch, and
the Barnsley Canal Company.
The Committee adjourned till twelve o'clock to-morrow.

GROUP IL.
LEEDS AND YORIC.
The adjourned Leeds and York Railway Committee resumed this
day at twelve o'clock. Present, Mr. Stafford O'Brien (in the chair),
Lord Norreys, Mr. Bright, Mr. Sheridan, and Mr. Dugdale.
Mr. Waud, a coal and lime owner, and also a magistrate, under-
went an examination respecting the amount of coal consumed about
Wetherby, Knaresborough, and Tadcaster, eying the preference to
Wetherby. This witness stated that the Leeds and York would
afford him great facilities for the conveyance of his coal. He also
admitted that there was a much larger portion of coal on the south
sides of the York and Selby, and of the York and North Midland
Extension lines than on the north side of either of them.
In reply to a question from Mr. STAFFORD O'Baisx, witness ad-
mitted that the two coal districts were adjoining the York and
Selby line. Witness preferred the blue line for agricultural purposes.
To Mr. Rosissos, witness stated that he could get coals easier
on the yellow line than on Mr. Hudson's line, for he would have
nearly half a mile of ascent on the York and Selby. He would also
have an advantage over the Dewsbury coal by the Leeds and York
line.

Viscount Pollington, M.P., was called, who said that he was
favourably disposed towards the Leeds and York, as was also his
Lordship's father, Lard Wexborough. His Lordship held no shares
in this, nor indeed in any other railway, and was of opinion that the
dissent of the majority of the landowners to any railway project was
entitled to due consideration.
3tr. James Andrews, a colliery surveyor for thirty-one years, was
next examined.—Had surveyed for Lord Cardigan, the Duke of
Leeds, and other large coal proprietors. This witness's evidence was
of a nature favourable to the proposed Leeds and York.
Mr. W. Hanan was then called, when some discussion ensued be-
tween the Committee and the promoters of the Bill, through their
Counsel, as to the necessity of citing witnesiess simply to reiterate
the same evidence

The CHAIRMAN stated that though the Committee were ready to
give every attention to the scheme before them, yet he thought
it a waste of time to call witness upon witness who
merely proved the same points and were subject to the
same cross-examination. The above last named witness
was eventually suffered to give evidence which was not
materially different from that of the preceding witnesses who had
spoken, as to the advantages that would accrue to the localities
about the proposed line. He admitted that it was not the best line
that could -have -been proposed, although it was decidedly better
than either of the other two competing lines. Witness further
stated, in answer to Mr. Hardy, that no line between York and Leeds
ought to omit Wetherby, that being the largest market.
Mr. John Robinson, a linen-draper, of Wetherby, next appeared
before the Committee, who stated that they were compelled to use
Abbotsford coals, which were far from good ; whereas, had they com-
munication with Leeds, they would be able to obtain superior coal.
The York and Lancaster anel North Eastern, urge l by counsel as com-
peting lines, and consequently entitled to • cross-examine the wit-
nesses

Mr. COCKBURN, Q.C., on behalf of the York and Lancaster,
suggested that though they _had not passed Ithe Committee on
Standing Orders, still that all the cases should be adjourned, in
order to give the Committee time for consideration, this being also
the more convenient method.
The Members of the Committee severally put questions to the
Learned Counsel.
Mr. HILDLtRD, Counsel for the York and Selby, sided with Mr.
Hardy, who represented the Leeds and York, in opposing Mr.
Cockburn's application.
The Learned Counsel again insisted that the Committee should
admit the company he represented, provisionally, as a competing
line going fifteen miles over the identical ground of the proposed line,
and asserted that the precedents afforded by other Committees under
similar circumstances warranted his position.
The room was then cleared, aid on our re-admittance, the Hon.
CuarameN intimated to Mr. Cockburn, that the Committee had de-
cided against him.

Mr. Christopher Todd was examined by Mr. HILDYARD, who en-
deavoured to obtain an admission from the witness favourable to
Tadcaster rather than to Wetherby as a market for cattle and grain,
but the Learned Gentleman failed in eliciting anything to make good
his point.

AA witness, a miller, who grinds 150 loads a week, was in favour of
the Leeds and 'York.

Thomas Grimstone, who employs from 130 to 150 hands in his mills,
and consumes large quantities of coal, lime, oil, and flax, was also
disposed to give the preference to the Leeds and York, but admitted
to :Mr. Hlldyard that he should be as well satisfied with the York
and Selby, if he could get his oil and flax from Hull, instead of from
Liverpool and Ireland, through Leeds.
Mr. Galbin, a paper mill owner, stated positively that he had on
several occasions been subjected to miscarriages on the North Mid-
land Railway, though he had made no representations that were
likely to reach the ears of the directors,
John Farrer, keeper of the head inn at Boston, was also disposed
to give p-eference to the more direct line.
Mr. Hubbersty, miller, grinds 150 loads a week. Admitted to Mr.
Hildyard that expense was more an object than time in communi-
cating:with Leeds. In answer to Mr. Hardy, he said he wanted a direct
communication with Leeds.

" Several other witnesses were called by Mr. HARDY, who corrobo-
rated, generally, the evidence of the preceding witnesses, but were
not subjected to any lengthened cross-examination by the:counsel
for the opposing lines, as the Learned Gentlemen said that they did
not deny that in individual cases the Leeds and York might offer
greater advantages than this.

Mr. C. 11. Cope stated that the North Midland occupies 138 hours
instead of 126 hours in six days from York to Leeds, and from Leeds
to York. In another week ofleven days, 23 hours 45 minutes were
lost, and in another week 12 hours 32 minutes were lost, or in fact that
about one-sixth of their time is lost by this Company. This witness
also stated that the amount of traffic exclusively belonging to
Wetherby is about 50 per cent, more than that belonging to Tad-
caster. Mr. Cope further stated that the observations regarding the
loss of tine were made in order to ascertain whether it was at the
Leeds Junction or not that the delay was occasioned.
The Committee then adjourned until twelve o'clock to-morrow.