The Sun.
London, England, 1846-06-08 00:00:00

RAILWAY COMMITTEES

(SATURDAY.)

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
GIIOLT XVII.

MANCHESTER AND SOUTHAMPTON AND
ROMSEY AND REDBRIDGE BRANCH
(SOUTH-WESTERN).
The Committee met this morning shortly after eleven
o'clock, the Hon. E. Yorke in the chair.

Mr. Gibbs, a wine-merchant and a proprietor of bonded
warehouses at Manchester, was then called and examined by
Mr. ALExANDER—He considered that a direct communica-
tion between Manchester and Southampton was very much
wanted, and that nearly all the brandy and wine imported at
London, and a great portion of that imported at Liverpool,
would be imported at Southampton if the line were made.
The charges made at London and Liverpool on the impor-
tationtese of wines and spirits was much greater than those
at Southampton. The saving, in comparison with the
dL
and
Lon-
don charges, would be 2s. per pipe, ls. 3d. per hogsohse.
Is. per cask ; and with Liverpool, 3s. 4d. per pipe, hogshead,
er
kogshead, and Is. Bd. per cask. wdihsitcrhiotasrewonupord
Southamptonyogoos now
't of goods imported for the use of the manufacturing
cfiertainly a itnhloyi
rgowtaoy Southampton. th am
Manchesterpton. Ab
y largew ayqof utt
London, but at a very large expense, and besides being
subject to damage in their conveyance from one line to an-
other. The goods therefore imported at Southampton would
certainly go by the proposed line. Tram-ways would be
laid along the quay at Southampton to accommodate the un-
loading of vessels. In the event of a supply of cotton
being stopped in the event of a War with America, no
doubt quantities would be imported from Egypt, where
it was manufactured. This cotton would be conveyed by way
of Southampton to the districts of the north. He supported
this line because it would be of importance to both Man-
chester and Southampton.
Cross-examined—The length of the line was about 213
miles. By the present means of conveyance by London
goods from Manchester were sent four or five days before a
vessel sailed from Southampton in order to meet it in time.
A saving of two or three hours between Manchester and
Southampton would not be of practical importance, but a
break of gauge would be a great inconvenience.
By Mr. SMITH—The West India produce destined for
Manchester was imported at Liverpool. If Southampton
was the natural port for the Mediterranean Liverpool was
now the natural port for the West Indies. Two hours longer
occupied in the transit between Southampton and Manchester
would not depreciate the value of goods ; but the difference
of two hours would in some transactions be of great import-
ance to the merchant.

By Mr. ALEXANDER—Three hours would be of great im-
portance in complying with a foreign order. An uniform gauge
between Manchester and Southampton was of great import-
ance.

Mr. Avington, a partner in the firm of Ridgway and Co.
at Henley, in Staffordshire, was examined—The firm to
which he belonged was one of the oldest at Henley and em-
ployed 480 persons. He carrried on very little trade with
the counties of Hants, Wilts, and Dorset, which he attributed
to the want of a dire-ct communication with the counties. In
sending goods there, they were subjected to great inconve-
niences by the frequent change of carriage. Parties in that
part of the country were consequently driven to purchase
their earthenware at the wholesale houses in London at an
increased cost. In exporting earthenware to foreign coun-
tries a communication with Southampton would be of great
advantage. The principal part of the clay used at the Pot-
teries came from the neighbourhood of Poole in Dorset.shir9.
It was shipped at Poole, and taken to Liverpool, where it
was transferred into flats and conveyed by canal to the Pot-
teries. The expense was very large, and the clay was greatly
damaged by the frequent change of carriage. The earthen-
ware manufactures in the north had greater facilities in con-
veying clay and at a less cost.
Re-examined by Mr. JAMES—A break of gauge in a line
eighteen miles longer than the Manchester and Southamp-
ton would be a most serious disadvantage, not only on ac-
count of the delay of transhipment, but the danger of in-
juring the goods. Large sums of money had been expended
by the manufacturers in the Potteries, and in order to use
that capital to the best advantage it was of great importance
to be in a condition, by having direct railway communion-
tion
from the north to the south, to compete successfully
with the manufacturers of Whitehaven and Stockton-upon-
Tees.

Mr. Samuel Payne, carrying on the largest hardware
trade at Southampton, obtained his goods from Staffordshire
by canal to London, and thence to the South-Western ter-
minus at Nine Elms, and so on to Southampton. The cost
per ton was 3/. 18s.; others, however, paid more. Also ob-
tains earthenware in great quantities by canal from Stoke,
Stourport, by the Severn to Bristol, and from thence by
coasters round the Land's .end to Southampton, at a cost of
21. per ton. By that route great delay took place, and the
goods were in addition liable to breakages. In one case,
goods sent on the 27th of October, did not reach him until
the 22d of February last. The average, however, was two
months. Had not less than 200 tons in the course of the
year, and paid about 700/. a year for carriage, about half of
which he considered the Manchester and Southampton would
save. Has also glass from Birmingham, but the manufac-
turers pay the expense of transit, which of course increased
the price of the article. Should also keep less stock, and con-
sequently require less capital in his business.
In his re-examination Mr. James handed in a copy of
the Illustrated London News containing large wood cuts of
the break of gauge at Gloucester, and the mode of tranship-
ment, with the confusion it has created amongst the pas-
sengers.—ls that an accurate picture of the mode of this
transhipment? You see your crockeryware is being smashed
to pieces, two children also have lost their mother, and one
old gentleman put by mistake into a horse-box ? I do.—
(Roars of Laughter.)
The Committee then adjourned until twelve o'clock on
Monday.

CORK, MACROOM, AND KIL-
LARNEY RAILWAY.
An adjourned special meeting of the scripholders in this
Company was held on Saturday, in pursuance of the
sessional orders, at the office in Moorgate-street, Mr. Thomas
Nettle in the chair.

At the previous meeting, it was stated that the
total number of shares paid upon was 6,171, which, at
21. 10s. per share, gave a total amount of 15,427/. 10s.
The expenses actually paid out of this fund amounted tc
8,538/. 155., while the liabilities amounted to nearly 7,0004
The adjournment took place in consequence of there not
being a sufficient quantity of scrip present to constitute a
legal meeting.

—At the pre—sent meeting there was still a paucity of scrip,
but it was resolved, nevertheless, on the motion of Mr.
Wsley, seconded by Mr. Mosely, to withdraw the Bill, and
wind up the affairs of the Company.

BANDON AND BANTRY RAIL-
WAY COMPANY.—SPECIAL MEETING.
An adjourned special meeting of the holders of bankers'
receipts took place on Saturday, at No. 63, Moorgate-street, at
12 o'clock, in accordance with the resolutions of Parliament.
At the former meeting there was was not a sufficient number
of scripholders present to constitute a meeting, and the
chairman had to adjourn the meeting to give time to the
parties interested to get a sufficient number of scripholders
in attendance. Mr. Nettley in the chair.
The CIIAII%3IAN said that they were all aware that the
present was an adjourned meeting for the purpose of taking
the assents and dissents to the Bill for making a railway be-
tween Bandon and Bantry.
The SECRETARY then read the advertisement convening
the meeting, and the voting commenced, when there ap-
peared

For going on
Against 4,773

Majority
A vote of thanks having been passed to the Cliairaan, the
meeting separated.

RAILWAY RETURNS.

RAILWAY TILAFFIC.—The following are the Total Receipts of Rail-
ways for the past week—that is to say, up to the date to which the
respective returns are made, together with the receipts of the same
week in the previous year:—