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

PRICE OP SUGAR.

The average price of Brown or Muscovado Sugar, the
produce of the British possessions in America, computed
from the returns made in the week ending March 31, 1846, is
36s . 3d. per cwt.
[Dividends, &c., in our Next. 1

RAILWAY COMMITTEES.

(YESTERDAY.)

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
GROUP VIII.

Z.AST LOTHIAN CENTRAL, OR 'milt

VAZILZY.
(Continued ftom our ♦fternoon Edition of yesterday.)
The Committee acceded to the application, and adjourned until
three o'clock on Monday.

GROUP IX.
WEST OF SCOTLAND JUNCTION.

The Committee met to day at the usual hour, Lord Worsley In the
chair, when the Greenock Company's opposition was resumed.
In answer to a question thrown out by the Chairman at the close
of yesterday's sitting, Mr. ANDREWS said that a junction could be
effected with the Greenock line without at all touching the goods'
station of that Company. They would also bind themselves down
by a clause that no portion of the passenger station should be touched
but that which was exclusively used by, and the property of, the
Ayr Company. Respecting the engine and coke sheds, the pro-
moters of the West of Scotland Junction would pledge themselves
to give as good accommodation as that which they took away, and
that the matter might be settled by arbitration.
Mr. Miller, engineer, was called, and deposed as to the locality
with which a junction could be effected nearer Glasgow than at the
goods' station of the Greenock Company. This junction would take
place on that portion of the main line which was the joint property
of the two companies. The witness also deposed, on the other points
respecting the passenger station and the engine and coke shed, to the
effect laid down by the LeArned Gentleman.
Mr. Ballantine gave evidence that the few rights of property at the
Bridge•street station belonged to the Ayr Company. The half of
the station was only given under an agreement between the two
companies ; otherwise the Greenock Company would not have any
right to the use of the station whatever. . .

-'Blr. Knight deposed that the greater part of the passengers' station
was rated to the iyr Company, and the back part to the Greenock
Company.
A conversation here sprung up as to the true definition of the
dotted line en-the map, showing the limit of deviation, Mr. Andrews,
backed by Mr. Miller, engineer, contending that the dotted line
meant the extreme deviation of the middle of the line to be con-
structed ; and Mr. liiidyard, supported by Mr. Errington, engineer,
that it meant the extreme verge. According to the latter definition,
it was contended that the second junction, proposed to avoid the goods
station, could not be formed, in agreement with the standing orders.
Mr. Srooxaa thought the latter definition was the correct one.
The Crianntax said that Committees had in some instances decided
otherwise, an-A that it was a matter for consultation.

The room was then cleared. On our return,
The enstamax intimated that the Committee had decided that,
with respect to the limit of deviation, they were of opinion that the
utmost extreme of deviation was that marked on the map by the
dotted line.

The CitAlßllitN, after a few minutes pause, said that it might
ba as well to state, that yesterday evening the Committee were
unanimously of opinion that the interference with the Greenock line
contemplated by the original line should not be allowed. With that
opinion and the other decision just given, it would be for the counsel
on behalf of the Bill to decide shat course they intended to pursue.
_ _ . .

Mr. ANDr.vss hoped they would reserve any final decision till the
whole case was gone into.
The CHAMMAN said they had thus early expressed their opinion
the whole case for the promoters being closed—in order to save 'ex-
penses, whi.:lmu,t be very great if the whole case for the opposition
was gone through.
Mr. li(Lp-ram), on the part of the opposition, was willing to
leave his case where it was, in order to save the time of the Com-
mittee.

Mr. ANDIIEWS said he was prepared to prove, by the Parliamentary
p• actice 01 the present session, through Mr. Burke, a Parliamentary
agent, that the principle of deviation was such as he had stated it
to be. .

After some conversation on the point the room was again cleared.
The CHAIRMAN asked Mr. Hildyard, or Mr. Slope, who appeared in
his place, whether he admitted that it was the invariable practice to
decide differently to what the Committee had done?
Mr. Horn said he could not do so, whatever might have been the
practice under the former Act of-Parliament. The present Act he
did not think bad ever been construed in agreement with the position
of his Learned Friend. Indeed, he could not see in reading the Act
how such a construction could be put upon it. (Mr. Hop then read
the clause that bore upon tho point at issue.)
Mr. ANDREWS replied, and contended that the present Act of Par-
liament was in effect exactly the some as the previous Act in operation,
under which Mr. Baron Parke had decided is favour of the inter-
pretation he Mr. Sergeant Andrews had given.
After some further argument, the Committee intimated that they
stood by their decision that the uromoters should not exeeed the ex-
treme verge of the and represented by the dotted line. Tney did
this in their capacity as a Parliamentary Committee, and should carry
cut their decision by clauses, were the praamble of the Biil agreed to.
Mr. d NDaews said, if they were not to he allowed to construct
works beyond the dotted line, they could not form the junction pro •
posed south of the P•rAge-street station. They would there:bre give up
that junction at present, which would cut them off from connexion
with the lines running south into Lanarkshire, and the promoters would
confine themselves at present to the junction with the Ayr line at the
Bridge-street station, after crossing the river, which would not at all
atTect the Greenock line, as the new line would run into that portion
of the station which be onged exclusively to the Ayrshire Company.
After the examination of Mr. Miller for, and `•ir. Erringtan against
this point of junction,
The Committee expressed themselves satisfied, and the eensidera-
tion of the case for the opposition of the Clyde River Trust was next
gone into.
Mr. Joseph Ilume, M.P., and one of the Tidal Commissioners, was
generally examined as to the injury that would arise from censtruct-
ing a viaduct over the Clyde. Ile was opposed to all weirs or bridges
that interfered with the flow of the tidal waters. Instead of allowing
any new stone fridges, he would advise that those already built be
pulled down, and bridges of iron be erected, and of such a construc-
tion as would not interfere wills the currents of the river.
The Committee then adjourned till to-morrow, at twelve o'clock.

GROUP XIV.
SOUTIA

The Committee to which this line is referred met to day, at twelve
o'clock.
Some discussion arose as to whether the request of Mr. Merre-
weather, that the evidence should be printed day by day, should be
granted. Mr. Sergeant Wrangham opposed the printing of the evi-
dence in that manner.
The CHAIRMAN decided that the evidence should not be so printed.
Mr. J. O'CoNNELL said that he had received a letter from the
party to whom he bad alluded on a former occasion as having
written a letter to him complaining of the injury his land would sae-
tarn by the formation of the North Kent line. The letter contained
an apology fur the first, and stated that the writer was ignorant of
the impropriety of his proceeding. The author of the letter was a
petitioner against the line, but did not appear by counsel.
Mr. George P. Bidder cross-examined b 3 Mr. Sergeant WRANO-
Ham—First surveyed North Kent with a view to the formation of a
railway in 1825. lle again surveyed it in 1832. Sir J. Goldsmid
was a party to the last scheme. The carrying out of the South
Eastern scheme would cause a great accession to the traffic at
Lotaion.bridge, but the formation of a second station at South-
wark-bridge would render the working of the line less
convenient. Should be surprised to hear that the
station of the South-Western is only two and a half acres. The
traffic on that line is considerable. The metropolitan property tra-
versed by the South-Eastern line is equally valuable with that tra-
versed by the North Kent.
Mr. Sergeant Witastonsas wished to know the value or the amount
estimated for the metropolitan property traversed by the North
Kent.

Mr. Mrazwrrftra objected to the question.
Mr. Sergeant WRANGIIAM Submitted that he had a perfect right to
ask the question in order to test Mr. Bidder's judgment in showing
the high estimate he placed upon the property required by the North
Kent, and the low estimate for the same sort of property required by
the South Eastern.

" The Committee retired to consider the question.
On their return the CHAIRMAN said that the Committee had decided
that the examination with reference to that point might proceed in a
general manner.
Examination continued—The Parliamentary estimate for the four
miles cf viaduct over the South-Eastern line is 680,0001. The works
would cost about 250,0001. Had last year estimated the cost of two
and a half miles of viaduct at 138,0001. The London-bridge station
might be as easily enlarged as the one at Union-street. The Mint
is behind Union-street. The property there is bad, but of
an expensive description. Mr. Vignoles' worst gradient
between London and Canterbury is 1 in 132. There
are between Canterbury and Dover by the South-Eastern line 17
miles, as steep or steeper than 1 in 107. The junction of the South
Eastern lice with the existing Folkatone line would be on a gradient
of 1 in 106 ; but a double set of rails would be formed, so that both
trains might run separately until they joined ox a level platform, where
all the trains stop. The northern loop of the South-Eastern line has
been at present abandoned, in consequence of the refusal of the Ad•
miralty to allow of the proposed extension of the Greenwich line to
pass through Greenwich park. The refusal of the Admiralty has been
decided, hut witness believes that permission will eventually be
given. Believes that the only objection to allowing the park to be
traversed is the apprehension of the effect of the vibration of the trains
upon the astronomical experiments at the Observatory. From the most
careful experiments that have been instituted, it is proved that
there will be nothing to affect the astronomical Instruments. Has
not seen any letter from the Commissioners of Woods and Forests
refusing to allow the railway to pass through the Park. Was not
aware that any such letter had been received. Does not think that
" sidings," or side lines, to draw upon while landing passengers, in
order to allow other trains to pass in the meantime, are safe. The
most serious accidents and collisions might result front their use.
The South-Eastern train will not stop at Canterbury when proceed-
ing from Dover to London, but the carriage containing the
Canterbury passengers will be detached and left behind. On
its way from London to Dover the train will stop at Canterbury.
With regard to the main road at Faversham, with a gradient of 1 in
17, it would require nine horses to draw a laden waggon up that
incline. The length of the incline is 57 yards. The weight of the
waggon would be four tons, and its load five tons. The dead pull
which each horse would have to exercise would be one hundred
and forty lbs., and the ordinary work got out of a horse
for a day, at a rate of two miles and a half per hour. does not
exceed a dead pull of more than 801bs. The Company will have to
avail themselves of the Gravesend and Rochester Railway, at a cost of
350,0001. The price to be given is 310,0001., and the rest would
have to be expended in making it a double line. At present it is single.
The length of the railway is 51A miles. The Company will hare for
the 350,0001. the docks, wharfs, and quays. Those docks and wharfs
will be of great use, even though the canal should be filled up—in
fact, of more use than with the canal. Does not think that the sum
of 40,0001. will quite cover the expense of enlarging and bricking the
tunnel. Cannot say whether the line of the South-Eastern. as at
present proposed, is identical with the one proposed by Mr. Vignoles
last year. The line will pass through Woolwich, in a cutting. Does
not think that it will interfere with the sewerage of the town.
The Committee here adjourned until twelve o'clock on Monday.