The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-13 00:00:00

GROUP XL.

LEEDS, TORE. AND MIDLAND JUNCTION.
The Committee on this group sat as usual—Mr. Stafford O'Brien
(chairman), and the rest of the members being present.
Mr. Wilkes, jun., was called by the Counsel for the line ; and, after
some evidence regarding traffic had been gone into,
Mr. Sergeant WILKINS requested the Hon. Chairman would ask
permission of the House to-night for certain petitioners in favour of
this line to be heard by counsel.
Mr. STAFFORD O'BRIEN said it appeared to be a question of prece-
dent, and the other members of the Committee expressed an opinion
that no such precedent existed, which was also the opinion of Mr.
Hardy, who appeared for the Leeds and York.
Mr. Sergeant WILKINS said he was in error ; the application was
simply that the petitions should appear before the Committee.
Mr. SHERIDAN inquired whether they had been duly presented, to
which the Learned Sergeant answered in the affirmative.
Other evidence was then gone into respecting the navigation of the
river Cock up to Tadcaster, which went to prove that there were not
more than two obstructions in dry weather, which might easily be
removed, and that vessels drawing six or seven feet of water could
at all times get up. These facts were elicited by questions put by
Mr. Stafford O'Brien and by Lord Norreys to Mr. Coles.
Mr. Benjamin Thomson, solicitor, of Tadcaster, gave evidence in
favour of the proposed line.
Mr. J. Fowler, civil engineer, stated that the Leeds and York line
was the longest, the most expensive, had the heaviest earthworks in
contemplation, as well as the highest gradients, and passed through
a thinly populated district. Mr. Leather's line was also superior to
Mr. Hudson's line in every respect, and although he was ready to
concede all capability to Mr. Birkenshaw, yet he thought he had not
had sufficient time allowed him for fixing the most eligible route.
Ile thought the mode in which Mr. Birkenshaw proposed to cross the
Midlands Railway, near Leeds, very objectionable, as likely to cause
frequent detentions to both companies, there being considerable
traffic.

Mr. KNOWLES asked witness whether the same thing did not occur
at Methley, to whom the reply was that this case only agreed in
passing from York to Leeds, but not in passing from Leeds to York,
and that the trains were obliged to pass very slowly, though not
actually obliged to stop.
Mr. Vignoles, C.E., gave precisey similar evidence, which was
not shaken by the eross-elzamination to which he was subjected by
Mr. llildyard.

Mr. Michael Machiroed stated 70,0871. 9s. 610. to be the gross re-
venue from traffic, and after all deductions, leaving a net revenue of
32,0001., or better than 9 in a third per cent., or 340,000/. ; tha capital
proposed to be invested for the formation of the Leeds, York, and
Midland Junction Railway.

To Mr. HARDY, witness said that nothing was included in the
traffic table going less than eight miles. 46,0001. was the amount of
passenger traffic. Between Leeds and York the amount is about
11,000/. ; the remainder is derivable from the traffic from interme-
diate points. He calculated 5 per cent. on mails and parcels.
This witness then explained to the Committee his method of taking
the passenger traffic, when
M r. Green was called by
Mr. Sergeant WiraiNs merely to prove the correctness of the popu-
lation tables.

Mr. ROBINSON having called Mr. John Garland, builder and calmer,
to testify as to the correctness of the valaations the Company had
made,

Mr. Sergeant WILKINS stated that his case was now virtually closed.
The Committee then adjourned till Thursday.

GROUP XLIII.

LEEDS AND Tmansit (NORTH-EASTERN

EXTENSION).

The Committee re-assembled at twelve o'clock this morning, and
immediately after the room was ordered to be cleared. On our re-
admission,

The CRAIRMAN said the Committee wished to have some evidence
as to the particular necessity for the construction of a line between
Northallerton and Yarn, especially as railway communication al-
ready existed between those places.
Mr. Bainbridge, of Yarn, was then called, who deposed that the
existing line between Northallerton and Yarn was very circuitous, and
owing to the high charges for carriage, the goods were usually con-
veyed to Northallerton by the manufacturers' own waggons. He
was in the habit of transmitting goods to Hull, Selby, Birmingham,
Sheffield, and Leeds, all of which were conveyed by waggons in pre-
ference to the existing railway. If the proposed line were made, the
communication would be more direct, and the cost of conveyance
would be considerably diminished.
Mr. Mothersdale, under-steward to Lord Harewood, and a resident
of We]ibury, was the next witness examined. He was well ac-
quainted with the agricultural produce of the district, and if the line
between Northallerton and Yarn were opened, it would afford great
facilities for the conveyance of the produce to Leeds. The line would
also afford great facilities for the transmission of lime, coal, cattle,
and manure. The price of coals, in particular; would be cheapened
4s. per ton.

air. Grainger, a civil engineer, was next called, and deposed as to
the course which the proposed line would take, and its general
working. The length of the main line was 20 miles 3 furlongs and
1 chain. The total length of the three small brancliPs was 1 mile 3
flirlongs and 1 chain. The steepest gradient on the line would be
lin 10. There were two curves of less than a mile radios. One
curve consisted of 1 In 5 flirlongs 4 chains, and another curve was
In 5 furlongs. The total amount of the estimated expense of the
railway was 375,0001., and, in his judgment, that sum was quite suffi-
cient for the entire completion of the line. The value of land was
taken at 58,0871. There were no engineering difficulties of any con-
sequence to contend against. No tunnel at all was required, and he
considered the gradients and curves on the line very favourable.
The witness was cross-examined at some length, but the main
features of his evidence remained unshaken.

Mr. Cubitt was next examined, and proved that the lino was gene-
rally well laid out. He also corroborated the testimony of the pre-
vious witness with respect to the estimates of the railway.
A discussion then ensued as to whether the counsel for the op-
ponents to the line were in a position to be heard against the pre-
amble. The Committee ultimately decided that they could not be
heard against the preamble, but they could be heard upon the
clauses.

The preamble was then declared to have been proved.
A lengthy conversation next took place between the com-
mittee and counsel for the various parties who were inte-
restO, which resulted in a permission from the Committee
to insert a clause to the following effect; viz. That the Leeds
and Thirsk Railway Company, before proceeding to make the
line from Northallerton to the junction with the Stockton and
Hartlepool Railway, should give six months notice of their intention
to the Great North of England Company, In order that the latter
Company might have the option of making the line conjointly with
the Leeds and Thirsk Company ; but, In the event of the Great North
of England Company not signifying their Intention, within one month
after receiving notice, to the Leeds and Thirsk Company, that Corn-
pany is to have liberty to proceed by itself with the construction of
the line.

Some routine business was then gone through, and the Committee
adjourned till twelve o'clock on Thursday.

GROUP XLIV.

The members of this Committee met at the usual hour (in Room
No. 25, New Houses of Parliament), and proceeded with the ad-
journed case of the

CLITHE2O£ 31TZTOTXON.

Mr. Coates, the Parliamentary agent, gave evidence as to com-
pliance with the resolutions of the Hon. Member for Fl-sbery.
Mr. Cawley, the engineer of the line, was called, and gave the usual
en.i ;leering evidence. He described the course of the line, which coin-
' !mixes at Accring ton, and proceeds by Whalley, Ciltheroe, and Long
Preston to Settle, where will be its northern extremity. At two miles
and three quarters from Accrington it sends off a branch to Black-
burn,
fromanother
Manchester. Branch by
i,tairdn sad
ih,
aamt:ottßaorhoinat font miles
Accrington
oonlis Aabeocoritng22to
nn
illes
Mr. Cawley gave the usual details as to the amount of population
in the districts through which the line passes: the total amount
may be taken at 100,000 persons. The proposed line was
the most direct that could be made through the district, and would
afford the best communication through the district. The gradients
were favourable. The cost of the line would be about 700,0001.,
being 10'),0001. less than the Blackburn, Clitheroe, and North-Western
Junction, the competing line, would cost.
Mr. Merrivale, on the part of Mr. Taylor, a petitioner
against the line, and Mr. Baines, on the part of the
wi
fartnteashreea_qtligarretearts length.of a
in
III:
throughappeared m that the
Taylor's line
park and
farm
Blackburn, Clitheroe, and North-Western, cross-examined the
land. The witness referred to a 1.-W-e -mro.ri.fm
fir. Taylor's park
which had been put in by tho petitioiier,
explained the manner in which the line'an interfered
means of which he
His evidenca on this point could only be with the property.
the model. understood by reference to
The cross-examination of Mr. Crawley occupied the Committee for
more than two hours.
Mr. Jeremiah Garnett, a cotton-spinner at Clitheroe, a magistrate,
and a director of this line, gave evidence as to the coal and cotton traffic
which might be expected by the promoters of the Bill, the advantages
to the inhabitants of the country through which the line would pass,
and other general matters. This witness's evidence occupied the
Committee up to four o'clock, and Mr. Baines was just rising to cross-
examine him, when the Speaker was announced at prayers. As the
Learned Counsel said that he had but very few questions to put to
the witness, he was allowed to go on with his cross-examination,
which being completed, the Committee rose and adjourned till to-
morrow.

STANDING ORDERS' COMMITTEES.
HOUSE OF LORDS.
(Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.)
THE EXETER AND EXMOUTH.
The consideration of this Bill by the Standing Orders' Committee
was postponed to Monday next.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
MIDLAND (BIRMINGHAM AND GLOUCESTER).
Allowed to proceed.
LONDON AND BIRMINGHAM EXTENSION.
This NYIIS the nest case called on, but the promoters of it were not
in attendance.
WORCESTER, HEREFORD, ROCHESTER, AND GLOUCESTER
Net allowed to proceed.
BERKS AND HANTS.
A similar decision was given in this case.