The Sun.
London, England, 1846-07-27 00:00:00

Room F.

ZIXRININGIIAWS AND ozroun JUNCTION.
IMPORTANT DECISION.
The Committee met at eleven o'clock; present, the Earl of
Ripon (chairman), the Earl of Wynford, the Earl of Sondes,
the Earl of Montford, and the Earl of Eldon.
At the commencement of the proceedings, two witnesses
were called. and gave general evidence in favour of the
Warwickshire branches.
Mr. HOPE addressed the Committee at some length on be-
half of the Warwickshire branches.
Mr. TALBOT having replied, the room was cleared.
On our re-admission,

The CHAIRMAN delared that, in the opinion of the Com-
mittee, the preamble of the Birmingham and Oxford Junc-
tion Bill was proved.
The Committee then adjourned at half-past four o'clock.

Worn H.
BIRMINGHAM AND GLOUCESTER

BRANCHES. (HALESOWEN BRANCH.)

DECISION.

The Committee met this morning at eleven o'clock, Lord
Strafford in the chair.

ofe thnethrbaraannceh on,
Mr. HILDTARD opened the case on the part of the pro-
moters. The object of the Bill was simply to construct a
branch • from the Birmingham and Gloucester Rail-
way, at King's-Norton, in the county of Worcester,
to Halesowen, which is situated. in the midst of an important
mineral district in the same county: The length would be
,eaty disatnrdictee:p gave
dy
evidence 5% mile's, and its cost 130,000/: ' '
Mstr
üßc et
isotn, a g
bnyectgeidvinwgithati
'the
moms of transit for coals to Droitwich and other places on
the line and contiguous to it.
Mr. M'Connell, superintendent of the locomotive depart-
ment of the Birmingham and Gloucester line, said he resided
at Bromsgrove, where the locomotive station of the line was
situated, and that he used a great quantity of coal there,
and that the Halesowen coal would be much in request
to show that great advahtage would result from the
con
fat that and other places south of Bromsgrove,
if the branch were made, as it would cheapen
their cost. It would bring a great deal of
new traffic on the main line, and would place Cheltenham,
which consumed a quantity of coals, within forty miles of
this great mineral district.
Mr. Matthews, land agent to Lord Middleton, through
whose property the line would run for three miles and a half,
stated illat his Lordship assented to the line, and that it would
be advantageous.
Mr. Humphrey, the proprietor of a Halesowen colliery,
gave evidence in favour of the line.
Mr. Evans, proprietor of salt-works at Droitwitch, said
the consumption of coal in the salt-works there exceeded
2,000 tons a week, a great portion of which came from
Halesowen and that district, but which would be used in
geater quantities if the line were made. Much interruption
was frequently caused to the work 4 on account of the delay in
getting coals at the present moment. The cost of coals would be
materially reduced, which would have the effect of increasing
the trade, by cheapening the cost of manufacture.
Mr. Sturge, an extensive corn merchant at Gloucester,
considered that the salt traffic would be considerable.
Mr. Berkeley, an engineer had laid down the line under
the direction of Mr. Robert gtephenson. Its length was live
milei and a half, its cost 130,0001., and the steepest gradient
1 in 64 for one mile and five-eighths. It had a tunnel of
960 yards in length, which would cost 39,000/. There were
gradients of I in 64 on main lines, which had a great amount
of traffic, and, therefore, could not be fairly objected to in a
branch, as it could be worked without inconvenience. Unless
the line had this gradient, the cost of its construction would
be quite disproportionate to the revenue which the Company
expected to derive from its construction. There would be
some passenger traffic.

This closed the case on the part of the promoters.
Sir T. PHILLIPS addressed the Committee against the
branch, on behalf of the petitioners, and contended that the
Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton intersected a more
important part. of the mineral district than the portion more
contiguous to Halesowen, and therefore did away with the
necessity for any additional line, and called on the Commit-
tee to reject the preamble of the Bill.
The Committee having passed the preamble of the Bill,
the clauses, with some additions respecting the property of
certain petitioneis, were agreed to; and the Chairman hav-
ing stated that he should report their favourable decision to
the House, the Committee separated.

ROUSE OF COMMONS.
GROUP LXVII.

This Committee re-assembled at the customary hour this
morning in Room 22 (Grand Corridor), Lord Lincoln in the
chair.

BOUTS-EASTERN (PROM ' nuNozaroun-
BRIDGE TO GREENWICH).

Mr. Qubitt, engineer, was heard in opposition to the line
which he said appeared to involve considerable difficulties,
was badly laid ont, and required a careful revision.
Mr. Drew, clerk to the trustees of the Bermondsey, Bother-
hithe? and Bedford Roads, was also called, for the purpose of
showing the great injury to those roads by the line which it
was proposed should cross them. The thoroughfares were