The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-29 00:00:00

GROUP XIV

The Select Committee 'appointed to consider the merits of the
Bills comprised in this group re-assembled at the usual ,hour this
morning ; Mr. Protheroe in the chair.
KENT ATMOSPHMELIC.

The cross-examination of Mr. Sherrad, the engineer of the line,
was continued by ➢lr. MERREWETHER on behalf of the Senth-
Eastern Oompany. It was elicited that the South-Eastern line
joined the stations at Tunbridge in a much more convenient manner
than the atmospheric, inasmuch as the one ran right out to the
Tunbridge and Hastings lines, while the carriages and engines in
the atmospheric would have to be removed in order to run on to
the Hastings line.
The cross-examination and re-examination of the witness eccu-

pied the whole of the day.
The Committee adjourned at four o'clock till Monday, the Bth of
June.

GlZ01:1' XVII.

MANCHESTER AND SOUTHAMPTON-
ROMSEY AND V.:EDE:MIDGE BRANCH
(SOUTH-WESTERN).

The Committee met this morning at the usual hour; the Hon. Mr.
E. Yorke in the chair.
Mr. Rey/unser/ applied to the Committee to give their decision on
the merits, if merits it had, of the Romsey and Redbridge Branch, in
order that he and those for whom he applied might be liberated from
any further attendance en the Committee. They would recollect
that he submitted in his address on Tuesday that the line was not
required by the wants of the locality, inasmuch as it would be ac-
commodated by the Manchester and Southampton Railway, which
not only ran along its route, but to the north, intersecting important
districts anti running through large manufacturing towns.
Mr. HATUERTON opposed the application, on the ground that the
Committee were not in a condition to do so, as Mr. Saunders in his
address on Tuesday charged the line with abuses, which he stated
he should support by evidence. He should carry out his promise, in
order thht the Committee might have evidence to confirm his state-
ments, or be disabused of them if they were untrue.
Mr. SAIINDEBs said it was not his intention to produce evidence,
as he considered that the Acts of Parliament which he quoted
showed clearly enough the injury which the lice would do to the
town and port of Southampton.

After a short discussion,
The CHAIRMAN reiterated the decision to which the Committee
arrived on luesday as to the course which they should pursue with
respect to the two lines. They had not altered their Opinion, that
they should hear the cases for and against both lines before they came
to a decision on either. They should then decide them on their "pub-
lic advantages."
Mr. Davis then proceeded to address the Committee against the
Romsey and Redbridge branch, on behalf of the Town Council of
Southampton. He commenced by saying that he was a member of
the corporation of Southampton, and that he had been deputed b
and
y
that body to oppose this project, as the Manchester
in ad-
Southampton would supersede it, and open up,
dition, a direct communication with the north of England.
The Corporation of the town were not wanting in respect to the
Committee in deputing him to appear on their behalf instead of
counsel, who might have discharged the task more ably, but cer-
tainly not more honestly or conscientiously. The explanation of this
was to be found in the fact that five of the Corporation were directors
Corporationofthe So ut
was unanimous
South Western,
in
counsel
incurringcc suchenl be y
an expense. eMplye O when hecourse,nth
they would not consent to employ counsel to Oppose a project ema-
nating from a body of which they were members ; in fact, they stated
if the other members of the Corporation did employ counsel, that it was
not unlikely that a bill inChaneeryMight betledagainstthem. Hewes
prepared to show, that irrespectively of the Manchester and South-
ampton, or any other line, this branch was not required for any
purposes of general utility, and that, even supposing some partial
advantages might be derived by the public from it, it was not
promoters expe-
dient
that its construction should be entrusted to the romeaottersof
the Bill. But the Manchester and Southampton was a
mili-
tary as well as a great commercial line, would supersede the branch,
open up direct communication with the north, and was approved of
by the town and corporation of Southampton. A great deal had
been said about the importance of Redbridge and
the Ewlaintegr
athsePorerthai
to six feet, and during spring tides
hbuigthduwriantgerthweasproeivilalyefenoc me ofthe
two
from eleven to twelve feet—at Redbridge from six to eight and from
Now these were the places to which
aelevreanlwtaoy twweaslve
tofeeL3
made, and to construct which the
land of several persons was to be taken without their con-
sent. That owing to the uncertain nature of the water, craft
*mid only navigate for ten days in the month ; during the
remaining twenty they would be unable to do so. In ordinary
tides the craft could not approach these so-called important ports
nearer than a mile and a half, where they were unloaded by the
aid of small boats. This would be evident when be stated
that the draught of colliers, of from 200 to 300 tons,
was thirteen feet. Then, the timber spoken of being
floated up to Eling and Redbridge, belonged to merchants of
Southampton. Much too had been said as to the necessity of Sails
bury obtaining coals by a more d rect route than that which now
existed ; but the Great Western Company were now makihe ng tram-
roads for the Salisbury and Yeovil line to the coal-pits in t vicinity
of Frome and Wells, by which coals would be obtained in Salis-
bury at 15s, a ton, which would take away the necessity of
requiring coals from Woto lmimuipptoorntant streets at he
in Southampton on a rate of 255. a ten. Then,
again, the line crossed two
level, which he considered was in itself a paramount objection to
the e
e
as the gates would have to be op
the ened a number of times in
a day; and as a number of children were con-
tinually playing in these streets, serious accidents could
not fail to occur. He then drew attention to the abuss,
which he held, existed on the Great Western Railway. In
proof of this, f S
he stated that that Company charged 205. per ton for
conveying a ton of goods from the quays oouthampton, to London;
hut if a person living in Cowes, for Instance, sent a ton of goods to
the docks, they would convey them to London for 10s. per ton, thus
inflicting great injury on the traders of Southampton, and making an
arrangement with the Dock Company, for their mutual advantage,
which Parliament, when they gave them their powers, never
contemplated. In 1844, a memorial, signed by the most important
merchants of Southampton, and by Mr. White, one of the directors
of the Great Western, was presented to the Corporation of South-
ampton, setting forth that the railway did not afford sufficient facili-
ties, that great delays took place and unrieeevary expenses incurred
in tho transmission of goods. The Company in conveying goods 20
miles gave a " rebate " co! 51. per cent., for 30 miles 101. per cent.,
and fns 40 and under 50. 151. per cent. ; but if they carried
passengers to Winchfleld, they charged as for a distance of 40 miles ;
but in the case of goods, they charged only for 39 Miles,