The Sun.
London, England, 1846-04-07 00:00:00

Zbtrb Xllttion

,Sr'? 0 FFICE, Seven o' Clock

RA IL WAY COMMITTEES.

(THIS DAY.)

GROUP IX.
'MIST OP SCOTLAND JUNCTION.
(Continued from our Afterioon Edition•)
Mr. Walker cross-examined by Mr. Aterairws.—He did not recol-
lect having opposed the Harbour branch last year in the Lords. The
River Trust obtained powers about eight years ago to make docks on
the sruth side of the river, hut they never had dons anything towards
making them. He believed that powers had been taken this session
of Parliament to abandon these docks, but it was net with hit ad-
vice, as he thought the time might come when they would be both
wanted. The river had been deepened up to near the bridge to a
considerable extent, and the bridge had not given way. This gave
him confidence in it ; but if they were to drive piles and make Coffer-
dams for the new viaduct, the case would be much altered.
This closed the case for the opposition on the part of the River
Trust, the Bridge Trust, and the Corporation of Glasgow.
Some discussion here arose as to the order of proceeding,
The Crwaress intimating that it would be better to hear Mr.
Mope in summing up his case, and Mr. Andrews in reply, after
which the decision of the Committee might be given on the West
of Scotland Junction Bill, so as to liberate many parties that were
retained here at present,
Mr. ANDREWS thought It would be best to reserve all decision on
any of the schemes until the Caledonian was heard, as he had con-
ducted his case on that understanding, and abstained from asking any
questions relative to the comparative merits of the two schemes.
After several remarks pro and con, the room was cleared.
On our return, _ .

The Citaremax intimated that they would hear counsel in bringing
up on behalf ,of the -opposition, after-Much counsel in behalf et the
Bill would be heard in reply. The Committee then, if they thought
the opposition sufficient to justify the rejection of the Bill, would do
so, reserving, however, to the promoters the right to appear against
the Caledonian scheme, as if no such decision had been g'ven. If the
Committee thought otherwise, then the decision would be deferred
nntil the Caledonian case was gone through.
Mr. HOPE then proceeded to sure up. He commenced by referring
to the proposed Blythswood station, stating that it had been shown
that, for the general accommodation of the leading places of the
city, the Queen-street station was better than the one proposed at
Blythswood Holm. It was nearer to the Post-office, the Cross, the
Exchange, and the leading places of business hi the city. The only
advantage brought forward in favour of the proposed station was,
it lies nearer to the centre of the harbour. 'then with regard
to the through traffic, that was the only case on which this commu-
nication had been made to depend. They had heard parties, called,
to show that the Ayrshire ports, and the towns on the east of Scot-
land, would be much benefited' by t-e line. Now he did not depre-
ciate the benefits of through communication, and he could under-
stand how it was, that the Lord Provosts of Edinburgh and Perth,
and the shippers of Ayrshire supported the scheme ; but he could
not see that such a desire on the part of those persons
should lead the citizens of Glasgow to allow their streets
to be cut up and crossed, and their herbour cramped and
Named, seeing that the city would receive no advantage. He saw
ne reason why the beauty and convenience of Glasgow should be so
seriously interfered with as was proposed, merely to allow the inha-
bitants of Edinburgh to have Irish capons, eggs, and bacon at such
times and in such a manner as theytheught fit, while the traffie con-
ferred no benefits whatever on the citizens of the injured city. Re-
specting the bridge, he had heard nothing to show that the Admiralty
were in favour of the crossing of the Clyde. The only construction
he could put oa the letter from the Admiralty which had been read
was that the Lards of the Admiralty left it to the Parliamentary
Committee, under the impression that the Committee to which the
Bill was referred would reject it, and thus put an end to these parties
coming to Parliament year after year endeavouring to get power to
cross the river. Tie Clyde trustees were also opposed to the cross-
ing, aid from . the way that trust had managed the harbour it was
Wine clear that were tuey petsuaded the junction would be a great
public benefit they would not have opposed it. Reviewing the evi-
dence that had bees called respecting the building of the bridge,
independent of the facts he had just - advanced,- it was
dimwit that the crossing ought be- refused. The evidence
et' both Mr. Walker, and Mr. Atherton Intl shown that the viaduct
could net be erected without great dame- to the existing bridge front
quick and running sands. Whether on public or engineering gs,ainds,
theretere, the crossing of the Clyde in the manner proposed, as lin-
politic and dangerous. Having stated what the promoters of the
Bill propos,l to do, and the reason. why they should net be allowed
to ao he would retCr to what they proposed to abandon, in order,
if possible, to secure the support of the Committee. The Learned
Gentleman then went into the particulars brought forward in re-
ference to the harbour mineral branch proposed to be abandoned, con-
tending, that allowing them to do ,so, would be to break faith
with the harbour trust, and tie Glasgow and Gairnkirk
and do a great injustice to the public who looked to finding great
accommodation from the mineral branch. The Learned Geetleman
having amplified on these several points, concluded by calling on
t, e Committee to reject the preamble of the Bill.
The Committee adjourned till to-morrow, at One o'clock, when
Mr. Meadows will reply.

GROUP XIV.
SOIITII-EASTERN.

The Committee met to-day at twelve oclock. Present, Mr.
Protheroe (chairman), Lord Emlyn, General Lygon, Mr. J. O'Con-
nell. and Mr. Grogan.
Before commencing the proceedings of the day, the Committee
retired, and, alter an absence of a quarter of an hour,
The Cliatastast, on resuming his seat, said that the parties con-
nected with the line m ght have seen, by the reports in the
newspapers, that he was yesterday evening induced to ask a
question with regard to the object the Government had in view by
the Royal Commission, to inquire into the lines of railway passing
through the metropolis —for such he believed the object of the Royal
Commission to be. The Royal Commission not only took under their
consideration those railways mentioned by the Committee of
tcelection, but trey intended to take into their considera-
tion the Metropolitan Junction of the North Kent line. The
Cammtee o: Selection, with all due respect to the Members who
composed it, had acted rather inconsistentl , for, if the matter of
railways passing through the metropolis was to be a matter of
separate consideration, they gave the metropolitan portion
ct the South-Eastern line to the Commission, and a much
smaller section of the North Kent line; not at all corresponding
in importance, viz., that portion between Union-stree: and South-
wark-bridge, without mentioning any portion of the North Kent be-
tween Union-street and Hatcham. The portion between Union-
street and Hatcham corresponded accurately with the metropolitan
portion of the South-Eastern. Sir Robert Peel, on being
consulted on the subject, said that if he were the Chairman
of the Committee he would only examine so much of the line as re-
(erred to the country, and would suspend his decision on the metro-
politan portion until the Royal Commission made its report. With-
out discussing the wisdom of that recommendation, he would state
that it was impossible to comply with it, and therefore the deci-
sion the Committee had come to was, to proceed precisely es
if there were no commission in existence. It would be better, there-
fore. for the parties connected with one or other of the lines to apply
during the Easter recess to the Commission, and request it to give its
attention to the metropolitan portion of the lin s, so that after Easter the
Committee might have the benefit of the suggestion of tte Commission.
Ile believed that the Committee was super or; to a Royal Corn-
stission ; but he thought it would be better to have their ideas on
the subject before passing either of these Bills. He did not mean to
say that the decision of the Committee was dependent on that of the
Commission ; they should decide quite independently of that decision
with reference only to the respective merits of the lines. He would
also state that the Committee had decided upon adjourning to-morrow
afternoon tor the Easter recess.

—.-...—...
Mr. AUSTIN suggested that it would be more convenient for the
promoter that the Committee should adjourn at once.
Mr. TiLBOT was averse to the sugge,tion of Mr. Austin, as it would
anse inconvenience to his clie,:ts.
The Committee decide 1 open adhering to their original deter-
mination.

}lr. K. Stepaeison, the engineer to the Soutn•Eastern Railway
Company, exa,nined by Mr. Aflz,Tlll—ls responsible for the laying
out and allopt.m of the South-Eastern schemes and extensions dur-
ing the preset and the past year. His great object in laying out a
line is t. obtr is as 1,,w a as possible.; good gradients and
e.'onomy iw to rking are the resits of such levels. Has adopted
low levels when practicable. Mr. Vignolee has adopted high
levels. 7'hi. gives an advantage to the South-Eastern
line in the accommodation of the Woolwich Dockyard and Arsenal.
Between Gravesend and Rochester Mr. Vignoles' line is 'JO feet
high,r than the at point on the South-Eastern, which la almost
on a level, having adopted the existing railway. When requested
by the Wititsta`,le and Canterbury Railway Company to form a tun-
nel through Bot!gluon-loll, he declined doing so, as the work would
be useless and dangerous. They persisted in the proposition,
and he inthrmed theta that if he were pressed upon a.,
u.ineevssary a work that he w‘tild rather decline acting as their
er.gineer. All Mr Vignoles will attain by his proposed tunnel
through Douglnv-hill is a shot-teeing of distance without a saving
of time. The tunnel is to be appmached at each end through very

deep cuttings.
O'coNNEu. here suggested that it would be unnecessary for
Mr. Stephenson to t, through every minute point of Mr. Bidder's
evidence, in order to corroborate it. A general corrtilgoration was
al that was necessary.
Mr. Stephenson continued—Thinks it impossible to work the at-
mospheric lines of Mr. Vignoles.
cross-examined by Mr. TALBOT—The South-Eastern line has at
one point much higher summits than there are on the North Kent
line. There are three stinunity, and the acclivity that would have to
be surmounted by a locomotive would be 124 leet mote than on the
North Kent. V: nks that the South-Eastern would afford
better accommiKtat on to the arsenal and dockyard of
Woolwich, by means of a "subway," which will be 534 feet
below the level of the street, miming along the dockyard wall.
Thinks that the line proposed by Mr. Vigneles would be too high to
give any communication with the dockyard. His opinion is based
upon the supposition that the North Kent viaduct would be many
leet above th, dockyard.

The Committee here adjounted until twelve o'clock to-morrow.

GROUP XIS.

The Committee met this nay at the usual hour. Present, Lord H.
Vane (chairman), the Earl of March, the lion. Francis Scott Mr.
D. Morris, and Mr. Phillip Bennett. ,

BIitIDGEVTATER. AND MINEREAD

WAY AND PIER.

The consideratieu of this case was resumed with the examination
of witnesses in support of the petition of Sir Peregrin Aciaad agalust
the Bill. _ _ _

Mr. Stokes, a Commander in the Royal Navy.—llad surveyed
Green Alley Bay, found 40 feet rise and fall of the tide, and 492 feet
between high itihl low water mark. 1.11d.,--nbt consider that vessels
drawing 123, feet could lay at the proposed pier, or that good
anchorage could he obtained by vessels in Green Alley Bay off
Mineheati, on account of the exposure they would be open
to by the strong westerly winds, unless a breakwater was
formed. The soundings in that bay he described as consisting chiefly
of rock and sand a description of holding ground which captains of
vessels seldom or never availed themselves of.:He considered Mine-
head was not in any way calculated for a trading harbour, and was as
dangerous as any port on the Alomersetshire coast.

Cross-examined by Mr. Sergeant AtraPHY—Had never surveyed
the Bristol Channel or Minehead harbour until the present
occasion. Had not been in the habit of frequenting this
channel. Might have been there four or five times before.
IlaelTheen residing with and was related to Sir Peregrine Acland,
Mr. Reece, Lieut. Maxey, Captain Clackstone, and Mr. Green, an
englueer, were then severally examined, who spoke to the dangers
existing in the navigation of the Bristol Channel, the ineligibility of
Minchead as a port of refuge, and the insufficiency of the sum of
60,0001. to carry out the proposed pier.
The C(wunittee 011 its rising adjourned until twelve o'clock to-
morrow I

&W M? XXIX.

SLUGBY AND 11UNTINC&DON.
(Continued from onr Afternoon Zdition.)

Mr. ltewt.issoN, on the part of Lady Bray, an opposing laid-
owner, cross-examined witKess, wit, the view of showing the
great iiijity which her property would sustain If the proposed line
were constructed, and that there was no necessity whatever for
the lino.
•

Mr. Joseph Cubitt, another of the engineers of the proposed line,
wig then examined. He laid out the line at its eastern extremity
with the view f connecting
it with the London and York line, and
o
railing that, with the Ely and Huntingdon line. He had no doubt of
the capability cf that junction as iar as regarded the levels.
This witne!s was also subjected to a long cros-examination by Mr.
lIILDTABD and Mr. RAWLINiON.
Mr. William Cubitt was then called—He confirmed the evidence
ainAdy given bv the two last witnei,sess. He thought the estimates quite
sufficient to ex'c.ite the works. The traffic by the London and Bir-
mingham Itailwa:-, southward of Rugby, was very much embar-
rifssed with tralle, in consequence of the confluence of traffic tiom
the northern lines. Or. public grounds, therefore, it would be expe-
dient to relieve the traffic as much as possible.
Cross-ex:unified—Had given evidence before another Committee
that the whol<3 of the traffic of the London and Birmingham line
could he transported by a single atmospheric line, if the airange-
ine.ifs then mentioned were regularly carried out. The London and
iiirininghain Railway wits in his opinion the best conducted line in
lire kingdom

-exantirhai—NotwAlistiuiding the London and Birmingham line
AA io well miducted, the third-class passengers were greatly
twee:led. There ought to be more trains laid on tor their accommo-
dation, and if these trains were addedas required the crowding
would iieeoine still greater than at present. 't'o relieve this traffic
would be a great public advantage.
Mr. Fisher and Mr. Bloodworth, land-valuers, gave formal
evidence as to the value of the land.
The value of the land for the proposed line altogether was 140,5351.
Evidence was also given as to the capital, and to allotments of
Mats.
This elt,,'ed the case for the promoters.
Mr. itawtartsoN then addressed the Committee on behalf of Lady
Bray. He concluded a lengthened speeds by stating that co case
whatevsir had been made out why the line should be constructed,
and that as the Committee had already sanctioned a line (the Rugby
and Stara:ord), which would traverse that lady's property, they
should nut allow the present railway, which would also intersect her
is-. 1. t, tie constructed, as no case of public necessity had been
MOO Olite _ _

1;-,I,4 now four o'clock, the Committee adjourned till twelve
o'ci k to-morrow, when Mr. 11114ard will reply on the part Of the
kernoters of the South MidlAnd (Iltintin,i(lon Braila).

6ub-Cuutuntice No. 1.
(COntinird front our Afternoon Edition.)
yo .g AND LANCASTER,
The object of this tt.ll is to :upply railway c.onnnunication to the
cities of York and Lanett,ler, and to connect them with the existinw
tines of railway. The length of the proposed line is eighty-one
The e.t.a is estimated at 1,250,0001. M. J. Miller and Mr. it. W.
Thvinion are the engineers ; biessro. On, gory and co., um atieut,
CAL AMU. ClituaLlsr awl Wooovuod, .

The formal evidence was taken, and the further consideration of
the Bill was postponed.
WEST RIDING (YORKSHIRE) UNION.

The object of this Bill is to form a line of railway connecting cer-
tain parts of the West Riding of Yorkshire with the Manchester and
Leeds Railway. The length of the proposed line is 55 wile., and the
cost is estimated at 2,000,0001. Mr. John Hawkshaw is the engineer.
The agents are Messrs. Burke and Co. The solicitors are Messrs.
Derbyshire and Jervis, Messrs. Barr, Lofthouse, and Nelson, and
other eminent houses.

The formal evidence having been received, the further considera.
tion of the Bill was postponed.

SOUTH TORHSHIRZ COAL.

The object of this Bill is to connect the south Yorkshire Coal Field
with the existing and proposed main lines of railway in connexion
with the canals and navigation of that district. The length of the
proposed line is 54 miles. The cost is estim,ted at 1,340,0001. The
engineers are Mr. William Cnbitt, and
Mr. Charles
Bartholomew
(the acting engineer); the agents are Messrs. Dyton, Hall, Parkes,
Coates, and Co.; the solicitors, Messrs. Carter and Co. The agents
fer the opponents of the Bill are Messrs. Burke, Prat, `enables, and
Co. ; and (for other parties) Mr. Smith.
The formal evidence was received, and the Committe was ad-
journed.

Sub-Committee co. 2.
STAINES AND HENLEY (No. II.)
(Continued from our Afternoon Edition )
After hearing much other evidence of the usual character, the al-
legations in several instance:' were declined not sustained, but in
others the standing orders were not complied with.

LONDON AND BIRMINGHAM (ST. AL-
BANS AND IMTON BRANCH.
APPLICATION FOR ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS.

This Bill having been called for, and the parties not being in at-
tendance, the cas was postponed.
NORTHAMPTON AND nEteroark.
The object of this Bill is expressed in the title. The length of the
proposed line is 2034 miles. The estimated cost 400,0001. The en-
gineer Mr. H. Pardon. The agents, Messrs. Dorrington and 'Co.
The solicitors, Messrs. Smith, Natham and Co.
There was no opposition to the Bill, and the formal evidence
having been gone through, the standing orders were declared to be
complied with.

WARWICKSHIRE AND LONDON RAIL-
WAY (HAMPTON AND AUCHITILCII LINE )
The object of this Bill is to construct a line from the Hampton
station of the London and Birmingham Railway, and to connect the
district with the Lancashire and Warwickshire lines, and the Mid-
land Counties lines. The length of the proposed line is 42
miles 63 chains. The estimred cost is 810,0001. The engineers,
Mr. R. Stephenson and Mr. Dixon ; the agent is Mr. Joseph Parke ;
and the solicitors are Mr. U. Carte, Mr. T. Heath, and Messrs.
Burk and Baker.

The former evidence was pat in-
Mr. BITES appeared in support of a petition from M?. Whateley,
a landowner within the limits of deviation, complaining of omis-
sions, &c., in the plans, sections, and book of reference, some of
which were sustained.

The further consideration of the cue was adjourned till to-morrow,

Sub-Committee No. 3.
(Continued front our Afternoon Edition.)

EASTERN COUNTIES (ENLARGEMENT
Or STATION).

The object of this Bill was to enlarge four of the stations on the
line, the estimated cost of which was 100,0001. Parliamentary
agents, Messrs. Venables and Co. ; engineer, Mr. Hunt.;
There were some petitions agaisist this Bill for which no one
appeared.

The formal proofs having been taken, the Committee found that
the standing orders had been complied with.
EASTERN COUNTIES (TOTTENHAM AND
PARRINGDON.STREET) EXTENSION.

The o'ject of this Bill was to extend the Eastern (onnties Rail-
way to Farringdon-street, the length of the proposed extelision being
5 miles 5 furlongs, and ;the cost of the undertaking 1,200,000/. En-
gineer, Mr. Robert Stephenson ; Parliamentary agents, Burke
and Co.

This Bill was unopposed, and the standing orders were found to be
complied with.