The Sun.
London, England, 1846-02-10 00:00:00

THE DIRECT LONDON AND PORTSMOUTH

RAILWAY.

(Continued from our Afternoon Edition.)
Mr. BURKE said the contract deed before the Committee
was not the contract deed brought before the House last
year, notwithstanding that the Bill had been part-heard last
session of Parliament. The standing order was imperative
for the same deed being brought forward again where a Bill
was brought in as a Bill part-heard.
Mr. Burke having been sent for by the Chairmanof another
Committee,
I.:r. COLES supported the objection. The contract of this
year bad the same names as that of last year, but the sum
set down to the names of parties who were only bound for
about 2,000/. in the first deed amounted in the present deed to
530,000/. Now those parties had never subscribed that
sum, so that it must have been paid in their names by other
persons.
The CIIAIMLAN said it mattered not who had paid the
money, thepersons complained of were bound; the money
was paid, perhaps, by some of their friends, but that was not
for the Committee to inquire into. It was therefore the
opinion of the Committee that the standing orders had been
complied with.
THE MOLD JUNCTION RAILWAY.
Mr. ELLICOMBE appeared for the promoters. The witnesses
in support of the formal points having been called,
The Committee decided that the standing orders had been
complied with.
Two LONDON AND TORN. RAILWAY BILL
—COMMENCEMENT OF THE CAMPAIGN—THE
FIRST OUTPOST !
Mr. A'BecKerr, during the temporary absence of Mr.
Strutt, was appointed to take the chair. The Hon. Member
said that he thought it but right to state to the parties pre-
sent that he was himself a promoter of the London and York
Railway, and as he happened to be in the chair during Mr.
Strutt's absence, it was more than probable that many re-
marks would be made.
Mr. J. PARKES, who appeared for the opposition, said he
would be perfectly satisfied with the Hon. Member's decision
on any point, however vital to his (Mr. Parkes's) interest.
Mr. BURKE said that he appeared on a petition against the
contract deed, but, in consequence of the decision of the Com-
mittee a few minutes ago in the Direct London and Ports-
mouth Railway, he would not press his petition.
Mr. Coates, assisted by Mr. Baxter, appeared for the pro-
moters.
The witnesses in support of the depositing of plans and sec-
tions, and books of reference, were then called, and gave their
proofs without opposition.
Mr. Baxter, examined by Mr. COATIS —This Bill for a
line of railway from London to York was brought into the
House of Commons last year, by which House it was sanc-
tioned. It was then taken into the House of Lords, where
it was read a first time, and the further consideration post-
poned till this session,
Mr. Jordan, examined by Mr. COATES--lle witnessed the
signatures to the contract aced. They were all genuine save
one name, which was signed Joseph Nash. That person came
to the company's offices, and produced a certificate authorising
him to sign the deed. He executed the contract, bat witness
suspecting from his manner that there was something wrong,
bis suspicions were excited, and he asked Nash if he was the
holder of the shares for which he had signed. He answered
that he held some, and had parted with a good many. Wit-
ness was then instructed to make inquiries about the matter,
and he subsequently found that Nash had no'interest what-
ever. but was sent by a stockbroker in the City to impose
on the Company for the very purpose of invalidating the
deed. Upon this information the Company refused to re •
cognise the signature. The shares to that amount were still
unrepresented.
Mr. John Langdon—Was present when Nash presented
himself, and upon a suspicion having been created, Mr. Jor-
dan was authorised to make inquiries.
Mr. COATES—I am prepared to state the name of
the firm which employed Nash to impose on the
promoters of this Bill. (Here the name was given,
but, as it might possibly amount to an action
for libel, it is omitted.) The Company, however (said Mr.
Coates), I am prepared to prove, have sufficient capital with-
out the sum of 12,1501., for which Nash bound himself.
_ _

Mr. PARKES—I should like to ask the last two witnesses
what care was taken to insure the correctness of the other
names to the deed.
The CHAIRMAN—I think such a question is out of order.
All we, as a Standing Order Committee have to do is to
see that the standing orders have been complied with. Now
in this instance we are of opinion that they have not been
complied with; but we shall report that the case was ex-
plained to us how the Company were imposed on, and their
subsequent steps in trying to set it right. We shall also
state that the Company have sufficient capital without the
amount of Nash. It was not for the Committee to go into
the exact circumstances of the case not bearing upon the
standing orders—it was sufficient for them to be of opinion
that the standing orders in this instance were not complied
with.
Mr. PART ES—I beg to submit to the Committe that any
allegations go against the contract deed. After the decision
just given, he could not go into that question, but he would,
by permission of the Committee, state the position in which
the London and York Railway stood. The Bill was,last session
of Parliament, after being read a first time in the House of
Lords, referred to a Committee on a petition against the validity
of the contract deed. The Committee, after having sat some
time, reported to the House that the Bill should not be pro-
ceeded with till the inquiry should conclude. Now, that
Committee will sit again, and, of course, they will sit upon
the same contract deed, whereas the contract deed now sub-
mitted to this Committee is quite a new deed.
The CHAIRMAN.—Your case is one which can, no doubt, be
entertained in the House of Lords, but here we have nothing
to do with anything but that which relates to the standing
orders of this House.
The standing orders were then declared to have been com-
plied with.
The great battle has yet, however, to be fought. The
proceedings of this day were merely of a formal character,
for the purpose of obtaining a new contract deed, and
in this the promoters have been signally successful.
As a proof that the most interesting period to all
parties has not arrived, we may point to the absence
of the agents for the competing lineQ, though we may as
well state that one of the agents for the Direct Northern
Railway was present in coy. We may date the commence-
ment of the campaign from this day—the field has been
taken, and the first outpost established.
WOLVERSTON, IMILNESS, AND CARLISLE

__ ___ _ _____
R &XLWAY.
Mr. Burke appeared for the promoters.
The Bill was unopposed, and the standing orders were de.
Glared to have been complied with.
TEE LEEDS, DEWSBURY, AND MANCHES•
TER RAILWAY (WAKEFIELD EXTEN.
SION).

Mr. Burke appeared for this Company.
The Committee declared that the standing orders bad been
complied with, saving iu a few instances.
The Committee adjourned at four o'clock till twelve o'clock
to-morrow.

Sub-Committee, No. 2.