The Sun.
London, England, 1846-04-30 00:00:00

GROUP XXIX.

This Committee assembled to-day at eleven o'clock—present, Mr.
Laboacitere, Sir W. 3lolesv.orth, Sir J. Duckworth, Colonel Itawdon;
and Sir J. Smyth.

BOSTON. STIA.M.7OORD, AIZD parturntralutaw,
(sTsk2IPORD TO WIE..,=ECET.) znrz.
The Committee went through the clauses agreed to by the corpo-
ration of the Bedford Levels, and the promoters, for the purpcse of
securing the drainage of the land, and the reversion of the
property through which the line was to pass to the original pro-
prietors at the price for which it was sold, should they be desirous to
re-purchase, in ease of the railway being abandoned.
The amended clauses were then read seriatim, and received the
signature of the Chairman.

The report was also read, and signed by the Chairman.
The Committee then separated, this bang the last Bill referred to

GROUP XXXVII.

SHEriIIEX.I3, 274.0"ANFIEMLI:AlYr,
NATA7I.I7II"XELD, ISUMMERS:OIELD,
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(Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.)
Mr. G. Chambers, a coalowner and member of a local geological
society, gave evidence very strongly in favour of the measure, on
account of the facility it would afford to, perhaps, the largest coal
field in England, the coal being of the nest quality. There was also
a great deal of iron ore of good quality, and the several ironworks at
present established would be greatly benefited by the line. The town
of Sheffield alone would save 83,0004 per annum in the cost of its
coal for manufacturing and other purposes, by obtaining their coal
by railway from this district. The railroads as yet formed in the
neighbourhood having driven off the stage-coaches, without supply-
ing other means of traffic to the district, had done it considerable in-
jury. The proposed line was greatly wanted, and would be highly
beneficial to all the towns in the West Riding of Yorkshire.
The witness was shown a petition in favour of the Bill, signed by
2,500 porsons, who were, he said, the most respectable inhabitants of
Sheffield.
Cross-examined by Mr. PERKINS, on the part of certain petitioners
against tha Bill —Thu Silkatone bed extended to Sheffield, but in a
convulsed or disrupted manner. There is a coal-pit at Sheffield,
from which the coal was sold for gas at 6s. 10d. per ton. There was
a great demand for nine 'for manufacturing as well as agricultural
purposes throughout the district. But the cost of carriage was so
great, that " they did not know which way to turn themselves for
it Projected branches of the Sheffield and Manchester line would
give some accommodation to this coal district, but• not sufficient.
He was not altogether aware of the details of that branch.
lie was not here to oppose the Barnsley branch of the
Sheffield and Manchester. As a director of the Company now before the Committee, he had moved a resolution that the
Barnsley branch should not be opposed by them. This Company
took neutral ground in respect to that branch. There was an agree-
ment with the South Yorkshire Company that the latter was to make
the line south of Barnsley.
Cross-examined by Mr. LEE, for the Midland, Barnsley, Sheffield,
Dewsbury, and Bradford line, which is the competing line with this,
running parallel to it for a considerable distance. The witness stated
although there was a circuitous water communication between Shef-
field and Barnsley, yet this did not touch the coal pits, which, in fact,
had no canal accommodation. Sheffield received the largest part of its
supply of coal from the estates of the Duke of Norfolk in the town
itself or Immediate neighbourhood. The Manchester and Leeds
Company were to supply one-half of the capital. That was the ar-
rangement from the beginning.
The Committee then adjourned at a quarter-past four, and will
meet to-morrow in room No. 21.