The Sun.
London, England, 1846-08-04 00:00:00

RAILWAY COMMITTEES

ESTERDAY)

HOUSE OF LORDS.

Room .t..
ST. ALBANS, LUTON, AND DITATSTABLE

(Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.)
Mr. Vyce, cross-examined by Mr. AriTlN—Had an establishment
In London, and his proportion of the outlay at Luton, of 500,0001.,
Was 45,6721.
_ Re-examined by Mr. Sergeant WRANOITAM—The rejection of the
olford and Cambridge line would be of great benefit to this line, for
the traffic which would be diverted from this line must flow in
this direction. His calculations with respect to the popu-
lation were made from actual observation and inquiries
of those persons qualified to give him eorrect information, and he
adhered to his statement. The number of money erders distributed
at Luton was 20,000.
Mr. Willis, of Luton, was called, and stated that he concurred fully
In the evidence of the preceding witness. He also stated that Luton
was far superior in the staple trade of the town to Dunstable, and
that the proposed railway, by effecting a saving of from 7,0001. to
10,0001. In the article of coal to Luton, and by forming a communi-
cation between Luton, Dunstable, and St. Albans, would be of the
greatest advantage to these towns.
Several other witnesses were examined in support of the Bill, to
prove the traffic, after which the Committee adjourned.

WEST RIDING UNION.
The Committee met at the usual hour, present
01 rfLNorook, d
dCiamaonys
(chairman), Lord Verulam, Lord Calthorpe, the Duke
the Earl of Caledon.
Mr. BAINES, Q.C:, opened the case on behalf of the promoters of
this line.
The first witness called was Mr. Hawkshaw, the engineer to the
line. who was examined by Mr TALBOT—The line proposed to effect
a junction with every railway north of Leeds. The descent into
Bradford by the proposed line was by an incline of I in 50. By
adopting this severe gradient they would be able at once to get on to
the main line, upon vrnich the steepest gradient was
I in 120, and the remainder of which was a perfect level.
They were also enabled to accommodate a population of 40,000 per-
sons more than by the line as laid out last year. There would be no
difficulty whatever in working the gradient cf I in 50, as by its
proximity to the station there would always be abundant assistance
at hand. The total length of railway to be constructed was 22 miles
311 yards ; the tunnelling upon the line would be about 4,800 yards.
There was a branch proposed to be constructed to connect Elland
with Huddersfield and Halifax, the length of which was 5 miles 51
yards, and the steepest gradient was lin 103. By the proposed lines
there would be three modes of communication between Huddersfield
and Bradford:—l. By Halifax, via Elland. 2. By Brighouse, via
Cooper's Bridge. 3. By Mirlield and Leversedge, via the Cleckheaton
Valley Railway. The Cleckheaton Valley line would be constructed
very easily, and would accommodate an immense population, in-
cluding Dewsbury, Heckmondwicke, Leversedge, Cleckheaton, Oaken-
ahaw, and other places, and would afford direct communication
between Wakefield and Bradford. The length of the line would be
9 miles 7 chains. The Brighouse branch would bring minerals by
a descending gradient ftom Low Moor to Brighouse, a large station
on the Manchester and Leeds Railway. The length of this branch
was 3 miles 72 yards. There was also another branch for the pur-
pose of affording communication with Pudsey and Staningley and
the coal-fields of Gildersome and Farnley Moor. The length of the
line was about three miles. The estimate for the construction of
the main line, and all the branches, was 1,827,3971. This sum was
ample for the construction of all the works.
After the examination of Mr. Ilawkshaw, several witnesses were
examined in favour of the Bill.
The Committee then adjourned.

STANDING ORDERS' COMMITTEE.
HOUSE OF LORDS.
Their Lordships met at three o'clock, Lord Shaftesbury in the
chair. Lord Redcsdale and several other Noble Lords were present.
LONDON AND SOUTH-WESTERN (LONDON-BRIDGE EX-
TENSION).
Their Lordships decided that the promoters of this Bill had com-
plied with the standing orders.
SELECT COMMITTEE ON MERITS.
The list which came before their Lordships in this capacity con-
tained twelve Bills, of which only one was a railway Bill. This
Was the
EASTERN COUNTIES AND THAMES JUNCTION BRANCH.
In respect of which Bill their Lordships came to the decision that
the promoters had proved their preamble.
The preambles of the following Bills were also declared proved :
Dublin Cemeteries ; Cambeltown Harbour, Waterworks, and Paving ;
Argyll Canal ; Andover Canal Navigation ; Australian Agricultural
Company; Sligo Ship Canal.
The remaining Bills were adjourned till to-marrow (some having
been part heard), and their Lordships rose shortly after four o'clock.

PETERBOROUGH AND NOTTING.

HAM JUNCTION RAILWAY.

A special meeting of the shareholders of this Company
took place yesterday at the London Tavern, under the provi-
sions of an Act for the purpose of facilitating the dissolution
of railway companies. The meeting was advertised for one
o'clock, but it was not until long after that hour that the
proceedings commenced. About two o'clock the chair was
taken by Lord Thomas Clinton.
The Cnatsmax said that the directors had deeply to re-
gret that they appeared before the shareholders without
having an opportunity of going before Parliament, and
being obliged to announce that the funds of the Company
were not in as flourishing a state as they could wish. Their
failure was entirely owing to the refusal of those to whom
shares had been allotted to perform their part of the con-
tract. The directors had never gained a single
shilling by the scheme, in fact the contrary was
the case, nor had there been any unfair course
adopted. There had been no " rigging of the market."
The directors had hopes to the very last moment of amalga-
mating with other companies, and thus have been enabled to
place the shareholders in a better position.
The SECRETARY stated that there were twenty-nine com-
mitteemen who had not paid as yet, and that the balance in
hand was 4,711/. 14s. 4d., and that there were bills for 1,8624
more, which were in course of payment.
The following gentlemen were then appointed as scruti-
neers :—Mr. Alton, Mr. Whitecombe, and Mr. Travers.

Mr. F. L. COLE moved the dissolution of the Company.
Mr. RouLP seconded the resolution.

It was also resolved that the act should not be taken as
an act of bankruptcy.
The numbers voting were—
For the dissolution 1,830 shares
As an act of bankruptcy
The meeting was then adjourned, there being nearly 400
more shares requiring to be represented to constitute a
meeting.

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL,
Yestercky v. Court was held for the dispatch of busi-
ness.

MR. WAGHORN.

3fr. Lorr moved that the Court do agree with the
Coal, Corn, ana Finance Committee, which recom-
mended that the sum of 200 guineas be granted in aid
of Mr. Waghorn for his extraordinary exertions in ac-
complishing a rapid communication between India and
this country. The mover said that on the last day of
the meeting of the Court, some doubt was expressed on
the subject of the grant made by the East India Com-
pany to that gentleman. In order to remove any ques-
tion as to that fact, he had furnished himself with the
original letter, in which the last donation of 3001. to that
gentleman from that establishment was mentioned as
having been granted. He should not trouble the Court
with any observation upon a subject with which the
public were so well acquainted, as the merits and enter-
prising genius of that gentleman who had distinguished
himself so much for the honour and advantage of his
country, and, indeed, for the benefit of mankind in
general—(Hear)—but move that the report be agreed to.
Mr. HoLT seconded the motion.

Mr. ANDERTON most readily admitted the talents,
and zeal, and services of Mr. Waghorn, but he con-
sidered that the business in which Dlr. Waghorn had
been occupied was a commercial speculation, which the
Court would not be justified in rewarding at a large ex-
pense to the Corportion at a time when there was such
large demands upon the funds. Looking at what the
great establishments of the country had contributed to
the testimonial, he thought the sum of one hundred
guineas was a, large as the Court could think o•f voting.
Mr. Anderton conclud, d by moving an amendment that
the smaller sum be substituted.
Mr. W. LAWRENCE seconded the amendment. Ile
thought it would not be very creditable ti the Corpora-
tion to vote more to the Waghorn than to the Rowland
Hill Testimonial, and to him they had given no more
than one hundred guineas, although the citizens of Lon-
don and the ;:nhabit.nts of the whole kingdom had been
more be-aefited by the labours of Mr. Hill than by those
of ar:y other gentleman. _

Mr. R. TAYLOR said he intended to vote for the larger
sum. He did not like, in considering such a subject, to
enter into any comparisons. He looked upon the ser-
vices rendered by Mr. Waghorn as services rendered to
the great cause of humanity, and such as would be felt
for ages all over the globe—(Hear.)
Mr. JUPP was of opinion that the amount should be
the same in each of the cases described and compared.
A MEMBER said it seemed not to be taken into ac-
count by those who were of opinion that the committee
recommended too much, that Mr. Waghorn had not only
expended two or three fortunes in the endeavour to ac-
complish his magnificent object, but that he also risked
his life.—(Hear.) The apathy of other persons ought
not to have the slightest influence upon the Court; and
'he should be ashamed of himself if, after the recommen-
dation of the committee, he voted with a niggard hand.
Mr. NORRIS approved of the amendment. The Court '
did not mean to testify their sense of the merit of the
individual by the amount voted in aid of the testimonial.
Trey had a variety of ways of evincing their admiration.
He instanced the bust of the venerable Clarkson as a
proof of one of the varieties.—(Hear, hear.)
Sir PETER LAURIE said the case was not a matter of
charity, 'but of honour. The smaller sum adequately
expressed the feeliug. The East India Company also
received the greatest advantage from the enterprising
genius of Mr. Waghorn, and would nu doubt properly
remunerate him for the services rendered. If they did
not, no doubt the Corporation would not refuse to enter •
lain a future application.
Mr. DE JERSEY said there was no analogy between
the case of Mr. Rowland Hill and that of Mr. Waghorn.
The former gentleman had neither spent a fortune nor
risked his life iuendeavouting to obtain his object. The
world knew what Mr. Waghorn had undergone in his
efforts to benefit miTritind (Hear, hear.)
Mr. T. H. Ilan, Avise—dthe Court to check the taste
for prodigality which appeared to be springing up
amongst them.
Mr. BENNOCII thought the snra of
orationa
liberal sum for the Ccurt to vote. If the
guineas was a
however, coud afford 1,0001., he should not have C
n
ob-
jection to propose it, but the claims upon them 5.
,
every day accumulating.
Alderman Moox said he could not but consider the
course the Court appeared to IN disposed to take to be
a very. ungracious one. They were bound to support
recommendation of their committee, and if the
the
le) were called unon, no doubt that body would
doubleii' the amount at least.—(lleac, hear.)
Mr. Low was resolved to vote fi.n. the amendment on
' m rous dermnds uon e Corpo raton.
tvt 0.. tne nu
The amendmentt pth
was then put and declared toi be
carried.
In the next case, which was a petition from certain
persons of rank,
Mr. WISE leo:rested that the Court woul'l dispense
with the attendance of the petitioner,. Amongst the
names or th-in w* re the-e of some noblemen.

-
6:r l'Eroß Lauttiki said he c..uld by no no an-• consce:
t, give such indulgt-nee, particularly as persons in such a
station of life knew leas of the niaitcrs to which the)
subserib• d their names than any other persons.
Th., Court reused to excuse the attendance of their
Lord hips.

TIIE NATIONAL SCHOOLS.
The Chairman of tile (3,,a), and Finance Ci m-
rnittee brought up the report of the committee to which
the petition in aid of the National Schools was referred.
it recommended that tho sum of Imo!. should be
granted towards the eroctlon Of BiZ new school-housee.