The Sun.
London, England, 1846-03-26 00:00:00

ITAIZWIC a .AND

EAsTER.N COUNTIES

J3TNCTZ®:I.

The next line called was the Harwich and Eastern Counties Junc-
tion. The case for the promoters was statel by Mr. Cockburn.
The ache me was for making a line from Colchester to Harwich, and
thus connecting the latter port with the metropolis. The distance
between Colchester and Harwich was eighteen miles, and live miles
of .his route being already occupied by the liaetern LTniou Company,

there would now only be required thirteen miles of railway. There
-could be no doubt of the importance of the line, for previous to the
establishment of steam navigation, Harwich was the port of embar-
kation for the foreign mails, and for passengers proceeding to Nor-
thern and Central Europe, and now under the recommendation of
the Ilarbour of Refuge Commissioners, the Government were going
to improve the harbour, and again restore it to its former position.
Now, the presentline was projected by Mr. Locke in 1844, in opposi-
tion to an Eastern County line, laid down by M 7. Brathwuite,
but some of these lines were thrown out, notwithsLanding that Mr.
Locke, Mr. Stephenson, and Mr. Bidder, stated that the mailer was
the best that could be laid out. Subsequently the Eastern Counties
amalgamated with the Company with which Mr. Locke was con-
nected, and at till instigation of the two Compaides, Mr. Locke
laid out another line to Harwich; hut the other one which he had
promoted being manifestly the best of the two, Mr; Braithwaite
adopted it, and found no difficulty in golfing a company of capitalists
to support him. The two lines came before -Parliament in
the last session, but they were both thrown out on standirg orders.
Now, Mr. Locke's new line weed along the banks of a navigable
river, while his old one and the line now promoted by Mr. Braith-
waite passed through the inter or of the county, and, of course, ac-
commodated more population. The works on she old line were much
emier than on the new, and in point of distance, the former was
shriller by half a mila than the latter. The old line was sanctioned
by the Admiralty, but the new one was not. The estimate for the
works, which included a pier at Harwich, was ISO 000/.
Mr. Lawrance, one of the senior clerks 01 the General Post-office,
proved that Harwich, previoui to the establishment of steam navi-
galon, was the port of embarkation for the northern mails. At
present, owing to the difficulty of navigating the Thames in foggy
wea, her, the mails were oten delayed, while, if there wa.; a ffirect
communication with Harwich from the metropolis, this difficulty
would be overcome.

Mr. JAMES was proceeding to e%ll general evidence in support of
the line, but was interrupted by the
TneCnamittits, who said there was no necessity for the time of the
Committee being taken up with general evidence, becau,e it must
be admitted by every one that a line ought to be made between Col-
chester and Harwich.

Mr. JAMES —And the only question is who shall make it.

The CHAIRMAN—I think that is all we have to decide.

Mr. JANIES —Then, I will not trouble the Committee with general
evidence, but confine myself to evidence relating to the pier at
Harwich.

Capt. Washington, one of the Tidal Harbour Commissioers, was called
to speak to the importance of Harwich, as a port of embarkation Going
by way of Harwich, the juunisy to Hemkurgh and Rotterdam, was
performed in half the present time. It was the only harbour of re-
fuge between the Thames and the Humber, and he anticipated shortly
that it would be made a mail and packet station.
Mr. John Ili athwaite, the engineer who laid out the line, proved
that the gradients were good, and the curves easy. It would be
half a mile shorter than the rival line, and pass from a place called
Hovels Hall to Harwich, 13 miles, and he eonnated the cost of the
works at ISO,OOO/., which. included 30,0001. for the pier at Harwich.
The estimate was 15,0001. mere than it would have been formerly,
owing to the increase in the cost and price of labour and materials.

Oncross-examination by Mr. Aunts, on behalf of the competing
line promoted by the Eastern Counties and the Eastern Union
Company, the witness admitted that the distance between Harwich
and Ipswich by the rival line would be six mites shorter than his
own, while the time saved in performing the journey by his own
line from London to Harwich would not be more than a minute.
The witness was also cross-examined by Mr. Beasn_tw with a
view of showing that this independent line would do more damage
to hie property at Harwich than the rival line.
The Committee then adjourned.

Sub-Coillmittee No. 2.

This Committee met 10-day a few minutes after twelve o'clock.
Present, Sir J. Y. Bailer (Chairman), Mr. Yorke, Mr. Kemble, and
Mr. Bramston.

BRITISH AND lILI4H 'UNION.

The consideration of the petition against this Bill, commenced
yesterday, was resum. d.
The Committee, having heard the evidence of Mr. James Mon-
crieff, a Scotch advocate, who was examined with reference to the
Scotch law on the subject under discussion, which we mentioned
yesterday, decided that the allegation was sustained.
Mr. COATES, who appeared in support of the petition, suggested
that it would be better if all the minor cbjectious should be arranged
between the parties, w ithout troubling the Committee.
This proposition was ultimately acceded to, and the Author con
sideration of the Bill was postponed till Friday.
VAX.iI OP IVEATXT.
The object of this Bill was to construct a railway, for the purpose of
affording }weans of communication between Neath and Merthyr
Tydvil, and to join the South Wales Railway at Ncath. The length
of the line was 25 milts, and the amount of capital 500,0001. En.
gineer, Mr. I. K. Brunel; Parliamentary agents, Messrs. Burke.
There were some petitions against this Bill, for which no one
appeared,

The formal proofs having been taken, the Committee found that the
standing ort:ers ha 4 been complied with.
LENDS AZT -3 Tmcceszt.

The oklect of this Bill waS to construct a line of railway from the
Leeds arid Thrisk Railway near Ripon, through Northallerton, Yani,
Stockton, to Ilartlepo.,l. The length of the line was thirty one
miles, and the amount of capital 455,5001.. Engineer, Mr. Thomas
Grainger; P filamentary Agents, Messrs. Burke and Co. The
standing orders were c.•mpl:ed with, except with respect to the
evidence of one of the parties serving, who was abfent through
illne,s.
The CHAIRMAN said that the Commitee would receive an affi-
davit of the service t,-.e next day they sat.
The Committee then adjourned.

STANDING ORDERS' COMMITTEES.
HOUSE OF COMMONS. •
The sittings of this Committee commenced this morning at the
customary hour.
The Members present were Mr. T. B. Estcourt (chairman), Mr.
Ord, Mr. Pendarves, Sir W. Heatheote, Mr. H. Drummond, Mr. W.
Patten.
THE NEWPORT AND PILLGWNLLY RAILWAY
was allowed to be proceeded with.
The decision in the case of the
BEDFORD AND CAMBRIDGE RAILWAY •
was postponed till Friday next.
There not being any parties in support of the
BIRKENHEAD, LANCASHIRE, AND CHESHIRE, HULL,
AND LINCOLN,
we were not able to ascertain the decision of the Committee in re-
ference to them.
The Committee then adjourned till Friday next.
Sub-Committee, Non,
This Committee met at the usual hour, Mr. Strutt in the chair.
MORAYSHIRE LINE.
The usual formal evidence having keen adduced, several inaccu-
racies were di7covered by the Committee in the plans and sections. ,
The, result of the investigation of this case showed that it ought
to have been divided into two separate lines, and that, as a datum
line was given' for only one, that the standing orders were not
complied with. Several other allegations respecting want of num-
bers, want of enlarged plane, &c., were then gone into, some of
which were sustained, and some not.
011.701131, 507.77.M.11.7:417.*T0N, GOSPORT, AT. D
POI .7.73 MOUTH
The formal proofs of this line having bean gone into, the Cer
mittee were occupied with the consideration of the case up to feu
o'clock, when they adjourned.
Sub-Committee, No. 2.
(Continued front our Afternoon Edition.)
BRITISH AND IRISH UNION RAILWAY.
The decision of the Committee on this line was that some of the
allegations of the petitioners were sustained, and were, theretbre
non-compliant with the standing orders.
The Committee reported accordingly.
SOUTH WALES RAILWAY (No. 1.)
The promoters of this line withdrew it, and further proceedings
were of course dropped.
LEEDS AND Ti IRSK (NORTH-EASTERN EXTENSION,
RATH TO HARTLEPOOL) RAILWAY. •
The formal proofs having been given, the'Commlttee declared that
the standing orders had been complie.t with.
The Committee adjourned at four o'clock.

sub-Committee No. 3.

The Committee re-assembled at the usual hour, Mr. Edward Buller,
chairman; Mr. Aldan, Mr. Broadley, Mr. Thornely, and Mr. E..
Stansileld present-
EXETER GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY.
Shortly after the proceedings were opened,

Mr. 'THOMAS, the agent for the petitioners against the Bill an•
nounce'd that he had brought his case to a close, the remaining allege•
tions having been abandoned,
WILTS, SoMERS ET AND WEYMOUTH RAILWAY.

The object of the promoters of this line is.to procure powers V
make certain alterations, deviations and extensions, of the Wilt.;,
Some7Ect and Weymorth Railway. Estimated cost. 240,0001. Par.
liamentary agents, Messrs. I3uri,e and Venables. Engineer, I. K.
Brune!, Esq

The ibrml proofs having been given, seven petitions were gene
into, complaining of non-compliance with the standing orders.
The petition of Henry Haman, agent of Mr. 'Vivian, alleged that
the required notice had not been served by the promoters on him or
Mr. Vivian, who was the owner of a large property through which
the proposed line would pass, and who-was abroad when the notices
were served.

After a lengthened examination the room war ordered to be
cleared, and on our re-admission

The CHAIRMAN gave the following decision on the point :—The e-
cision of the Committee is, that West-int:di as it is not alleged in the
petition that Mr. Vivian was absent on the 30th of November, and
his absence at that particular time is the only ground upon which
Mr. Haman could complain of non-compliance with the standing
milers, as hAlig his agent, and not having received notice, that sup-
posing the whole of the facts in this tictiti.4n to have been proved,
they do not amount to non-compliance with the standing orders;
and lie could not, therefore, admit proof €f the absence of Mr. Vivian
on the 30th of November, inasmuch as it is not alef.;ed in the petition.
Several allegations were then gone into, one especially, respecting
the plans not being in the same state as when they were deposited
with the clerk of the peace.
The Committee were of opinion that this was not sustained.
The Committee adjourned at four o'clock.

Sub-Committee No. 6.
The Committee sat at twelve o'cl.,ck, Captain Jones, Chairman;
Mr. Pakington, and Mr. Childers present.
LAN ARKSIIIIIE AND LOTHIANS.
In this case a petition was presented from Sir W. Bailey, by Mr.
Pitt, complaining that certain fields, &c., were not properly described
in the book of reference, were not numbered in the plans and sec-
tions, and that the references did not correspond.
The whole of the Morning was occupied with the consideration of
these allegations, which possesses no feature of the sligktest interest.
Tt,e Committee, after a lengthened investigation of the objections
already rs ferred to, decided that .in several important points the
standing orders were not compli,d with. 'the only point of gener,:l
interest which arose was, that where plans and sections had been un-
necessarily lodged, such plans, though not required by the standing
orders must be correct, and any inaccuracy in such plans would he as
detrimental to the Bill as if they had occurred in those required by
the standing orders to be deposited.
The Committee adjourned at four o'clock.