The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-05 00:00:00

GROUP XI.

The Committee assembled at the usual hour this morning. Mr.
Henley, chairman.
AIRDRIE AND ISATHGA.TE JUNCTION.
The object of this proposed railway is to form a direct communi-
cation between the towns of Airdrie, in the county of Lanark, and
of Bathgtite, in the county of Linlithgow ; and also to connect there-
with, by a branch railway, the villages of Blackburn and Whitbum,
in the latter county. It is likewise intended to join the proposed
Glasgow, Airdrie, and Monkland Junction Railway at Airdrie, and
the proposed Coatbridge line leading to Glasgow by the Garnkirk
Railway, and also the proposed Edinburgh and Bathgate; thus
affording direct railway communication with both Edinburgh and
Glasgow. The length of this line is 19 miles ; the estimated expense
of the construction of the same was 240,0001.
Several witnesses were called in order to prove the preamble of the
Bill, which was unopposed.

Group XIII.
This Committee met to-day at half-past twelve o'clock. Sir Wm.
Clay in the chair. Members present, Mr. Curteis, Mr. P. Ainsworth,
Earl Jermyn, and Lord Shelburne.
GLASGOW, DUMFRIES AND CARLISLE.
The evidence on behalf of this line was resumed.
Mr. Cranford was examined in continuation from yesterday as to
the great benefits the proposed line would confer on Ayrshire
generally. A great number of petitions had been presented from
the county of Ayr in favour of this line. He believed the general
feeling was favourable to it.

Cross-examined by Mr. Sergeant WRANGHAM —lle admitted that
the principal portion of the petitioners would receive direct benefit
if the line was opened, as they lived on its route. Ayr had
equally petitioned in favour of the Caledonian Extension. The prin-
cipal goods of Kilmarnock went to Glasgow, and those for the English
market were sent by sea, manufactured goods by steamers, and the
heavy goods by calling vessels. Glasgow was the Manchester of
Scotland, and the English travellers made their purchases there.
Most of the Kilmarnock manufacturers had agents in Glasgow. He
believed the shoes were made principally abroad. He was not a manu-
facturer himself, but received his information from parties in trade.
The leather made at Kilmarnock went principally to the London
market by sea he believed. He did net think any 'other line to
which he had referred would go to England, but a portion of it would
go to Dumfries. At present there was only one coach by Dumfries,
a two or three horse coach, which also took through the Carlisle
passengers.

GROUP XX.
This Committee re-assembled this morning at the usual hour.
Mr. Sotheron, chairman.

WINDSOR, SLOUGH, AND STAINES
ATMOSPHERIC.

Mr. Comtuax, with whom were Mr. Macaulay and Mr. Vonles,
opened the case for the promoters. He proceeded to say that
the present mode of eommnnicatlon between Windsor and London
is inconvenient and inadequate to the wants of the public.
The time occupied in proceeding ftom Windsor to London, via the
Great Western Railway, is unnecessary long ; and the nearest station
on the South Western Railway, is 13 miles distant from Windsor, so
that the nearest station of the Great Western Railway can
only be attained by unnecessary inconvenience and delay ;
and the Paddington Terminus of the Great Western Railway
is at a very inconvenient distance from the centre of the metropolis.
The proposed line contemplates a connexion with both the north-
west and south sides of the metropolis, and thence to the east and
west, as well as to open an internal communication ; and it is in-
tended to commence at a point in Windsor, convenient both to Wind-
sor and Eton, and with a quick succession of trains to convey pas-
sengers by one branch, in a few minutes, tot only to the Great
Western Railway at Slough, but to the parts adjacent; and by an-
other branch to convey passengers, also in a few minutes, from Wind-
sor to Staines, and the adjacent places, as well as to the several
railways now or hereafter to be connected with that neighbourhood,
either by means of the Staines and Richmond Railway, or the Lon-
don, Hounslow, and Western Railway, the proposed railway would
give the public the advantage of proceeding direct to London to a
central terminus, at or near Hungerford-bridge ; and by the contem-
plated extensions to a central terminus at Lon ion-bridge ; and by the
South-Western Branch from Weybridge to Staines the proposed line
will bring Windsor iu close proximity with the South-Western Railway.
By the above lines and extensions, and by means of the proposed
line, the important town of Windsor would be placed in im-
mediate or almost immediate railway proximity with
Chatham and Portsmouth, and all the chief seaport towns and
watering places on the south-east, south, and south-west of England,
The Learned Counsel, after detailing other advantages which the
line would confer, went on to say that the gauge will be a double
gauge from Windsor to the Great Western Railway at Slough, and a
narrow gauge to Staines, and will therefore be in conformity with
the report of the Gauge Commissioners, and connect Windsor with
the narrow gauge lines. The report also of the Board of Trade, of
the 13th of March, 1845, is wholly applicable to the present line, and
confirmatory of the views and objects of its promoters. The line was
easy of construction and calculated to produce the contemplated results
with a very moderate expenditure of capital. Another great advantage
also was that the proposed railway interferes with a comparatively
small amount of valuable property. There are no tunnels on the
line, nor any roads crossed on the level. The atmospheric, by which
the line was proposed to be worked, will give frequency, comfort,
speed, and safety, and is without noise, steam, or smoke ; and this
system is conceived to be peculiarly adapted to the line. The line is
supported by the inhabitants of Windsor, and the majority of shares
taken by persons having a local interest, and the strongest feeling in
favour of the line is exhibited by the inhabitants of Windsor and
persons residing in the neighbourhood of the line. Ten petitions
from the Corporation of Windsor, the inhabitants of Windsor,
and other places, have been presented to the House in favour of it.
The line from Windsor to Slough is 2 miles 21 chains. To this branch
the only opposition was from certain parties belonging to Eton Col-
lege. But this he would show to be the common case of landowners,
which was merely a question of compensation. He would call pro-
fessors of the College to prove that the College would receive no injury
from the proposed line. The other branch from Windsor to Staines is
5 miles and 76 chains in length, and there is a curve of 161,E chains.
The whole distance of both branches is therefore 8 miles and 3334
chains. The Learned Counsel, after a cursory allusion'to the com-
peting schemes, which he contended would:not confer the advan-
tages which the proposed line would give, concluded a lengthened
address by saying that the proposed line would be of the greatest
possible advantage to the inhabitants of Windsor and the public,
by expediting and facilitating the communication with all parts of
the metropolis, and by creating that wholesome competition which
Parliament has declared to be desirable, and which necessarily and
invariably produces increased punctuality, cheapness, and civility to
the community.