The Sun.
London, England, 1846-03-30 00:00:00

missioners had no petition before the Committee, and the petition
they presented to Parliament contained matter irrelevant to the
inquiry.
Mr. MERREWETHER said that he was not examining the witness on
any petition, but as the representative of a body, who expressed
themselves against the Bill of the North Kent line, as likely to cause
a public injury.
Mr. Sergeant MURPHY said he had no objection to Mr. Greenlaw's
giving his opinion, but he could not express the opinion of a body
unless those opinions were embodied in a pc tition to the Committee.
The CHAIRMAN said that Mr. Greenlaw could give evidence as to
the result of a public meeting, and, also as a paving commissioner
individually, but he could not appear to express the opinions of any
public body.
Examination continued—lf the line passed through Woolwich at
an elevation of 28 feet above the level of the greund, the inhabitants
would have to draw their goods up to that level.
By Mr. Sergeant MURPHY—If the height of the line was to be
16 feet, that woald diminish the objection to the proposed line. Has
written to Mr. Vignoles, approving of a station in the centre of the
town. The proposed station of the North Kent is to be in the centre
of the town.
By Mr. Mxaaswaxaxa—Two stations in the town would certainly
be preferable to one, and would afford more cenvealence to the
town. Any line that would interfere with the sewers would be in-
jurious. The South-Eastern does not interfere with the sewers.
Mr. H. Bland, examined by Mr. ALEXANDER—IC one of the com-
missioners for carrying into effect the Greenwich Act of Parliament.
Has heard the evidence of Mr. Greenlaw, and his own opinion is
quite in accordance with it.
Mr. Geo. Clubb, a clerk in the Ordnance, stated that the North
Kent line would not give any adequate recompense for the injury it
wonld cause to Woolwich. The passengers that dissembark from the
packet companies at Woolwich, amount to 1,500,000 annually. The
South-Eastern line would accommodate *the town of Woolwicn more
than the North Kent Line, He knew the town of Woolwich for
fifty years,. Isconnected with the Woolwich Steam-boat Company.
Believes that the inhabitants of Woolwich are in favour of the
South Eastern nue. Had given great accommodation to tile dock-
yard and arsenal, and could facilitate the transmission of troops.
Mr. George Corbett, an auctioneer, residing at Lewisham, stated
that he has been in business for '25 years. The want of railway com-
munication is very much felt there. The ordinary conveyance to
London is by omnibus. The feeling of the inhabitants is in favour of
the South-Eastern line, which passes nearer than the North Kent
line, and would be more servigeable to the inhabitants.
Mr. Lewis, a magistrate for the county of Kent and a churchwar-
den of the parish of Eltham, stated that the South-Eastern line would
be a considerable accommodation to the parish, which contains over
2,000 inhabitants, most of whom have their daily eccupatiott in Lon-
don. The North Kent would be too distant from Eltham to give it
any accommodation.
Mr. Lansdowne Hull stated that he is a landowner, residing at
Sidcup. The South-Eastern line would be an advantage to the dis-
trict. The North Kent line would be of no advantage to Sidcup.
• By Mr. Sergeant Waktionam--The Hamlet of Sidcup contains
about 100 inhabitants.

➢ir. Grey, an auctioneer, proved that the population of Bexley is
between i and 6,000. The South-Eastern line would accommodate
that place. The North Kent is at too great a distance to be of any
benefit to it. The opinion at Bexley is more favourable to the South-
Eastern line.

By Mr. Sergeant WKANonAm—Bexley-heath is more populous than
the village of Bexley which contains only 2,000 inhabitants. The
North Kent line would accommodate Bexley-heath.
Mr. Clarke, a brewer, residing at Erith, stated that the North Kent
Railway would not be so beneficial to Erith as the South-Eastern.
The North Kent is too distant to be of any service.

---
By Mr. Witedemiam—There is no place of any rote between
Erith and Plumpstead, and there is only the village of Crayford

tween Erith and Dartford.

Mr. Ward stated that he resides at Dartford. Is well acquainted
with the courses of the North-Kent and South-Eastern lines. The
South-Eastern is better as it is to have a double line.
By Mr. Waspromuf—There is no :very great difference in the
distance of " the Crays," from the lines.
Mr. Saddington, an. Aldet man of Gravesend and a director of the
Diamond Steam Packet Company—The South-Eastern would afford
greater accommodation to Gravesend than the North-Kent line
would. There are two piers at Gravesend.
By Mr. Wasrausu—Cannot :say whether there his a yard diffe-
rence between the proposed Gravesend station of either line. There
is a struggle detween the Star and Diamond Steam-packet Com-
panies to have the station nearest to their own pier.
Re-examined b. Mr. Mutzwrrnmt—The South-Eastern Railway
station will be equi-distant between the piers of the Company's. The
opinion of the inhabitants of Graveseud is in favour of the line.
Mr. Steele, a surgeon residing at Rochester, stated that he is one
of the Corporation of Rochester Believes that the South-Eastern
line will be more advantageous to Rochester than the North Kent
line, which will pass through the town on an embankment thirty
feet high. That will cause a deterioration he the value of property.
Has been at public meetings where an opinion condemning the North
Kent line, and in favour of the South-Eastern line, had been parsec.
By Mr. WaANosAm--There was a meeting of the Corporation of
Rochester and Stroud, and a preference was given to the North

Kant line.
By Mr. Annus—Several of the members of that Corporation were
shareholders in the North Kent Company. Cannot say if they had
any plan before them.
The Committee then adjourned until twelve o'clock to-morrow.

GROUP XVI.

ALTON lIIVZ 11.18.14.NEtArdi LINE.

The Committee met at twelve o'clock, all the members presc.t, Sir
Charles Douglas in the chair.

Mr. HILL, Q.C. opened the ,proceedings by calling the attention of
the Committed to the map on whch the district to be effected by this
country, and stated that the proposed line went from a little
below the working station, thence to the village of Ashe,
Stoke, which was a line which was already authorized, but not yet
made, thence it was to proceed to Ashe, and so on to Farnham,
which lies in a very fertile district. After that the line was
to ge on to Alton, celebrated for its ales as well as ether
things. By the notices which the Company had given to Parlia-
ment they provided fer the acquisition of a right to go by Parbright.
By the latter route the line would be about two miles shorter to London
but, by taking the longer route, the inhabitants of Alton would ob-
tain a much better access to their county town ; while, by a clause
in the Bill, the public were saved from any extra charge on account
of the greater distance, and a much more efficient line to London
was provided for the inhabitants of that part of the country. All the
landowners, except those two for whom Mr. Wordsworth appeared,
had withdrawn their opposition. The Reading, Reigate, and s )orking
Company were satisfied with a clause, and had also disappeared as a
competing company, so that the only opposition to the Hue was that
of his learned friend. Farnham contained a population of 7,000,
and the Union of which Alton is the centre comprises 12,000, which
the breweries at that place consuming a large quantity of coals, coin-
ing from Winchester and Southampton would have great convenience
for those breweries. Farnham was six miles from the station on tile
South-Western line, and sine miles from Guildford, the county town.
Both of those difficulties would be obviated by the line proposed by
the South-Western Company. The cost of the line would be
300,0001., a considerable portion of which was for land, in conse
quence of their passing through a very fertile portion, and the land
therefore was of considerable value, and bore a high prico.
_ _ _

Mr. WORDSWORTH, having inquired whether Mr. Hill had finished
his case, stated that it was a hard case which he had to submit to
the Committee, for it was the first time that Mr. H alsey, for whom
he appeared, bad heard for the first time this morning, and
as that gentleman had been compelled to bear very considerable
expentes in coining before the Committee, which opposition might
Lave been obviated by a frank avowal of the Company as to win, h
line they intended to take. lie was aware that the Committee did
not possess the power to award costs, but he (Mr. Wordsworth)
trusted they would express such an opinion as would induce the
Company to make that compensation for the outlay made by Mr.
Hulsey was but fair and just. This was the more necessary and fair,
inasmuch as on the 16th of March, a letter had been addressed to the
solicitors of the Company, asking explicitly for a statement
of the Company's intention. The reply was received
the same day which was in its terms altogether vague and uncertain,
and from the 24th to the present day Mr. Halsey had been put to
inevitable expense in order to protect his interests. This he thought
was a sufficient ground for the expression of that opinion, and for its
co, sequence to which he had alluded. The main line already passed
through his property, and this branch would also pass through his
estate and thus would be divided into three parts. On this.account
he thought that a compensation was fully due.

Mr. HeaL conceived that, as this branch would not bring one
single passenger which did not already come to town by their main
live, and as they were about to lay out the large sum of 300,0001.
for the accommodation of the public only, and had altered their line
so as not in the slightest degree to affect Mr. Hilary's property ;
such being the case, he really conceived that, considering the posi-
tion of this gentleman that it was an opposition and a claim whioh
ought never to have been made.
Air. WORDSWORTH, in reply, thought that although the Committee
lead not the power to grant costs—and he regretted that in cases of
extreme kardship they had cot that power—yet they had an indirect
power of rendering compensation, and as the Committee had decided
on hearing evidence in Mr. Evans's case last week against the pre-
amble of the Xgham and Staines Branch Bill, he trusted that as this
was a great public question, that the Committee would tale this
matter in such a way as would recompense an individual petitioner
for the eost to which be had been so unnecessarily subjected.
At tkis point the room was cleared, and on the re-admission of
parties

The CHAIRMAN staced, that although they conceived Mr. Halsey's
case one of great private wrong, they had not the power to interfere.
Mr. G. F. Nicholson. of Waverley Abbey, where he had resided 18
years, testified that the price of coals had been reduced from 21. to
275. 6d. a ton, and that great convenience would result from the for-
mation of the railway, and that a considerable saving would be ob-
tained to the county in the transmission for prisoners, many of whom
were committed at Newington, at the extremity of the county, at 40
miles distant. There would of course be a convenience to those who
attended Guildford assizes.
Mr. G. M. EVANS, solicitor at Farnham, stated that Guildford was
ten miles distance by the road, and that there was a population of
1,500 in the eight villages near Farnham, the parishes of which
comprised 52,000 acres. Farnham is a central postal town, and
there is a cattle market every fortnight. At this market there has
been 9,284 sheep, 1,285 beasts, and 238 horses sold iu that market on
an average per annum. The number of quarters of malt made in
the year ending July, 1845, was 2,604. He also testified to the
general advantage to all the business curried on in that district.
This witness, and several others, testified to the advantage which
would be obtained by the formation of the railway to Guildford,
Farnham, Attor, and the surrounding places.
Mr. Turner, of Bentley, stated that he who sent 1,5041 or 1,600 tons
of corn per annum to Guildford, in the carriage of which lie would
save five sixths of the expense. Great advantage would also accrue
from the transmission of corn and hay by Farnborough.
To the Chairman and Mr. Lockhart the witness stated that the
distance to Winchfield station was eleven miles over a bad road, and
the distance to the canal was eight miles.

Captain Mangles gave evidence as to the increase of the traffic to
Guildford since the formation of the branch led to that town—that
the price of coals had been greatly reducsd—and that the feeling 'WU
drcidedly in favour of the line.
Mr. Rand, town clerk of Guildford, where he had practised for
many years, and had been solicitor to the Guildford branch, testified
that the opening of that branch had contributed greatly to the pros-
perity and activity of business in that town. As an instance of the
benefit he had learned that the cost of the carriage of wine in casks
had been reduced from 2d. to ?(t d. per gallon, and in bottles from Is.
to 2d. the dozen; in the carriage of manure there world be a saving
of 50 per cent, and of groceries of 30 per cent. In the carriage 01
lime and o'her produce there was a similar advantage obtained. His
anticipations of the traffic when he first applied to Parliament had
been exceeded by six-fold, and it was a universally expressed opinion
that the railway was necessary.

Mr. Crowley of Alton, the brewer of Alton as well as at Croydon,
engaged also in the corn and coal line. The nearest canal to Alton
was at Ouiham, and the nearest railway station is at Winkfleld, was
11 miles, and thence by rail to London, 38 miles. Last year he sent
3,300 tons of ale to London. the carriage of which was at Bs. a mile
for waggon conveyance, and the same expence of Bs. for the 38 miles
by rail. This cost was 2,6401.. He also sent 640 tons of coals, which
cost the same by waggon, but 4s. 9d. by rail. He also sent 200 tons
of enlm, at a cost of 16s. a ton, making a total for carriage of 3,4401.
If the railway was made, the carriage of those goods would come to

1,9271.; making a saving to the public on his own businass alone of
1,5001. a year. At present it cost him 13s. to get to London, where
he came very frequently, while by tha proposed line he would be
charged only 9s. 6d., with a saving of an hour and a half of time.
Mr. Crowley also testified to the advantage of procuring manure for
the district from London.
Mr. Smith, civil engineer, who had laid out the line, under Mr.
Locke's direction, said that it was intended to have the Guildford
branch about one quarter of a mile below Woking, then proceeding
directly westward, in order to avoid the high ground from the high
street, and the high hills of that range, thence across the valley to
Farnham, and so on to Alton. The length of the line would be 19
miles. No inclined plains or engineering difficulties of importance.
Gradients and curves easy. The steepest gradient was 1 in 157,
which was about two miles long. The shortest radius was one of
three quarters of a mile, except that at the junction, where the
train was always slow. Some roads, but no turnpikes, were
crossed at a level, but provision was made to save inconvenience.
the cost would be 300,0001., including 45,0001. for contingencies ; a
sum abundantly sufficient for all the purposes of the fine. The
working expenses would be somewhat less than 40 per cent., but
that might be allowed as the maximum.
To the Committee—The witness stated that he thought this was
the best line that could be adopted for that on the south of the Ilogs-
back.

To the CHAIRMAN—The witness replied that ad extension had
been surveyed in the direction of 'Winchester.
fromTo Lord
rn
trafficham boymPeaerrborifg
Powsexots--Mr. Smith said that
shortermiles
principal Pa the line would be two
Parbright.
Mr. Hum,
the Company, and secretary
of the Guildford branch, stated that this branch was promoted at the
express desire of the inhabitants, but in consequence of b position
of those residing towards
wweiii t eop
that extension had been aban-
doned. The total returns he calculated at 25,2231., hien w , deducting
40 per cent. ibr working expenses, would leave a profit of 41. 161. Id.
per cent. on the outlay of Roomoot.
Mr. Locke replied to Lord Po'l ington, that the Portsmouth Direct
Railway was now before a Committee of the Lords, but he doubted
its passing. The difficulties between Farnham and BB on are exces-
sive, and these between Farnham and Godaiming great, but riot in-
surmountable; certainly the line they had taken was far better thanany such line could be. The main reason :or promoting this line
was the desire of the district, and the reason of devlathig from Par-
bright was the opposition of the landowners in that quarter.
Mr. Bircham, solicitor of the South-Western Company, test:fied
that, with reference to the difference with Mr. Halsey, the company
had only come to a decision on Friday last. With respect to tLe de-
viation from Parbright, it rested upon the feeling of the inhabitants
and an arrangement with the Reading and Reigate Company. As
to the extension to Winchester, the design had been much debated in
the boardroom, but that extension depended upon the result of the
present application of the Company for lines to the west.
The room was then cleared, and en the readmission of the parties
the Chairman declared the preamble not proved.
On the inquiry of Mr. MRLLOR, as to whether there was any pro-
bability that a different result would have been come to if additional
evidence of the traffic had been furnished. the Chairman replied,
that he thought it was the extension to Winchester which decided
the case.
The Con i tee then adjourned till after Easter.