The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-06 00:00:00

RAILWAY COMMITTEES
(YESTERDAY.)

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
GROUP IV.
The Select Committee appointed to consider the merits of the
schemes comprised in this group re-assembled at the usual hour this
morning, Mr. Hope in the chair.
TEE GREAT NORTH OT SCOTLAND.
Mr. Grogan, a gentleman extensively engaged in the Scotch fish-
eries of the Frith of Forth and the Banff and Aberdeen coast, gave a
decided opinion that this line would be of more service to the fishers
Vian either of its rivals.
Mr. W. Fisher, of Bang and Baron Belie, of Burghead, proved
that the majority of the inhabitants of Banff, Burghead, and
Elgin, were in favour of the proposed line, and most
of them had petitioned the Legislature in its favour. The line
followed tihe natural channels of the traffic, and would afford more
accommodation to the districts through which it passed than either
of its rivals.
Mr. A. Stedwart, an extensive landowner on both lines, had care-
fhlly looke(t into the merits of the two schemes, and he certainly pre-
ferred tte Great North of Scotland line.
Mr., G. M'William, a land agent, gave a similar opinion.
Xr. James Beaty, a land valuer, estimated the value of the pro-
TY.,rty to be taken by the Great North of Scotland line at 110,0921.
13s. 10d. The sum taken by Mr. Gibb was more than necessary.
Mr. Charles Francis Ashurn proved that the majority of the land-
holders and occupiers along the line were in favour of the line. He
proved this from returns which had been made to him.
Mr. Marshall, a traffic taker, produced the traffic tables upon
*Lich the returns had been calculated.
Mr. Wallker proved, from returns which he pat in, that the Great
North of Scotland line would accommodate more population than
either of its rivals.
This, closing the case for the promoters of the Great North of Scot-
land line, it was arranged that the engineering evidence of the Perth
and Inverness line shoeld be gone into to-morrow.
The Crisramas intimated that the Committee considered that they
were competent, and might decide upoa the merits of the two lines
upon the engineering evidence.
The Committee adjourned shortly after four o'clock.

Group V.
CALEDONIAN AND DITIVIII.A.IZTONSHIRE
SITNCTION.
(Corainued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.)
On' the re-assembling of the Committee, the clauses of this Bill
were arranged, and with several unimportant amendments agreed to.
The Chairman was then instructed to report the Bill with amend-
ments to the House.
The Caledonian, Direct Northern, and the Dunblane. Donne, and
CaUendar lines being unopposed, were referred to Mr. Greene, and
the Committee adjourned till Thursday next, to take the only re-
maining Bill, the Forth and Clyde Navigation Junction.

GROUP VI.
SCOTTISH MIDLAND EXTENSION.
This Committee met to-day at the usual hour, in Room 29. Pre-
sent, Sir John C. Hobhouse (chairman), Mr. Dickinson, Mr. Neeld,
Mr. Mundy, and Mr. Alderman Humphery.
Lord Wharncliffe, chairman of the Scottish Midland Junction
Railway, examined by Mr. iIILDYARD in favour of the promoters,
stated that the greatest advantages would accrue to this district if
this line were to be constructed.

Mr. Smith, examined by Mr. for the promoters—ls an
engineer and surveyor. Lived formerly at Deanston. Knows the
country through which the proposed line is to pass. It is capable of
very great improvement, and such improvement would be attained
if this line should pass. It requires much draining. The soil is
clayey, and is excellent for making tiles. Very little of it
can be used for want of proper communication ; all that is used is
brought from the westward. If this line were constructed, the land
would increase 2s. 6d. per acre per annum in value, so that at thirty
years' purchase it would be worth 30,0001. per mile, in extenso, more
than it is at present.
Mr. Carr—ls agent to Lord Wharncliffe and many other noblemen
and gentlemen In the neighbourhood of Forfar; the feeling of the in-
habitants was decidedly in favour of this line. He had no doubt that
it this line were carried it would induce many manufacturers to es-
tahlish mills in its neighbourhood, in order to avail themselves of
the water power which exists to a large extent in that neighbourhood.
This line, if carried, would naturally increase the present discount of
the Aberdeen Railway. It would also take away a great portion of
the traffic of the above railway.
After some further evidence to the same erect, the Committee ad-
journed at four o'clock,