The Sun.
London, England, 1846-06-17 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

GROUP XIII.
The Committee met to-day at twelve o'clock; Sir William Clay in
the chair. Other 'members present, Earl Jermyn, Mr. Curteis, and
Mr. I'. Ainsworth.

The clauses ( f the Gths,gow, Dumfries, and Carlisle Railway Bill
were postponed till to-morrow.

CALEDONIAN EXTENSION.

This line was then proceeded with.
The formal proofs wcre then put in, in conformity with Mr. Dun-
combe's resolutions.

The line is opposed by the Duke of Portland and several petition-
ing landowners, for whom Mr. Austin, Mr. Sergeant Bellasis, _3lr.
Deedes, and Mr. Denison appeared. The Ayr and Glasgow Railway
al o petitioned, and was represented by Mr. Andrews.
Counsel in favour of the Bill are Mr. Talbot, Mr. Sergeant Wrang-
ham, Mr. Hope, Sir Wm. Rt 'dell, Mr. Richards, and ➢ir. Boyle.
Mr. COCKBURN opened the proceedings on behalf of the Bill. The
line for which he appeared, he said, was proposed to run from Ayr to
a point on the Caledonian line, about two miles from Lanark, called
Ravenstruther, with two branches north and south, the former the
Lesmahagow branch, and the other went on to Abingdon
on the Caledonian line. The great object of tie main
line was to connect Ayr with Edinburgh, so that the
traffic from the former might be carried forward on the Edinburgh,
York, and the Caledonian line. It passed through the important
mineral fields of Enterkin, Muirkirk, Glenbuck, and Douglas. The
object of the south, or Abingdon branch, was to open those extensive
coal fields to Annandale and Dumfries-shire • and the north branch
was intended to open up the valuable coal field of Lesmahagow,
which at present was locked altogether. The Lesmahagow was a
most extensive and valuable coal field, containing an abundant sup-
ply of gas coal, which would command through the railway a ready
market in Glasgow and Edinburgh. The line, with the branches also,
would be of the greatest service in accommodating the agricultural
traffic of the three counties that would be connected v ith the line.
With regard to the accommodation of passengers passing from Ayr
to Edinburgh, he believed that at present by the coast route the dis•
tance was fifteen or sixteen miles more than it would be by the pre-
sent line, independent of the break of two miles at Glasgow, which
would occasion a material delay. Even were the Barrhead and Kil-
marnock line formed, the distance would still be ten miles in favour
of the Caledonian Extension. This advantage was indepen-
dent of the great mineral fields that would be opened up.
The whole scheme was 76 miles in length ; the main line being 45
miles, the Lesmahagow branch 17 miles, and the .Abingdon branch
12 miles. Tile main line was estimated to cost 782236/., the Lesma-
hagow branch 302,862/., and the Abingdon branch 193,264/. ; making
the total capital 1,330,0001. He would support the scheme by wit-
nesses of the highest respectability, and though the sclicine Wile op-
posed by several proprietors, 11, did not think they could make out
a case that would justify the rejection of such an important line. The
Learned Gentleman th,n proceeded to call his w,tnesses.
Mr. Bell Telfer, shipper, of Ayr, examined—He saql he was in the
habit of shipping the iron of the Muirkirk Company. He had three
ships of his own, and exported about 2,000 tons of that iron yearly.
The iron was brought twenty miles by carts, at a charge of about
10s. a ton. That was a low charge. He also exported a consider-
able portion of wool that Caine from the Muirkirk district. The line
passed through an important agricultural and mineral di's-net. The
principal return cargoes were silt, guano, and oil cakes, which were
sent up into the interior. There were large cotton works at
Online, with which there was considerable traffic front Ayr.
There were considerable beds of freestone along the line that
would find art outlet to Liverpool by this line. There were 100,000
tons of coal exported from Ayr at present, which came from ports
between Ayr and Mauchline on the route of the line; the supplies
were mainly on the Auchincruive estate. A considerable amount of
grain and flour was shipped into Ayi from Ireland, a great portion of
which went into the interior. At
_present the largest ships that
entered were '250 tons register, but the harbour might be mt.ch Im-
proved, and the line would tend to that object. The harbour
trustees were in favour of the line arid he belived such was the
general feeling of the inhabitants. The Town Council bad petitioned
to its favour.

GROUP XII'.

LIVERPOOL, ORDIESIEXELII, AND PRESTON.

The Committee met at twelve o'clock

The case on the part of the promoters was opened by Mr. TALBOT,
who briefly stated that this line was one which must evidently have
considerable advantage over the others which were under the consi-
deration of the Committo, as it would only cost 750,0001., while the
others would cost 1,600,0001., and would by no means afford the same
accommodation as the one for which he appeared. The Imagth of the
main line was 23% miles ; the Liverpool and Bury branch was three
miles; the Southport branch was 12 miles, making the length of the
entire line 38% miles, showing a considerable difference in favour
of the line over the Canal Company.
The Learned Counsel then called Mr. Eccles, who proved that the
line would be of considerable benefit to the country, by the exten-
sive accommodation it would afford.

Dr. Williams stated that along the intended course of the line there
was a great wait of accommodation for the passage of goods, and
that evil would be removed by the formation of the line.
Mr. Samuel Cherey proved that the terminus of the line was so
situated as to afford the greatest possible accommodation to the
district.

Mr. Smith, examined IT Mr. BRANDT (who appeared on the part
of the promoters), stated that there was great want of accommoda-
tion for goods at the station of the North Union line ever since the
station had been enlarged. The rates en the line were still high,
though th. y had lately unde-gone a reduction. There was et cry
necessity for the formation of this line.