The Sun.
London, England, 1846-06-18 00:00:00

GROUP XXXI.

BRISTOL AND Examsivanam (ASH
CHURCH, TEWKESBURY, AND MALVERN).
The Committee assembled this morning at the usual hour, and
were engaged in hearing evidence on the part of the opponents of the
line. The case having been concluded the room was ordered to be
clear: d.

On our re-admission, the CHAIRMAN said that the Committee were
of opinion that the pi eamble of the Bill had not been proved by the
evidence.

The counsel for the promoters ,1 fished to know in what respect the
evidence was deficient.

The CHAIRMAN said that. it was not the duty of the Committee to
make out the case of the promoters or to show in what way it was
deficient. The case had certainly not failed through say deficiency
lu the engineering evidence.

GROUP XXXIII.

The Cemmittee en this group met to-day at twelve o'clock in
room No. 24 (Grand Corridor) ; present Bir Robert Ferguson (chair-
man), the Marquis of Worcester, Viscount Newry, Mr. Smonett, and
Mr. Fellowes.

They proceeded with the further consideration of the three branches
of the Warwickshire and London Railways, tamely—
WORCESTER AND 'W Eznorr,
HAMPTON AND A.SHCHURCH,
HAMPTON AND BANBURY.

Sir Willoughby Gordon, Quartermaster-General, was examined by
Mr. KENNET Macattezy. Ile attended in obedience to a postscrip from
the House of Commons. He could not be supposed to know anything of
railways, much less of their rel ative merits, except as to the conveyance
of her Majesty's troops. The accommodation proposed to be afforded
to Weedon would be of importance to the service. That place was
an ordnance dep6t. There was not a large number of troops kept
there—only a competent number for the protection of the depot. It
would be of great importance to hive a railway from Weedon to
Northampton, the distance being, I owever, only seven miles. The
Weedon and Worcester line would be advantageous, as it would
make the communication by railway between Weedon and the port
of Plymouth complete and direct. In fact, every railway was of im-
portance to her Majesty's military service, and that line was the most
so which had the fewest breaks. Every break was inconvenient to
a private family in travelling. It was more so, in the ratio of the
numbers, to, a body of troops.F
Zln cross-examination by Mr. WARLEY,Q.C., the Gallant Officer said
that he could give no opinion as between the competing lines. In
this case the competing lines, by connecting Wolverhampton with
Weedon, Birmingham, Worcester, and Plymouth, would be of im-
portant advantage. The break of gauge and increased distance were
disadvantageous. But shortness of distance was not always an ad-
vantage of itself. The consideration of shortness was frequently qua-
lified by circumstances of convenience. 13 e could give no opinion as
to the comparative merits of the broad and narrow gauges. He was in
the habit of transmitting by railway an average of sixty thousand
troops per annum, and he had found the accommodation afforded to
her Majesty's service by the directors of both systems such, that he
could not have effected the transit of the troops more conveniently if
he had directed it himself.

Colonel Thornton, commandant of Birmingham, gave evidence of
a similar character.

Sir Charles Knightley, Bart., M.P. for North Northamptonshire,
was examined 1) Mr. K. MACALTAY, and gave evidence strongly in
favour of these lines, as regards the advantage to the agricultural
interests in the cohveyance of produce, &c., and to the general inte-
rests of the public in the conveyance of coals and other articles of
consumption. However, it was chiefly with a view to the agricul-
tural benefit he wa,s favourahle to the Wanvicksbire and Loudon
system of railways.