The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-07 00:00:00

SHEFFIELD AND MAIVCNESTER. (BARNS.

LET BRANCH.)

John Parker, E.g., Member for Sheffield and chairman of the
Manchester and Sheffield Railway, was examined, and gave his
evidence in favour of the line as the best in the field, and one of great
importance for the purpose of promoting intercourse between the
Humber and the great trunk lines westward, as well as for the ad-
vantage of Barnsley, Goole, &c., and their intercourse with the coal
district.

Mr. Ellis, deputy chairman of the Midland Counties and a director
of the London and Birmingham, was of opinion that no inconveni-
ence would arise from the increase of carriage by the junction with
either of the lines.

The Rev. Mr. Thorpe, of Homersly vicarage, York, in giving his evi-
dence said, that the district through which the line passed, was the
largest unwrought coal bed in England, being 5 feet 6 inches, and 6
feet thick in the Silkstone bed, and 9 and 10 feet think in the neigh-
bourhood of Barnsley. Yet that only 16,000 tons had been shipped
at Goole last year, 220,000 tons at Hull and Goole, while 7,000,000
tons had been shipped at Durham, 'in consequence of the greater
facilities of conveyance offered in that district, although the York-
shire coal was superior to the other.
Mr. Rigby, a coal viewer and mining engineer, gave further evi-
dence as to the coal field, giving it as his calculation that the coals
available Intnhs.e immediate vicinity of the railway amounted to
381,959.200
South-
Western, severalwitnesses
leflield,
Brnwaerselecyroanss-dexcaoomlien,etdheonvbaerhtnaleifdofbrthanecSho,uathnd-
the Barnsley Canal Company.
The Committee adjourned till twelve o'clock to-morrow.

GROUP XL.
LEEDS AND YOSZIL.
The adjourned Leeds and York Railway Committee resumed this
day at twelve o'clock. Present, Mr. Stafford O'Brien (in the chair),
Lord Norreys, Mr. Bright, Mr. Sheridan, and Mr. Dugdale. •
Mr. Wand, a coal and ]tine owner, and also a magistrate, under-
went an examination respecting the amount of coal consumed about
Wetherby, Knaresborough, and Tadcaster, giving
the preference to
Wetherby. This witness stated that the Leeds and York woild
afford him great facilities for the conveyance of his coal.. pe also
admitted that there was a much larger portion of coal on Ithe south
sides of the York and Selby, and of the York and Nortliatioland
Extension lines than on the north side of either of them. ~
In reply to a question from Mr. STAFFORD O'BRIXN, witnew ad-
mitted that the two coal districts were adjoining- n-the York 'and
Selby line. Witness preferred the blue line for agrictiltural purposes.
To Mr. ROBINSON, witness stated that he coult get coals easier
on the yellow line than on Mr. Hudson's line, •forollelvould have
nearly half a mile of ascent on the York and Selby. Ile would also
have an advantage over the Dewsbury coal by the Leeds and York
line.

Viscount Pollington, M.P., was called, who said that he was
favourably disposed towards the Leeds and York, as was also his
Lordship's father, Lerd Wexborough. His Lordship held no shares
in this, nor indeed in any other railway, and was of opinion that the
dissent of the majority of the landowners to any railway project was
entitled to due consideration.
Mr. James Andrews, a colliery surveyor for thirty-one years, was
next examined..—Had surveyed for Lord Cardigan, the Duke of
Leeds, aid other large coal proprietors. This witness's evidence was
of a nature favourable to the proposed Leeds and York.
Mr. W. Hanan was thee called, when some diScussion ensued be-
tween tha Committee and the promoters of the Bill, through their
Counsel, as to the necessity of citing yritnessess simply to reiterate
the same evidence
The Custemste stated that though the Committee were ready to
give every attention to the scheme before them, yet he thought
it a waste of time to call witness= upon witness, who
merely proved the same points and were subject •to the;
same cross-examination. The above last named witness
was eventually suffered to give evidence, which was not
materially d.fferent from that of the preceding witnesses who had
spoken, as to the advantages that would accrue to the localities
mabuliotafriite.at
jhtoieohnpnrwitopiotobhstenLd:lenin,de. He admitted that it was not the best line
that could have been proposed, although it was decidedly better
before the Committee
than either of the other two competing lines. Witness further
stated, in answer to Mr. Hardy, that no line between York and Leeds
ought to omit Wetherby, that being the largest market.
peting lines, and consequently entitled to, cr
Abbotsford coals, which were far from good ; whereas, hod Birf c.rn"
ali
l.
The York and Lancaster andiNerth Eastern, urged bY,c9unselaS
rioe eyn stated-wd
oraupl
de
thatrb be
of
able V
they
tt
were
coerbrbey,
c, 0
nn
\xetn krpto7. es de
nesses
Mr. COCKBURN, Q.C., on behalf of the York and Lancaster,
suggested that though they had not passed the Committee on
Standing Orders, still that all the cases should be adjourned, in
order to give the Committee time for consideration, this being also
the more convenient method. cross-exaaii:lnPeUrthier'cw"l

The Members of the Committee severally put questions to the
Learned Counsel.

r. JILLDIAIID, Counsel for the Tort and 8e11)7, sided with Mr.