The Sun.
London, England, 1846-06-19 00:00:00

SWANSEA VA-LE

undertaking re-assembled this morning at the usual hour. Evi.
dence was again laid before them. They adjourned at four o'clock.

GROUP LIII.

SHREWSBURY, EXILIVIINGHAM and STOUR

VASLEY.

(Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.)

➢lr. Alderman Weston, cross-examined by Mr. ROBINSON—His
place of business was close by New-street, and so were those of the
majority of the people with whom he had conversed on the subject.
The report to the town council on the subject of the New-street
station did not condemn or even allude to the station proposed to be
erected at Snow-hill. Goods and passengers from Wolverhampton
entering Birmingham were generally lodged in the neighbourhood of
Snow- 11 ill.

Mr. HOPE said the question of the station at Birmingham had been
very fully discussed between two other companies In another com-
mittee-room, and he suggested that it would shorten the business in
this room if the Committee permitted him to lay that evidence before
them.

The HoN. CHAIRMAN said that would no doubt be a good plan, but
Mr. ROBINSON and Mr. Coascrr having objected, inasmuch as
their clients had not had the opportunity of being represented before
the other Committee, and the evidence might therefore mislead the
Committee,
The Hon. CHAIRMAN said that, as the parties did not consent to the
reading of the evidence, the counsel were of course prevented from
acting in accordance with the suggestion of Mr. Hope.
Mr. Stirlam, carrier, of Birmingham, was accordingly called by
Mr. RICKARDS, to show the superiority of this company's stations at
Birmingham, both for passengers and goods, over those of its rivals.
He was cross-examined by Mr. F. ROBINSON, for the purpose of
showing that there were extensive works in the neighbourhood of
,:now-hill (the site of the rival companies' stations), but he insisted
that the station of the Shrewsbury and Birmingham line would give
by far the greatest accommodation to the people orßirmingham.
. .

Re-examined—The greatest number of merchants had their places
of business in the Crescent, being in the neighbourhood of the New-
street station.

Mr. John Lord, general merchant, Birmingham, said that in hopes
of the erection of this company's station, he had changed his place of
business and residence to the neighbourhood of New-street. He con-
sidered that the merchants and people at large of Birmingham were
vitally interested in the erection of this company's station in New-
street. The banks, the post-office, the town-hall, the news-room,
the contemplated exchange, and all their buildings of any note were
in the neighbourhood of New-street. Business was continually
leaving the neighbourhood of Snow-hill. New-street was, in fact,
" the place where merchants most do congregate." Nothing posi-
tively could be more accommodating than the New-street station.
New-street was the centre of Birmingham as regarded business.
Cross-examined by Mr. RoaiNsox—Some of the banks were equi-
distant between the Snow-hill and the New-street stations.

Re-examined—The principal banks were In the neighbourhood o
New-street.

Mr. Lake, of the firm of Bolton, Watt, and Co., engineers, Bir-
mingham, gave evidence to the same effect, and that he and his co-
partners had petitioned Parliament in favour of this scheme.
Mr. John Evans, miller, Dudston, near Birmingham, said that he
was a member of the Town Council of Birmingham, and was present
at the meeting recently held on the subject of the stations proposed
to be erected by the different schemes in that town. The council
almost unanimously passed a resolution in favour of this company's
station. Mr. Alderman Matthews proposed a resolution in favour
of the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton, of which he was a
director, and the discussion principally turned on the-gauge question.
His proposition, however, was rejected, only four voting for it.
This scheme would give the people of Birmingham the most direct
communication with Shrewsbury.

The Earl of Aauicoza and SURREY —Had the Committee of the
Town Council, before they presented their report, the sites of the
Snow-hill as well as the New-street station under their consideration?
I believe so ; at least !ewes their duty to consider both.
Cross-examined by Mr. WOOLYC HE -I do not know whether the
Mayor of Birmingham is a shareholder in the Stour Valley line.
Mr. Baker, assistant engineer to Mr. Stephenson, presented a
detail of the estimates, the total cost being 2,200,0001., which would
include the cost of the erection of the proposed station at New-
street.

Cress-examined by Mr. WOOLYCHE, with the view of showing that
this Company proposed to deal with the roads in the neighbourhood
of Birmingham In a way that was not practicable, but he was not
very successful. _ _

This closed the promoters' case, and the Committee then adjourned
at hail past three o'clock till twelve to-morrow.

GROUP LVI

The Select Committee appointed to consider the merits of the Bills
comprised in this group, re-assembled at the usual hour this morning,
Mr. Ewart in the chair.

THAMES ZUNCTION BIZANCHES.

The object of this Bill was to make a short brauch from the
Eastern Comities Railway to /he East and West India Company's

warehouses, which lie between the Thames sod the river Lee. The
estimate was pi eyed by Mr. Bidder to be amply sufficient for the
works. It was 40,0001.

The Committee declared the preamble to be proved.
The Committee were occupied the rest of the day in settling and
arranging the clauses In this and the other Bills they have had before
them and passed in the course of their sittings.

GROUP LX.
GRAVESEND AND ROCHESTER.
SALE TO THE SOUTH-EASTERN COMPANY.
The Committee met at one o'clock, In Room No. 2, and after a
short hearing,
The CHAIRMAN declared that the preamble of the Bill for the sale
of the Gravesend and Rochester Railway to the South-Eastern Com-
pany was proved.
The clauses were then disposed of, and
The Committee proceeded with the

razzium, PORTSMOUTH, AND CHICHES-

TEX EXTENSION.

Mr. AUSTIN, Q.C., stated that some time since a Bill was obtained
for the formation of a line from Brighton to Chichester. The
powers for the formation were to be vested in the Brighton Railway
Company. Last session a Bill was obtained to form an extension to
Portsmouth and Fareham from Chichester. It was thought advis-
able to vest the powers of the extension in the Brighton and South-
western Companies. An agreement was entered into between the
companies to petition Parliament for leave to bring in a Bill for
the purpose of vesting the right of extension in them
jointly. The Brighton Company, however, had refused to
perform their agreement, and to come forward with the Bill. On the
part of the Brighton Company it was urged that the understanding
was that the South-Western Company were to have given certain
facilities, which they had not done, and therefore the Brighton Com.
pany declined to proceed.
The Committee, after clearing the room, said that they were of
opinion that under the circumstances the Bill should not be pro-
ceed ed with.
The Committee then proceeded with the
Zgrzirotne AND BRIGHTON AND CROYDON
After format
cortSoLIDATION BILL.
dation, anaanProor had been adduced of the benefit of the consult-
The commateirdan?. given that the fares would not be increased,
proved, and procoonZartr the preamble of the Bill to have been
wore all, without exeeptio the eonsideratien et the clauses,
The Committee then adire4uraigiedreed. t°' which

chairman), and the ethezem—m"bt,,cl?; Present Mr.
GRUUP Lx/
V.
This Committee re-aAsembledto.dy
T. S. Duncombe (
IRISH GREAT 3.v-zwrznif op,x,„•
TON TO GAZA:VA:Im -astzzarce.
MIDLAND GREAT WESTERN OF max.
(MULLINGAR TO GAliVirgy). 4WD
Mr. Fitzstephen French, M.P., chairman of the Irish Great we
em Company, deposed to having presided over a meeting which was
on the 29th of May, in accordance with the Sessional Order;
and stated that there was only one party who was opposed to the
carrying out of the Bill.
After some further evidence,
Mr. Coca/was% Q.C., addressed the Committee on behalf of some
of the shareholders of the Great Southern and Western Railway
(Ireland).
Mr. Sergeant WRASGHAM contended that the statement of the
merits of the line in the preamble was not shown by the evidence.
A discussion ensued, after which the Committee adjourned.

STANDING ORDERS' COMMITTEES.
HOUSE OF LORDS.
Their Lordships met this afternoon at two o'clock, pursuant to
adjournment, in Room No I, (House of Lords.) Lord Shaftesbury
took the Chair, and there were present—the Marquis of Winchester
and Lord Kinnaird. They had on their list six Bills, besides two on
second reference.
Thu only one called on was the
MANCHESTER, SHEFFIELD, AND MIDLAND JUNCTIIN,
The further consideration of which was postponed till to-morrow.
Their Lordships then resolved themselves into a Select Committee
on Merits, in order to proceed with a list of thirty-two Bills, of which
all but nine were Railway Bills.
THAMES HAVEN DOCK AND RAILWAY.
This case was part heard, and postponed till Monday.
DUNDEE AND ARBROATH (EXTENSION).
This Bill was passed.
DUNDEE AND PERTH AMENDMENT.
The preamble of this Bill was declared proved.
EASTERN UNION (ARDLEIGH TO COLCHESTER).
Preamble proved.
MANCHESTER AND BIRMINGPIAM.
The same decision was made in this case.
GREAT NORTH OF SCOTLAND (EASTERN EXTENSION).
ThuOtors of tai Bill /MO equalki tuccogful.

SMOKE PROHIBI7.ION.
There has just been issued, by order of the House of
Lords, a copy of the repert, addressed to Viscount
Canning, &c., &c., by Sir Henry Thomas De la Becho
and Dr. Lyon Playfair, upon " the means of obviating
the evils arising from the smoke occasioned by factories
and other works situated in large towns."
The instructions from the Earl of Lincoln contain
the following, among other directions:—

—1, Whitehall-place, August 27, 1845.
Sir,—l have to request that, in conjunction with Dr.
Play fair, you will inquire into the means at present
adopted for the prevention of smoke in various parts of
the kingdom, with the view of ascertaining how far
those means are generally applicable to large towns and
populous districts. For this y urpose you will direct
your attention particularly to the towns of Leeds, Man-
chester, Bradford, Derby, and other towns already pos-
sessing Local Acts for the prevention of smoke. IF in
any of these towns you find the Acts inoperative, you
will ascertain the causes which have made them so ; and
in others you will inquire as to the manner in which
they have been carried into execution.

You will be so good as to direct your especial at•
tention to ironworks, distilleries, potteries, sugar re-
fineries, and other works, which, in the last session,
claimed exemption from the Bill then before Parlia-
ment, and to ascertain whether these claims are well
f >unded. In doing; so you will have to visit, Newcastle,
Swansea, nerthyr, Stoke, and other places, where ob •
jections have been chiefly made to the extension of the
provisions contained in the local Acts referred to.

I am, &e.,

LINCOLN.

(Signed)
Sir Henry T, De la Beche, &C.,
TO THE RIGHT HON. VISCOUNT CANNING, &C.
Museum of Economic Geology, March 30, 1846.
My Lord,—We have the honour to state, that in con-
formity with the instructions contained in the letter of
the Earl of Lincoln, dated the 27;h of August, 1845,
we have devoted our attention to the means of obviating
the evils arising from the smoke occasioned by factories
and other works situated in large towns, as therein
directed, and that we have visited certain of these towns
for the purpose of correctly ascertaining on the spot
various facts connected with the subject.
In all the towns referred to complaints were made of
the absence of power to inflict a small fine upon the
stok“. for carelessness in managing any smoke con-
suming apparatus, or even in stoking ordinary fires.
Upon this point the opinion is universally expressed,
that all Acts will be inoperative unless the stoker also,
as well as the master, be made an interested party in
seeing to the doe execution of tho ,Act. The practical
manner in which the Acts have been followed out is to
proceed gradually, selecting several of the most smoky
manufactories, in the first insiance, and giving them the
proper notice to mitigate the nuisance within a fixed
time. The smoke inspector, after this prescribed time,
proceeds to examine the chimney at stated periods. In
the execution of this duty various methods are em-
ployed; perhaps that used in Manchester is the most
practical, and it has without difficulty been accepted as
evidence before the magistrates. It consists in shading
on a form the number of minutes during every hour that
a chimney continues to emit smoke. Better modes of
collecting evidence might easily be suggested under a
general Act.
The general results of our inquiries as to the execu-
tion of the smoke clauses in the local Acts is, that they
have proved unsuccessful.
1. From legal difficulties in procuring a conviction
under the present ambiguous wording of the smoke
clauses.

2. From inefficient supervision, and want of corn
pulsory powers to make the execution of the Act im,
perative.

3. From the want of adjustment in the amount of pe-
nalties, which in some cases are so small as to be prac-
tically useless ; and in others so large, and accompanied
with so much expense in obtaining the conviction, as also
to be inefficient.
Lord Lincoln's letter does not authorise us to make

any recommendation as to legislative enactments ;
but it may be proper to mention that in every lo-
cality statements were made to us that the
only mode of obtaining an abatement of the nuisance
was by summary conviction before a magistrate,
the penalty being exacted once for any part of a day
during which a chimney continues to smoke. At the
same time it must be observed, that when we consider
the magnitude of the interests affected, the expn...e at-
tending alterations, whoa the cause of the evil is con-
nected with deficient boiler room or inefficiency of
draught, it is necessary that there should be provision
made to insure the parties against undue application of
powers generally intrusted. Your Lordship will doubt-
less consider whether, in such instances, it would be ad-'
visable to cause the expensive process of an appeal to a
higher Court to be the only means of redressing such
grievance, or whether the same principle might not be
applied as that contained in the Health of Towns Bill, to
enable the Government, on application to that effect, to
institute inquiry by a properly qualified officer, as to
whether the convicted parties had fairly tried the ordi-
nary means for abating the nuisance, and whether
further time should not be granted for continued experi-
ments.

It cannot for a moment be questioned that the con
tinued emission of smoke is an unnecessary consequence
of the combustion of fuel, and that as an abstract state-
ment, it can be dispensed with. But your Lordship will
perceive that there are grave difficulties connected with
a general law to the effect that it shall be unlawful for
chimneys, after a certain date, to emit smoke. With
regard to steam engines, the processes fur the prevention
of smoke have been matured, and in very many instances
successfully employed. In this case, therefore, a law to
that effect could be most easily and promptly carried
out. In other cases mentioned in Lord Lincoln's letter,
such as distilleries, dye-works, &c., the Legislature
has already granted powers in the Manchester
Local Act ; and as there are certain instances
in which processes for the prevention of smoke have
with them proved successful, it may be anticipated that
the nuisance arising from these sources may be much
abated, if they be subjected to the general law with that
forbearance and caution which, under certain cases, is so
advisable. There are certain processes in glass-works,
iron-furnaces, and potteries, in which it is neither pos-
sible nor de..irable to apply a general law for the pre-
vention of smoke ; although the nuisance may be par-
tially mitigated by causing the steam-engines employed
in them to be so constructed as not to emit smoke.
The emission of that which is improperly termed
smoke from certain manufactories, such as the copper-
works of Swansea, is another question, and involves
very different consideration from the prevention of smoke
from fuel.

It is useless to expect, in the present state of our
knowledge, that any law can be practically applied to
the fire-places of common houses, which in a large town
like London contribute very materially to the pollution
of the atmosphere; but it inay confidently be expected,
that by a wise administration of a legislative enactment,
carefully framed, a great progressive diminution of the
smoke of large manufacturing towns will be effected,
and that the most happy results will thus flow from this
improvement, in the increased health and moral feeling
of their population, the intimate connexion of which
with facilities for cleanliness has been so often pointed
out.

In submitting to your Lordship the foregoing state-
ment, we are desirous of observing, that, though we have
endeavoured to execute the task with which we have
been charged to the best of our abilities, yet that pos-
sibly our opinon may not be considered so conclusive as
might be desired. Should this be the case, we are
anxious again to call the attention of your Lordship to
the very great difficulty of the subject, a difficulty felt by
all who have carefully approached it, and one which
we have found increase and not diminish during
our inquiries. Such as the statement is, we trust that
it may be accepted as the results of our best efforts to
meet a very complicated subject ; one requiring very
careful legislative enactments, should it be deemed ad-
visable to provide for it in that manner.
We have, &c.
(Signed) IT. T. De LA BECHE.
LYON PLAYFAIR.

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, JUNE 19, 1846.