The Sun.
London, England, 1846-08-13 00:00:00

PEDESTRIANISM.

JACQUES AND BRIAN'S WALKING MATCII.—The above-
mentioned pedestrians contested their six miles trial of speed
yesterday on the road near Bedfont, on one measured mile.
The speed of Brian in the first two miles was manifest, inas-
much as he headed his man beautifully by full 60 yards; at
five miles his lead was considerably decreased, and on going
up for the sixth and deciding mile, Jacques had so much
diminished the space between them, that the race closed by
Brian winning by half-a-yard, and none to spare. The stake
was 201. a side. _ _ _

bLILLITRATT AND PATTERSON.—J. Mallatratt (of Mans-
field) and James Patterson (of London), run their one
hundred yards race at Rugby, for 201. a side, on Tuesday..
At starting the betting was level, and money was invested to
a large amount. The start was from a single scratch. At
eighty yards Mallatratt had a trifling lead, but at ninety-
yards the London man bad reduced the difference so as to
have a slight advantage; eventually Patterson came in first
by a foot only, after an admirably contested struggle.
ROBINSON AND LEE.—J. Robinson (of Hucknall) and T.
Lee (of Arnold) also decided their race of 120 yards, for 25/-
a-side, on the same ground. Much time was wasted in the
choice of a referee, but eventually the men started by fall of
handkerchief. At the first fall Lee disputed the start, and.
another gentleman was selected to set them off. The betting
was six to four on the Arnold runner, which was readily
taken. For the first fifty yards Robinson led, but Lee gave
his friends a transient gleam of hope by pulling foot in the
next fifty yards, and getting so close to his man as to place
the contest in doubt ; in the last twenty, however, Robinson
got up the steam, and went in the winner by a couple of
yards. Robinson has put forth a challenge to run any man
of his height (5 ft. 2 in.) for 251. to 501., distance 100 or 120
yards.

PRINCESS'S THEATRE—MR. MASSINCHAVS BENEFIT.
—The benefit of Mr. Masaingham, the civil and attentive
box book-keeper of the Princess's Theatre, takes place to-
morrow night, on which occasion Mr. Charles Mathews and
Madame Vestris will appear, supported by the whole strength
of the company, in some of the most attractive dramas of
the son.
r.Bmutassevinegnhanzwefse
own merits
tsofoufarghet
tloessseeelreCellheillt
a bumper.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, August 12.
GAUGE OF RAILWAYS BILL.
(Illontinned from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.)
Mr. HAYTER said the Right Hon. Gentleman 'the Vice •
President of the Board of Trade laboured under a mistake
when he said, in opposition to this clause,. first, t i
would sanction a complete violation of the principles bywhich
the Commissioners came to their resolution ; and, secondly,w
that, in point of form, this resolution ought to have been pro-
posed when they were in Committee on the Bill ? (
Hear,
hear.) The resolutions of the House did not militate against
the clause proposed-4n fact, they made an exception
with respect to that part of the country to which the resolution
of the Hon. Member for Birmingham referred.—(Hear, hear.)
The Bill proposed to interfere with two parts of the kingdom—
the Birmingham district and a Welsh county—on which the
Gauge Commissioners had not reported. The clause now pro-
posed was only similar to that which was inserted in the Ox-
ford and Birmingham Railway Bill, and he thought that the
House ought to allow it to be inserted in this Bill.—(Hear.)
Mr. WILLIAMS supported the clause. The advantages to
the public of having a continuity of gauge from Birmingham
to Rugby were incalculable, and those advantages would be
obtained by the insertion of the proposed clause in the
Bill. The public would save an immense amount of
money by the proposed continuity of gauge, and he
thought that the Right Honourable Gentleman the Vice-
President of the Board of Trade, had utterly failed in
showing that the clause ought not to be agreed to. The
public were fairly entitled to the clause, which would tend in
a great measure to put an end to the monopoly which at pre-
sent existed on the railways in the district in question.—
( Hear, hear.) The manufacturers of the northern districts
suffered much from the inability of those railways to accom-
modate them in the carrying of their merchandise.
Mr. MARK PHILIPS briefly opposed the clause. He
thought that this proposition had come upon the House
by surprise. At so late a period of the session, it had
been supposed that the Bill would not have been at-
tempted to be altered. He certainly could not agree to the
introduction of the clause, which would not, in his opinion,
confer the advantages anticipated by Hon. Members.
Mr. BERNAL thought that the public were entitled to the
insertion of this clause.
Sir GEORGE GREY said that the question was fully
discussed when tha resolutions were before the House, and the
President of the Board of Trade of the late Government
brought in a Bill founded on these resolutions, which Bill was
the one now under discussion. During the debate on these
resolutions no mention was made of the present pro-
posal ; and he thought it extremely inconvenient
to re-open the question now de novo. Without
entering into the merits of the question, he thought that the
safe course would be to adhere to the Bill, and to remit the
clause, as being contrary to precedent and the ordinary usages
of the House with regard to Bills at that stage.
Mr. HENLEY supported the clause, inasmuch as it was
within the spirit of the exceptions allowed by the resolutions.
Captain MANGLES opposed the clause. The merits of
the question had been already fully discussed, and the pro-
moters of the broad gauge had the sole opportunity of being
beard before the Board of Trade, without making the present
proposal. Under these circumstances, he did not think the
House of Commons was a fit tribunal to reverse the decision of
the authorities, who supported the course determined upon by
the Board of Trade and sanctioned by themselves, in passing
the resolutions on which the present Bill was founded.
Mr. MUNTZ replied, and said it would be a great injustice
if they rejected the clause on the technical ground of its nut
being printed.
The House then divided, when the numbers were—
For the clause
Against it 46
Majority against the clause —3l
The Bill was then read a third time and passed.
EJECTMENTS (IRELAND) BILL.
The House went into Committee on this Bill, and the se-
veral clauses were read and agreed to.
The House resumed, and the report was ordered to be
brought up to-mormw.
RATEABLE PROPERTY (IRELAND) BILL.
On the motion for going into Committee on this Bill,
Mr. SHARMAN CRAWFORD moved, " That it is the
opinion of this House, that any new law for the valuation of
rateable property in Ireland, should be made in conformity
with the recommendations contained in, the report of the Select
Committee on theTownlandValuation of Ireland (July 18,1844),
viz., that there ought to be only one valuation for all purposes
of local taxation, framed on the net annual value to let,
determined on the principles laid down in the Poor Relief Act."
He said that it was now required to put taxation on real value,
and not proportionate value; and if they adopted that course
they would have no necessity to resort to this cumbrous ma-
chinery. Was it not preposterous that after the real value
bad been decided by the assistant, the petitioner might find
his property by some plan or other cause taxed according to
the proportionate value? He thought the valuation for poor-
rate should be made at the expense of the public. An endless
number of valuations would result without any benefit,
but, on the contrary, causing a greater confusion in
what was already too •confused. He thought it
was unreasonable, when so many of the Irish Members were
absent, to pass a measure of such importance as the present.
He admitted that the rating of property in Ireland was most
important, and he trusted that it would form one of the
beneficial measures it was proposed to introduce ;
but he thought, from the considerations he had stated,
it would be better to postpone it for the present.
Mr. LABOUCHERE said he could assure the Hon. Gen-
tleman who had just sat down that there was no individual to
whose suggestions on the social condition of Ireland ha would
be more ready to attend, but in the present case he could net
advise the Government to postpone this measure. He agreed
with the Hon. Gentleman as te the importance of this measure;
but its postponement would lead to the postponement of other
desirable measures for Ireland. At the same time, concur-
rently with this measure, there would be a valuation on the
principle suggested by the Hon. Gentleman.
The motion was then withdrawn, and the House went into
Committee on the Bill.
The House immediately afterwards resumed.
MESSAGE FROM THE LORDS.
Messengers from the House of Lords brought up several
Bills and rep)rts.
The House again resolved itself into Committee on the
Rateable Property ( Ireland) Bill.
Having disposed of forty clauses (there being eighty-seven
in the Bill), the House resumed, the Chairman reported pro-
gress, and obtained leave to sit again on Friday.
MARRIAGES (IRELAND) BILL.
On the motion of Mr. PIGOTT (who stated that he would
propose some amendments in Committee), this Bill was read a
second
HOUSE and ordered to be committed on Friday.
OF COMMONS OFFICES BILL.
This Bill was reported; and ordered to be recommitted to-
111011'0w.
NAVAL AND MILITARY DEPARTMENTS BILL.
This Bill was postponed till to-morrow.
PUBLIC WORKS AND FISHERIES.
This Bill then went through Committee, and the report
was ordered to be brought up to-morrow.
COMMONS INCLOSURE *(No. 3) BILL.
The Bill was then read a third time and passed.
WRECK AND SALVAGE BILL.
Mr. MILNER GIBSON having moved the third reading
of this Bill,
Captain PECHELL hoped that it would not be allowed to
pass. If it passed, the Admiralty Court, in which there was
an amount of robbery yearly committed, which it was not
convenient at this period of the session to detail, would
be still further enriched by the spoils which this Bill would
produce for those who practised in that Court. He knew of a
case, lately decided in the Admiralty Court, in which the
amount awarded was but 50!., and the law expenses
3001. It would be ruinous to the shipowners
of this country. The law of wreck and salvage
certainly did require the most extensive improvement, but he
did not expect that such a monstrous remedy as this Bill would
have been proposed. He hoped that his Right Hon. Friend,
the President of the Board of Trade, would relinquish this measure
of the defunct Ministry. He (Captain Pechell) had, for the
fast ten years, done his utmost endeavours to purify the Admi-
ralty Court ; and if this Bill were passed, he should never rest
Satisfied until it was repealed.
Mr. GEORGE PALMER also opposed the Bill, which, in
his opinion, involved the greatest difficulties.
Mr. MILNER GIBSON hoped the Hon. Member would
allow the Bill to be read a third time, and the amendments
might be considered on a future occasion.
The Bill was then read a third ;ime, and further proceedings
on the Bill were postponed till to-morrow.
BRITISH POSSESSIONS BILL.
This Bill was read a second time.
Captain PECHELL ,moved for copies of all the correspon-
dence which has taken place between the Committee of Council
of Education and the York and Ripon Central Diocesan So-
ciety for the Education of the Poor.—Agreed to.
Captain PECHELL moved for a return from the several
Vice-Admiralty Courts (according to the schedule annexed to
the Act 5 and 6 Vic. c. 91) of all cases. which had been ad-
judged in the said Courts respectively from the 10th August,
1842, to the latest period at which the, same cis be made.—
Agreed to.

CORPORAL PUNISHMENT.
Mr. HUME moved for certain orders respecting the cor-
poral punishment of Europeans and natives in British India, and
also a return of the number of prisoners who suffered corporal
punishment in .the different military prisons in England,
Ireland; aMI Scotland.—Agreed to.
The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and the
House adjourned at six o'clock.

RAILWAY COMMITTEES.
(YESTERDAY)

HOUSE 0.11 LORDS.

Room A.
GLASGOW AND BEZZELST
Mr. Wylie, of Girvan, was the first witness called this
morning, and was examined by Mr. HOPE—His avocations
made him acquainted with the districts through which this
line passed. Considerable quantities of agricultural produce
from these parts were sent to Liverpool and the manufactur-
ing districts; 14,000 bolls of potatoes were shipped annually
from this port, a considerable portion of which found their
way to Ireland. The vale of Girvan also abounded with coal
and other minerals; nine thousand tons were annually con-
sumed in the town of Girvan, and upwards of ten thousand
tons were shipped during the same period for Ireland. Con-
siderable quantities of pine-wood were sent to Glasgow and.
Ayr, all of which would, he believed, be carried by this rail-
way if constructed. He did not think that the proposed line
would injuriously affect the property of Sir C. Fergusson.
Cross-examined by Mr. Sergeant-Inn/wily—The proposed
line would pass at about the distance of a mile from the re-
sidence of Sir CAFergusson. There were no steamers at
present plying between Girvan and Belfast. He had known
one steamer come up to the port of Girvan; he believed at
about two-thirds tide, but did not know the size of it.
Mr. J. Elder, Custom-house officer, of Girvan, gave
evidence of the favourable position of the port of
that place, and its capabilities of being made a very
safe and commodious harbour, on account cf the head-
lands by which it was protected. He thought that
they might get a depth of ten feet at low water
at very small outlay, and there would be no difficulty in
keepio g the harbour, when constructed, clear of sand, because
the bottom was almost entirely formed of clay. It would,
when completed, form one of the best harbours on the coast
of Ayr. There were great quantities of fish about Girvan,
and he believed this railway would not only afford the means
acarrying this fish to Glasgow, but that it would be of great
utility to the people of Girvan.
Cross-examined by Mr. Sergeant MURPHY—The weavers
of Girvan were very fond of taking trips by sea, but he could
not say whether they were of such a locomotive disposition
as to take trips by land upon this railway if it were con-
structed. No such thing could enter the harbour of Girvan
as one of the large steamers plying between Glasgow and
Liverpool, or Ireland.
Mr, .I%reitson examined by Mr. Hon—Was a butcher, and
member of the town-council of Glasgow, and stated that
great quantities of cattle and sheep were fed and fattened in
the neighbourhood of Maypole, which would be carried to
Glasgow by this railway, if constructed.
Cross-examined by Mr. Sergeant MURPHY—The whole of
i
the cattle consumed n Glasgow came from Forfarshire, the
Nast Lothians, and from Ayrshire.

Mr. J. Whitfield, tenant of the Batgenny coal-fields, and 1
farmer of Girvan, gave evidence of the extent of the coal-
fields in that district ; they were six miles in length, and
the present yield was 37,000 tons annually, but they were
not worked to anything like their full extent, because at
present they had no means of getting a market for their
supply. If he had such a market opened up he could increase
his supply of coal by 110,000 tons, the greater portion of
which would be shipped for Ireland at the port of Girvan.
The proposed line, if constructed, would effect a saving to
him of 6,0001. a year in the carriage of his coals to Girvan,
which was a distance of five miles from the pit's mouth.
Cross-examined by Sergeant Munpnt—The vessels which
would carry the coal to Ireland would bring back meal and
other provisions. The meal that was sent from Ireland was
of an inferior quality to that produced in the neighbourhood
of Girvan, which was always sent to Glasgow and other
towns in the north. The inferior article would be consumed
by the people of Girvan themselves.
Mr. J. Geddes and Mr. Frisbee corroborated the evidence
of the last witness with respect to the quantity of
coal and other minerals in the district through which the line
would pass.
Mr. Marshall, traffic-taker, gave general statistical evi-
dence of the amount of traffic to be expected upon this line.
Mr. Knight corroborated the evidence of the last witness.
Mr. Blyth, C.E., the engineer to the line was then
called and examined—The total length of the line was
21 miles 5 furlongs. The branch to Maypole was nearly a
mile in length. There were no tunnels upon the line, and
the works presented no engineering difficulties. The total
estimate for the works was 330,0001. The line would pass
at least at the distance of a mile from the house of Sir C.
Fergusson, and would not be seen from the house, as it
would be completely obscured by the intervening hills.
Mr. Miller, C.E., engineer in chief to the line, was exa-
mined, and corroborated the evidence of Mr. Blyth, the
acting engineer.
Several witnesses were called, who, as land valuers, gave
evidence of the land which would be required for the pur-
poses of the railway, and the value of the same.
This closed the case on behalf of the promoters of the Bill.
Mr. Sergeant Munrnv then called the attention of their
Lordships to the case of Sir C. Ferg,usson, and contended that
the circumstance of the traffic between Ayr and Girvan, and
the district traversed by this railway, were not of such a
nature as to warrant the outlay of so large a sum as would
be required for this railway in the present depressed state of
the money market, neither were they sufficient to justify the
unwarrantable invasion of the private property of a person
of so great respectability and high character as that
of Sir C. Fergusson. The Learned Counsel also commented
upon the absence of all evidence on the part of the promoters,
with reference to the amount of traffic to be expected from
Ireland, communication with which place had been so
boastingly put forward by them. The port of Girvan would
not afford any facilities for such a traffic even if it were to
exist. With respect to the coal which one of the witnesses
had stated would be sent to Ireland, the Noble Lord
the Chairman of the Committee would bear him
out in the assertion that it was not furnace coal,
such as was produced in this district, that would be required
for consumption in Ireland, but, on the contrary, house coal,
which was produced, as stated by the same witness, from
coal-fields to the north of Ayr, conveyance for which was al-
ready provided by the ports of Ardrossan and other ports
on the coast, and which clearly would not be brought down
to the inconvenient port of Girvan for shipment to Ireland.
Then, with reference to the residential damage, he contended
that the sinuosities of the surface of the country would not
hide this eye-sore from the honourable proprietor
whom he had the honour to represent. The proposed
line went for four miles through his property,
and there was not the slightest necessity for inflicting this
grievous damage upon him, either on the grounds of local or
through traffic, or as affording the means of communication
with England, the latter of which was amply provided for by
lines already sanctioned. Upon these grounds, therefore, he
called upon their Lordships to refuse their sanction to the
proposed line.
A table of the assents, dissents, and neuters, was then
handed in.
No witnesses were called on behalf of Sir C. Fergusson.
The room was ordered to be cleared. Upon our admission,
The CitAtamAN stated that the Committee were of opinion
that the preamble of the Bill was proved. The Committee
had introduced several verbal amendments in the clauses,
among which was one limiting term for the construction of
the line to five years instead of seven.
In consequence of these amendments the Bill will have to
be sent back to the House of Commons.