The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-08 00:00:00

NO Mbitton

SUN OFFICE, Seven o' clock,

RAILWAY COMMITTEES
(THIS DAY.)

GROUP IV.

The Select Committee appointed to consider the merits of the Bills
comprised within this group re-assembled at the usual hour this morn.
ing, and proceeded with their labours, Mr. W. B. Hope in the chair.
PERTH AiND INVERNESS.

The business of the day was commenced with the cross-examina-
tion of Mr. Josepk Mitchell, the acting engineer of the line, by Mr.
WHATELEY, on behalf of several landholders who were opposed to
the line, amongst whom were included Lord Murray, and the trustees
of the late Earl of Fife.
Mr. Mitchell, in his cross-examination, stated that the expense of
the part of the branch line from Lossiemouth to Elgin weuld be
33,2621. The witness had several communications with Mr. Annes-
ley, the agent of Lord Murray, respecting the line from Nairn to
Inverness, and in consequence of the wishes of kis Lordship, the
company made a considerable diversion in their line ; this diversion
did not by any means injure the interests of the public, and Lord
Murray expressed his utmost satisfaction at the new arrangement.
Mr. Morrison, a surveyor, was then examined against the North
of Scotland line, to show that at Inverness the level of that line was
two feet eight inches below high-water mark.

Mr. Dallas, a road inspector, substantiated the evidence of the
termer witness.

Mr. Locke, a civil engineer, was examined to prove that locomotive
engines were applied to much steeper gradients than heretofore, and
instanced the cases the of Euston-square Station, where it was one in
sixty, the Edinburgh and Glasgow, forty-one in four, the Swindon and
Gloucester, one in sixty, and the Leeds and Manchester, one in a hun-
dred. The Perth and Inverness Railway was shorter by sixty miles
than the Aberdeen.

Locke's evidence was confirmed by Mr. Wood, the engineer of
the Liverpool and Manchester, Mr. Hawkshaw, the engineer of the
Leeds and Manchester, and Mr. Windham Harding, an engineer in
the service of the London and Birmingham Company.
The Committee adjourned at four o'clock.

GROUP VIL

LOCHGELLY, or Kntic.axavir BRANCH Or

THE E1)211TBIJIIGN AND NORTHERN.
The evidence of Mr. Thomas Russell (in continuation of oar
Afternoon Edition).—Kirkaldy coal was inferior to Lochgelly coal.
There was a great quantity of flax sent fronaßirkaldy to Dunfermline,
and there would be a great traffic between the two placed by means
of this line, for which the people of Kirkaidy were very anxious.
Air. Ramsay corroborated the portion of the preceding evidence
relating to the feeling of the people of Kirkaldy with respect to this
line, and the advantage it would be to the district.
The list of assents, dissents, and neuters was then handed in, from
which it appeared that there was one assentient for a half mile, three
dissentients for four miles, and three neuters for three miles and a
quarter.
This ended the case for the Bill.

Mr. G. PATON, on behalf of Colonel Ferguson, a large coal pro-
prietor at Kirkaldy, contended that this Bill would inflict injury on
the interest of his client, without yielding any commensurate ad-
vantage to the public, and that the evidence only showed that the
feeling of the people of Kirkaldy was in favour of this line, merely
because they thought another line might be more Injurious to their
Interests.
The room was cleared.

On our re-admission the CHAIRMAN announced that the Committee
were of opinion that the preamble of this Bill was not proved.
The Committee were then engaged in hearing counsel respecting
the Strathern Deviation clauses, and adjourned at four o'clock.

VIII.
This Committee met to-day atGROUP twelve o'clock. Mr. llawes In the
chair.

Exonntunon, LEITH, AND G ILANTHADI]
(EXTENSION AND DEANC EC ES ).
The evidence on behalf of this scheme was proceeded with this
morning.
Mr. Grainger, civil engineer, was examined at some length on be-
half of the line, which he represented as generally favourable, and
presenting no engineering difficulties in its construction.
Some discussion here arose as to whether the promoters of the
Edinburgh and Leith Atmospheric line should be allowed to cross-
examine the witnesses of the scheme now submitted, as the former
had intimated their line was so direct in comparison with the latter,
that they did not care whether the line was made or not.
The room was cleared for a division on the point. On our re-
admission,
The CHAIRMAN intimated that the promoters of the atmospheric
scheme should be allowed to cross-examine the witnesses.
Mr. Grainger was then cross-examined at some length by Mr. Ser-
geant BELLAsfs, but no point of special importance was elicited.
At a quarter to four, the Speaker being at prayers, the Committee
adjourned till Monday, at twelve o'clock.

GROUP IX.
(Continued from our Afternoon Edition.)
GLASGOW, PAISLEY, AND GREENOCK
(POLLOC AND GOVAN BRANCH).
Mr. Austin, Mr. Talbot, Mr. Hope, and Mr. Forsyth, were en-
raged for the. promoters, and Mr. Andrews on the part of opposing
petitioners.

Mr. TALBOT opened the case, and then called Mr. Errington, C.E.
—The branch was only two furlongs in length, and the estimated
cost was 15,0001. It was proposed to be carried over the canal by
means of a swivel bridge.
Several witnesses having been called for and against,
The Committee suggested some alterations, which the promoters
agreed to consider, and report upon on Monday.
The Committee then adjourned.

GROUP VIII,

GLASGOW, D'

AND CARL'S=

The examination of Mr. Anderson (continued from our Afternoon
Edition).)—With regard to No. 11, the item was set down at up-
wards of 4,0001. for parcels, for mails, 2,0501. He calculated the pre-
sent repipts for parcels taken by coaches to be 1,1001., and sup-
posing The carriers to take as many, with the increase brought by
the connecting railways, he had estimated the whole at 4,000. The
Nor l 2 item was 9,5431., but this depended on an amalgamation
with the line already eonstructed from Kilmarnock to Cumnock, by
which it was calculated the arrangement would yield an extra ad-
vantage to the present company of the amount stated. The whole
estimate of ;raffle per annum was 102,0001.

The CastaataN could not see how the amalgamation would
increase the means of the present company. It might operate to
the advantage of the two capitals, but it seemed the credit of all the
advantage was placed to the account of the present company. He
did not think the estimate was a fair one. However, he saw the
ground on which the estimate was made, and he would take a note
of it.

Sir Thomas Phillips said the Committee might take it for as much
as it was worth. There were proposed amendments in the Bill
before them to:provide for the amalgamation stated, and the item
was only to be taken on the assumption of such an amalgamation
being admitted

,ned by Mr.Cocgamor—He took the passengers from
the way-bill of the coaches. lie had included in the Carlisle. and
Glasgow coach, not only the Kilmarnock and Dumfries passengers,
but all the through passengers—the whole that went by that coach.
He did the same with the passengers of the Ayr and Dumfries coach.
If the present line was constructed, passengers from Ayr would
have to go northward on the Troon line, and thence
southward, through Kilmarnock to Dumfries. The passengers
from Edinburgh he expected to come to Dumfries by
the Crawick branch, through Sanquhar to Dumfries. He was
aware that the Caledonian route was two miles shorter, but
the gradients were worse. He had taken credit for the whole traffic,
and allowed none for the Caledonian line. He had allowed 150 per
cent. for increase. He was not aware that 100 per cent. was the
ordinary calculation, though last year he drew up tables at 100 per
cent. increase. He had increased the per tentage this year, because
a local line presented better advantages for developing the traffic
than a through line.
Mr. AniswoaTu said he cdrild not see how a through line could
Interfere with the development of local traffic, if stations were con-
structed.

The witness—He had not allowed for foot passengers last year.
Was not aware that 100 per cent. increase always included the foot
passengers. He had calculated all the passengers from Fleetwood to
Ardrossan were going to Glasgow. Hs distinguished between the
Glasgow and Ayrshire passengers by the booking at the railway and
steam-boat booking-offices. The booking through, to and from Glas-
gow, was 225. 6d., to and from Ardrossan 17s. 6d.; so he took all the
latter. He had added 100 per cent. Increase on the steam-boat
traffic. The steam-boat passengers by Annan, which he calculated
for, were parties residing in the neighbourhood of Dumfries. He had
assumed that the principal trade of Carlisle would be transferred to
Annan. He had calculated the traffic for the first two weeks in
September and the last two in November. He had added 50 per
cent. increase for general merchandise. Men had been appointed to
take a note of the carts by land, which he had assumed at one ton
for each one-horse cart. This estimate of the through traffic he had
calculated from Cumnock at the one end to Carlisle at the other, at
the rate of I%d. per mile each individual. For the portion of the
Caledonian line passed over from Gretna to Carlisle, he allowed one•
third of the revenue for that distance.

lie-examined—He was not sure whether the Caledonian calculation
for Dumfries traffic last year was struck out of the Caledonian
tables presented to the House of Lords, bat if not, it ought
to have been. He had not the least doubt but that all the calcula-
tions were based on fair and reasonable data.

Mr. Wright, goods manager of the Ayr and Glasgow Railway,
corroborated the evidence of Mr. Anderson, as far as it related to that
railway and the Ayrshire traffic generally.
Mr. John Geddies, Mr. Christie Mr. Wright, mineral manager of
the Duke of Buceleuch, Mr. Laurie, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. W. Gordon,
and Mr. John Nicholson. were severally examined as to
the correctness of the tables submitted.

The witnesses were submitted to very close cross-examinations,
with the object of showing that the traffic had been greatly exag-
gerateo, and that an unreasonable increase had been made in it,
In comparison. 1% ith the promoters• tables of last year. It was ad-
mitted by one or two of the witnesses, that they did not think there
would be snMcient traffic to support two through lines, like the Cale-
donian and the Glasgow, Dumtries, and Carlisle.

This closed the case on behalf of the Glasgow, Dumfries, and Ayr
scheme.

The Committee adjourned till Monday, at twelve o'clock, wheu
the case on behalf of the Caledonian Extensions will be opened.

GROUP XIV.
NORTH SENT AND SOUTH EASTERN
RAITIUres.TS.
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT.
In consequence of it having been yesterday announced that the
Committee on these lines would give their decision at half-past three
o'clock to-day, the Long Gallery was most inconveniently crowded.
At half-past three the Committee assembled ; present, Mr. Prothet oe,
chairman, Lord Emlyn, Mr. J. O'Connell, and Mr. Grogan.
The CHAIRMAN said—Gentlemen, I have now to announce the de-
cision the Committee have come to. The Committee are desirous to re-
ceive evidence as to that portion of the South Eastern line which
runs through Greenwich Park, from Greenwich to Woolwich. We
are of course ready to hear all the evidence that the North Kent
Company are willing to adduce in opposition to that portion of the
South Eastern Railway, but in fairness to the entlemen of the
North Kent Company, the Committee feel it theirgd u ty to say that
the opinions of the majority of the Committee are favourable to the
mouth Eastern Bill.
At this announcement, load cries of "Bravo, bravo," proceeded
from the further end of the room.
The CHAIRMAN begged to remind those gentlemea who were cuing
out so loudly that the South-Eastern Company had not yet got their
Bill.
Mr. Comtarax inquired whether the Committee would at once
Proceed with the evidence, or would adjourn until Monday.
The CHAIRMAN said that the Committee were of opinion that they
had better adjourn until Monday morning, at twelve o'clock.

GROUP XVI.
(Continued tom our Afternoon Edition.)
LONDON AND nIZIGHTON (DOW LING
BDANCIX).
Mr. Rastriek, C.E., was under examination when the Committee
adjfurned

GROUP XVIII.
The Committee on this group met this morning at twelve o'clock
Mr. B. Denison, chairman.

SOMEILSETSIIIILE MIDLAND.
Mr. Sergeant KINGLAKE opened the case for the opposition on the
part of Lord Coke, Mr. Somerville, and Mr. Figgins. He dwelt
principally upon the inaccuracies in the levels of the sections pre-
pared by the engineer, Mr. Hill.
The first witness called was Mr. Gregory, engineer, who gave
evidence as to the above inaccuracies, and stated that these were the
instances in which the error was so great as to require an additional
outlay of 1,,0001. more than stated in the estimates.
The examination of this witness occupied the whole of the day, and
was not completed when the committee rose.