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

GROUP VIII

The Select Committee appointed to consider the merits or the Bills
sompriied within this group met at the usual hour this morning,
Mr. B. Hawes in the chair.
EDINBIT7I.C.I.II AND LEITZ: ATMOSPDEMIC.
The wbo'a of the day was occupied with evidence to show that
the proposed line was unnecessary, inasmuch as the existing Edin-
burgh, Leith, and Granton line was amply sufficient to accommodate
the traflie of the district.
The Committee adjourned at four o'clock.

GROUP Xi.
The Committee assembled at the usual hoar this morning, 31
Henley eitalrman.
Aimpax.r. AND .TUNCTION,
AND EDINBURGH AND 23ATAG.A.TE.

The time of the Committee was occupied the entire day in geing
through the several clauses of these two Bills, all of which were
agreed to.
The Committee at its rising adjourned until Monday, the 25th inst.

Mr. AUSTIN then called. Mr. Geddies, who was giving general evi-
dence in support of that tendered by Mr. Christie yesterday, when
The CHAIRMAN interfered. This was generalevidence, which they
had had already before them. What was wanted were the particu-
lars On which the tables were to be founded. He thoui ht it would be
better at once to adjourn, and have the tables put in, when any evi-
dence the Promoters of the Bill thought best calc Lated to prove
them might be submitted.
The Committee, in consequence of this, adjoitrue 1 till to-morrow
at twelve o'clock.

GROUPA
m eb
je
NORTH IVINT DISTRICT (SOUTH..
- EASTERN LINE).
The Committee to which the lines traversing the North Kent dis-
trict are referred, met to-day at twelve o'clock, in Room No. 0;
present, Mr. Protheroe, chairman, Lord Emlyn, Mr. J. O'Connell,
and Mr. Grogan.
Mr. Sergeant WEANGFIAM proceeded in his address to the Com-
mittee in support of the North Kent case. His observations referred
chiefly to those engineering details which have been already fully
given in Mr. Vignoles's evidence. In conclusion, the Learned Ser
geant urged on the Committee the necessity of not en-
trusting the important district cf North Kent in the
hands of a Company which was impoTerished by its
gigantic speculations and schemes, and which, having another
line of access to the termini of the ',forth Kent line, could not
pocsibly feel so mach interested In accommodating the puhic
ascat company which possessed that lino alone, and which knowing
that it was their all, would leave no means untried to secure the
patronage of the public.
Mr.
put
In said, that with the consent of the Committee, he
would put in a letter front the Lords of the Admiralty, assenting to
the passage of the Seuth-Lastern
clXtinerdeVt.tloirothneghaGdmreiesaniwunichufPaanrky.such
Mr. Sergeant WILANGH
document, as the proceedings in both cases were closed, and more
especially as he did not consider that portion of the South-EaStern
line as having been actually brought before the Committee.
TheAf
After
rC
anuanimes idac
lia
hdeercia duecdn tchna tt
ht
eh ep
ad
ro et uo
fmethnte cHouolnd. njuoemt betearsdmfoiLedn. g
Committee,peThccilA i ,
A
ikr anniurnced that the Committee would give its de-
cision at half-past three o'clock to-morrow.

GROUP XVIII.
SOLIEZSETSHXME IVIZIMAND.

This Committee resumed its sittings this morning, at 12 o'clock,
Mr. B. Denison in the chair.
Mr. Sergeant KINGLAKE commenced by cross-examining Mr. Hill,
the engineer. On his cross-examination, Mr. Hill admitted that an
original prospectus, stating ,he capital of the Company to be 150,0001.,
and describing the proposed route of the railway, which was then
surveyed to a considerable extent, had been published without his
sanction or authority, before the line was surveyed by him, or any
estimates made of the probable expense. Ile could not remember
going into any details with reference to the amount of earth-work or
tlie ;Lumber of bridges. He merely walked over the line for two days.
The only report that he made to the directliirs with reference to this
preliminary survey was, that the sum of 320,0001. (the sum proposed
by tt e directors), would be rather a low sum, as the gradients and
cuttin,gs would be severe. In the estimates before the Committee he
had estimated the total amount of earthwork at 1,590,194 cubic
yards ; a this quantity there were 154,525 cubic yards of limestone
cutting, al 3s. fid. per yard; 98,560 yards of freestone at 3s. ; 204,020
yards of at mixture of freestone and marl at Is. 6,1.. per
yard ; of hard clay there would bo 242,465 yards at is. 3d
ixed
marl m with gravel and stones at is. 4d. per yard ;
there woul,d be 290,215, and 292,579 yards of common earth
which he laad estimated at IS. 2d. per yard. He had made six
borings, in order to determine the several kinds of earthwork. The
slopes would not be more than Ito I. There were six miles of an
ascending e.adient of a bad character. Ile did not know of any
existing rair.vay with a worse gradient considering-the length ; there
was a descenting gradient of three miles of 1 in 104.
Captain Mortreott, R.N., was then examined ou behalf of the pro-
mote-s. He knew several lines where the gradients were more
severe thari the present one. The Hartlepool Railway had a gradient
of one in thirty for two milers in length. There would be no
danger if proper ca re were taken in working a single tine. He
was =violated with the working of the Taff Vale Railway, which
was a sin& line of rails. He did not consider it absolutely ne-
cessary to the safe working of tile line that there should be an
electric telegravh along it. He had estimated the cost of con-
struction at about 20.0001. less than the estimates of Mr. Hill, and
could obtain respowirte parties to complete the works for the slim
which he had estimated.
Mr. Miller, C.E., ha examined the sections of the line. He did
not think, although of an inferior character, that they would be of
serious inconvenience. ife was workiue, a line himself with a gra-
client of one in forty-two, and found no difficulty. •
Mr. Lewis, a contractor ,for the construction of railways, proved
the general accuracy of the Estimates of earth and bridge work fur-
nished by the engineer.
Mr. Burge, a contractor, Also proved the same, and would be
very happy to undertake the contracts on the terms mentioned in

the estimates.
Colonel Coles, a magistrate ill Somersetshire, and a director of-the
company, was the nest_ witness called, who proved that the directors
had endeavoured, a,s much as possible, to meet the wishes of Mr.
Somerville by changing the roucta of the railway, he being a peti-
tioner against the Bill.
This witness closed the case of tire promoters.
The Committee then adjourned till. to-morrow at twelve.

GROUT' K-XX-
This Committee re-assembled to—y at the usual, hour. Present,
Lord Charles Wellesley (chairman), and the other Members.
AYLESBURY AND T11.1.1V121 Zo"I3'NCTION
Mr. W. Clarke, examined by Mr. Wrta..s•—Carried on business as a
carrier and farmer at Lutes. There was is,o traffic of any importance
east or west to Oxford and Cambridge.
Cross-examined by Mr. WADDINGTOX—TI, is railway from Cam-
bridge to Oxford would not injure him.
Mr. E. Chase, examined by Mr. Wttis—Werts a surgeon, residing
at Luton. Knew that Mr. Byce and other later ‘ plait manufacturers
were of opinion that this line (the Cambridge anti OxfOrd) would de
no good to the town.
Mr. WADDINGTON cross-examined this wanes* —Was not aware
that Mr• Byce was a member of the provisional -zom mittee of the
Oxford and Cambridge Railway. Did not know that influ-
ential gentlemen of the town were members also.
Mr. Francis Field was examined by Mr. CALcitini T, and corrobo-
rated the testimony of the preceding witness.
Mr. J. Bartrum, examined by Mr. CaLcaarr—Was a straw-plait
manufacturer at Dunstable, and was brought in colter with Bir-
mingham, London, and othet large towns. None of his description
of manufacture went to Cambridge or Oxford, and the opinion of
the people of Dunstable was decidedly against the railwar; between
these towns.
After hearing some further evidence to the same effect, the Com-
mittee adjourned at four o'clock till to-morrow.

GROUP XXXVII.
The Committee met at twelve o'cloek yesterday, Lord SeyraolV in
the chair

The Committee deferre,
burned at a quarter past

O'clock.

to-morrow, and ad-

( MOM' XLIII.
EAST AN'S) WEST TORIESHIE,E.
The Cemmittee on tbds 'Bill met again to-day at twelve o'clock, in
Room 33, Mr. W. Miles, c hairman.
engineer .to the Company, was called and examined
The line was easy of construction,
veCry. I—k lit and gradients most favourable. The
by
yMe
estimate for making then ne was 20,0001. He was satisfied that the
1 ‘r jrG.
cuttings Grainger,
Hue could be constructed for that amount. After some further evi-
dence the witness was crovs-examined
iniss,
being
By Mr. Blass—Had the line gone further north before coming
towards Kriaresbisrough,. lie;did not think they could have avoided
Knaresborough without great inconvenience. ' Could not tell how
many houses they, would. pull dawn at Knaresborough. He had not
taken any account of Ile value of the property which would be
required ; that was no; part of his duty as engineer. By avoiding
Knaresborough the lengt b of the line would be very much increased.l
After a lengthened cro es-examination of this witness, the Commit-
tee adjourhed to twelve o'clock to-morrow.

GROUP XLIV.

LXVELZPOO'L, 'AILANCIZESTZIZ, A7.ZI) NEVJ-.

CASTLE-U2'oll-TYNE TUNCTXON.
(Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.)

Mr. Robert Steptiensorn was then called, and gave evidence corro-
borative of that of Mr. llawkshaw. He had examined the plans,
&c., and could speak to their correctness. He totally denied the as-
sertion made in one of the allegations of the petition of Sir W. Law-
son, that the plans were incorrect.
The Committee declb red the preamble of the Bill proved.

L.aiwcasuraal AND NORTH IrOZILSHIRE.

This Bill, it will be remembered, forms but a part of the same pro-
ject as the Liverpool, Miuuchester and Newcastle, the two being in
fact but one line. The Committee, therefore, In passing the
preamble of one, also passed that of the other, and it was
determined to apply to Parliam-eut for leave, to unite
the two, and pass them as one Bill. It must be re-
membered, however, that part of each Bill has been abandoned, the
two having originally been competing lines, but by uniting them and
discarding parts of each, the present apparently perfect project has
been formed.
Having disposed of these Bills, the Committee proceeded to the
ease of the