The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-01 00:00:00

RAILWAY COMMITTEES
(YESTERDAY.)
HOUSE ()1" COMMONS.
GROUP IV.
THE GREAT NORTH OF SCOTLAND.
(Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.)

Mr. AUSTIN wished to know if his Learned Friend, who appeared
for the Perth and Inverness line, opposed the Aberdeen, Banff, and
Elgin line ?
Mr. Sergeant BELLASIS—NO, we do not. _ _

Mr. AUSTIN contended, then, that they could not oppose the Great
North of Scotland line, and they ought either to remain neutral, or
oppose both the coast lines.
Mr. Sergeant BELLASIS thought not. Here were 'two distinct com-
panies, the one a competing line with tha Great North of Scotland
for the local, and the other a competing line with the Great North
of Scotland for the through traffic. Both Companies had, therefore,
the right of opposing the Great North of Scotland.
The CHAIRMAN—Let us proceed, then, as before. I don't think we
shall gain time by discussing the matter further.

Mr. AUSTIN wished to know then if the Committee had any ques-
tions to ask his client upon Mr. Duncombe's resolutions ?
The CHAIRMAN —Yes, some doubt has been raised as to the source
whence you procured your deposits with the Accountant-General.
Mr. roltSYTII—Yes, there are circumstances connected with these
deposits which give rise to grave suspicion that the deposit was net
raised by bona fide subscriptions on allotted shares. In the first
place, the solicitors of the company, Messrs. Adam and Andrews,
had allotted to them in the first instance 500 shares each, wh:ch
amounted to 50,000/., upon which the 5/. per cent deposit was paid,
2,500/.; but on the 28th of January, 1846, 1,630 additional shares
were allotted to Mr. Adam : amounting to 81,500/., upon
which he was en!y liable to pay the 5/ per cent. de-
posit, but he had raid more ; he had paid 73,3,0.'-
Thomas Blakey, the joint secretary, hail allotted to him 25,“/0
shares, fur which be was liable to 25,000/. Messrs. Inglis and
Burns, the Edinburgh agents, have subscribed to the extent of
20,000/., and two other agents to the extent of 15,0001., while the
directors, eight in number, had subscribed 17 ,0001.
Mr. AUSTIN explained that, independently of the amountilsuilb-.
sub-
scribed by the solicitors, a sufficient deposit had been p
shares to meet the requisitions of the standing orders of tie
o
itonse
of Commons. The excess was to meet the requisitions of the
stand-
ing orders of the House of Lords.
Mr. Hugh Lonsdale, ShetriZortofhSluiitihe.erlaintclgsahZ,mgoarveelgoecanleralevi
dence in favour of the Gres -
accom-
modation. in his opinion, than the Aberdeen, Banff, and Elgin line.
The Great North line passed through a fertile and populous district,
while its competitor passed through a comparatively sterile and
barren country. In three fourths of the Perth and ;Nairn line it
through a perfect wilderness, and in the winter season the
P
road was frequently stopped up with snow, but this objection could
not be applied to the Great North line. There were three
important manufacturers employing several thousand people on the
Great North line and further on many large and extensive quarries.
At Huntley also there were manufactories on a large scale.
Mr. Andrew Lumsdale, a shareholder, both in the Great North of
• Scotland and the Aberdeen, Banff and Elgin line, preferred the
former line, because it went through a more agricultural and well-
peopled county on both side,., while the Band line passed nearer to
the coast, and would only be extensively useful on one side. The
branches of the Great North line would amply accommodate Banff
and places near to the coast.
Captain Dalrymple, son of Sir Robert Dalrymple, of Inverary, gave
Concurrent testimony.
The Committee adjourned at four o'clock.

GROUP XI.
SLILMANNAN AND BORROWSTOITNESS.
(Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.)
The Committee immediately declared the preamble proved.
The clauses of the Bill were then gone throu4h and agreed to.
WILSONTOWN, moitiesurosxms, and COLT"
NESS (CALEDONIAN 3-criccerxoN).
Mr. GasussE opened the case on behalf of this line, which is un-
opposed. It is a branch from the Wilsontown, Morningside, and
Coltness Railway, to connect it with the Caledonian line, so as to
open up the rich mineral district intersected by the latter, and to
form a connexion with Edinburgh and Granton, whence coal and
lime might be supplied.
Mr. Colliston, civil engineer, was examined as to the advantages
of the line. The gradients were generally good, and could be easily
worked. The severest was one in eighty-five. The estimated cost
of the line was 123,370/., the length of the branch was eight milts
and three-quarters and the traffic was calculated, after paying work-
ing expenses, to yield a revenue of five and a half per cent.
Mr. Williamson, mining engineer, generally stated the advantages
the branch would confer on the mineral traffic of the district. It was
a work which, when executed, would be of the greatest benefit.
The Committee declared the preamble of the Bill to be proved.
The clauses were then arranged, and, with the exception of two
that were postponed, agreed te.
The Committee then adjourned till to-morrow at twelve o'clock.