The Sun.
London, England, 1846-04-08 00:00:00

RAILWAY COMMITTEES.

(YES TERDAY.)

GROUP IX.
WZST OT SCOTLAND 3117NCTION.

(Continued from our ♦fternoen Editioa of yesterday.)'

Mr. Walker, cross-examined by Mr. ANinEws—He did not recol-
lect having opposed the Harbour branch last year in the Lords. The
River Trust obtiined powers about eight years ago to make docks on
the south side of the river, but they never had done anything towards
making them. He believed that powers had been taken this session
of Parliament to abandon these docks, bat it was net with his ad-
vice, as he thought the time might come when they would be both
wanted. The river had been deepened up to near the bridge to a
considerable extent, and the bridge had not given way. This gave
him confidence in it ; but if they were to drive piles and make coffer-
dams for the new viaduct, the case would be much altered.
This closed the case for the opposition on the part of the River
Trust, the Bridge Trust, and the Corporation of Glasgow.
Some discussion here arose as to the order of proceeding,
The CHAIRMAN intimating that it would be better to hear Mr.
Slope in summing up his case, and Mr. Andrews in reply, after
which the decision of the Committee might be given on the West
of Scotland Junction Bill, so as to liberate many parties that were
retained here at present,
. _ _

Mr. ANDREWS thought it would be best to reserve all decision on
any of the schemes until the Caledonian was heard, as he had con-
ducted his case on that understanding, and abstained from asking any
questions relative to the comparative merits of the two schemes.
After several remarks pro and con., the room was cleared.
On oar return,

The CHAIENAN intimated that they would hear counsel in summing
tm on behalf of the opposition, after which counsel in behalf sit the
Bill would be heard in reply. The Committee then, if they thought
the opposition sufficient to justify the rejection of the Bill, wouhl do
so, reserving, however, to the promoters the right to appear against
the Caledonian scheme, as if no such decision had been given. If the
Committee thought otherwise, then the decision would be deferred
until the Caledonian case was gone through.
Mr. HOPE then proceeded to sunup. He commenced by referring
to the proposed Blythswood station, stating that it had been shown
that, for the general accommodation of the leading places of the
city, the Queen-street station was better than the one proposed at
Blythswood Holm. It was nearer to the Post-office, the Cross, the
Exchange, and the leading places of business in the city. The only
advantage brought forward in favour of the proposed station was,
It lies nearer to the centre of the harbour. Then with regard
to the through traffic, that was the only case on which this commu-
nication had been made to depend. They had heard parties called,
to show that the Ayrshire ports, and the towns on the east of Scot-
land, would be much benefited' by the line. Now he did not depre-
ciate the benefits of through communication, and he could under-
stand how it was, that the Lord Provosts of Edinburgh and Perth,
and the shippers of Ayrshire supported the scheme ; but he could
not see that such a desire on the part of those persons
should lead the citizens of Glasgow to allow their streets
to he cut up and crossed, and their harbour cramped and
injured, seeing that the city would receive no advantage. He saw
no reason why the beauty and convenience of Glasgow should be so
seriously interfered with as was proposed, merely to allow the inha-
bitants of Edinburgh to have Irish capons, eggs, and bacon at such
times and in such a manner as they thought fit, while the traffic con-
ferred no benefits whatever on the citizens of the injured city. Re-
specting the bridge, he had heard nothing to show that the Admiralty
were in favour of the crossing of the Clyde. The only construction
he could put on the letter from the Admiral y which had been read
was that the Lords of the Admiralty left it to the Parliamentary
Committee, under the impression that the Committee to which the
Bill was referred would reject it, and thus put an end to these parties
coming to Parliament year after year endeavouring to get power to
cross the river. The Clyde trustees were also opposed to the eras-
ing, and from the way that trust had managed the harbour it was
Quite Wear that were they persuaded the junction would be a great
public benefit they would not have opposed it. Reviewing the evi-
dence that had been called respecting the building of the bridge,
independent of the facts he had just advanced, it was
shown that the crossing ought to be refused. The evidence
of both Mr. Walker, and Mr. Atherton had shown that the viaduct
could not be erected without great danger to the existing bridge from
quick and running sands. Whether on public or engineering greunds,
therefore, the crossing of the Clyde in the manner proposed, was im-
politic and dangerous. Having stated what the promoters of the
Bill proposed to do, and the reasons why they should not be allowed
to do so, he would refer to what they proposed to abandon, in order,
if possible, to secure the support of the Committee The Learned
Gentleman then went into the particulars brought forward in re-
ference to the harbour mineral branch proposed to be abandoned, c.m-
tending, that allowing them to do so, would be to break faith
with the harbour trust and the Glasgow awl Garnkirk Railway,
and do a great injustice to the public, who looked to finding great
accommodation from the mineral branch. The Learned Gentleman
having amplified on these several points, concluded by calling on
the Committee to reject the preamble of the Bill.
The Committee adjourned till to-morrow, at one o'clock, when
Mr. Meadows will reply.

Git Orr xtv.
SOUTR-EaSi7ElMr.

The Committee met to-day at twelve ()clock. Present, Mr.
Protheroe (chairman), Lord Emlyn, General Lygon, Mr. J. O'Con-
sell, and Mr. Grogan.
Before, commencing the woccetlings of the day, the Committee
retired, and, after an absence of a quarter of an hour,
The CHAIRMAN', on resuming his seat, sail that the parties con-
nected with the line in ght have seen, by the reports in the
newspapers, that he was yesterday evening induced to ask a
question with regard to the object the Government had in view be
the Royal Coneuiedon, to inryni,a into the lines of railway passing
through the metropolis—tor sueli ha believed the object of the lineal
Comm:ssion to be. The Royal Coannlssion not only took under thdr
considerati st Come railwxys mentiened by the Committee of
releC;icil, bat they intended to tele into their eonsidera-
*foe the Metropolitan Junction of the North Kent line. The
Committe-! of S.Aection, wilt all due respect to the Members who
composed it, feed acted rather inconsistently, tor, if the matter of
railways pes4ine through the metropolis was to be a matter of
sep.irats consideration, they gave tlie metropolitan portion
cf the South-Eastern line to the Commission, and a much
sin Iler section of the North Kent line, not at all corresponding
in impo.ganee, viz., that portion between Union-stree' and South-
wark-b •:dg,e, without mentionitig any portion of the North Kent be-
tween Union-street awl llatchaun The portion between Union-
street and Ilitcham corresponded accurately with the metropolitan
portion of the South-Eastern. Sir Robert P,el, on being
constiltel on the subject, said that if he were the Chairman
of the Committee he would only exaniine so much or the line as re-
ferred to the country, and would suspend his decision on the metro-
politan portion until the Royal Conenission made its report. With-
out discussing the wisdom of that recommendation, he would state
that it was impossible to comply with ir, and therefore the deci-
sion the Committee had come to was, to proceed precisely- as
if there were no commission in existence. It would be butter, there-
fore. for the parties connected with one or other of the lines to apply
during the Easter recess to the Commission, and request it to give its
attention to the metroeolitan portion ofthelines,so that after Easter the
Commit ee might have the benefit of the suggestion of tte Commission.
Ile believed that the Committee was super or to a Royal Com-
mission ; tut he thought it would be better to have their ideas on
the subject befere paving either cf these Bills. Ile did not mean to
say that the decision of the Committee was dependent on that of the
Commission ; they should decide quite independelitly of that decision
with reference only to 'he respective merits of the knee. Ile would
also state that the Committee had deeded upon adjourning tc-morrow
afternoon tor the Eater recess,

Mr. AUSTIN suggested that it would be more convenient for the
promoteri that the Committee ,uld adjourn at once.
Mr. TAutor was averse to the stigr,,e,tion of tr. Austin, as it would
cause ineoavenience to his ctie te.

The Connitte,a decide upon aJ'l:rin2; to their original deter-
mination.

Mr. R. Stephenson, the engineer to-the South Eastern Railway
Company, exathined by Mr. Attyrtm—ls responsible fix the laying
out and ado!,tion of the South-Eastern schemes and extensions dur-
ing the present and the pmt year. His great object in laying oat a
line is t 7) obtain as low a level as possiLle; good gradients and
economy ha working are the results of such levels. Has adopted
low levels when practicable. Mr. Vignoles has agepted high
levels. This gives an advantage to the South-Eastern
line in the accommodation of the Woolwich Docltyard and Arsenal.
Between Gravesend and Rochester Mr. Vignoles' line is 90 feet
higher than the highest point on the South-Eastern, which is almost
on a level, having adopted the existing railway. When requested
by the Whitstable and Canterbury Railway Company to form a tun-
nel through-Boughton-hill, he declined doing so, as the work would
be useless and dangerous. They persisted in the proposition,
and he informed them that if he were pressed upon so
unnecessary a work that he would rather decline acting as their
cult-leer. All that Mr. Vignoles will attain by his proposed tunnel
farough Boughton-hill is a sherteaing of distance without a saving
of time. The tunnel is to be approached at each end through very
ep. cuttings.

Mr. J. O'CONNELL here suggested that it would be unnecessary for
Mr. Stephenson to go through every minute point of Mr. Bidder's
evidence, in order to corroborate it. A general corroboration was
all that was necessary.

Mr. Stephenson continued—Thinks it impossible to work the at-
mospheric lines of Mr. Vignoles.

Cross-examined by Mr.Tatnor. —The South-Eastern line has at
ono po.'nt much higher summits than there are on the North Kent
line. There are three summit., and the acclivity that would have to
be surmounted by a locomotive would be 124 feet more than on the
North Kent. Thinks that the South-Eastern would afford
better accommodat'on to the arsenal and dockyard of
Woolwich, by means of a "subway," which will be 5% feet
below the level of the street, running along the dockyard wall.
'Thinks that the line proposed by Mr. Vignoles would be too high to
sive any communication with the dockyard. His opinion is based
upon the supposition that the North Kent viaduct would be many
feet above the dockyard.
Tile Committee here adjourned until twelve o'clock to-morrow.

GROUP XIX.
The Committee met this day at -the usual hour. Present, Lord 11,
Vane (chairman), the Earl of March, the non. Francis Scott, 31r.
Morris, and Mr. Philip Bennett.
IMELIDGEWATEyt ANp WINEIZEAD RAIL—