The Sun.
London, England, 1846-04-30 00:00:00

GROUP XVI.

READING GUILFORD, AND REIGATE.
The Committee resumed this morning, Sir Charles Douglas in the
chair, when, after some conversation,
The CHAIRMAN stated the Speaker had decided that, according to
Mr. Duncombe's resolutions, no parties could appear upon the Bill
anti! the Committee entered it ; and the rule was, in the case of any
suposition of fraud, the parties should petition the House for leave to
be heard upon the Bill.
After some further discussion between Mr. Cockburn, who ap-
peared for the promoters, Mr. Hill, who appeared for the opponents,
and Mr. Roe, who appeared for Dr. Feliowes, the Committee
decided that Mr. Cockburn should proceed. But a further
difficulty occurred, and the room was cleared. On the re-admission of
the parties, the Committee again requested Mr. Cockburn to pro-
ceed, after an endeavour on the part of Mr. Weller to speak upon a
petition against the line.
Mr. COCKBURN said that a more important line than this had not
been laid before Parliament this session. The object of the line was
to connect Reading and Reigate, and the necessary effect must
be to connect the South-Eastern, the South-Western, anti

eastern district., with the north,
the London and Brighton lines,
naerirtdh-twh
counties. By the lines to the west, even esusternlii,lk andthe milluatrhtd-
,
the Rugby and Oxford line
d,
aconidinaelxl itohne wmasa to Land's End, by
noupheienteduriunpg
dwisitthricßtricstoll,
Plymouth, Exeter, Sheffiel
man who wanted to send goods to Dover, Brighton, iouthampton,
•
oanbldigalled tiohegootrolleunr pdiabcyesmonndthoen,SoaUbTuetrtnwceonatsyt,noarletso
intradvisetla,nwceas. nitotys
this lino they would connect the southern lines with the whole or
those on the north of the Thames. It commenced at the Great
Western station at Reading, by Wokingharn, Sandhurst, and Black-
water, Creases the South-Western at Farborough, and thence to Ash
;bFriotrieSrtuaike Itsrunsouth
atri,n toshephttarildlenorned, Jwitinthettig, and4hneynfecer
gate. There were three competing
t'""
which an arrangement was made for using their line fro Com psal
to Dorking, and thence to Rei
nee, this, that of the South-Eastern, arta thad of the Leu
ittrightou Company. With the South-Eastern Couipany, however,
Eastern an arrangement had been made, the effect of which was the South-
Eastern Company should make the line between Reigate and Dork-
ing, but unless that portion was formed within a reasonable the
youth-Western Company should have the right. It was agreed
that the South-Easterit Company should take the line on perpetual
lease, a 414 per cent, and half the net profits, after that
T h payment.
e length was 46 miles, the entimate
736,0001., and the capital
-00,0t00/.. ; the gradients are favourable, anti
there were no ingineer-
tug difficulties. The Ilae woulr afford local accommoda-
tion as it would connect Kingston, Guildford, Croy-
ton and Reigate, the places at which the sessions for
Aurrey are held The landowners and Other inhabitants of the dis-
trict are all favourable to the project and in every way valuable anti
desirable. Tile only question he hoped would be, whethiteigerthaetmir, line
anti
or that of their opponeuts.should be chosen. The
au
gn andßyr gs
should
Ind Company
t.
werehere onlywas desirousreasonof thewh
aptoevrti vi or n
whyetwteheins
CoDothrkpi
Dork
for h
Dorking,
tyeet
htehrh
wopotuposdeileet.mh:
Whheolpeo,rtbeiocanusbee thweeceonneßelevaeddinthg anatthdetraffic
under the management of the South-Eastern.C2mpany.

The first point would be to connect Bristol, Exeter and Plymouth
with Dover, Folkestone, and other places on that part of the Englist.
,:hannel which was a principle recognised by the legislature as of
the utmost importance. A great inconvenience would arise from
;laving this small portion of the line between Dorking and Ryegate
under a different management. With respect to the opposition of Dr.
Fellows, he should state that it bad been got up by thOollcitor of the
London-and Brighton line, and it shou!d be observed that the South
Eastern Company had made their arrangement with him. Ile had
withdrawn his petition against .that Company, and this Company
was prepared to do everything for that gentleman—their line being
identical with that of the South Eastern—which the South Eastern
Company had promised This was as bond fide line as had ever been
brought before Parliament.
Mr. James Ilarroway, the Mayor of Reading, was then called, and
stated that he was a house agent, and consequently had consider.
able opportunities of knowing the feelings of the inhabitants of the
town and neighbourhood. He could say that it was unanimously in
favour of the lino. The traffic is considerable, but there is no pre-
sent mode of travelling between Reading and Gulltbrd but by post,
anti the line would materially Leneflt Reading by opening communi-
cation with VV4 king-ton and Landhnrst.
To Mr. MELLoa—fle stated that there is a road but that it Is bad
and circuitous, there being no turnpike road beyond Bracknell.
There had been formerly a coach between Reading and Brighton,
which ran during the summer, and ran by Oldham and esternhana,
which declined from a four-horse to a two-horse vehicle.
Mr. John Houghton, of Broon Hall, in Barks, a large landed pro-
prietor, acquainted with many landed proprietors, farmed and ma-
naged the most land of asy man in England. He farmed 3,470 acres,
and eould say that he was acquainted with all the places on and near
t,t(4line- This line travesed a mile through his property, and he had
than thi
di acres without any road whatever, and though he was himself in-
wrelfor the line, but as a matter of public convenience, there
re-
quired lime or chalk for its improvement. He lutdri
facilitate the
disantyricpta
drtidor.
ItthwilasecomulnetdrythewHhiecahth
district
required a line
improvement of one estate htimansed
rth4renildree,-1
eo nt
hteh e____lmv,
This line would greatly
vvu enact of the line. There would also be a great

advantage to the hop growers in Sussex in the carriage of hop poles,
which were ranch wanted in that county. There would also be a
great advantage in the direct conveyance of hops from the south to
Derby and the neghbourhood, as well as bringing back gypsume from
that county, a material whicb was eminently useful in improving
the natural quality of the soil. There are large markets for cattle at
London-bridge, and for corn at Reading and Guildford, and this line
would enable the growers of the peculiarly tine white wheat of
Gilildford to carry it into Berkshire, and further north into the ma-
nufacturing districts, where it was required to mix with other wheat.
He was concerned for landowners in almost every county in Eng.
land, travelled very much by railway, and believed that no district
nnta nature,
more required this sort of convenience. •
To Mr. MELLoa. the witness replied, that in some parts of this dis-
tbraidc
atnh d
a greapopulationt partwoaf was
countryvery dense,abo iitt h ehterroe layads are
a i
n at
state apte r eosef
from the want of the materials required for its improvement. That
much of it was improveable was evident from the fact that the 900
acres which he held was nearly barren heath, and now it was all
arable land.

To fir. Itoz—The witness reiterated his previous assertions, and
stated that he had no fear of a free trade in corn.
To his re-examination by Mr. HVDSON, Mr. Houghton stated the
roads were quite insufficient for the country, and the formation of a
railway was felt to be such an advantage, that the high roads were
almost deserted. Formerly 4G coaches had passed his house every
•day, and now there was only one. He also testified to the utility of
the communication from then est to Farnham and Alton.
To the CHAIRMAN, the witness replied that the formation of this
railway would give Immense facilities for bringing additional land
into cultivation.

Lord Lovoine, residing at Albury Park, near Guilford, had an
estate at Chilwerth, on which the paper-mills of Sir W. Magnay
stood, between which and Guilford there was only the ordinary road
this litre .wporuuldnnpaosist Drummond,
thheebea.ntkeenrt, wofhtohrreeseidmesilaets
communication. He testified generally to the utility a the line.
4tlllirbouurYgh shtai:eedsttahtaet,
and that it would tend to st,pply the wants of the neighbourhood, as
the traffic of late much increased. When he went into that district
28 or 29 years ago, where he hid ever since resided, there was no
road at all. Mr. Drummond explained the reason why the Ports-
mouth Atmosphealcßailway did not supply the same convenience as
this line, by stating, that though the two lines ran parallel for a short
• Istance, they immediately attenvards diverged at alm st right angles.
Mr. MANGLES, M.P., testified to the general feeling of the district
En favour of the line; and it was on that ground that he took interest
in It., He also stated that the communication with the west of Eng-
fancPyras bad and circuitous. This line would be of great service,
among other persons, to the corn-jobbers. It happens that the
markets at Reading and Guildford are held on the same day, but
the former was an early Market and the latter a late one, so that
throught his line individuals would be able to attend both on the
same day. He also testified to the advantage of this means of com-
munication with the west and the manufacturing districts, and he
could say from his crwneknowledge that many of the respectable trades-
men in Guildford had taken shares to this e with the expectation of
getting their good cheaper and more speedily than they now can.
This line would connect all the chief towns in Surrey, and if the
communication were made, the chalk would occasion all tha im-
provement which Mr. HOT ghton had stated. He that even the worst
part of Bagshot Heath might be reclaimed, for on the most sterile
part of the common, near the Woking Common Cottage, squatters
had brought large gardens into flourisqing cultivation.
The Committee here adjourned till to-morrow.