The Sun.
London, England, 1846-06-10 00:00:00

RAILWAY COMMITTEES.

(YESTERDAY.)

HOUSE OF LORDS.

HARWICH AND EASTERN COUNTIES
7UNCTION RAILWAY AND PIER..

- - -
The Committee on this Bill met for the first time at eleven
o'clock this morning, in Committee-room B. The members
are—Lord Fitzwilliam (chairman), Earl Huntingdon, and
Lords Berwick, Redesdale, and Newcastle.
Mr. Cockburn and Mr. James appeared for the promoters
of the Bill, which was opposed by Mr. Austin and Mr. Rod-
well, on the the part of the Eastern Union Railway, and by
Mr. O'Malley on the part of certain petitioning landowners.
Mr. COCKBURN opened the case for the promoters, and
several witnesses were called to prove the advantages to be
derived from the formation of such a line, &c.
Mr. Braithwaite, engineer to the line, gave the usual en-
gineering evidence. A great part of the line will be
common to the Eastern Counties and Eastern Union, but of
new railway it would be necessary to make thirteen miles.
The estimate is 180,0001., which includes the making of the
railway and of the pier. In consequence of an alteration in
the plans, the pier being proposed to be carried out much
further than was expected, the cost will be increased by 500/,
but this will be easily made up out of the estimate far con-
tingencies, The alteration was suggested by the Admiralty.
The steepest gradient on the new line would be 1 in 120, but
on the part of the Eastern Counties which they would use
there was an inclined plane three miles in length, of
which two miles were on a gradient ()fil. in 96, and
one mile on a gradient of 1 in 90. The line proposed
by the Eastern Union Company had but eleven miles of new
railway, but the works were much heavier. This line,
crossed a great many roads on a level, and the expense of
gates and watchmen at these crossings was included in the
estimate. Mr. Locke was the engineer to the line of the
Eastern Union Railway. He thought no
mischief
U on would
line by
result from the use of part of the Eastern
Union
wic h and Eastern Counties ; as although
now rivals, they would no doubt settle they were
matters amicably
if the Bill were passed. Mr. Locke's line was a competing
line before the Committee of the House of Commons, where
it was thrown out.
This being the case for the promoters,
Mr. Austor proceeded to show that the line proposed by
the Eastern Union Company was shorter and more direct,
had better gradients, accommodated a greater number of im-
portant places, would be less expensive, and was on the whole
a better line than the Harwich and Eastern Counties, not-
withstanding the preference given to the latter by the Com-
mittee of the House of Commons. Having concluded his
address, he called several witnesses, gentlemen residing in
the district through which the railway passed, in support of
his case.

Mr. O'MALLEY then addressed the Committee on the part
of his clients, petitioners against the Bill, showing the manner
in which the line would affect their property, and represent-
ing that the injury it would do would not be justified by any
public advantage that would result from its construction.
Mr. COCKBTIRN replied on the part of the promoters.
The COmmittee then ordered the room to be cleared, and
after a consultation of not more than one minute, the parties
were re-admitted, when
The CHAIRMAN said—lt is the unanimous opinion of the
Committee that the Bill ought not to be proceeded with.
The Committee then rose at twenty minutes past three
o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
GROUP 11.
CORNWALL.

This Committee met at the usual hour. Lord Morpeth,
chairman.

Captain. Plumridge, R.N., was the first witness called. He
gave evidence of the advantages which a central line would
afford as a convenience to the district, and as snore secure
from the operations of an enemy.
A number' of other witnesses were called, who gave evi-
dence of a similar nature, none of which was of a nature to
interest the public, or to warrant us in giving it at any length.
The Committee rose at five o'clock, and adjourned till twelve
to-morrow.