The Sun.
London, England, 1846-07-29 00:00:00

GAUGE COATMI§SION BILL.

The Earl of CLARENDON moved the second reading of
the Gauge Commission Bill, in consonance with the resolutions
to which their Lordships had unanimously come the other
evening.

Lord KINNAIRD had intended to oppose the second read-
ing of this Bill, but as there were to be certain amendments in-
troduced into it in the Committee, which might possibly obviate
his objections, he should refriiin from making those observa-
tions which he had intended to offer to their Lordships.
The Earl of SCARBOROUGH begged to apologise to
their Lordships for interfering in this debate, but it appeared
from reports which he had received from engineers. that by
enlarging the sleepers to sixieen inches, and taking out the
chairs, the carriages on the narrow gauge might be very easily
adapted f•,r the broad gang- not co•ting. in all pridr.bilitv,
more than 307. each. The bridges and tunnels might be al-
tered with almost proportiona.telv equal facility. After going
through the list of accidents which have occurred reiyectively
on both the gauzes, the Noble ion said the danger on the
narrow gauge was evidently greater. for if they put the centre
of gravity ever so little out of its place in turning a corner, the
sway, or the unavoidable oscillation, would easily throw a car-
riage off its basis. The Noble Lord the Chairman of the Com-
mission had offered no objections to the adoption of the broad
gauge.

Lord BEAUMONT said that it was evident, from the
evidence submitted to the Commissioners, that so far from the
decision being in favour of the narrow. gauge, it was quite the
reverse. The Commissioners had evidently been of opinion
that the brnan gauge was the better of the two, bot a better
than either would be one between the two The Noble Earl
(the Earl of Clarendon) was moving for nothing more nor less
than that the very worst gauge should be adoped for all future
railway., with a very few exceptions. He should not move
any amendment, but if any Noble Lord would bring forward
any motion for postponing this consideration, so that the Noble
Earl's suggestions might be properly taken, he would support
him.

Lord REDESDALE wished to expla'n what he had
said on the previous occasion, when these resolutions were
adopted. It was hardly the fact that the narrow gauge was
the very worst. On the contrary, he would say that it was
only bad in the view of those who were advocates for very
quick travelling. But there was another class, who looked to
the economical working of railways as well as to the rapidity
of fransit. The CoMmissioners had not said what was the be,t
gauge and in the present state of darkness he should be most
unwilling that any definite plan should be adopted. He only
wished that the great engineers should meet together
and give their opinion on what was the best gauge, and he
believed that their decision would be nearly unanimous on that
point. He further wished that the Great Northern Company
would have the courage to come forward and state that they
were ready to alter their gauge to the six-feet gauge, which, as
the medium, appeared to be the best. Having stated his
opinion, he fully trusted that before Parliament met next year
something would be done to settle the question finally. He
would not oppose the present Bill, but he hoped an uniform
gauge would be ultimately adopted.
The Earl of CLARENDON did not see how they could
get rid of their difficulties on this question. There were up •
wards of 2,000 miles construeted on the narrow gauge, and.
with the exception of rapidity of transit, he did not agree with
the Noble Lord that it was the worst gauge. All the eminent
commissioners abroad who had come to this country far the
purpose of ascertaining what would be the best gauge for their
respective countries, had adopted the narrow gauge, and there
was a majority of upwards of forty of the most eminent engi-
neers of this country in favour of that principle. 'the Com-
mission also which had sat upon the question had given it as
t h••ir opinion that, in the circumstances of the country, it was
the best gauge that could be adopted.
Lord KINNAIRD said the Noble Lord asked how were they
to deal with the matter, but they should recollect that the
practicability of altering the gauge had never been inquired
into. He would not detain their Lordships further than by
alluding to what had been said by the Gauge Commissioners,
which was of great importance on the subject. By thie Bill
parties, who were anxious to amalgamate with other companies
would be prevented doing so, when the principle upon which
such amalgamation would be effected would be nullified by this
very Act.
Lord PORTMAN thought that the adoption of the medium
gauge, referred to by the Noble Lord, would necessitate an
alteration in the engines, carriages, and rails of every railroad
in existence in the country. As an inhabitant of the western
portion of England, he was most decidedly in favour of the
broad gauge line.

Lord CAMOYS thought the alteration of the narrow to an
intermediate was the most extensive and the most expensive
alteration that could be made.

Lord GREY considered that •he present measure was the
only one practicable at the present time, to prevent the further
spread of the inconvenience of a break of gauge, which every
gentleman deprecated. He had heard that several companies
in connexion with the narrow gauge bad proposed to purchase
the Great Western Extensions, and thus hermetrically seal up
the Great Western Railway. Such a mischief as that would
be remedied by the passing of the present measure, which
would prevent the alteration of the gauge at present laid down
upon the railway. He did not consider the present measure
as at all to be considered as a permanent measure ; for his own
part he would not be satisfied until the present inconvenience
resulting from the break of gauge v. as entirely removed.—
( Cheers.) He thought that the evidence given by Mr. Cubitt
before the Commission had been treated too lightly ; so far as
he was able to :crm an opinion, i e thought the proposition of
an intermediate gauge attended with many advantages. He
thought some other mode of settling the business than that of
appointing a Commission to inquire into the subject should be
adopted; be thought they had had enough already of Com-
missions.

Earl of KINNAIRD said that after the expression of
opinions just given by the Noble Earl, he would not oppose
the further progress-of the Bill.
Earl of SCARBOROUGH made a few remarks which
were inaudible in the gallery.
The Bill was then read a second time.
SMALL DEBTS BILL.

The Lord CHANCELLOR presented several petitions
'rom Halifax in favour of the Small Debts Bill.

The Lord CHANCELLOR then moved the second reading
of the Small Debts Bill. The proposed Bill was founded on the
report of a Commission consisting of the present Chief Baron,
and Mr. Justice Wightman. In the year 1839 this measure
had been introduced, but from the pressure of businers it was
not proceeded with. In subsequent years it had been brought
forward, but had not received the sanction of the Legislature.
In the month of June in the present year, the Bill was again
introduced by a member of the late Government. Finding that
the Bill was in accordance with the recommendations of the
Commission, he had brought the measure forward at
the present stage of the session. In the ancient
courts, established many years ago, the expense
of recovering 40s. was six pounds ; it was not
therefore to be wondered at that those courts in the present day
must have fallen into considerable disuse. The present Bill
sought to remove those grievances existing under the former
Acts in the establishment of local courts, and to remove the
jurisdiction from the courts of conscience or requests. He was
not able at that time to state the numberof those courts now in
existence, or the number of judges or commissioners who pre-
side over them. It was proposed to limit the present Act to
sums not exceeding twenty pounds. The present law courts
were totally inadequate to cases where small demands were
sought to be recovered. The scheme proposed in the present
Bill was to divide the country into districts, and to establish
courts in these districts to meet the wants of the people. There
would be a considerable number of these districts, and a large
number of courts would be necessary. He was happy to say
that there would not be so large a number of judges as of
courts, because the courts would not require to sit
every day; perhaps not more than once a week
or a fortnight. He proposed to establish some
judge over each district, who would have the-charge of all the
cow Is in that district. He did not think they would require
more judges than were now in the haLit of presiding over the
existing courts: The judges ihould be appointed by the Lord
Chancellor or the Secretary of State for the time being. The
mode of proceeding before the court would be the same as that
contained in all local Bills passed since the report of the Com-
mission on the stibject. There were a considerable number
of clauses in the Bill, which referred to the more minute de-
tails and working of the principle of the Bill. He thought the
weasure calculated to do good, and he trusted the measure
would receive the sanction of their Lordships.
_ _

The Bill was then read a second time.
THE BOOK AND ENGRAVINGS BILL, AND THE
• REDEMPTION OF. TITHE _BILL )
Were read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time
on Monday next,
WWI L6)1.41244 them Ajourue444lllZl4oky.

HOUSE OF COMMONS. Ju'y 28.
The SPEAKER. took the Chair shortly before Four o'clock.

LORDS' Ali ENDNI-F,NT.
The Lords' stnendments to the following Bills were agreed

Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Dudley Railway.
Blackburn, Darwen, and Bolton Railway.
Caledonian Hallway ( Glasgow Termini and Branches).
Gorbals Gravitation Waterworks.
Liverpool and Bury Railway Extensions.
London and Birmingham Railway (Coventry to Nuneaton ).
London and Birmingham Railway (Weedon to Northampton).
Manchester and Leeds Railway Extensions.
Midland Railwa3 (Leicester and Swennirgton Alterations and
Branches).
North Wales Railway.
Shrewsbury and Birmingham Railway.
Shrewsbury, Wolverhampton, and Soul' Stafford,hire June.
tiun Railway (No. I).
Strathtay and Breadalbane Railway.
Trent Valley, Midlands. and Grand Junction Railway.
Wilts, Somerset, and Weymouth Railway.
BATHS AND WASHEJOUSES.
_ _

Mr. M'CA RTHY pre,ented a petition from Cork, prayir•g
that the provisions of the Baths and Washl.ouses Bill might be
extended to Ireland.

JURORS—(IRELAND.)
Lord CLEMEN rs presented a petition from the jurors of
the county of Leitrim, coml laining of 'ming so repeatedly
called upon to perform the duty of jurors in consequence of the
absentees, and praying for an amen iment of the law with
real eat to jurors.