The Sun.
London, England, 1846-03-25 00:00:00

0110CP XXV.

The Coanuittee appointed to eo nsider the merits of the several
Bills comprised in this group assembled for the first time this morn-
ing, in the Westminster Sessions-house. The Committee couslsted
of the Hen. Mr. Lascelles, chairman, Mi. Duncan, Mr. Moacktoa
Miles, Mr. Maclean, and Sir John Walsh.
The Bills comprised in the group were as follows :
Eastern Union (Ardleigh to Colchester).

Eatetere Union and Harwiele
narwhal' and Eastern Counties Junction.
Dee-teen Union and Iladleigh Junction.
Malden, Witham, and Ilraintree Railway.
Colchester, Stour Valley, Sudbury, and Halstead Railway.
Tar. MALDEN, WITHAM, AND BRAIN.
TI.EE aZiIIZAWAY.
This was the first line gone into
Mr. JAlstee appeared for the promoters, and stated that the lino
eommenced at Malden, a port of considerable importance in Essex,
and ran on in a direct line to Witham, where It joined the Eastern
Cemities Railway. It then passed onto Braletree, the central agri-
cultural-town of the county. The length of theline from Maiden to
Witham 'v. s S miles, while the extent of the whole line was 12
miles and some few chains. There was an extensive trade between
Malden and Braintree in agricultural produce and materials. For
instance, the corn produced in the neighbourhood of Braintree
was exported from Malden, and, In return, chalk, slates, lime, and
coal were imported to a large degree. There were 50,000 tons of coal
imported annually into Malden, 25,000 tons of which were carried up
to the Malden quays, and the other 25,, 00 tons were conveyed into
the interior of the country by the Chelmer navigation. New, there
was no competing line, but the Bill was opposed by the Chelmer navi-
gation, who contended that the River_ Blackwater was so
shallow that no more than 25,000 tons of coal could he
carried up to Malden, and this, it is evident, would not
ot
suffice to support a railway, but they proposed to get rid of the
jection by taking powers to deepen the river if it should be found
necessary. The Chelruer navigation
pro charged 4s. 4d. p ton
for the carriage of coal, but they posed tecarry coal ater 2s. 4d.
per ton. At the same time it must be remembered that the naviga-
tion was often obstructed by frosts and floods, which rendered a line
of railway indispensably necessary; and as it was a line promoted
and got up by local traders and merchants, the Committee could hardly
throw it out upon the opposition of a canal company or a landholder.
The first witness called was Mr. Ransome, an extensive iron-
monger of Ipswich, who stated that he was well acquainted with the
(equity of Essex, and particularly with the route of the proposed
railway. It would be of great advantage to Maiden in so far as it
would give an immediate communication with Colchester, Braintree,
and the metropolis. The present cost of conveying agricultural
pro lute was front Bd. to 9d. per mile, but he estimated that the rail-
way would have the erect of reducing it to three-halfpence per mile.
There tees a ef.k manufactory, and all along the line there were large
flour-mills.
Mr. Fdll3Eill vets about to cross-examine th- witness en behalf of
the Chelmer navigation, but he was interrupted by
Mr.JAelle3 who objected to his appearing against the preamble of the
Bill, oa the ground that the line did not directly compete with the
navigation. The line would pass the river Chelmer by means of a
bridge, and his Learned Friend only had the right of appearing
against the clauses.
Mr. Fosse-rut contended that he had a right to appear against the
2reamble, because the line would prove injurious to tie navigation,
while the public wants did not require the railway at all.
The Committee decided that, as there was to specific injury al-
leged in the petition, Mr. Forsoth could not be beard at ail.
Mr. John rain, of Malden, spoke to the importance or the imports
of that town in an agricultural view. The exports ,onsisted chiefly
of grain and corn, which were sent to Wakefield and other parts of
Yorkshire.. The line was unanimously supported by the inhabitants
of the distr ct.
• Mr. Pe.edide, the surveyor of the line, estimated the price of the
land to be taken for the line at 9,9401. The line in no way interfered
w.th any resh:entiel property, nor did it injure any house or building.
Mr. Locke, the engineer, proved that the length of he line was
twelve miles and six chains. There was no tunnelling—the gra-
dients were good, and on the whole the line was the best
that could be selected. The estimate was lee,oeol. ; the subscribed
caietal of the Company was 200,0001. The Illeckwater River could
easily be deepened, and at a moderate outlay. The line joined the
Eastern Countlee on a level at Witham. After the working ex-
penses of the line had been paid, he estimated that there would be a
disposable baheice of 18,175/., or 10 per cent. upon the paid-up
capital.
This closed the case for the promoters. The opposition was post-
poned Jill to morrow.
The Committee adjourned, at four o'clock, till twelve o'clock to -
MOM IT.

Sub-C9mMittee No. 2.
This Committee met to-day at twelve o'clock; present, Sir .T. Y.
Boller (chairmen), Mr. Bell, Yr. Kemble, and Mr. Eliot Yorke.
SOUIrn 5T11714 ORDSIIIRE TITNCTION AND
artaxxvllES (No. 1.)
This was the first Bill considered. The oblect of the promoters
was to construct a railway from the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolver-
hampt•An Railway, neer Smiley, to the Mitiland Railway at Alrewns,
with various branches included in the present Bill and three other
Bills with much the same ehject. Capital 750,00 a. Engineer, Mr.
J. R. M Lean. Length of the line, Including branches, 42 miles. Parlia-
mentary agent, Mr. Prht.
There were some petitions against the Bill, but they were un-
supported.
The formal proofs having been taken, the CHAIRMAN announced
that the Committee were of opinion that the, standing orders had not
been complied with en two points—with respect to the datum line at
point 2, an,l the subscription contract.
SOUTH STArrOUDSIIraM JUNCTION (DILS..
TON saND PRIESTrIELD BILANCII— No. 2.)

- This Bill was next consi,icred.
The formal proofs having bean taken, the Committee found that the
standing orders had been complied with, except with reference to the
points mentioned in the preceding Bal.
There were two ether Rills promoted by the same Company.
namely.
THE SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE JUNCTION (SHOWHILL and
l')R TORE Ll,O - No. 3) RAILWAY, at,d the
SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE .JUNCTION (WILLENHALL and
ISLOX WWII— No. 4) RAILWAY.
A similar decision was come to with respect to the former, and
thero was an additional Infringement of the standing orders found
with reference to the latter Bill.
BRITISH ARD =ISIS UNION.
The ol,,;cct of this Bill was to construct a railway from Dumfries
to Portpatr.ck, with an extension from Dumfries to the Caledonian
Railway, at or near Soriugfield, to the parish of Gretna, with branches
from Ernstie to Kiritcudbrigh:, from Carty Port to Wigtown, and
front La. taiis to Stranraer. Length 01 the line, includini
bra:iches, 121) udles ; capital, 1,3,A,00:31. Parliamentary agents,
3lessrs. Dunlop and [tope.
'l'hn formal prooiS having been taken, the petitions against the
Bill, far two of which there was an appearance, were heard.
Mr. CoAms appeared in support of the first petition from Mr.
:Mackay and others, complaining of non-compliance with the stand-
ing orders

The eir.i:s nr .1 e;-,;atious entered into stated that there were errors
In the nib,:cription contract deed, in some instances the name of only
we! member of a firm being subscribed. -
The room was cleared. On our re-admission, it being announced
that. the Speaker was at prayers, the Committee adjourned till to-
morrow.

Ste:.-Cotninatee p. 5.

xxx.rarsrGniutz AND OXFORD (BIRZYZINC.

_
axon* )

This Sub-Committee .met this morning at. the usual hour; Mr.
Bops Drummond in the chair.
Tile Committee proceeded to investigate the allegations con-
taii.ed in the petition of the Earl of Warwick, bOlllO of which were
proved. There were three other petitions, be: as the allegations
whie,h they contaiued were sander to those in the above petition,
they were not procezded with. The Committee consequently decided
that the standing orders had not been complied with.

02EFOED AND ZUNCTZON.
The Committee also declared that in this case the standing
orders bad not been complied with, on the ground that the plans
were defective, and did not sufficiently describe the levels and ant-
i an!annti of tilt iluc.

MANcursTrat. MIDLAND, 11.74 D GRZAT

GIZIKSZY.

The Committee next ,droeeeded with this Bill.
This line was 31 utiles in length, and was proposed to be constructed
vy a capital of (1733 WV.
Mr Laing ras the agent for the Bill, and Messrs. Boyle and Coward,
et R..,theritam, were the solicitors.
Mr. CO ATE: opposed the Bill ch behalf of Mr. Parsons, who had
/Pciinoned a:;ainst it on tlt ground that the sections deposited with
the clerks of the peace were incorrect in their description of the levels.
then called

Mr. It. Hughes, an engineer and surveyor, who stated' that he had
survryed tfie.line in order to test the ace:truer& the plans deporited
al. the Board of Trade and with the clerks of the peace, anti that he
round the height of the line at the 6th mile 41 chains to be 394
get 7 inches, and the:. it was stated In the section to be 402 f.,et
inch in height. The extreme error which be discovered showed a
difference of 8 feet 6 inches from tie plans sadeposited, and the most
ininnte 2 feet 9 inches ; the former was at the.point at which the
line crossed the South Midhoid Hallway, and the other in the parish
of K iniberwortii.

Mr.a surveyor, corroborated this ev
it ap* re,trad,liuckhiglintn,
however, that the opponents of the line had not sur-
veYed it from its commencement to its ternainus, that they assumed
the promoters were eoweet in their sections of some portion, whilst
they simply confined their investigation to those points which they
twat! reason to believe were detective..
The ermunittee considered that this was not sufficient ; and they,
Vieref,,.—. declared Mat the standing orders had liven complied
LONDON AND SOUTH-WES TEILN
BURY 3-7NCTION).

Th:g was postponed until Thursday.
LONDON AND SOUTHOWESTERN (nasizTo-
STOKE AND SALISBURY EXTENSION).
Tlds Lill was withdrawn altogether.
TILE MUM' ST. SDPTUNDS AND NEW-