The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-06 00:00:00

GROUP XIII,

The Committee met to-day at twelve o'clock ; Sir William Clay in
the chair.
GLASGOW, nuntruxEs, AND CARLISLE.
Evidenee in support of this line of railway was this morning
resumed.
Mr. Christie, mining engineer, was examined, at some length, as
to the mining resources of the district through which the line passed,
which he represented to be considerable. The largest field, however
was that in the direction from Old Cumnock to Muirkirk.

GROUP XVIII.

The Committee met at the usual hour, 'kr. B. Denison, chairman,

SOMEN.SETSIZZRE IVJEIDLBIZTP.

Before commencing the business of the Committee, the Cnarastax
announced that he had had a communication with the Speaker, who
had informed him that it was not competent for counsel to cross-
examine upon the statement of the petitioners, until a petition shall
have been presented to the House, stating that in the opinion of the
petitioners, the statement made to the Committee, in accordance
with Mr. Dimcombe's resolutions was erroneous, and praying that
counsel might be allowed to cross-examine the witnesses en the
points referred to in the petition. The House would then,
if it thought proper, grant the prayer of the petluoner, and allow
the cross-examination to be made. -It appeared, therefore, that we
were wrong in allowing Mr. Sergeant Kinglake to cross-examine
witness on the statement yesterday. It was merely an act of in-
dulgence granted by the Committee, at the request of Mr. Kinglake.
The Committee are not, however, at liberty to allow any cross-exa-
mination by Counsel upon those statements until a petition shall
have been presented to the Rouse, containing allegations that the
statements made to the Committee are erroneous. . .

The room was then cleared, in order that the Committee might
consult as to the best course to be adopted under those circum-
stances. A large amount of evidence had been obtained during yes-
terday's proceeding, gild it now appears that this was contrary to
the resolutions of the House.
(The Committee had not annOtWeed their decision up to the time
of our going to press.)

GROUP xix.

SRIDGEWATER. AND TAUNTON CANAL,

ItAILIVAY, an D HELRBOUR.

The Committee met this morning at twelve o'clock; Lord Harry
Vane in the chair. _ _

Mr. Hale, the engineer to the line was re called and examined by
the opposing counsel and the members of the Committee, with
respect to the general features of the line, in the course of which he
repeated a great portion of the evidence given by him yesterday.
Mr. Ware, dock-master, at Bridgewater, was called and examined
by Mr. WELLS, with respect to Bridgewater Bay, the plan of which
displayed on the walls of the Committee room was perfectly
correct. The ships which came ,up the bay were exposed
to great dangers, casualties happening every mouth, which he ap-
prehended would be greatly, if not wholly obviated by the construc-
tion of a commodious harbour at Stalford s and besides, it would
materially increase the traffic between that part of the country and
Wales, which could only now be approached by a circuitous and un-
favourable road. Shipowners had now to pay heavy dues, from
which they derived no benefit, inasmuch as the receipts, in the shape
of dues, were devoted to the improvement of the river Barret.
The witness, in his cross-examination by Mr. FITZUERBEET,
stated his belief, that if the dues were taken away
from the corporation, they would yet have sufficient money
from the interest of money they held, and from the increased trade
to Bridgewater, when the harbour was constructed, to meet any ex-
penses which they would incur for the next thirty years ; and might,
in fact, pay for all the improvements they had made during the past
thirty years. Was not aware that the Corporation had only 1,000/.
in hand, or that they had ever expended money in raising wrecks.
He believed that a great portion of the timber trade with Bridge-
water, would come by Stalford, where the harbour is proposed to be
made. Never knew bricks or tiles exported from Bridgewater in the
shape of ballast. They were made on the banks of the river. Could
not say whether they would go to Stalford or not. The exports and
imports were not considerable at Stalford, principally because there
was no harbour there ; but if one were made, he considered that they
would be great.