The Sun.
London, England, 1846-06-25 00:00:00

RAILWAY COMMITTEES.

(YESTERDAY.)

HOUSE OF LORDS.

Room A.
CAMEZZDGB AND OXPORD.

Their Lon'ships met this morning at eleven o'clock, Lord Morn-
Ington in the chair, and proceeded with the case of the promoters.
Lord Hardwicke gave general evidence in favour of the line, ob•
serving that, as a resident in the country through which the line
passed. he had every opportunity of forming an opinion. Great ad-
vantages would result from the formation of this line.
Mr. George Wedd gave evidence as to the advantages to the
bonnet trade of Luton that would result from the formation of this
line.

The CHAISMAIf Expressed his opinion that this was quite enough
evidence 04 tO the necessity for and advantages that would result
from a rtaway communication with Luton, but as one of the Noble
Lords disagreed with him the room was cleared, and on our re-ad-
s:Wadi:in, the Committee decided that there was sufficient evidence as
regaMed Luton, but on the representation of counsel that there was
som'e evidence as to the cattle traffic, which was considered im-
portant, it was agreed that it should be heard.

Mr. Kinsley, a farmer and grazier of Hitchin, gave evidence as to
the cattle traffic betwevu Caml,ridge and Luton, and other places on
We line.

Mr. Willi, another ihrmer and grazier, gave similar evidence.
Ile also spoke of the great advantage of conveyance by railway over
Conveyance by road to the cattle traffic.
Robert Olyndon, Esq., a magistrate In Bedfordshire and chairman
of the Bedford and Midland Railway Company, gave evidence in
&your of this line. _ _

Mr. William Radley Gear gave a number of 'tables of the
population within three miles, and also of the population
within Ilve miles of the proposed line. He also gave cal-
ctlations 'as to the probable reduction in the price of
0044, 111 consequence of the better communication the line
'Wank' afford. In cross-examinatlon, he admitted that, after the
waking of lines already sanctioned by Parliament, it would not be
likely that any of the coat traffic would pass along this line. If it
did, the reductions which he detailed would be made.
Mr. T. E. Wasnstxx said he had examined the tables of land
valuation, and was of opinion that the extracts were correct. Ile
spoke to a conversation which he had held with Mr. Beard, the Duke
of Buckingham's agent, before the Bill came before the House of
Commons, In which Mr. Beard offered to sell that part of the Dukes
estates which would be affected by the line for 3,000/. Ile himself
uttered 2,0001., which Mr. Beard declined to accept.
Mr. linraTean, on the part of the, Duke of Buckingham, cross-ex-
amined Mr. Beard, with a view to show that he was not capable of
judging what was the value of the land, not being iituliciently ac-
quainted with it.
in answer to an observation front the Chairman,
The Learned COUNSEL said that he admitted that his was not a
ease of residential damage.

--liii.bezton. the engineer to the line conjointly with Mr. Locke,
vv as then called, and gave the usual eir;ineerine, evidence, which was
corroborated by Mr. Locke himself.
This part of the evidence occupied the Committee up to four o'clock,
at which hour they adjourned till eleven to-morrow, Mr. Locke being
then under cross-examination.

Room B.

cnduseovr, BANNIZEAD, AND NEIL/STOW
(PAISLEY DEANCII).

Their Lordships met at eleven this morning; Lord Roden, chairman.
It being announced that the care for the promoters of the Bill
was concluded,
Mr. IVARELING opened the case on the part of the Glasgow, Kil-
marnock, and Ayr Company, opposing the Bill. Ile proceeded to call
witnesses to prove that the principal and almost the ()iffy traffic
between the places this line proposed to accommodate was the mine-
ral traffic (coal, &c.), and that this railway would not give a suffi-
cient accommodation to that traffic.

Mr. Campbell (who was the /lest witness called) and Mr. Coates
gave their opinion that if the line were made, It would not be used
fOr the coal traffic ; they themselves would not use it.
Several other witnesses were called on the part of the Glasgow
and Ayr Company.
The case occupied the Committee up to four o'clock, when they
adjourned until eleven to-morrow.

GROUP D.
SEEITIELD AND LINCOLN.

The ConautitteeresumedtiTis day (Wednesday) at eleven o'clock.
Several surveyors, maitsters, and corn factors were called to give
evidence as to the traffic in the surrounding districts. One indivi-
dual stated that he would save 12s. per ton on 300 or
400- tons of timber annually by the proposed railway communication.
Mr. Lee, surveyor of highways at Sheffield, described the quality
of the magnesian limestone about Harthill, Psnhistone, Greenmoor,
and other plates adjacent to the proposed line.
• ..

Numerous- other Witnesses were examined and cross-examined by
the counsel for the opposing line, the Manchester, 3lidland, and
Great Grimsby, on the subject of traffic, and the Committee adjourned,
at s. quarter past till eleven o',loCk. on Thursday.

GROUP V.
The Committee met this 'looming at eleven, Lord Stanley in the
chair.