The Sun.
London, England, 1846-03-19 00:00:00

GROUP XV

This Committee met in the Viee•Chancellor of England's Court, at
twelve o'clock ; present, Mr. O'Connell, Chairman ; • Sir It. Price,
Captain Hatton, Mr. lliridley, and Mr. Macklin'

SOUTII-MASTEN.N (TITIT3TLIDGE ViM,':ZiS TO
GS).

This Bill Ns'as read and the clauses agreed to.

LCLIMON 13ZUG41 IPON (LAST GEM-.
STE.E.LD BRAINICTI)•

SOUTII-MASTERT7 (CO3I3STOZ:iIa TO EAST
GRIM-51'4AD),

Mr. HILL, Counsel for the London and Brighten Company, said
the branch whose ments he was to open betbre the Committee ran
from East Grinstead towards the west, and came into the Brighton
line at a place called Three Bridges ; and that being the point from
which the Brighton line started to Horsham, there would be a
straight line from Horsham to East Gtimstead. This branch was in
competition witifaproposalto make a line which front East Grinstead
would run nort::, and come into the South-Eastern Railway about
one atiii a-halr miles from the Godstone station. The branch from
the Brighton line would be 6 mites 6 furlongs long, and be con-
structed at a cost of 80,0001..; there were 310 tunnelling or engineering
difficulties on the way. On the other baud, the - South-Eastern
branch would haVe to cr, ss a deep valley a vLatuct, ;upported un
30 arches, each, arch I.:s ie g a span of 42 feet, and standing 76 feet
-high, the piers at the other end descending 20 feet deepe:r. The gra-
dient on that line would be I in 66. It was to cost,
-by their own
estanate, 110,00 W. As to the Brighton branch, he was sure that
the cen..exion from Esst Grinstead with Lewes, the county town,
with Brighton and Newhaven, would be an obvious advantage. By
the Brighton branch there was a straight line to Lewes ; whereas,
proCeeding by the .South-Eastern Railway, he would have to go to
Iteigate,'and from that to Ileasb.an, before be veuld start for the
county town. It wto of gn at importance to . keep open the commu-
ideation from the west eastward, as the supplies of corn and other
products came front the west. It was unopposed except by the
South-Eastern CianPany.
Mr. MILLER, for the Brighton Company, called witnesses to prove
the traffic and the favourable feedng which prevailed in the district
Mr. Rustriek, engineer of the Brighton Branch, said, the Three
Bridges station was 2914 miles d istant from London- bridge. East Gri n •
stead stood high, but there were no engineering difficulties to °vet come.
The worst graitent was 1 in 88, Mit all of them were for short dis-
tances. The total of cuttings would be 601,000 feet, and of embank-
ments 367,912 feet. The ceegineering work would cost 70,000/., and
the cost of the land, he, believe& would be 9,500/. On the South-
-la],ast,etrireatbchrainng a
clithdeistgraaliedie of 2 4 miles.
Mr. veotilllL. be 1 in 66. or SO feet per mils,
m
Mr. MILLER having called additional wimesses, be put in the aesents
and dissents, and this closed the ease for the Brighton Company.
Mr.ALExANDER, for the South-Eastern branch, proceeded to call
witnesses.
John Stunting, timber merchant, East Grinstead, was hi the habit
of sending 6,900 tens of bark a year to the London tanners by land
' carriage. He received about 161. a load for it, but out of that the
carriage cost him from 40s. to 60s. a load: By the Dover line from
Godstone, when he got his timber there, the carriage cost
him but Gs. 6d: per ton delivered. He sent about
1,400 loads of oak to London, and from 400 to 500
loads to Tunbridge a year. On that account he considered the
South-Eastern branch would be a great advantage to hint and the
landowners. The coals consumed hi East Grinstead were from 300
to 400 tons, and had to be brought by horse draught from London.
As many as 500,000 hop poles NI, re sent to Maidstone and the neigh,:
bourho,al. - The majority of the heavy goods were carried from East
Grinstead towards Godstone. The traffic to Three. Bridges bore no
comparison. He preferred sending by the .North-Ettqern, because
the Brighton line battle) convenience_ for delivery of heavy goods, and
also he thought he was at lesS expense by the one than the other,
He believid that the carriage from East Grinstead to Godstone
cost him about Gs., and he expected to save one-half of that if the
South-Eastern branch were constructed.
Mr. ALEXANDER proceeded to call other witnesses ; and
Mr. Row, counsel for the proprietors of three miles -cn the South
Eastern branch. and who are opposed to that branch, cross-examined

.him.
The Committee adjourned hearing further evidence, at four o'clock,
till to-morrow.
Previous to adjournment, the Chairman expressed his inclination
to pass both lines.

Sub• Committee No. 2

The Committee met to-day at half-past twelve o'clock; present,
Sir J. Y. Buller (chairman), Mr. Bell, Mr. Walker, Mr. E. Yorke,
and Mr. Bramstone.

SURRACY IRON IL a ILIITAY.

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The CHAIRMAN said, that In the ease of this Company the standing
orders had be,n complied with. The Coonnittee were of opinion that
the Bill was simply of the third class, and that the provision 36 of the
Act did not apply to it.