The Sun.
London, England, 1846-07-10 00:00:00

PORTBUILY RAILWAY AND PIER.

Mr. TALBOT opened the case for the promoters, and stated
that this was a short line of eight miles in length, from the
Bristol and Exeter line to Portbury, and was projected to
obviate the inconvenience of the navigation of the river
Avon, which forms the water co:nmunication between Bristol
and the Bristol Channel. From being a tidal river, the navi-
gation of it is often interrupted, and when it is recollected that
as many as 2,500 steam-vessels visited the port of Bristol every
year, the saving of the inconvenience to which he had alluded,
would appear of not little importance: In addition to the
railway it was proposed to construct a pier at Portbury, with
a sort of breakwater, consisting of three iron-vessels of 300,
feet length each, which would be so placed as to render
their surface longer or shorter as the case may re-
quire. These vessels also, it was proposed, to form so
as to give stowage for water and other necessaries,
for sea-going ships. The vessels frequenting Portbury would
be subject to the port dues of Bristol, and one object to be
served was the reduction of those dues. To this he believed
there was no objection on the part of the proprietary, but
the trustees of the port consisted of twenty-seven members
each, a third of whom were elected by different bodies, and
there was consequently a difficulty in coming to a decision.
There was no opposition to the preamble, but there was to
the clause.
A gentleman from Bristol, one of the petitioners against
the reduction clause, here requested that the case might be
postponed till to-morrow, when counsel would appear to speak
upon this clause for reduction of the dues, but it was agreed
that the preamble should be gone into, and that the clause
should be left till to-morrow.
Mr. Brunel was then called, and he proved the facts stated
by Mr. Talbot, adding further, that the Great Britain and
the other transatlantic steamers had been removed to Liver-
pool, in consequence of the difficulty of the navigation of the
Avon. The capital to be raised is 200,0001., with power to
borrow 66,0001.
To the Earl of LrvEarom, Mr. Brunel replied that every
one in Bristol would have been too happy to improve the
navigation of the Avon, but at low water the river was dry,
and the influx of the tide came with a sixty feet rise, and if
the obviation of this difficulty was not quite impracticable, it
was the next thing to it.
Mr. Moviss then put in the formal proofs, and their Lord-
ships adjourned till to-morrow.

Room D.
ASHBURTON, NEWTON, AND SOUTH
DEVON.
The Committee appointed for this group are, the Marquis
of Bredalbane (chairman), the Earl of Liverpool, Lord
Granville, Lord Southampton, and the Marquis of Berwick.
There being no opposition to the Bill, it was declared
proved, and the report was ordered to be brought up.
FOREST OF DEAN AND GLOUCESTER. LINE,

AND SOUTH WALES LINE.
The Committee on this group (the Marquis of Bredalbane
in the chair) next took these two lines in conjunction, there
being no opposition, except that of Mr. H. Hoskins, a banker,
by whom an opposition is set up on the ground of injury to
agricultural property.
Mr. AUSTIN, Q.C., opened the case for the promoter& The
former of these lines to run from Chepstow' by Newnham,
to Gloucester. The latter is to run by Cardiff, by Usk, to
Monmouth, with a branch to Chepstow, from Newport.
The Hon. Mr. TALBOT examined in chief the evidence of
Mr. Brunel, who was called to show the facts stated by Mr.

Austin.
On cross•examination, Mr. Brunel stated that the works
on the South Wales line have been contracted for, though
little has as yet been done in the way of actual progress.
Mr. Garrett had laid down a line, but he believed that it was
only for the purpose of private objects, and at any rate, that
line had never come before Parliament.
On re-examination by Mr. TALBOT, Q.C., and Mr.
WHITELEY, Q.C.. Mr. Brunel stated, that had the other line
been taken it wculd have been worse in every point of view,
and the severance of property would be much greater. Not
only would there be more severe cuttings, but the change
would involve not less than four tunnels.
Mr. Hall, a land surveyor at Cirence'ter of considerable
practice, and who bad been employed by four railway com-
panies, stated that the property had come into Mr. lloskin's
property by the foreclose of a mortgage; but the property
was merely of an agricultural character.
On re-examination, Mr. Hall stated that he had under-
stood the quantity of land of this estate was about 540 acres,
and that the money demanded was 40,5001., although he had
been given to understand that when the property was offered
by Mr. George Robins for sale, in 1843, a very much less
sum was bid for it.

Mr. BAKER, Chairman of the Company, deposed generally
as to the merits of the line, and stated that the line
as now proposed was what it originally was, with
the exception of the Bilston branch, which is now aban-
doned. The reason why this branch was adopted was because
the directors were not aware that they could get any other
access to the Forest of Dean from Gloucester. That branch
had always been objectionable from the severity of its
gradient and the extent and expense of the tunnelling. But
when it was ascertained that they had other means of
access, on the recommendation of Mr. Brunel they had
adopted the longer but the cheaper route, because had they
not done so, they would have had to impose a greater rate
of toll upon the whole of the route.
Mr. Atkinson, clerk of the Crown for the Forest of Dean,
stated that the forest comprised 48 square miles, and that it
was rich in minerals, especudlycoala, and that the hest seams
lie in the upper series. The annual produce was rated at
300,000 tons. If this line were made it would take the
heads of the two valleys which Grained the forest, and thus
provide an outlet for every part. The Woods and Forests
were favourable to the project.
Mr. Sturge, a merchant at Gloucester, stated that much
commerce was kept away from the city by the deficiency of
means of communication.
_eased the
Mr. Cleagram, clerk of the Gloucester and Swansea Canal,
case for the promoters.
testified that the commercial business of the place is very
considerable, there having been as many as 1,700 seafaring
vessels in the port during the last year. The exports at
present were only one-third of the imports, but the ex-
portsfacitlii
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be e3ts . veryen
This l arcgoenljuded
addressed increased, if there were greater
their Lordships on behalf of
Mr. Hoskins, the object of his address being to show, not
only that this line was unnecessary, but it was longer than
the other also.
Mr. Brunel was then recalled by the Chairman, and stated
that the line from Newport by Monmouth, by Ross, to
Gloucester was about equal to the coast line, and that the
gradients on the inner line would be most decided 31 worse
than on the other. The inland line, although by Hereford
and Gloucester it might have some merits, yet it was absurd
to suppose that all the minerals in that district could be car-
ried by it. Mr. Brunel produced a comparative drawing of
the gradients on both lines.
the room
This closed the case, when was cleared for the
decision, and on the re-admission of the
parties the Chairman
d •
declared that the Committee had decided that the Bills were
proved. statement
Mr. Brunel then put in a of the several roads
crossed on a level by the South Wales line. The capital to
i
be raised for the several deviationss 700,000 L
with 200,0001.
for excess. For the Forest of Dean line the money to be
raised is 200,0001., with power to borrow G 60,000/.
The formal proofs of the Forest of Dean line were then
,
put in. The line is to be fifteen miles four furlongs in length,
and the branches are to be two miles, two furlongs, and two
chains, no tunnels, and no highways passed on a level.
The reports were then ordered to be brought up.