The Sun.
London, England, 1846-07-27 00:00:00

BE.a.zrclx.

Mr. HILDTARD opened the easy for the promoters of the Bill.
A long discussion took place between the counsel as to the right of
the corporation of the Newcastle Infirmary, a portion of whose
ground was crossed by the proposed railway, to be heard.
The Committee decided that the petitioners were entitled to be
heard. _ _ _ _ . _

..__.__
Mr. John Moore was then examined by Mr. Ixensm, and stated
that the level of the rails was below that of the entrance to the in-
firmary at Newcastle.
This witness was cross-examined at length, to show that great
annoyance must result to the inmates of the infirmary in question
from the proposed railway.

The Coinniittee decided that the preamble of the Bill was proved,
and the clauses were then gone through.
NEWCASTLE AND DARLINGTON (PONTOP
AND SOUTH SHIELDS PURCHASE).
This Bill, being unopposed, the Committee declared that the pre-
amble was proved.

COCIMILMOUTII AND 'WORKINGTON
EXTENSION.
This Bill being also unopposed, the preamble was proved.
The Committee then separated.

Room C.

SOUTH-EASTERN BRANCH (MAIDSTONE

To CHART.)
The Committee re-assembled this morning ; the Earl of Devon

the chair.
Mr. R. Stephenson, the engineer, was called, who confirmed the
statements of Mr. Alexander respecting the estimates and gradients on
the line, stating further that in planning this Mid-Kent branch he had
a view to the through traffic to the coast. There is a line already in
working between Tunbridge and Tunbridge Wells ;and an Act has this
session been obtained for a line from thence to Hastings. In laying
out these lines he had always considered Maidstone as a centre of
operations, for that pl ice was sa situated that lines in all direc-
tions can radiate with great advantage to the country.
The Padock Wood Bill had been lost in the ...House of
Commons this session, so that the communication with Chatham
will not be complete, but that line will be applied for again, and then
the scheme which had been devised would completely supply the whole
of the county of Kent with railway facility. By the formation of this
line the distance between Maidstone and Dover would be reduced
thirteen miles, and the distance between the former place and Chart
would be reduced nearly one-half. Taking Maidstone as a centre, the
passengers from London would be saved twenty miles, and thosefrom
Maidstone would be saved thirteen miles. The district is now
altogether without railway accommodation, and, in his opinion, as
an engineer, the line was absolutely essential for the welfare of the
inhabitants. A Bill has been obtained this session for enlarging the
station of Ashford, which it is now intended to use as a
station depot, just as Swindon is for the Great Western line.
and Wolverton on the Birmingham Railway. As the engineer of the
London and Birmingham line, witness had had peculiar opportuni-
ties of observing the evils of a divided management, especially
at Derby, where there were three different companies using the
same station. The consequence of that fact was that a continual
disunion occurred ; but an amalgamation of the three com-
panies who worked the line between London and Leeds took place,
and the effect had been not only to obtain an harmonious co-opera-
tion in the functionaries of the company, but the expenses of one
of the three parties had entirely disappeared in the cash account,
although the traffic has very largely increased. The country be-
tween London and Maidstone is certainly very difficult, and good
gradients could not be obtained. A Mid-Kent line was absolutely
necessary for the through traffic from Dover, for the traffic from
Chatham must be very freqwent, and would consequently interrupt
the communication with the Continent.
On cross-examination, Mr. Stephenson stated that the line to
Lepishana, the Bill for which was already obtained, deviated from
the Greenwich Railway, and running through Deptford, would
give accommodation to that place, as well as to seve-
ral others, at present on to Lewisham, where it is about
two miles and-a-half from the Croa don line. In carrying out the
whole of this scheme there would be twenty-nine mauls crossed in a
level, including four tunmike-roads. The tunnel at Farnborough
would be 2,513 yards long. but the country was difficult, and he
adopted this course as well as that of cro-sing the roads
on a level to save expense. The amount for that
purpose being very serious in a hilly country.
After hearing same further evidence, the Committee adjourned.