The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-01 00:00:00

GROUP XVI.

BEADING, GITIMPOND, AND REIGATE.

The Committee resumed this ninming, Sir Charles Douglas In the
chair, when, after s.aue conversation,
The i'llAnsmAN stated the Speaker had decided that, according to
Mr. Duncombe's resolutions, no parties could appear upon the ND
sloth the Committee entered it ; and the rule war, in the case of an.
supposition 01 fraud,4he parties should petition the Rouse aim leave t
be heard upon the Bill.
After some further discitssion between Mr. Cockburn, who ap-
peared for the promoters, Mr. 11111, who appeared for the opponents,
and Mr. Roe, who appeared for Dr. I:lion-es, the Committee
decided that Mr. Cockburn should proceed. But a further
difficulty occurred, and the room was cleared. On the re-admission
the parties. the Committee again requested Mr. Cockburn to pro-
ceed, after an endeavour on the port of Mr. Mellor to speak upon a
petition against the line.
Mr. COciistlnte said that a more important line than this had not
been laid before Parliament this session. The of of the line was
to connect Reading and Reigate, and the necessary effect must
be to connect the South-Eastern, the South-Western, • and
the London and Brighton lines, and thus liuk the south-
eastern districts with the north, north-western, and mellow!
counties. By the lines to the west, even to Land's End, by
the Rugby and Oxford line a COlintXion was opened'up with Bristol,
Ply mouth, Exeter, Sheffield, and all the manufacturing districts. A
man who wanted to send goods to Dover, Brighton, Southampton,
and all the other places on the southern coast, or to travel, was now
obliged to go round by London; about twenty miles in distance. By
this line they would connect the southern lines with the whole of
these on the north of the Thames. It commenced at the Great
Western station at Reading, by Wokingham, Sandhurst, and Black-
water, crosses the Souih-Western at Farnborough, and thence to Ash
and Stoke. From Stoke it Willson the Guildford Junction, and thence
to Dorking, by the Portsmouth atmospheric line, with the company for
which an arrangement was made for using theft line mom Gompsal
to Dorking, and thence to Reigate. There were three competing
lines, this, that of the South-Eastern, end that of the London and
Brighton Company. With the South-Eastern Company, however;
an arrangement had been made, the effect of which was, the South-
Eastern Company should make the line between Reigate and Dork-
ing, but unless that portion was formed withia a reasoseible time, the
South-Western Company should have the right. It was also agreed
that the South-Eastern Company should take the line on perpetual
lease, at 44 per cent, and half the net profits, after that payment.
The length was 46 miles, the estimate 736,0001., and the capital
500,000/. ; the gradients are favourable, and there Were no engineer-
ing difficulties. The line would afford great local accommoda-
tion, as it would connect Kingston, Guildford, Croydon, and
Reigate, the places at which the sessions for Surrey arc
held. The landowners and other inhaditants of the district are
al favourable to the project, which is in every way valuable and
desirable. The only question he hoped would be, whether their line
or that of their opponents should be chosen. The Brighton Company
were only desirous of the portion between Dorking and Reigate, and
there was no reason whatever why this company should not have
the portion between Reading and Dorking, yet they opposed the
whole, because he conceived that the traffic for the north would conic
under the management of the South-Eastern Railway Company.
The first point would be to connect Bristol, Exeter and rlymouth
with Dover, Folkestone, and other places on that part of the English
Channel which was a principle recognised by the Legislature as of
the utmost imporiasice. A great inconvenience would arise from
having this small portion of the line between Dorking and Ryeizate
under a different management. With respect to the opposition of D.r
Fellowes. he should slate that it had been got up by the solicitor of the
London and Brighton line, and it sitou'd be observ, tt that the South
Eastern Company had made their arrangement with him. Ifs fin t
with& awn his petition against that company, and this compan.!
v.as prepared to do everything fur that gentieman—thrir line being
blvntical with that of the south Eastern- which the Youth E.Adern
Company had promised. This was as bona fide line as had ever been
brought before Parliament.
Mr. James Darrowdy, the Mayor of Readinl!, was then called, and
stated that he was a house-went, and consequently had consider-
able opportunities of knowing the feelings of the inhabitants of the
town and neighbourhood. Be could say that it was unanimously in
favour of the line. The traffic is considerable, but there is no pre-
sent mode of travelling between Reading and Guilford but by post,
and the line would materially benefit Reading by opening conamuni-
cation with Wokingham and Sandhurst.

To 31r. MEmaaa—lle stated that there was a road, but that it was
pad and circuitous, there being no turnpike road beyond Bracknell.
There had been formerly a coach between Reading and Brighton,
which ran during the summer, and ran by Oldham and Candlelit,
which declined from a four-horse to a two-horse vehicle.
Mr. John Houghton, of Brom Hall, in Berks, a large landed pro-
prietor, acquainted with many landed proprietors, famed and ma-
naged the most land of any man in England. He farmed 3,470 acres,
and could say that he was acquainted with all the places on and near
the line. This line traversed a mile through his property, and he had
900 acres without any road whatever, and though he was himulf in- disposed for the line, but as a matter of public convenience, there
was not any part or the country which more required a line
than this district dd. It was called the Heath district and the soil re-
quired lime or char for its improvement. lie had himself expended
10,000/. on the improvement of one estate. This line would greatly
facilitate the conveyance of the line. —There would also be a great
' advantage to the hop growers in Sussex in the carriage of hop poles,
which were much wanted in that county. There would also be a
great advantage in the direct conveyance of hops from the south to
Derby and the neialibourhood. as well as bringing back gypeume tmn
that county, a material which was eminently useful in improving
the natural quality of the soil. There are large markets for cattle at
London-bridge, and for corn at Reading and Guildford, and this line
would enable the growers of the peculiarly line white wheat of
Guildford to carry it into Berkshire, and further north into the ma-
nufacturing districts, where it was requited to mix withother wheat.
lie was concerned for landowners in almost every county in Eng-
land, travelled very much by railway, and believed that no dist4ct
more required this sort of convenience.
To Mr. 31Etram the witness replied, that in some parts of this dis-
trict the population was very dense, the roads are at priseut very
had, and a great part of country about there lay in a state of natere,
from the want of the materials required for its improvement. That
much of it was improveable was evident from the fact that the 900
acres which he held was nearly barren heath, and now it was all
arable land.

To Mr. ROE—The witness reiterated his previous assertions, and
stated that he had no fear of a free trade in corn.
To his re-examination by Mr. 'lnmost, Mr. Houghton stated the
roads were quite insufficient for the country, and the formation of a
railway was felt to be such an advantage, that the high roads were
almost deserted. Formerly 46 coaches had passed his house every
day, and now there was only one. lie also testified to the utility of
the communication from the NI eat to Farnham aod Alton.
To the CHAIRMAN, the witness replied that the formation of this
railway would give immense facilities for bringing additional laud
into cultivation.
Lord Loraine. residing at Albury rark, near Guilford, bad an
estate at Chllworth, on
the paper-mills of Sir W. MN,may
stood, between which and whichGailford:
ria to the utility of the hue.
there
ere was only the ordinary road
communication.
Mr. 11. Drummoilel,ttelsite ankifibedgeern. who resides at Albury. stated that
this line would pass to the eteitt of three miles through his estate,
ellsclY‘dt.he wants of the neighbourhood, as
and that it would tend to su
When he went Into that district
the traffic of late much r
Inc
he had ever since resided, there was no
24 or 29 years ago,
ilirneottivid explained the reason why the Ports-
road at all. Mr. MU.
Mouth Atmospheric Hat . tuniust;l;?ol,lljuaYstehieluslapuunule cuarijealleo.4
this ljus, ststall, thilt tkitui

. . ,
distan 19, they 'mimed' atelyaftcrwardg diverged at almost right angles.
Mr. MANGLgs, testified to the general feeling of the district
in favour of the line, and it was on that ground that he took interest
in it. Ile also stated that the communication with the west of Eng-
land was bail and circuitous. This line would be of great service,
among other persons, to the corn-jobbers. It happens that the
markets at Reading and Guildford are held on the same day, but
the former was an early market and the latter a late one, so that
through .his lino individuals would be able to attend both on the
same day. He also testified to the advantage of this means tif com-
munication with the west and the manufacturing districts, and he
~t,uhl say from his o Ali knowledge that many of the respectible trades-
men in Guildford had taken shares in this line with the exotetationof
getting their good cheap. r and more spetati:y than they now could.
This line would connect all the chief towns in Surrey, and If the
communication were made, the chalk would occasion all the im•
prevenient which Mr.ilor ghton had stated. Re thought even the worst
part of Bagshot Beath might, be reclaimed, for on the moat sterile
part of the common, near the Woking Common Cottage, squatters
had brought large gardens into flourishing cultivation.
The Committee here adjourned till to-morrow.