The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-12 00:00:00

GROUP XXX.

This Committee re-assembled to-day, at the usual hour, presen
Lord Charles Wellesley (chairman), and the other Members.

AYLESBURY AND TNAME JUNCTION.
Mr. CORBY, on the part of the Duke of Buckingham, was heard
to-day. The Learned Counsel contended that the statements with
respect to the Cambridge and Oxford Railway, which were put for-
ward by the counsel for that Bill, were not sustained by the evi-
dence. The line was, to speak in general terms, defective in its geo-
graphical situation, and the advantages that would result to literature
and science, even according to the showing of the learned gentlemen
who had been examined in support of the Bill, were too
trifling to call for a railway. The other advantages that would result
from this railway were quite speculative. For instance, with re-
ference to coals, could any one that had listened to the evidence
be satisfied that there would be such a traffic in that commodity
as was contended for by his Learned Friends ? It was
necessary for him to say a word as to the description of
evidence that had been adduced to prove the nega-
tive of what he advanced. His Learned Friend did not call coal-
merchants to give evidence on this subject, though one would have
supposed they would have been the most eligible witnesses, but
straw-plait (manufactures, though, when they had to make
good any statement respecting farms, they were sure to call
farmers. But, coming at another point, it was stated by
the promoters of the Oxford and Cambridge Railway, that
there would be a profit of 6% per cent. on the total capital. Now,
he felt satisfied that he could prove to the Committee from the evi-
dence, that instead of realising this profit of 6% per cent.
from this railway, there would be a deficiency of 3
per cent. en the capital to be laid out on the
undertaking. The gross profit was stated by Mr. Pilch,
upon whose evidence such stress had been laid, as 83,6731., while the
working of the line would be 33,407). This calculation was Dade on
a sum somewhere about 800,0001. Now the fact was, that
the capital required for this (the Cambridge and Oxford Rail-
way), was shown by the most unquestionable evidence
to be 1,200,0001. It was also proved from the evidence before the
Committee, that the income to be derived from this railway would
not exceed 36,5001. It was also shown that the working of this line
would be upwards of 30,0001. or 40,0001. The Learned Counsel here
read copious extracts from the evidence of Mr. Stephenson and the
other witnesses in support of the A3lesbnry and Thame Junction
Railway, and having offered a few observations with reference to the
engineering features of the line, which he described as being ex-
tremely unfavourable, concluded by calling on the Committee, in
mercy to the promoters tkemselves, of the Oxford and Cambridge
Railway, to reject the Bill.
At the request of Counsel Mr. Bryce was called, and denied what
had been attributed to him by one of the witnesses (Mr. Chase)—
namely, that the Oxford and Cambridge would never pay a farthing,
and that he was opposed to the line.

Mr. HAWKINS said he appeared, on the part of the landowners, to
oppose the Aylesbury and Thame Junction line. He denied that
though a railway might be required in the district through which
this railway proposed to pass, the present line would meet adequately
these requirements, or in aay way offer advantages to be
compared with the Oxford and Cambridge line. Only three
persons at Aylesbury and Thame had become shareholders in
this railway, so that it did not appear that the people there were
very favourable to this undertaking, for there were no meetings held
in support of it, but at a meeting held in favour of the other
line several people from Aylesbury and Thame attended, and
were unanimous in supporting it (the Oxford and Cambridge
Railway). There could net be a traffic on this line that
would justify an outlay of 100,0001., as proposed in this rail-
way, and the Committee would require considerably more evi-
dence before they could entertain such a Bill as the present.
There was not an advantage held out by this contemptible little line
that was not offered ten-fold by the Oxford and Cambridge line.
(The Learned Gentleman, after a few further observations, con-
cluded).

Mr. CALcaarr, on the part of the Aylesbury and Thame line,
having replied,
The Committee adjourned till twelve o'clock to-morrow.

GROUT =VI.
GOOLE AND DONCASTER.
This Committee, having but this one Bill upon their list, met to-
day at half-past three o'clock. They sat only for a few minutes, and
adjourned till Friday next, when they will meet at twelve o'clock.