The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-21 00:00:00

GROUP XX.

___...... .........
This Committee met to-day at the usual hour ; Ur. Sotheron iu
the chair.

LONDON, HOUNSLOW, AND WESTERN.

On the assembling of the Committee the case on behalf of this line
was proceeded with. The Bill is opposed by the Great Western
Company. _ _

Mr. Cocituratt opened the case for the promoters. The line, he
said, which was proposed to be constructed was 16 miles in length,
being from the west end of the metropolis through Hounslow to
Staiaes, in order to accommodate the large and growing population
iu that quarter. The traffic was at present enormous, being, he be-
lieved, greater than that on any thoroughfare out of London, and he
had no doubt the line when constructed would yield a handsome divi-
dend on the capital embarked. The Learned Gentleman having
gone through the extent of the line in explanation of the population,
traffic, &c., that might be expected, and having detailed the engi-
neering peculiarties of the line, which he represented to be generally
favourable, proceeded to call his witnesses.
Mr. Ashworth, of Isleworth, was examined as to the defective ac-
commodation given to the inhabitants of his neighbourhood by the
present conveyances, and to the necessity there existed for the rail-
way. The feeling represented to be very strong in favour of the
present scheme.
Mr. Chapman, market-gardener of Isleworth, gave evidence to
tke large traffic in vegetables between that locality and the London
markets.

Mr. Hammond, also of Isleworth, deposed as to the large amour
of traffic.

The other witnesses examined were Mr. Grainger, of Brentford,
and Mr. 11. Stanbury, whose evidence was generally as to the large
traffic in goods and passengers, and the necessity there existed for the
present line of railway.
The Committee adjourned at four o'clock till to-morrow at twelve.

GROUP XXII.
WAVENEY VAZLEY.

The Committee met this morning. Sir G. Grey, chairman.
Mr. Sergeant MIInPFIT opened the case for the promoters of this
railway.

The Committee intimated their opinion, that they would hear the
evidence of this line previous to giving their detision in the case of
Ipswich, Norwich, and Yarmouth Railway. The present line pro-
posed to commence at Yarmouth, and proceed on to Dias:
Mr. Rumbold, M.P. for Yarmouth, was the first witness called,
who stated that there was a general feeling in Yarmouth in favour of
the line.

Mr. Blenherrish, chairman of the Beecies Sessions, also gave simi.
lar evidence.

Mr. Dare and Lieut.. Colonel Smith also gave evidence favourable
to the Waveney Valley Railway.

Mr. J. Davy, accountant, Yarmouth, gave evidence of the large
amount of goods landed at Yarmouth. A greater proportion of
passengers now went to London by sea. He believed that this cir-
cumstance was owing to the great number of accidents which had
become so peculiarly the property of the existing Eastern Counties
line between Norwich and London.

Mr. Lincoln, a fish merchant of Yarmouth, stated that by the pre-
sent mode of conveyance on the Norwich and Eastern Counties Rail-
way, it took longer to get his fish up to London than it formerly did
by his own vans. It took very nearly the whole of the day to get
his fish delivered by the railway.
The Committee then adjourned till twelve to-morrow.

GROUP XXVI.
nov=a =max.

This Committee resumed this morning; Mr. O'Connell in the chair.
They were occupied during the whole of the early part of the day in
hearing evidence given by residents between the Eastern Counties
line and the river Thames, who testified to the number of cattle sent
to London from that quarter. as also to the quantity of chalk con-
veyed by water to Battersea. The farmers complained chiefly of
the want of accommodation at the Shereditch station, and the pro-
prietors of the chalk showed that their article is sent from the pits to
Battersea for Is. 9d. a ton, while by the railway it cost 55., exclusive
of cartage to the line.

Mr. Locke. the engineer, was then called by Mr. Comm: ax, Q.C.,
to show the course and qualities of the line. According to his evi-
dence, the line is to run a distance of 43 miles, from its
junction with the Blackwell extension line, to Wallasey
Island, and to be connected with a pier and harbour on the
coast, where It wends from the mouth of the Thames,
to the north, having branches to Tilbury, opposite Gravesend and
to Southend. The country is a rich agricultural district, and offers
not thesligh test engineering difficulty. The proposed line would bring
Tilbury a mile and a half nearer to Fenchurch-street than the North
Gravesend line. The proposition of the company for the latter line
for a junction with the Blackwell terminus was impracticable, as it
could only bo carried out through the West India Docks, which of
course was absurd. The distance to Southend by the South Essex
line would be 38 U miles. In his opinion the North Gravesend Rail-
way was an unwise proposition, as the line would have to contend with
the cheap passenger' traffic on the river, and with the North Kent
line, which had just been sanctioned by Parliament, and was to run
from Greenwich to Gravesend. Part of the line to Wallasey Island
would be under high water mark ; but that was no objection, for such
was the case with the whole of Holland, and there are already good
sea emban%ments.

After the conclusion of Mr. Locke's evidence, the Committee ad.
Owned till to-morrow.

GROUP xXxii.
The Committee met tkls morning at 12 o'clock ; fir. J. E. De-
nison in the chair.
CHELTENILA.7I2 AND OXFORD itailivraplr.
Mr. Thomas Sheldon gave evidence of the advantage which would
accrue to Cheltenham by the projected line, and went at length into
details of some opposition meetings held by a party of the townspeople
of Chelteharn, and read some proposals tendered by the company
to secure the people against any injury which property or wells might
sustain. He stated that the most of the property passed through by
the line in the town of Cheltenham was very inferior.
He was confirmed by Messrs. Bubb and Peckwood,
Dr. Gibney, a physician in Cheltenham, who had been connected
with the town. hospital fur twenty years, said he himself had
proposed by letter in the newspapers, in 1837, a line
to London very similar to that now before the Committee.
The proposed line passed the hospital, but at the very end of the
garden, so that it would be about forty yards further from it than
was the high street.
Col. Watson, who is property in ornamental parts of the town,
thought that these prts would sustain no injury from the railway,
as it passes by a deep cutting covered over. He had been among
the first to suggest the objection to the ilia from the damage it was
like to cause by the drainage of the wells, but he was now satisfied,
after much inquiry, that the objection was unfounded.
Mr. Gardiner, lord of the mitnor of Cheltenham, and possessed of
very much valuable property in High-street aad Pittville, a com-
missioner also on the various public works of Cheltenham, gave
evidence in favour of the line.

Hr. Thomas Wright, one-of the surgeons of the town hospital,
a ande who had given mach attention to the geology of Chel-
na
fro the m, said the towu, was supplied with water,' which
.C°4*.iwAsKi .111118 • on the north side of the
town down . nto the sand on wnlch the town is built, and that the
sand, reposing in a basin of mei, aete ar and retains
the water. He did not believe that
affect this water, since, if the sides of t to
cut
ctittini-e ;%;,3,l7,llT.wcsuldsu
water retarded thereby would rise to an adequate level totikpa; We
town.
The Committee adjourned till twelve o'clock te-morrow.