The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-04 00:00:00

GROUP XI.

This Committee met to-day at twelve o'clock, Mr. Henley in the
chair. Members present, the Hon. Mr. 0. Stanley, Viscount East-
nor, and Lord lford.
• AVISHANT AND COIMN ESS (GIiEENICrLi,
lIRANCH.)

This Bill was proceeded with.
Mr. Sergeant BaxLAsIS said, in respect to the arrangement pro-
posed on Friday last respecting the withdrawal of Sir Thomas Coch-
rane's evidence, that no arrangement had been come to.
:fir. Christie, of the Calder ironworks, in Lincolnshire, was then ex-
amined as to the advantages the proposed branch would confer en the
district. Not only the works at Calder, but the other mineral and
iron works in the neighbourhood would be greatly benefited. He
had examined the district along with Mr. Wright, the mineral ma-
nager of the Date of Itaecluech, and they concluded the branch
would be of great advantage in conveying lime-stone and ceal from
the upper part of Lanarkshire to the iron-works in the lower part.
Mr. Wright
was examined and gave exactly similar evidence.
Mr. M`Kenzie, C.E., said that the proposed line had no engineering
difilculties of any importance. There was onlybeingo titninnel,o7oo yards
long. The gradients were good, the worst
ruling gradients being I in 100. The estimated constrlc,tioanndwas
the
75,0001.
Mr, Sergeant BELLAsis entered an objection to the Passing of this
preamble, on the ground that the line on which evidence was given
was not the same with that represented as to be submitted for the
consideration of the Committee, because it so happened that the ori-
ginal scheme was curtailed of its fair proportions to the extent of at
least seven miles ; and surely out ofa line of only nine miles
originally
the Committee would not thlitic of sanctioning such a meagre
traction.
The room was then cleared, and en the public being rs„
lbamlttla.

The CnAiaMAl sthionnced that the line might be altered in the
way desired by the promoters if no considerable injury could be shown
by the opponents.
blr. Sergeant BELLASIS admitted that he could not do so as the
line (as now altered) stopped short of his client's property.
The Committee then decided that the preamble of the Bill was
proved, and the clauses were afterwards agreed to,
S'

WAN (BATHGATE AND JAW-
CRAIG BRANCHES).

This EM was unoppoeod. The fbrmal proofs having beak given
in, the Committee passed the preamble.
The object of the Bill was to give additional accommodation to
the minerals of the district. The Jawcraig branch was already com-
pleted, and the Bathgate (four miles three furlongs) was proposed to
be made at an estimated cost of 60,0001.
The clauses were passed with some verbal alterations.
The Committee then adjourned.

GROUP XIII.
This Committee met for the first time to-day in room 35 in the
new Houses of Parliament.
The following are the Members of this Committee :—Sir W. Clay
(chairman), Earl Jermyn, Mr. P. Ainsworth, Mr. Curteis, and Lord
Shelburne.
The following Bills have been referred to this Group :—Caledonian
Railway Extension, Glasgow, Dumfries, and Carlisle, North British
(Carlisle Extension), Caledonian (Dumfries Branch), Ayrshire and
Galloway, Glasgow and Belfast Union, Scottish Southern, North
British (Gretna Branch), Caledonian (Langholm Branch).
The list of Bills was read over by the clerk with the petitions
against the Bills and the agents and counsel that appeared respec-
tively for each.
The Scottish Southern is off, it having been petitioned against by
the majority of the scripholders, in agreement with the provisions of
the resolutions recently a greed to by Parliament.
At this moment the pressure became so great that the Committee
agreed to adjourn to a larger room, :n order to accommodate the par-
ties present.
The Committee re-as,,embleg in Room 32.
Tian G SAS COW, DUrvirraiEs, AND CAR-
LXSLE EzaLwAy.

This was the first till taken up. Counsel ;for the Bill,:Mr. Talbot,
Talbot, Mr. Austin, Mr. Andpews, Mr. Martin, and Sir Thomas
Phillips. The principal opposition to the Bill is the Caledonian
Railway, which has several competing branches to this in the group,
and were represented .by 'Mr. Sergeant Wrangbam, Mr. Hope, Mr.
Pickering, and Mr. Richards.
Evidence was then briefly taken as to the conformity with Mr, T
Duncombe's resolutions and tables on the several points required,put
in and received.

Mr. Sergeant ANDREWS then proceeded to open the case on behalf
of the Bill. The line for which powers ware sought was proposed to
be constructed from Glasgow, Kilmarnock and Tyr Railway, near to
Cumnock, to a point on the Caledonian Railway near to the crossing
of the river Sark. This was called the Glasgow, Dumfries and Carlisle
Railway with branches. One of these branches was from Sanqubar to a
point on the Caledonian Railway, and the other branch was from a
point near to the York to a place called Canonbie. There was also
a little branch from the main line to Annan. The latter, however,
was not very material, but the other two branches were. Having
stated the line and branches proposed to be constructed, he would
call attention in the first place to the main line which was the most
important. He appeared before the Committee on the necessity of such
a line being formed to connect the northern part of Ayrshire and Ren-
frewshire with the North of England and England generally. He would
not trouble the Committee with evidence from Lanarkshire or Glas-
gow, as he was persuaded he could show that the traffic of the other
parts imperatively demanded such a line of railway. The present
railway accommodation towards the south from Ayrshire, stopped
at Cumnoek, and that from England towards that quarter of Scot-
land stopped short at Carlisle, so that there was a complete gap to
fill up. As the Bills at present sanctioned stood, goods for the south
sent from Ayrshire would have to go round by Glasgow,
for the truth. The promoters of the present Bill sought to fill up this
gap. In dealing with the subject he would take Kilmarnock as the
centre of the district that wanted the accommodation most urgentlyf
and when he sqoke of Kilmarnock, the Committee would understand
that he meant the district of Kilmarnock—a dittrict, the worth and
importance of which he could not exaggerate. At present, with the
lines made, and those for which Bills were obtained, Kilmar-
nock would be connected in the directest manner with Glasgow
and Paisley, as well as with the principle towns in the county of Ayr
Ardrossan, Irvine, Ayr, Kiiwining. Kilburnie, and Strathaveu. The
town of Kilmarnock was the trading centre of this district, which
comprised a population of 320,000, and was rapidly increasing. To
show the raptet increase—the development of mineral and mai ufac-
turing traffic in this district, he would call their attention to the
progressive increase of the goods' traffic on the Glasgow and Ayr
Railway. To 1840, the year in which the line opened, he would not
refer, but he would take the following years. From July I, 1840, to
June 30, 1841, the receipts for g, ods were 4,4301. In 1841-2, 14,000/. ;
1842-3, 18,0001. ; 1843-4, 24,0001.; and on the 31st July, 1845, the
receipts were 34,0001. From present appearances the traffic fully
justified that the estimate for the present year would be 50,4311.
In 1145, the tonnage of goods was 50,431 tone ; in 1844,
104,000 tons ; and in the year 1845, 180,000 tone.
Kilmarnock had a population ef.22,000, and had doubled itself within
thirty years. The goods manufactured here annually was about
half a million sterling, and it had a connexion with the principal
manufacturing districts of England and Scotland. To show the im-
portance of Ayrshire, he need only state that It had eleven iron
furnaces in blast, fourteen constructing, and nine proposed; the
whole of which, when in operation, could make 176,800 tons of iron
yearly. The Duke ef Rutland alone exported annually 100,000 tons
of coal. The Hon. Gentleman then proceeded to follow the route of
the line, showing that it world accommodate, independently of the
large mineral and manufacturing traffic of Ayrshire, the large lead
mines at Lead-hills, the coal and lime-stone beds of Closeburn and the
important ports of Dumfries and Annan, both rising towns.
The main line was sixty-four miles long, and the capital
wos 13,000. There were no engineering difficulties, and it could
eas:ly be made within the estimates. The Farquhar branch was
sixteen miles in length. The Southern branch from Gretna to Ca-
nonbri was seven miles in length, and would accommodate large coal-
fields there belonging to the Duke of Buccleuch and Mr. J. Graham.
Having stated so much about the nature and objects of this schemo,
he would now refer to the opponents of the Bill. The Caledonian
Company. That Company had a branch from the North to Dum-
fries, almost parallei to the southern portion of the scheme for which
he appeared. They had also a branch north from Leckerbin, and
one from Lockholm, which was almost identical with one of the
branches of the Glasgow, Dninfries, and Carlisle. They had likewise
what was called the Caledonian Extension which was to connect Pebbles
with Ayr. Now he was prepared to show that the Caledonian Company
only partially supplied that accommodation which his clients did
completely. He would also show that what they proposed to do was
not so effective as the Glasgow, Dumfries, and Carlisle, and, there-
fore, that the latter should be allowed to make the whole. The
scheme for which he appeared would alone connect, in an
efficient manner, the whole of Ayrshire with the south.
His opponents were seeking to do that in a roundabout and
and imperfect manner, that which his scheme would do in the fullest
and most direct way. He had no doubt he would chow, from the
evidence he would adduce, that his scheme was infinitely preferable
to the rival projects. Under the Caledonian plan, a person going
from Kilmarnock to Dumfries would have to travel 82 miles 6 fur-
longs, whereas by the Dumfries line the distance would be only 52
miles 6 furlongs ; showing a difference in his favour of 23 miles
But the difference was not alone in distance. The gradients on the
Caledonian line were much worse than on the Dumfries line, the
gradients being 1 in 75, lin 82, and lin 100 respectively. Besides
passengers travelling, independent of the great loss of time, would
have to change three or four times. Again, taking Kilmarnock and
Carlisle by the Caledonian, the distance was 100 miles 51 chains;
by the Dumfries line 91 miles 12 chains ; giving a difference in fa-
vour of the latter of 9 miles 39 chains, besides much more
favourable gradients. As well as these great differences,
the Caledonian scheme only gave accommodation be-
twecn Carlisle and Dumfries, leaving out altogether the
gap between Dumfries and Old Cumnoek. Seeing, therefore,
that this was left out of consideration, he considered he could prove
a cas,:.e, for not only granting his clients the Cumnock and Dumfries
portion, but also that between Dumfries and Carlisle. In conclusion,
he would say that while the line would confer the greatest benefit on
the district, all the landowners along the line were favourable to it;
as were also the inhabitants generally. He would now proceed to
call the witnesses on behalf of his scheme. _ _ _

Mr. W. Cranford was the first witness examined. He lived near
Kilmarnock, and was a Justice of the Peace for the county of Ayr.
The trade of Kilmarnock was very largely on the increase.
There were eight print-works in Kilmarnock, employing 2,000 hands,
and paying 60,600/. in wages annually. The annual ♦alue of the
goods produced was 437,0001. There were carpet factories, employ-
ing 800 workmen, and producing annually goods worth 120,0001.
Nearly the whole were sent to England. The manufacture of iron
was greatly on the increase in the neighbourhood of Kilmarnock,
principally on the Duke of Portland's estands. There were also large
coal works, oo that nobleman's estate. The Duke of Portland ex-
ported about 100,000 tons of coal, and Mr. Fennie about the same
quantity. The general trade of the whole county was fast advancing.
The staple manufactures of Kilmarnock are carpets, shawls, gown
printing, leather tanning, &c., grass and other seeds are grown in the
neighbourhood. Imwense quantities of groods, of all descriptions,
are sent to the south of England.
The Committee then adjourned till to-morrow at twelve o'clock.

GROUP XIV.
NORTH RENT DISTRICT, SOUTH EASTERN

MINE.

The Committee on the railways projected through this district, me
to -day at twelve o'clock. Present—Mr. Protheroe, (Chairman,
Lord Evelyn, Mr. J. O'Connell, and Mr. Grogan.
Mr. AusTIN, on the part of the South-Eastern Company, pro-
ceeded to address the Committee. He stated that he was happy to
say, that without doing injustice to his client, he would he able to
address the Committee at much less length than he originally intended,
bat still he must entreat their patience, as his address must necessa-
rily he very long. He would not so mach trouble the Committee
with any detailed remarks on the enormous mass of engineering evi-
dence that had been adduced, but should direct his attention to the
comparative public utility of the lines, and to the aecommodation
they would give to the districts through which they passed. lie
should at first address the Committee on the evidence in support of
parts of the line, and afterwards he should speak to the whole of the
line ; and he should take the course of the two lines from London to
Dover, and compare them with each other on their more
important features and points. Mr. Vignoles had laid some
stress on the fact that his line was of an integral cha-
character, and in doing so had decidedly been in error, for his prin-
cipal station at Union-street by no means deserved that definition.
Ills proposed embankment of 2% miles is the City of London and
through the borough of Southwark would be an exceedingly incon-
venient erection, and would assuredly prevent any efficient commu-
nication between so much of the Borough and City as was on one
side of the embankment and so much as was on the other. The sta-
tion was 4 acres hi extent, was 30 feet above the
level of the street, and it would require a raised approach of
300 yards. That approach would sccupy 1% acres of their ground,
leaving 21,4 acres for the purposes of their station, and it had been
heard in evidence that, from some defect in the ground or plan, one
quarter of an acre would be lost—thus leaving only two acres for
their station. The metropolitan stations of other lines occupied a
considerably larger space, and some of them were even then incon-
veniently small. The Union-street station was to accommodate 100
trains per diem—those trains, including all the West-end traffic as
well as the City traffic. The estimate for the station and the em-
bankment, as calculated by the 'llorth-Kent, was 696,0001., but
Mr. Bidder had proved that the cost of the line would
be 1,100,0001., and, for a reason which lie would afterwards give,
the cost would be likely to arrive at the sum of 1,200,0001. The
value of the land alone was 550,0001., and consequently a very in-
adequate sum would be left for the formation of the station and em-
bankment. Independently of these points, it would be impossible for
Mr. Vignolles to form his junction with the South Western
under circumstances as favourable as those proposed by him;
for that junction could not be formed without a deviation
in the course of the line, and in its levels, much beyond
that which the Act of Parliament would permit of. The
junction wits the Croydon line, as proposed by Mr. Vignolles,
was to be made under circumstances which Mr. Stephenson had
properly described as unparalleled in engineering. Me was to join
the tauten°, or rather infamous Croydon gradient of 1 in 100, and
his own line was to joie at a gradient of lin 74. '1 here was a clay
cutting of 44 feet deep at the point of junction, and the junction in-
volved the. severance of fhe atmospheric pipe within 35 yards
there . Mr. Stephenson had told them that in a
of the
power obtained to enable tieras er rePl‘ral there would not be sufficient
sestotti cross the break in the pipe,
sufficient f ci ine n t
100. impetus
unronthitseseredi-enme: pipe to start up an incline
the etngineering features of
e in-
i
the line, and the serious doubts of—thy
snfficiencrof the estimates, he submitted that Mr. Viuty of—the
no
available metropolitan station at all. would then prOceSeehdan
ith
the metropolitan portion of the South Eastern line as contrasted
with the very peculiar circumstances of the North rent line. The 1
South-Eastern Company had the advantage of having already a sta-
tion at London-bridge. That station was devoted to the Brighton
Company but were tenants at will, and was only for the eastern
traffic of the Company. The western traffic would be accommodated
by a very convenient junction with the South-Western line, with a
terminus at Hungerford or Waterloo-bridge. Mr. Vignolles would
have his traffic involved in a troublesome manner amongst the
quarter of an hour trains on'the Greenwich Railway, while the South-
Eastern traffic would have the accommodation of being divided
between two lines. The South-Eastern Company availed themselves
as much as possible of existing line and of capital already expended.
It would be only the passenger trains which would have to use
the Greenwich terminus, for the goods traffic 'would be
taken to the Bricklayers Arms station. Their junction
with the South Western line was so contrived as to save half a mile
of house property, for whkileartltdlrttsVoigenigohlebos'sorlhinoeod, went two tswouoth Eastern
miles through tiouthwar
at Mr. ol's U • - t
e
m-stret
would leave osntalyttooonse
barlsaay
tqlguart ther mile.
Vign He could sum
U
he
metropolitan
station ought not to be
the traffic, or
to the London cisBridg tion b
eny the in-
convenient route permitt
of the general e a
d becuse it was not sufficient for
d to bring this traffic ,
s nterferce with
for the purposes of statiaon. Neither ought he to be
allowed
property would greatly exceed the
for the separation of their
also the advantage of
having two lines
troa
fth'thaeyS. South Eastern, which had
'age of ge
ample 'accommodatfon tor the stow
traffic, and had at one of their stations, the oßdris ckliaiieer'sLoaArtrm.sd,
Counsel here requested the indulgence of the Committee for
a few minutes, being rather fatigued. On again
to detail the other points of comparison between ss
most of them have been elicited in evidence, a rep
e
sary.etitionl is M,imeo -
n t
hries itnwgo h
i proceeded
ii t a
The Committee adjourned at four o'clock.
Considerable inconvenience was coused in this room by the knock-
ing of the workmen over head, and also by the continued buzz of
conversation, caused by strangers at the other end of the room. The
latter annoyance was so serious that the Chairman, after repeated
attempts to obtain silence, was compelled to threaten to Clear the
room,

GROUP XVI.

itgaDiNG, atrißzproßNC DH=, AND =MAT:
RA

The Committee resumed the inquiry this morning ; present, Sir C.
Douglas (Chairman), Mr. Blowitt, the Hon. 0. Duncombe, and Mi.
Lockhart.
Mr. Noyes was recalled, and cross-examined by Mr. HILL, Q.C., in
order to ascertain whether the terms of Mr. Duncombe's resolutions
had been complied with. It appeared that there had been originally
thr" companies, which had afterwarda been amalgamated, In

order to comply with these resolutions, the names of the several
register, but
the project
not the officers
albeleaotteeesee
these ceased
ngiven
to
be
elnmetehree b
.
Parliament. The several solicitors and other parties e
been paid on the same principle.
ngaged had
Mr. Duncombe's resolutions on the Thursday, had attended a long
To Mr. HOPE, Mr. Noyes replied that he had received notice of
board on Friday, the returns were all ready by Saturday night, and
made to the Company on Monday morning. He then went through
the whole routine of the facts, showing that he had made all the re-
turns of the present Cdtkpany, whether financial or otherwise, but
had omitted those matters which referred to the proceedings
prior to
the amalgamation, because he considered them
to be non.wistent4, and not consequently required by the Committee.
Mr. Rogers, called by Mr. HOPE, one of the joint solicitors line,
slated that he had been a solicitor for the Reading and Guildford
line. and that the original capital had been 600,0001. in 30,000
shares of 201. each. But it was originally contemplated to amalga-
mate this line with some other lines, and a certain number of shares
had been reserved, in consequence of communication with the Great
Western and the South Western Companies. They had issued
23,000 shares, of which 19,000 had been paid upon, the deposits
paid which amounted to about 39,0001. The application for
shares amounted is a request of 150,000 shares. He confirmed
. .. ..

inrther, the evidence of Mr- Noyes, 'respecting the amalgaiion.
especially with respect to the balance of 21,0001., handed over from
the Reading and Riegate Company to the Reading, Guildford, and
Reigate Company, the present promoters. There was a deed of
amalgamation prepared, but there was not time to sign it previously
to the deposit of the documents.

To Mr. Horn, on re-examination, Mr. Rogers Mated that the ac-
counts were made out with a view to winding np, the usual course
being to leave the settlement of the engineers and solicitors' accounts
until the rejection or passing of the Bill.
After some conversation, Mr. HOPE proposed to call Mr. Burke,
theyarliamentary agent, but that gentleman not being able to attend
the Learned Counsel proceeded to sum up the evidence to the Committee
and said there appeared to have been three Companies, the London
and Brighton Company having projected a line between Ryegate and
Dorking. This had also been done by the South-Eastern Company.
Between this Company and the present promoters there had been
an amalgamation. The two points relied upon by the opponents
were, that in the first place the Directors had, contrary to the usual
plan, refrained from taking so large a share of the plunder as they
were entitled to ; and, secondly, that the names of the several parties
had not been put in, as required by Mr. Duncombe's resolutions and
the Joint-stock Act. There had been but one Com-
pany from the first, and his only regret was that
the full circumstances had not been stated to the
Committee, in the first instance, for two days' examination might
thus have been saved, and the Company would have stood in a bet-
ter position than it did now. The Learned Gentleman then went
through the facts alluded to in the several reports which have ap-
peared in The Sun. It appeared the almost invariable practice in
the two companies to put clauses in their deeds, giving powers of
amalgamation, which is most cases were acted upon. The points
here to be considered were, that the original capital should be
800,0001., with power to increase the amount to 1,200,0001., with
authority to raise any inferior amount of capital. Thus
they might fix the number of shares and raise the capi-
tal; and then increase the number of the one, and raise the amount
of the other. Then there wos the power to enter into arrangements
either with landowners or with parties engaged in other Companies,
either temporarily or in perpetuity, and subject to such conditions as
they thought fit. Under those powers he held the authority to be
perfectly clear to amalgamate, and merge and engage with other
companies. This was the custom in all railway companies. They
had again the right to admit other shareholders into their company,
and under these powers they had entered into arrangements with
the Reading and Reigate Company, and to admit the share-
holders and allottees into their body. This was the admission
of the proprietors in a dissolving or dissolved Company,
Such was the case with the present promote' s. Then with respect
to the Reading and Reigate Company, these were under clauses three
and four, there were corresponding powers given to the provisional
directors of that Company. Then under clause 24 power was given
the directors to enter into any arrangement with other Companies
for the sale, lease, or amalgamation of the line. The powers were
correspondent between the two Companies, and these pnwers ap-
peared to have been much to meet the objections that might be
raised on the amalgamation with other Companies. Then there
was power to vary or abandon the undertaking. Under
clause 28 there was the power to pay the clerks, and all
other subordinates, whether of their own Company, or of any
Company with which they might amalgamate. lie dwelt on this
because his Learned Friend (Mr. Hill) had dwelt on this as being
altogether of a fictitious power; but he (Mr. Hope) must pesitively
declare that there was every right between partnerships to unite
under the provisions of the several Acts. And if his Learned
Friend denied this right, he must trouble him to cite the Act and
the case on welch he relied. It should be observed that, after the
amalgamation, there had been a general meeting of the share-
holders held, in which the terms were clearly and definitively ap-
I proved. The whole of the affair had been managed so as to make it lite-
rally and legally correct. The question, therefore, was one whieh re-
spected either the strict law of the case, or the bona fides of the partes.
Before the Standing Orders Committee the rule was one of strict law.
In either view the promoters contended that they were correct and
justified. Then as regardep the trusteeship, they had never any in-
tention of concealing from Parliament that the signatures of the
directors were trust signatures. Ilad they been otherwise, there
would have been an appearance of fraud, inasmuch as it would have
seemed that the directors were signing for parties who had no right
whatever to the scrip, and that therefore these directors had been
acting simply upon selfish motives. Then as to the possession of a
larger sum than was actually necessary to meet the exigencies
of the case, he thought that this was one of the last
objections which Mr. Duncombe himself would make. The
next point was the question respecting the authority to
act under the directors of the amalgamated company,
and upon this point he might observe that the Company appear in
this matter to have anticipated the resolutions of the House respect-

ing the dissolution or the amalgamation of Cempanies, and had ob-
tained the authority of both sides for the confirmation of their pro-
ceedings. It was unquestionable that the majority of the acting par-
ties
were persons interested in the country through which the line
was to pass, and of undoubted wealth and respectability. As to the
difference between the large and the small scheme, it was one of
ndme only. With no exact rules to shape the evidence before Mr.
Duncombes resolutions came out, it was impossible to tally the lists
of the allotters and the shareholders. But this had, in fact, been
done, and all the necessary officers had been specified.
After reprobating the opposition as vexatious, unless a case of
fraud had been alleged, or could be alleged, against his clients, the
Learned Gentleman concluded his observations, and was followed by
Ma. HILL, Q.C., who said that the real question was, whether the
rules of the Standing Orders Committe had been complied with. It
was not for speculators to judge whether this or that fact should be
adduced, but it was their duty to comply with all their direc-
tions, and then it was for the judgment of Parliament to consider
whether the Bill should pass. He would not retract what he had
said with respect to Mr. Noyes on Friday, but notwithstanding
:he Ingenuity of his Honourable ;Friend, he still asserted that
it would be impossible to discover from the returns on the table
of the Committee that there was any such company as the Reading
and Ryegate Company in existence. The learned counsel then went
through the different points of Mr. Hope's speech, especially
dwellling upon ;the fact that the deed of amalgamation
had not been completed, and the character of the trusteeship under
which the Provisional directors had signed the deeds. The Learned
Counsel then went at considerable length into these points, urging
that the discrepancy between the returns and the evidence must in-
validate the claims of the promoters. He then read the clause of
the Reading and Reigate deed to prove that the promoters were pre-
vented from amalgamating with other companies, except the Lon-
don and Croydon Company, and others also, and contended on that
ground that the directors had no general power of amalgamation
with other companies.
After proceeding at considerable length, it was announced that
the Speaker was at prayers, and the Committee adjourned till to-
morrow at twelve.

GROUP XVIII.
The following Bills are comprised in this group :
Wilts, Somerset, and Weymouth.
London, Newbury, and Bath.
London and Salisbury and Yeovil Junction (2 Bills).
Exeter, Yeovil, and Dorchester.
Exeter Great Western.
London and South-Western (Basingstoke to Salisbury).
Somersetshire Midland.

The Committee to whom they had been referred met this after-
noon in Committee-room No. 35, present Mr. B. Dennison, (in the
chair), General Evans, Mr. Redhead York, Mr. Hamilton,
_Hon. G.
Fitzwilliam.

SOMENSETSNIRE MIDLAND.

The formal proofs were given with respect to this Bill, but the
further hearing of it was adjourned until to-morrow.