The Sun.
London, England, 1846-07-24 00:00:00

Rom F.

BIRMINGHAM AthiOicrostr) JUNCTION.
The Committee met at eleven o'clock ; present the Earls of Ripon
(chairman), Eldon, Sondes, Mentford, &c..
Mr. ALEXANDER proceeded to offer evidence on behalf of Mr. Wyse,
a landowner en the proposed line.
Mr. Crreenway, a banker, at Warwick, having been called,
Mr. ALEXANDER stated that the witness had not been swOrn
After some diseussion, the Committee declined to admit the evi-
dence, as it would open the door to a practice from which consider.
able inconvenience might arise.
Mr. James Bateman, a surgeon, and agent to Lord Dormer, proved
that very considerable injury would arise from the formation of the
line of; deviation to the property of Mr. Bexley, a tenant of his
Zoniship's.
Mr. Sechell, a builder, also proved the injury which would be dons
to Mr. Wyse's property.
Mr. COcKfican said that the promoters of the scheme were willing
to leave the case of Mr. Bexley to arbitration.
The CHAIRM AN said that it was clear that Injury, to a great extent,
would be inflicted upon the property, aod It was for the promoters
to say whether they would purchase it entirely.
Mr. COCKBURN—The promoters will abide by the result of an arbi-
tration, and pay the expense of it.
Mr. LANG then proceeded to call evidence on behalf of the com-
peting lines in Warwickshire.
Mr. Robert Stephenson stated that the lines called the Warwick-
shire lines, which were competing lines with the Birmingham and
Oxford Junction, were to run beta een Hampton, Leamington, War-
wick, and Banbury, and also from Leamington and Warwick to
Stafford and Tewkesbury. It would also run from the latter place to
a point called Ashchureh. There was a project of a line from Weedon
to Stafford and Worcester, but it was considered as a competing
line. The line from Worcester to Weedon, with a branch to Al-
cester, was to be 59 miles long, and was to cost I 366, 000/" and was
to have two tunnels and two viaducts. The llLitipton' Banbury,
and Aschurch line was to be G 3 miles In length, and w. to have four
tunnels and two viaducts. The estimated cost was 1,423,000 t.
Mr d
. E
causedwato rd Ghereen,rrounding country. a banker, proved the benefit theseWoul lines
the su "
Other evidence of a Similar tendency was then entered into, and
the Committee adjourned et five o'clock.

cutout, 11.

BRISTOL AND BIRMINGHAM (GLOUCES-
TER AND STONEHOUSE JUNCTION).
The Committee met at eleven o'clock, the Earl of Strafford in the
Chair.
Mr. Robert Atepliensen, examined by Mr. HILDTARD—Was engi-
neer to the line between Gloucester and Stonehouse, on which there
was considerable traffic north and south. The traffic to the south
passed off at Standish, towards Swindon, and that to the west, which
was very considerable, passed on to Bristol. He considered the lay-
ing down of the narrow gauge on this portion of the line, and at the
side of the broad gauge, so as to entirely disencumber it, a most essen-
tial step, if the narrow gauge was intended to be carried on
to Bristol. A narrow within a broad gauge would be most
inconvenient; but the Legislature seemed to be of opinion
that there should be a mixed gauge between Standish and
Bristol, which would have the effect of testing the practicability of
working two gauges in connexion with each other, and whether his
opinion as to the inconvenience and danger of such a practice was
Sound or not. His opinion was, that this would be found so objec-
tionable, that narrow gauge lines would have to be laid down by the
side of the broad, and unconnected with it. Besides the
narrow gauge line traffic, if there were a mixed gauge,
would be under the control of the Great Western, and consequently
the whole traffic going north and south. A slip of land of from 24
to 34 feet would be required. The Rev. Mr. Niblet's case was simply
one for compensation. The estimate was 100,0001.
31r. 11,1'Cunnell, locomotive superintendent of the Birmingham and
GlonCeSter, testified to the great inconvenience, expense, and danger of
the diversity of gauge at different portions 01 that line in its connexion
with the Great Western. At Gloucester two stations were necessary,
which would not be the case If there was a narrowgaa,ti increasedgeallthe 1
way
from Bris 01, and, of course, the expea,e
was
by 'making two lines and by two ;establishments, A mixed
gauge was highly objecti. nal lo under any circumstances. but°untl'ile.
was very faros It could not
when
thebti
particularly where two w,,uldworko:fer the sarne:B-re.
and if the traffic
otherwise than exceedingly dangerous. In this
irdelash the (treat
traffic would I e got on both lwit,itess,oapieni
eltd.woukdtbesitiaic;
Moimouth and Hereford
Western ran across the the Gloucester and Birmingham, and the
trains ran the risk of encountering trains coming from Bristol, owing
to the steepness of the gradient at that position and the speed of the
trains In consequence. A short time ago a collision between
a train from Bristol and another from Swindon was only pre-
vented by mere chance. There was another crossing at Gloucester,
which was also dangerous. Trains had get off the line there,and had
had the effect of stopping for some time both the narrow and broad
gauge lines. Great caution was necessary to prevent accidents, a
difficulty which he was of opinion would be obviated by this line.
Tkli closed the case on the part of the promoters.
Mr. AUSTIN then addressed the Committee against the project on
'behalf of the Great Western Company, and contended that the
laying down of a new set of lines on another gauge, and conse-
quently interference with that portion of the Great Western line was
in 0111)00tiol WitV • .. ent entered into between the two corn-
14,fes, which ..,,40. : . t the Gloucester and Birmingham Com-
pary„arterlirdown another lino from Gloucester, or
the line. They now proposed
• diveritiggi "".'irstsufficiently dishonest to set at nought
0, tc, do , , yore, , filers,
this sole= compel w:htetf they had entered into. If a narrow gauge
WO neessoary from Gloucester to Stonebouse, or from Stonehouse to
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