The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-26 00:00:00

MAY 26, 1846.

PRICE SD.

which the Eastern Counties extensions would confer upon the
traders affected.
At the close of the examination of a witness named Mr. Robert
Mawly, a farmer at Bourne, near Lincoln, the following opinion on
free trade was elicited.
Lord VIVIAN—Do you think you will continue to send as much
corn by railway after the repeal of the corn-laws as you do now ?
Witness—l am of opinion, my Load, that we shall not only con-
tinue and maintain our trade in corn after the repeal of the eorn-
laws, but that we shall also pay your Lordships as high rents as we
do at this present moment.—(Laughter.)
Lord VIVIAN—That is an argument for free trade, certainly.
The Committee then adjourned till eleven o'clock to-morrow.

dOIISE OF COMMONS.
GROUP IL
This Committee met this morning, at the natal hour ; Lord Iter-
peth in the chair.

CORNWALL.
The tranic-evidence on this line was opened by the examination of
Mr. Theophilus Mitchell, a merchant of St. Austell, who deposed to
the great accommodation the line would give in A mining, agricul-
tural, and commercial point of view.
Mr. James Drew, a magistrate and general
merchant at Losl-
withlel, corroborated the evidence of last witness, He got his goods
from Plymouth, London, and Bristol. It would be of g: cat advantage
to him if the present line were made. There would be a saving to
him of 11 s. Gd. In the carriage of a cask of spirits. There was one very
considerable iron mine in the neighbourhood of Lostwithiel.
Mr. Samuel Elliott, a wholesale groeer, chemist and druggist at
Liskeard, examined—There were rather more than 30 copper mines
io that district. The value of the mines as property was between
300,0001. and 400,0001. There was a large traffic between Plymouth
and Liskeard. The average cost at present between Liskeard and
Plymouth, for a ton of goods, was 1/. The town of Liskeard was In
favour of the railway.

Mr. Thos. Were Fox, a merchant from Plymouth, and Mr. Michael
Williams, an extensive miner and copper smelter in various parts of
Cornwall and Wales, corroborated the evidence already given as to
traffic, and were of opinion that the line was very much required by
the wants of the distriet, and was the best proposed to be laid down
for its accommodation.

The Committee adjourned till twelve o'clock to-morrow.

GROUP X.
The Committee on this group met to-day at twelve o'clock, in Room
No. 1 (House of Commons). Fresent, Mr. Deedes (chairman), Mr.
Arkwright, Mr..Farnham, Mr. Vivian, and Mr. Stanley.
They resumed the consideration of the
CALEDONIAN (DUNDEVAN BRANCH).
Mr. Wm'mons, who was with Mr. Forsyth and Mr. Goidon, for
the promoters, called witnesses in support of their Bill, the evidence
being, at first, chiefly devoted to prove that at the present moment
the east part of Glasgow was abundantly and cheaply supplied with
coal, and that, so far the alleged necessity for the competing line (the
Glasgow, Airdrie, and Monklands Junction) did not exist, and, there-
fore, that the anticipated advantages would not arise.
The Caen:rasa! interrupted this course of evidenoe, and said -
the Committee had already had enough of proof respecting the supply
of coal to Glasgow and especially as to the east part.
Mr. FORSYTH said that it was the object of himself and the other
counsel for this Bill to set up their own line by destroying the pre-
tensions of their competitors ; for he took it for granted that the
Committee would pass either of the Bills, and if he could show that
the Glasgow, -Lirdrie and Monckland Junction was not an advisable
line, he presuned he would have done mueh to establish the claims
of his own measure. He did not, of course, venture to assume with
certainty that the Committee had resolved to adopt either one of the
Bills. He assumed it only for supposition sake to explain the pur-
pose of the coarse which he was taking. He would not, after what
fell from the Committee, ge further into the supply of coals, but
mfo ofia : e
and Dnin cdir yv
kianntell branchech .
would call witnesses to the inferiority of the opposing line.
Mr. King, manager of the Glasgow, Garnkirk and Coatbridge
Railway, was examined at some length for the purpose of establish-
ing
di
thate u ut theof connexiontbeMonk
land
Gaktrk, atCoatbridge, would be much more advantageous than
the connexion of the Glasgow and Airdrie with the same point, by
the
OwiththertheveiGdelnasgceow
rn
of

this witness was strongly in favour of the present Bill in comparison
with its competitor.
The witness was cross-examined by Mr. AwDagws.
Mr. Sergeant Brixems appeared on behalf of Mr. Sligo, a land-
owner, and also for the Monkland and Kirkintillock Railway. In
the latter capacity he claimed to cross-examine the witnesses, be-
cause his clients had a power secured to then to purchase that por-
tion of the Glasgow and Garnkirk line which would be affected and
partially injured by the junction with the Dundyvan branch of the
Caledonian Railway.
Mr. FORSYTH considered any opposition en the part of his Learned
Friend quite suicidal; and he denied the latter's right to appear in the
capacity he affected, inasmuch as the Monkland and Kirkintilloch
had only a contingent power to purchase by value of a private
arrangement, which had not yet the sanction of Parliament.

After some discussion
The CHAIRMAN said that the Learned Sergeant did not show a
good ground for appearing in this case, as the Act of Parliament on
which he relied had not yet passed. So far as the agreement between
his clients and the Garnkirk Company was concerned, it did net place
him before the Committee. If the Menkland and KirkintMoch Com-
pany should suffer by a breach of agreement they would have their
remedy by action.
After further discussion the room was cleared, and on the re-ad-
Mission of strangers,
Mr. Sergeant BELLASIS was allowed to be beard, and cross-ex-
amined the witness, but he did not seem to elicit anything material
disadvantageous to the proposed junction of the Dundyvan branch
with the Garnkirk.

Fqrther evidence of the same character having been given,
Mr. JOHNSTONE, who was with Mr. Sergeant Bellasis, for Mr.
Sligo, and the Itionklands and Kirkintulloch, In opposition to the Bill,
called witnesses who gave evidence favouring the competing line In
preference to this.
The Committee adjourned at four o'clock till twelve to-morrow.