The Sun.
London, England, 1846-06-27 00:00:00

GROUP 11.

TAW VALE EXTENSION.
(Continued from our Afternbon Edition of yesterday.)
The opposition occupied the whole of the day, and the Committee
adjourned till to-morrow at twelve o'clock.

GROUP XIII.
CALEDONIAN EXTENSION.
(Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.)

At the close of the opposition the room was cleared, and the Com-
mittee having remained a short while in consultation, the parties
were me-admitted, when
The CHAIRMAN announced that it was the opinion of the Com-
mittee that the preamble to the Caledonian Extension Railway Bill
was not proved.
This closed the labours of the Committee.

GROUP XVII.
MANCHESTEIL AND SOUTHAIVZPTON.

The evidence of Mr. Locke (continued from our Afternoon Edition
of yesterday)—There were many steeper gradients, 1 in 36,
on the Lickey incline, for instance, which was worked by ordinary
locomotives. He was of opinion that, in the improved state of
science, gradients were of less consequence than distance.
In his re-examination of Mr. 11111, he stated that the railways made,
or authorised to be made, would afford as good communication between
Southampton and the north as the Manchester and Southampton
he referred to the route by way of Basingstoke and Oxford, the Oxford
and Rugby, and the Trent Valley, but he limited this opinion to the
conveyance of merchandise. The Manchester and Southampton was
a little shorter, but its gradients were not so good as by the other
route. In giving this opinion, he excluded the inconvenience arising
from the breaks of gauge.
By the CommirrEE—Had stated before the Gauge Commissioners
that it would be advis this for broad gauge lines to adopt the narrow
gauge, and that any break of gauge was particularly inconvenient in
transmitting goods.

Mr. Charles Saunders, the secretary to the Great Western Railway
said the Board of Trade rep,rted to Parliament in fayour of the line
front Basingstoke to Beading, which was projected by the Great
Western Company, because it would open up direct northern and
southern communication. The Great Western Company were willing
to adopt all the suggestions of the Board of Trade, and would con-
struct the Oxford and Rugby line on the narrow-gauge line though
projected as a broad gauge line, and also to lay dorm the narrow
gauge on lines communicating between that line and others, but this
could only be done with respect to the Southampton and Midland
lines. They had a large traffic in fat cattle going to Southall and
other markets.
- •

By Mr. GCRNEY—During the last year, during which new por-
tions of the line were opened, the passenger traffic had greeatly in-
creased. This, in a great measure, was to be attributed to the
diminution of fares and return tickets.

....... .- -
By the Committee—Because there were several hundreds of miles
laid down on the narrow gauge, and only 274 on the broad, that was
no reason why the broad, which, he considered, whether for speed
and cheapness, was far superior, should be stilled. He believed the
broad gauge would beat the narrow " hollow " any day. With
respect to the petition of carriers praying for an uniform gauge, pre-
sented to the House of Commons, who, he considered, knew more of
their own business than that of a railway, he said they did not
charge them for heavy trucks as stated, for they had as light trucks as
those on the narrow gauge, and took the goods from them
and placed them i.; whatever trucks the Company thought
best adapted for the occasion, and without any difference
of charge. By laying down the narrow gauge also from Oxford to
Basingstoke, a narrow gauge communication with the north would
be effected, and the requirements of tile district fully met. But if
they did go to the expense of laying down the narrow gauge they
ought not to have their traffic diverted as proposed by the Manchester
and Southampton, which he considered would not be a remu-
nerative line. He considered they could do the business
better for the public by the proposed line. Of course, if they did not
study the Interests of the public, the public would not patronise the
line ; but he considered the Great Western directors would not
change their nature if they lost sight of the wants of the public and
forfeited their patronage.
Adjourned until eleven o'clock to-morrow.