The Sun.
London, England, 1846-03-26 00:00:00

GROUP XIX

The Committee assembled at twelve o'clock this day;
present, Lord Harry Vane (chairman), Earl of March, Hon,
Francis Scott, Mr. D. Morris, Mr. Phillip Bennett.

EXETER, Topsn.aivr, AND EXIVIOUTH.

The examination of Mr. Samuda was resumed, ‘‘ ho under-
went a very rigid cross-examination and re-examination by
the Learned Counsel on the part of the opponents of the Bill, as
to the application of the atmospheric principle, on passing the
canal near the River Exe. He gave a very descriptive
account as to the manner it• was to be effected, but admitted
that was the first trial of this principle under water; but
nothing was elicited in the course of his evidence calculated
to show the impracticability of its success in this instance.
Mr. Turner, member of the Town Council and Alderman
of Exeter, was in favour of the proposed line in preference to
the Exeter and Exmouth, as he considered the latter line
would be not only injurious and detrimental to property, but
did not afford that facility and accommodation to the public
as the ene now under consideration.

John Challis, a fisherman, at Limiter, stated that great
benefit would be conferred on the mercantile and the shipping
interest, as it would afford safe shelter anti anchorage to
vessels in time of distress, by the construction of the pro-
posed bridge and pier.
Thomas Dunham, who also followed the occupation of a
fisherman at Limiter, corroborated the opinion expressed by
the former witness.

James Foster, a mister, residing at Exmouth for the last
21 years, was in favour of the projected route, as it would not
only increase andabenefit his business, but promote the in-
terests and prosperity generally of Exmouth.
Mr. Vend, clerk, then handed in proofs relating to the
assents and dissents.

This closed the case on the part of the promoters of the
Bill.

The Committee then proceeded to consider a petition from
Mrs. Mitchell.
Mr. Rowe appeared on behalf of the petitioner.
Witnesses were called in order to show the injury her pro-
perty would sustain consequent on the proposed line being
carried out.
me Committee then went into the consideration of the
competing line,

Mr. Cockburn and Air. Rowe appeared on the part of the
promoters of the

EXETER 11.2.412 EXMOUTH

Mr. W. Kennedy, a magistrate and late mayor of Exeter,
was an advocate and supporter of this line, stating his prin-
cipal objection to the other route was the impediment created
on passing the canal.
Mr. Gard, of Exeter, said the inhabitants of that city were
in favour of the proposed scheme, but would prefer the one
under consideration ; the other missing and likely to inter-
rupt the navigation of the canal.
It being now four o'clock, the Committee adjourned until
twelve o'clock to-morrow (Friday).

GROUP XXI.
LONDON AND OXFORD.

The Committee re-assembled this morning at the usual
hour, Mr. Finch in the chair.

The promoters proceeded to call witnesses in support of
their line.

The first witness called by Mr. Hildyard was
Mr. Thomas Treacher, who stated that he had resided in
High Wycombe all his life, and that he was a chair manu-
facturer, coal-merchant, and small farmer. He said the
price of coals during the last four years was 40s. per ton.
The pour bought their coals in small quantities, and paid,
in consequeuce, 2s. to 2s. 2d. more per ton. About 1,000 tons
were annually consumed by the inhabitants. .The proprie•
tors of paper-mills, of which there were a considerable num-
ber, bought their own coals, and not from the coal-merchants
in the town. If the coals they used were cheapened, these
manufactures would receive a great impetus. By the line
or rather an extension of it towards the north, say to Ayles-
bury, a communication with the important coal districts of
the north would be opened up. He had made a calculation
as to the price of coals if they had the railway, and fouud
that the coals which he was now selling at 355. might be
sold for 275. or 28s. per ton. The reduction in price would
greatly increase the consumption. A cheap communication
with the north of England for chairs, of which a great num-
ber were manufactured in High Wycombe, and in the sur-
rounding districts, was required. About one-half of the
chairs manufactured there were sent to the northern districts,
to which they had no available water communication. If
they had the railway, they could send chairs to Lon-
don at threepence less each than their transmission now
cost. They had to send chairs intended for London to Tring,
19 miles from High Wycombe. The proposed branch of the
Great Western to the town would not be of great advantage.
[No point of any consequence was elicited in his cross-exa-
mination by Mr. Wells.]
Mr. W. Charsley, a farmer at Wooburn, examined by Mr.
Waal:EN—He grew, on the average, annually 120 ,quarters
of wheat, 200 quarters of barley, and 100 quarters of oats,
which he generally sent by waggon, at considerable expense,
to the Uxbridge market. By the proposed railway he should
be enabled to send his .corn to other markets, and to attend
them himself—Oxford and London, for instance—and to
compete more effectually with the great grog ers of corn.
l'he branch of the Great Western, not being direct, would not
be of much advantage.
By the Criatam.ax—Had formed no estimate of the ex-
pense of conveying goods by the Oxford and London or by
the branch of the Great Western, and along its course to
London. He could send flour to London by the proposed
line. Never uses the Bath coal.

Mr. It. S. Cuming, of the firm of Cuming, Stoneham, and
Co., drapers, grocers, &c., Wicornbe, received 700 tons of
;odds annually, the carriage of which cost about 8001.
a-year. They received grocery mostly from London, and a
great portion of the drapery from Manchester, but they ge-
nerally bought them in the London market. If there was
a direct communication with Manchester they should buy
the greater part of their goods there. No doubt, in that
case, he should go to Manchester himself to purchase goods,
as that would save the expense of agency, &c. The railway
would be of great advantage to them in their business, as
the carriage of their goods would be consequently reduced ;
but he we! of opinion that the proposed branch of the Great
Western would injure the trade of the town instead of
benefit it, bocause the five coaches which now ran through
the town would be reduced in number, not more than two
trains would run each day, and the frequency of communica-
tion with London and Oxford consequently decreased.
After the examination of several other witnesses, the Com-
mittee adjourned till to-morrow.