The Sun.
London, England, 1846-07-01 00:00:00

roir.a.

This was the next case called on.
Sir T. PHILLIPS, in a brief address, opened the case for
the promoters. The Learned Counsel said that it was a line
of railway which would open up a rich coal and mineral
traffic. After going into the merits of the scheme, the
Learned Gentleman called

Mr. Blythe, civil engineer, who explained to the Com-
mittee the engineering merits. The gradients and curves
were most unexceptionable, with a small exception of where
the junctions took place; but the difficulties at those points
were not more than ordinary difficulties, to be met with on
many lines.

The Committee, after the examination of this witness, de-
clared the preamble of the Bill proved.
The clauses were then gone into, and the Bill declared to
have passed.

GROUP LIII.

SHREWSBURY AND BIRMINGHAM, AND
BIRMINGHAM, WOLVERHAMPTON, AND
DUDLEY.
(Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.)
Mr. COCKBURN—JUSt so. The decision on the question
of levels might most seriously affect the interest of his clients,
and theyobjected to the Committee coming to any decision
until they had heard what were the levels which the other
party had adopted. They would be most willing to accom-
modate the other party, but of course they could not accept
the terms proposed.
Mr. Hope said that the objection which his party made
would, if it were established, be a most fatal one, and it was
his duty therefore to insist on the question of the accuracy of
the measurement of his Learned Friend's clients' line being
settled. They had proposed that it should be settled by the
engineers of both lines, or, in case of their disagreeing, by
the decision of their referree. The Learned unsel then
proceeded
to read and comment on the terms of settlement
proposed to be entered into between the Shrewsbury and
Birmingham and the Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and
Dudley Companies.
Mr. Sergeant KINGLAKE then addressed the Committee
at some length on the terms proposed by his party. He
contended that the low level was the best level for the town
of Wolverhampton, and that the Shrewsbury and Birmingham
Company did not struggle for the high level there for the
Purpose of accommodating the , district, but really to
construct a line by which they
might pour upon their
canal line (if they were to obtain it) the whole
of the traffic coming from Shrewsbury. The question
of the levels was a public one, and he hoped that
the Committee would so decide as to force the traffic
arriving in Wolverhampton to be brought in on the low
leveL His clients were perfectly willing to give up that
part of the line which would accommodate Dudley, but he
contended that in return for this concession the Shrewsbury
and Birmingham ought undoubtedly to give up to his
clients that part of their line between Tipton and Wolver-
hampton, because the population and the traffic of
that district did not require it. The Learned Sergeant con-
cluded by proposing to put in a written statement explana-
tory of the propositions of his clients, but
Mr. Rom having objected,
The Hon. CIIAIRMAN decided that the document ought not
to be received.
Mr. Home then contended that the proposals of arrange-
ment of the Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Dudley Corn -
pany were not such as his clients were fairly entitled to, and
replied to the remarks of the Learned Sergeant. The propo-
sitition he pronounced to be the most niggardly he had ever
heard. The question of levels was entirely an open ques-
tion, and would not, as his friend had adroitly re-
presented, settle the lines of the district under the
consideration of the Committee. He contended that
if the Committee did not sanction that portion
of the Shrewsbury and Birmingham line between Tipton
and Wolverhampton, they would hand over that district
bound hand and foot to the Great Western Company. His
Learned Friend had proposed amalgamation in the same
breath that he had extolled the benefits arising from com
petition. The fact was that if the line proposed by his
Learned Friend were sanctioned in its present shape, it would
lead to one of the greatest monopolies in the country.
Mr. SELFE said he appeared on behalf of a body of incle.
pendent ironnasiters, who were very much intereatedia the