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

GREAT EffI7NSTILII.

Mr. MUM said he would open the case for his clients by calling
witnesses.

Mr. D. Leahy, civil engineer, was called and examined. The wit-
ness, who stated that he was engineer for the Great Munster Rail-
way, RIM examined at some length, and the whole
bearing of his evidence was that this line of railway was one
which would be of the greatest benefit to the districts proposed to be
accommodated.

The witness was cross-examined at great length by Mr. Woor.-
RIDGE., on behalf of the promoters of the Nenagh line, but his evi-
dence in chief was not shaken.
Mr. Pierce Maliony was examined by Mr. MraPriV—ls a solicitor
of extensive practice; is also a large landed proprietor, and
had been trustee to the late Lord Portarlington. The Great
Minister line of railway was one of the best lines proposed
for the county requiring railway accommodation, Was of opinion
that the Nenagh line was one of the worst which could be devised.
Inasmuch as it served no public interest, accommodated no population
of importance, and would never pay the outlay. He was in no manner
connected with the Great Munster Company. Was certain that this
Was a line of railway'which would be made at some time or the other,
even if it were abandoned now through anything like a panic in
the money market. Was so certain of the inutility of the Nenagh
line, that if it could be constructed for one 0/-,
he would not supply
the capital. The Great Munster line was one that must pay, for it
oanpedn uotphaer corn-
supplied a most important line of country, d
munication from Dublin to I.•Tenagh and an w
Limerick,d
im-
portant towns and sea-ports, which must be the means of giving a
great paying traffic.
The witness was
•

at some length.

Mr. Powell, M.P. for Limerick, was next called. In his examina-
tion he stated that he knew all the principal towns through which
the proposed line would pass, and he thought that both the goods
and passengers traffic would be benefited by the construction of the
line in question.
Cross-examined—l do not know the Nenagh and Templemore line.
Re-examined—There is a general feeling In Lifnerlck In favour of
this railway. . •

I;fr..lanies then gave evidence as to the traffic returns. The pro-
bable amount received from passengers' traffic by land and water was
26,5001. 4s. Bd. ; the income from traffic, including merchandise,
minerals, agricnitural produce, conveyance of mails, Icc., would be
51,6771. 19s. sd. The charges of working the proposed line would
be 18,0871. 155.9 d., leaving a balance in favour of the Company of
32,5901. 13s. 5d., which would give about 5% per cent. to the share-
holders.
Mr. Armstrong gave general evidence in favour of the line.
The formal proofs having been disposed of,
Their Lordships announced that they would take the case of the
Templemore and Nenagh line before they came to any decision on
the merits of the railway then before them.

TEE TEMPLEATORE .49.373) MTENAGEL
Mr. Wootalnus, in the absence of Mr. Hope, opened the pro-
Niedings in this case, and called \lr. Langley, the engineer to the
line, who stated that the gradients were of a favourable nature, and
that the line was one which would open up a large universal traffic,
The Committee then adjourned, at four o'clock, till twelve o'clock
to-morrow.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
GROUP IV.

The Select Committee appointed to consider the merits of the' Bills
comprised in this group re-assembled at the usual hour this morning,
Mr. C. Hope in the chair.

TH astmaT NORTH 01' SCOTLAND.

Th. cross-examination of Mr. Gibbs was continued, but nothing of
imnortance was elicited which has not already been published.
The next witness called was Mr. Cubitt, who corroborated the tes-
timony of Mr. Gibbs In nearly every respect. He said he had mi-
nutely examined the country through which the proposed line would
run, and he was fully convinced, after giving the subject his most
attentive consideration, that it was the best line Which could be ob-
tained for accommodating both the local and the through traffic. It
followed the natural channels of the traffic, and passed through a
rich and fertile country, thickly populated, and capable of still greater
Improvement. Ile had gone generally into Mr. Gibbs's estiniate,
and was of opinion that it was more than amply sufficient tar the
works. The prices were large, and he had no doubt whatever there
would be plenty of contractors ready to undertake the words far the
tstimates.

The witness was cross• examined at some length by the different
counsel who appeared for the promoters of the Aberdeen, Banff, and
Elgin and Aberdeen and Inverness line. The cross-examination took
the same course as the cross-examination of Mr. Gibbs, namely, to
point out deficiencies in the estimates.
Tke CIIAIRMAN said the Ccinnilttee were satisfied that there was
sufficient traffic to justify the construction of a railway in this dis-
trict, and they were therefore anxious to know what course counsel
intended to pursue now.

Mr. TALBOT, who appeared for the promoters of the
Great North of Scotland Bill, replied, , that the Com-
mittee, being satisfied that there was sufficient traffic to
justify their sanctioning one of the schemes, he proposed to
call witnesses with tke view of showing that the great bulk of the
traffic passed along the route of the Great North line ; but p rhaps
it was the intention to decide simply upon the engineering evidence.
If so, would it not be better that his Learned Friends who appearel
on the other side, should pat in their engineering evidence at once ?
11r. Sergeant WRANGIIAX objected to this course in tot'o. It was
unusual, and his Leaned Friend ought to finish his own case before
he called fur their witnesses.

Mr. TALBOT said, then, he would call the witnesses he had just
mentioned to the Committee.
These witnesses were Col. Gordon, Lord Lieutenant of the ciatrity
of Banff; Mr. Bromley, a gentleman in a large way of business in
many parts of the district: and Mr. Griffiths, a factor. They
three gave decided opinions in favour of the Great North of Wit.
land line, declaring that it was the best line, both for through arid
local traffic.

Before the Committee rose the question of going into the engineer-
ing evidence of the other side was again mooted,
Mr. TALBOT wished to resume allfurt her evidence relating to traffic
till after the engineers of the competing !hies had been called.
Mr. Sergeant WitANGILAM. however, stil objected to this, and it
was ultimately arranged that the Great North of Scotland promoters
should bring their case to a close, before that of the competing, lines
was gone Into.
The Committee adjourned shortly after four o'clock.

GROUP V.
This Committee met to-day for the first time, Colonel Fos in the
chair.

The Bills referred to this group are the Caledonian and Lanobar-
tonshire JunLtion, Scottish Grand Junction, Caledonian Not tLern
Direct, Dumblane, Dowse, and Callendar.
The first Bill proceeded with was the
CAL:EDONI.AN AND DITIVIIIARTONSIIIRE

JUNCTION,
A line from the Caledonian Railway, through Dumbartonshire, to
the margin of Loch Lomond.

Mr. TALBOT opened the case on behalf of the scheme, which is
opposed by the Forth and Clyde Navigation.
Mr. Gibson Nott, of /Sallock Castle, Dumbartonshire, was arst
called, and deposed, at some length, as to the advantages the line
would confer on the district. The leading proprietors of the county
were in its favour, as were also the leading manufacturers and
bleachers in the valley of the Leven.
Several other witnesses were examined as to the eligibility of the
line, and to the fact of there being no engineerfng difficulties, when,
after a short consultation,
Tho'CosnairrEE declared the preamble of the Bill to be proved.
The Committee then adjourned till to-morrow, when the clauses
of the Bill will be proceeded with.

GROUP VII.

The Members assembled at twelve o'clock in Room No. 24 (New
Houses of Parliament)—present, Mr. Palmer (chairman), and the
same lion. Members as on Friday.
They proceeded to hear evidence in favour of the
EDINBURGH AND NORTHERN (DUN.-
FZILAZZINE. BRANCH).

Mr. Drysdale, a yarn and flax merchant of Dunfermline, Mr.
Burrel, a magistrate at the same place, and Mr. Wilson, also a
resident there, gave evidence which went to show that there was
no regular conveyance either for goods or passengers from Dundee
to Dunfermline, although it was very much wanted. If there were
a regular conveyance there would be a great traffic. The flax trade
was very much deteriorated by the absence of any efficient cora-
munication. A vast number of the people of Dunfermline and its
neighbourhood were engaged in flax-spinning. There was a general
feeling in favour of the line throughout that neighbourhood.
Mr. WALEna, who appeared for several petitioners against the
Bill, cross-examined the witnesses, with a view to show that the
reason no conveyance had been established between Dunfermline and
Dundee was, that the traffic was insufficient to support even a carrier
or stage coach.
On the conclusion of the evidence as to the necessity for a line
similar to the one proposed, the probable traffic, and the general
feeling in favour of this line,
Mr. Grainger, the engineer to the line, was examined, and gave
the usual formal evidence on engineering points. The length of the
line was 14 miles 7 furlongs, and for 10 miles of its length it passed
through an extensive coalfield. There was no tunnelling. There
were so serious engineering difficulties, the gradients being all mo-
derate, and the works light. The estimated cost is 187,0001.
Mr. WAT-.2a cress-examined the witness as to certain arches,
which were stated on the plans to be of six feet span, whereas it was
admitted that they must be made with a span, in each case,
of
twenty-eight feet, for which span Mr. Grainger stated the estimate
to have been made.

Mr. CLAiut ebjected to this point being raised, on the ground that
it was a standing order objection, and ought to have been raised be-
fore the Sub-Committee on the Standing Orders.
Mr. WALKER replied that the standing orders only required that
the height and span of each arch should be marked, and if the span
were marked 3 feet 6 inches, that would be a perfect compliance with
the standing orders ; but in this case the objection was completely
one on the merits, and could be taken before the Committee, as it
was —not as to whether the height and span were marked, but
whether the height and span marked were sufficient,
The Committee were of opinion that they ought to entertain the
objection, and Mr. Walker was about to proceed with the crois-
examination of Mr. Grainger, when
The Speaker being announced to be at prayers, the Committee
adjourned.

UP VIII.
Hawes, chairman. rnGR
The Committee asmembled t O
his morning at the usual hour ; Mr.

NORTH BRITISH iLaixAtrair.
The several clauses in this Bill were read over, and the report to
the House agreed to.
EDINBURGH AND LEITH ATMOSPHERIC.
On this Bill being called, it appeared that the competing Bill,
Edinburgh, Leith, and Granton, had not received the permission
the House to be heard to-day. The Committee detertnined to pro-
ceed with the consideration of the Atmospheric Line, hi the hope that
leave would be obtained to-night.
Mr. ATTOWN raised an objection with respect to the resolutions of
fir. Buncombe not being complied with ; the Committee, therefore,
could not proceed with the consideration of this Bill until both
parties were in a position to thrnish the same.
This objection, however, the Committee overruled, and at once
proceeded to hear the merits of this Bill.
Mr. Forbes was examined in conformity with those resolutions.
Mr. Sergeant BELLASIS opened the case on behalf of the promoters
of this scheme. He pointed out the advantages which would accrue
by the proposed line, uniting as it did, two of the largest and most po-
pulous towns in Scotland, and affording the means of a quick and rapid
communication. The population of these two places amounted to not
less than 201,00) inhabitants. The estimated cost of carrying out
this scheme Was 160,0001., 42,0001. of which would be expended for
land, houses, anti compensation.
Mr. Blythe, civil engineer, was (hen called and examined, who
spote to the engineering character of the line as being the best
adapted for the purpose that could be selected between these two
places.
It being now four o'clock, the Committee adjourned until twelve I
O'clock to.morrow ( Tuesday ).