The Sun.
London, England, 1858-04-27 00:00:00

RAIL WAY INTELLIGENCE.

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RAILWAY LEGISLATION & COMPETITION.
Yesterday afternoon a deputation of members of
Parham nt and othors interested in railways, con-
sisting of the Hon. R. H. Dutton, M.P. Mr.
Briscoe, M.P.r Mc. 'Rite', M.P., Mr. Repton, M.P.,
Sergeant Gaselee, Dr. Oowan, Messrs. Teulon,
Scott, Gordon, Thompson, 0. H. Pulley, W.
Bridger, Price, Tegg, R. B. Moore, Goodson,
Wnishaw, Vance, Croxton, waited by appoint-
ment upon the Right Hen, the Earl of Derby, at
his official residence in Downing-street, on the
stihje,it of the ruinous cerupellion carried on be-
twe- n the railway companies and the other burdens
affecting the railway iuterrst. The Right Hon. W.
J. Henley, President of the Board of Trade, was
present during the conference.
The Hon. R. Dutton, M.P., introduced the de-
putation.
Mr. J. E VANCE said, he had the honour to be
called upon to bring under the notice of the Go-
vernment the present unsatisfactory state of legis-
lation with regard to the railways. The amount
of capital invested in railway property was
300,000,0001., the whole of which was materially
deteriorated by the existing state of things, and
must continue to be se till that was altered. He
need scarcely point out that by the expenditure of
that amount of capital great benefit had been re-
ceived by the country. He would not waste his
Lordship's time by going into those advantages,
but what be wished was that in return their
property should be protected by the Legislature.
Instead of having done that both Parliament
and the Government had heaped a great
amount of taxation on them, and, in addition
to that, a must ruinous system of competi-
tion was being carried on. The first thing
to which he would call attention was the unjust
impost of the passenger tax, levied now on the
gross receipte, when it was originally intended for
net rece.pts only. The next thing was the parochial
iates on railways. But the greatest complaint was
with regard to the existing competition, which
materially affected the public and the shareholders,
while the competitions were brought about by
parties connected with railways for their own bene-
fit without any regard to the interest of the public.
This slate of things prevailed to an enormous
extent, and thousands were continually spent in
carrying ou the warfare. In the case of two com-
panies at pi esent a fearful race was being carried
regardless of the sacrifice of life.
The Earl of DERRY—But they must pay for it.
Mr. VANCE said—lf his lordship were killed it
would be but a paltry satisf-ction for payment to
be made. (Hear, hear.) He hoped the Govern-
ment would introduce some measure to protect
their interest, and he suggested that a Royal com-
mission should be appointed to consider the matter,
and that Government should step all measures for
further extensions for the present.
The Earl of DERBY asked what was suggested to
put down the undue competition complained of by
the deputaeien. Powers were now granted to Par-
bam-nt with regard to railways, and what other
tribunal was suggested? It would, he thought, be
a difficult matter to induce Parliament to anything
that would take away its own powers.
Mr. VANCE suggested that a Royal Commission
should be appointed and instructed to take evidence
in these-matters ; but he thought that there was at
present sufficient evidence to justify them in
dividing the country into territorial districts, each
company to have its own district ; arrangements to
be made to secure the interest and convenience of
the public. It might be impossible to recover from
the gulf the thousands it hadreceived, or to restore
the fortunes of the widows, orphans, and trustees
which had been wast-d, but the Government might
confer a great benefit ou the public by adopting the
course he suggested.
The Earl of DERBY—If you have a Royal Com-
mission they will have to refer everything to an
other tribunal.
Mr. VANCE repeated his opinion that there was
sufficient evidence for the commissioners to make a
territorial division.
The Earl of DERBY—Nothing can be done with-
out the sanction of Parliament after all. Is tile
commission proposed to be a standing one
Mr. VANCE replied in the affirmative.
The Earl ot DERBY—I should be very sorry for
myself to say the commission should be granted,
but, at all events, I will speak to the other members
ot the Government about it. The great difficulty*
against it is that all its recommendations would
have to be submitted to Parliament for confines'
tion.
After some further conversation,
The Earl of DERBY said he could not say any
thing moire about the commission until it was shown
to be practicable that some good could be got from
it.
The deputation, having thanked his Lordship for
his courtesy, then withOt ew.

SURREY THEATRE.

Last night a new drama, "Never Too Late to Mend,*
wss pruduced at this theatre with great and deserved
success, The first interest of the piece consists in the
efforts of an ho-eat upright English yeoman to recover
himself from misfortunes eau-ed by his generosity to the
helpless and the failure of a bank in which all his caPl'
tal is invested. The scene of the play is laid in Hatnl3:z-ir
shire, 'hen in AuErralia, and finally in the first-names
English county, where all ends as happily as can well be
imagined. The part of George Fielding, the farmer,.
was admirably sustained by Mr. Creswick, his concer
tion of the part was perfect, and his acting was nature
itself. Mr. Shepherd has a capital part in
the drama, which fits him to a nicety, and
as also has Mr. Norton, Mr. Widdieombe, and gr.
Voltaire. The principal female part was very graceful!'
enacted by Miss M. E,urne.
The drama has been put upon the stage with great
care. The Australian portion of the scenery is real!"
spleudid, and elicl,ed the most enthusiastic applause*
At the fall of the curtain the principal performers Teo
caived the honour of a " call," and the piece was given
out for repetition every evening until further notice.
We curdialy recomineed a vist to the Surrey Theatre/
feeling a- cured that all those who follow our recommen'
datiou will enj ,y a capital evening's entertainment.