The Sun.
London, England, 1845-05-06 00:00:00

GAINSBOROUGII PROJECTIONS.

The. Committee assembled this day, shortly after Twelve o'clock,
having adjourned over from Friday last, at the request of Counsel
on both sides, who, as we announced inlour first edition of that day,
stated that they made the request in the hope that, as there was no
difference between the promoters of the lines and the petitioners
against them as to the principle, they would be able to make
mutual arrangements as to details.
Upon the CHAIRMAN taking his seat,

Mr. D'EYNCOURT said he was happy to inform the Committee that
all further opposition from the projectors of the Hull and Gains-
borough had been withdrawn.

The CHAIRMAN wished to know if there was not some opposition
by landowners? He had heard that Lord Scarborough was one of
those.

Mr, D'EYNCOURT said he was not sure whether Lord Scarborough
would appear at all.

The Cuantatart asked if Mr. Duckle had withdrawn his oppo
sition

Mr. Duckle's agent said he would be able to give an answer in
a few minutes; an agreement had been drawn up, and it only re-
mained to be signed.

The Clerk said the next petitioners were the proprietors of the
Gainsborough bridge.

The agent for the Company said he had no opposition to the
preamble; he only wished to propose a clause.

The CHAIRMAN wished to know if any person appeared on behalf
of Lord Scarborough.

The agent stated he believed that Lord Scarborough would not
appear by counsel. His Lordship did not oppose the preamble.
His was a claim for compensation.
The Clerk said the next petitioners were the trustees of the
Barton Waterside Road.

Mr. HILL said he appeared merely on a clause.
The Rev. Mr. Williams said he would not appear by counsel
but would leave his case in the hands of the Committee.

The Clerk said the next petition was from the proprietors of the
River Trent, but there had been no appearance to it.
The CHAIRMAN then asked if any person appeared for the Hull
and Gainsborough Company ?

Mr. Wasszaa said he did, and begged to announce that they
would offer no further opposition.

The CHAIRMAN then said the Committee were of opinion. that
the preamble of the Bill had been proved. He then stated, that
an application had been made to increase the capital from
600,0001. to 800,0001.

eatu uiey zuttely waneu to alter that portion of
the 4th duke, so as to increase the capital by 200,000/. in order to
have funds at their command to make a double line of rail
all through.

The CHAIRMAN doubted if they had the power to make the
alteration.---Some discussion having followed upon this point, it
was agreed upon to frame a separaee clause to meet the difficulty
and the Chairman left the room for the purpose of consulting the
Speaker as to the consistency of such a course with the standing
orders. He returned in about half an hour, and stated that having
consulted the highest authority to which he could refer, the result
was, that the Bill must either be proceeded with as it stood ; or
if they intended to increase their stated capital, they would have to
go before the Standing Orders Committee again, and in fact go
through all the steps again in reference to the estimates, &c.
Mr. PICKERING said that under these circumstances they would
proceed with their Bill as it stood.

The Clerk then proceeded to read the clauses. Clauses 10 and
17 were postponed for the appearance of Mr. Dunkle's agent. Ou
clause 18 being read,

Mr. HILL, on behalf of certain turnpike trusts, in opposition to
the proposed crossing by the proposed line of the levels of the
turnpike roads passing between Hull and Lincoln through Brigg.
It was the main line to Brigg, a very populous town, and the cross-
ing, would bring the trains so near as to cause risk to the people
living in that locality, who were constantly in the habit of walking
there, and pas.ing and repassing with cattle, children, &c.
Mr. R. Ouston, one of the turnpike trustees, deposed that the
line proposed to be crossed was a great thoroughfare for carriers,
cattle, children, arc. ; this would be the third crossing proposed to
be made within a mile. There was no difficulty to making bridges
at the crossings except the expense to the Company.
To the CHAIRMAN—Has had no personal experience of danger
attending level crossings; his alarm is from a general supposition
as to inconvenience and danger. There would be four trains pass-
ing each way every day,

Mr. Fowler, engineer, on behalf of the promoters of the line,
deposed that if the Company were compelled to make bridges at
those crossings, the expense would amount to neatly 12,0001.
To the CHAIRMAN—The precautions to be taken by the pro-
moters would be sufficient to guard against danger. The Company
were willing to leave the matter to the Board of Trade.
The CHAIRMAN said, the Committee were of opinion
that no case of danger had been made out; and
some of the Members had travelled in other countries m here all the
crossings were crossings on a level, and no danger was apprehended.
Indeed, he, (the Chairman)] himself knew instances where bridges
had been built at crossings, and applications were made to have
them taken down again.—(Laughter.)

Group 0.
TRENT VALLEY.
The clauses of this Bill were proceeded with at the sitting of the
Committee.

Clauses 1 to 15 were agreed to without opposition.
An amendment to clause 16, which states that any shareholder
holding shares to the amount of 60,000/., may be at liberty to call
an extraordinary meeting of the Company, was proposed by Mr.
Forsyth, on the part of the Grand Junction, to the effect that any
shareholder holding 500 shares, to the amount of 25,000 i. or up-.
wards, might require an extraordinary meeting to be convened.
Mr. TALBOT, for the Tient Valley Company, contended that the
proposed qualification was not too large, and that Shareholders
holding shares to a less amount than 60,0001., ought not to be at
liberty to put the Company to so much inconvenience.
The Committee was of opinion that the otiginal clause should
stand.—An amendment was also proposed to clause 17, respecting
the number of shares necessary to give votes, which was not enter.
tained by the Committee.

Group F.

The Committee appointed to investigate the Bills comprised in
this group re-assembled this morning—present Mr. Shaw, Chair.
man, Mr. V. Stuart, Mr. Lockhart, Mr. Bramston, Mr. Home
Drummond.

LONDON, WORCESTER, AND SOUTH STAFFORD.
SHIRE RAILWAY.

Mr. AUSTIN proceeded to open the case for the promoters
of this line The line commenced at the Tring station of
the London and Birmingham Railway, crossed the coun-
try to Worcester, and so on to Dudley. There was
an extension to Wolverhampton, which was Bill number two, and
there was a branch from Dudley to Sedgley, which was Bill num-
ber three. These lines would be through valley courses, would
have easy gradients, and would accommodate a most important and
thickly populated district. The line for which he appeared was
opposed by ene proposed by the Great Western Company—the one
line boing on the broad guage, and the other, the London and Bir-
mingham line, on the narrow guage. The Learned Gentleman then
proceeded ta point out the local advantages of the line he advocated.
He next addressed himself to the question of the guage. He read
an extract from the report of the Board of Trade, showing that
with respect to to the gradients and engineering peculiarities there
was little to choose between the contending lines, but that the
great point at issue was the broad and narrow guages. The broad
guage was 7 feet between rail and rail ; whereas the narrow guage
was but 4 feet Si inches. The Learned Gentleman said he would
address himself to this question of guage, as it was the great matter
which the Committee had to settle.

Group V.
The Committee, the O'Connor Don, Chairman, on the Bills
classed under this group assembled this morning at 12 o'c►ock, in
the room 19, and the engineering evidence on the Nottingham and
Lincoln line was proceeded with.
The first witness called was

Frederick Swanick, who was joint engineer on the line with Mr.
R. Stevenson : he stated the cost of the proposed line at 408,0601.,
of which 73,4401. was appropriated to the purchase of land and to
compensation for injury done to property. This would give 12,0001.
for cost per mile, and 47,4981. for roads and bridges. The line
was intended to be above 33 miles in length, and would cross three
turnpike roads and 34 highways.
The witness was cross.examined by Mr. Sergeant CLARKE and
Mr. HILL, Q.C., but nothing materially different from the exami.
nation in chief was elicited.

Group 00.
The Committee reassembled this day at 12 o'clock, in Room
No. 17. Present the Right Hon. 11. LABOUCHERE, Chairman, Mr.
Divett, Mr. A. Hussey, Lord Ingestrie, anel Mr. G. W. Heneage.
The procceedings were opened by the Hon. Chairman, who
said, he thought it better to take the postponed clauses in the unop-
posed case of

THE WHITBY AND PICKERING RAILWAY.
Mr, Hudson was called—The tolls proposed to be charged were

the same as those charged on the Syston and Peterborough Rail-
way.

The CHAIRMAN—You propose by those amended clauses to limit
the luggage of first-class passengers to 1001bs. weight. Now, you
also limit the second and third.class passengers in the same ratio to
a smaller amount. In the Syston and Peterborough, the first class
are allowed to take 1501b5., and the second and third class pas-
sengers 100 lbs. without charge.
Mr. HunsoN had no objection to amend the clause In reference
to luggage. In fact, he would agree to allow the same as the
Syston and Peterborough.
The clauses regulating the tolls and charges were then agreed
to as amended. They are strictly copies of the tolls and charges
in the Syston and Peterborough Railway Bill.
The CHAIRMAN said he would report to the House that the Bill
had been gone through.

Group X.
The Committee in this group re-assembled at twelve o'clock,

LONDON AND YORK RAILWAY.

The Committee proceeded with the evidence in this case.

Mr Thomas Bowyer, miler, of Huntingdon, gave evidence to
the effect that he formerly carried on an extensive trade in flour
with London, but that he had been recently shut out of this market
on account of the imperfect modes of transit, and the high rates
imposed. He considered that if the transit was reduced he could
regain his former trade and command the London market He
made at present 300 sacks of flour a week. He was a:so a dealer
in er als. He used Lord Londonderry's Scaham coal. He used
1,50(1 tons a year, taking an average of the last
four years. The freight was 45. per ton, and Is. Id.
per ton for tolls, making ss. Id. in all. He dealt in
seeds, which he sent to several markets, amongst others, to
London, Hull, and Scotland. The railway, he considered, would
effect a considerable reduction in the carriage of these. He dealt
likewise in oil, rape-cake, and guano. He sold of these 700 tons.
The sale was principally to the westward. Wool was another
article in which he traded. The amount he sent was 70 tons
per year. He forwarded it principal)! to Leeds, Brad.
ford, and Halifax. It cost him 31. to take a ton to Halifax,
Bradford, or Leeds. By the railway, he considered
it would go by Wakefield to the places named, and would cost 2d.
per mile per ton. That would make altogether for 109 miles, the
distance to Wakefield, 18s. 2d. That would effect a saving of
about 2/. The further distance to Leeds or Bradford was but
trifling, so that_ the carriage would be but little increased.
This witn -examined at some length without shak-
ing his evil tcrial point.
Group DD.
EDINBURGH AND GLASGOW RAILWAY BRANCHES
TO CAMPSIE, &c.

The Committee re-a:embled at the usual this morning, and
immediately proceeded with the Bills before them.
The first business transacted was the passing of the clauses of
the Campsie branches, all of which were approved of, with the
exception of clauses 13 and 14, which related to the communica-
tion to be made to the corporation of Linlithgow in respect of
customs, and, also how compensation was to be estimated for injury
done to their revenue.

Mr. WHATSLY appeared for the Provost and borough of Lin.
lithgow, to oppose these clauses. He said the Edinburgh and Glasgow
Company had deprived the Corporation of their rights. Power had
been given to the town council to settle by arbitration with the
Railway Company the arrangement of the dues accruing to the
council from the construction of the iine over the Avon ;
but the Committee of the Railway Company would not
listen to any advances that had been made. The right
to these dues had been vested in the town council of
Linlithgow from time immemorial. The attempted introduction
of clauses 13 and 14 was a most extraordinary endeavour to vio-
late the provisions of an Act of Parliament ; for in defiance of the
Act the company had never paid any dues to the Town Council.
An action had been brought in September, 1844, against the com-
pany by the borough of Linlithgow for the recovery of their dues,
with arrears, and the Lord Ordinary had pronounced an In.
terlocutory order in favour of the Town Council. To this
decision the railway company demurred, and an appeal action was
now pending. The Learned Counsel contended that the clauses lie
had referred to would have the effect of entirely destroying the
rights which had accrued on the railway being made. He there-
fore trusted that the Committee would not allow them to stand
part of the Bill, or that they at ould be so amended as to suit the
views of the town-councii of Linlithgow.

Group Q,

Tho Committee appointed to take into consideration the merits
of the different lines of railway comprised in this group met again
to-day at twelve o'clock. The Committee was composed of
Mr. Sotherton, Chairman, Lord Duncan, Sir T. Colebrooke, Mr.
B. Escott, and Mr. P. Pusey. The projects comprised in this
group are the Shrewsbury, Oswestry, and Chester Railway, the
Cheshire and Shropshire Railway, the Chester and Holyhead
Railway (Mold Branch), Bangor aid North Wales Railway,
Bangor and Carnarvon Railway, and the North Wales Mineral
Railway.

CHESTER AND HOLYHEAD RAILWAY (MOLD
BRANCH).

The first point taken into consideration to day was an applica.
tion made yesterday by Mr. Robinson, oo behalf of the promoters,
for an order from the Committee to compel the production of c,rtsin
books belonging to the Birkenhead and Chester Cou.pany, to which
application an objection had been made on behalf of that Company
by Mr. Calvert, on the ground that the Committee had no power
to entertain a motion of that kind, it being solely within the pro..
vince of a court of equity to make such an order.

The room was cleared for the consideration of this point, and on
our readmission

The CHAIR MAY said that the Committee had no objection to
hear evidence in the ordinary way, but they were not at present
prepared to apply to the House to compel the production of such
books and evidence as had been referred to.

(The Committee was left Sitting.)

Group B,

The Committee re-assembled at 12 o'clock this morning, and
proceeded with the evidence in the ease of the

WEST YORKSHIRE LINES.

Mr. James Hibber, a carrier on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal
gave evidence in favour of the line.

Mr. Thomas Halford, of Moreton, in the Valley of Ayre, and
several other witness, gave concurrent testimony.
Mt. William Craven, a solicitor of Halifax, proved that the pe.
tions in favour of the West Yorkshire lines, were signed by the
majority of the electors and influential persons resident in the
district through which the lines would pass.
Mr. James Heigh, a stone-mason, of Bradford, proved the con.
struction of the West Yorkshire lines would increase the trs,ae in

Mr. John Carr spoke to the amount of traffic likely to pass over
the West Yorkshire lines.