The Sun.
London, England, 1845-05-07 00:00:00

A very lengthy discussion between the Committee and Coumel
ensued as to the course to be adopted in proceeeding with the Cale.
donian, Clydesdale, and Dumfries and Carlisle lines. It was
eventually decided that the Caledonian Railway should be taken
first, then the Dumfries and Carlisle, and lastly, the Clydesdale.
The Committee then adjourned till twelve to morrow.

Group Q.
CHESTER AND HOLYHEAD RAILWAY (MOLD
BRANCH).
(Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.)
The preamble of this line of railway having been proved yester-
day, the several clauses came now to be examined.

On Clause 8 being read over, 1
Mr. Randall, engineer, was examined by Mr. Roanssost at great I
length, to prove the safety and practicability with which a bridge
could be constructed over the Menai Straits, at the place stated.
He had no doubt whatever that this was practicable. He also be- ,
lieved that the mode proposed to be adopted for carry
ing the railway trains over—that et a circular tube of
nine hundred feet long, stretching from shore to shore, and
supported In the centre by a pier erected on the Britannia Rock—
was also practicable, and from the mode of its construction would
in no way interfere with the navigation of the Straits.
Mr. Stephenson was next examined, and gave similar
evidence to the last witness. This was the gentleman
who suggested the idea of the iron suspension tunnel, through
which to convey the railway trains, in preference to the ordinary
road way over a suspension.bridge. And he explained at
great length and minuteness the practicability and efficiency
with which his plan could be carried out. He considered that a
stone bridge might be more free from vibration, and perhaps more
durable; but he had some doubts as to the praticability of con.
structing a stone bridge over the Menai Straits, and even if it were
practicable, he considered that the Admiralty would not allow its
construction, from its likelihood to impede the navigation of the
Straits.
To a question from Mr. Escorr as to whether the
principle of the bridge at Yarmouth, which had lately
by its breaking down caused such a loss of life, was
the same as that erected over the Menai Straits, he replied that
the principle was the same, but there was only one chain ex.
tending over the Bure, at Yarmouth, from which the bridge was
suspended, and that in consequence of the increased
traffic which had lately taken place over it, and which
had never been contemplated by its constructors, it had lately be-
come quite ricketty and insufficient. He thought it quite prac-
ticable to alter and improve the present Menai-bridge, so as to
afford a safe transit for railway carriages, and this was the mode at
first proposed; but the Government last year would not allow
this, and it was in consequence proposed that the present plan
should be substituted.
General Pasley was next examined, and believed that Mr.
Stephenson's plan was practicable and sound in principle, and saw
no reason for dispensing with the suspension chains, after the con-
struction of the iron tubes. He thought, however, that the tubes
would of themselves be sufficiently strong to support railway
carriages with safety.
Sir John Rennie thought the site (a mile below the present Menai
Bridge), was an eligible one, but not having considered Mr. Ste.
phenson's plan, he did not feel himself in a position to pronounce an
opinion upon it.
The room was then cleared, and, after a short consultation, we
found, on our re-admission, that the Committee had agreed to the
clause.