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

HORSHAM BRANCH RAILWAY.

The Committee on Group L took this line, which is an extension
of the Brighton line intermediately as it was unpposed.
Mr. Rastrick, the engineer to the Brighton Railway, stated,
that the proposed line was a very easy one, the steepest gradient
being 1 in 132 for the distance of a mile, and the smallest curve
has a radius of 20 chains. The line eommenced at the Three.
bridge station on the Brighton line about 29 miles from London, the
total length of the line being eight miles and three furlongs,
There were no engineering difficulties, no tunnels, deep cuttings,
or high embankments. Six parish roads and two turnpike roads
to be crossed on the level. The estimated cost was 100,000/. The
earthworks would be 12,205/. 75.; bridges, 14,750/. ; the per-
manent way, 27,838/. )55.; stations, signals, &c„ 6,590/. ; con-
tingent expenses, 9,976/. 15s. ; making the whole engineering
cost 76,422/. The land was valued at 12,700/. by Mr. Driver,
thus leaving 10,8781. for surplus.
Mr. Driver stated that he had surveyed the line, and that the
valuation was amply sufficient.
Mr. Mangridge stated that the number of passengers anticipated
was 68.076 annually.

Mr. Sutton, parliamentary agent of the sompany, stated the pro-
posed capital was 100,000/ , of which the Brighton company were
entitled to raise 33,0b0/. by loan, the shares were all taken and the
required deposits had been paid.
The preamble wab then approved, and the Committee went
through several of the clauses, but the Committee requiring some
regulation of the tolls, adjourned the consideration of the remainder
till to-morrow at twelve o'clock.

GROUP LL.
THE LONDON AND SOUTH-WESTERN
RAILWAY EXTENSION.

The Committee on this group continued this morning to hear
evidence in favour of this extension.

Messrs. Chapman, Rowland Hill, Chadwick, and Flower were
examined. Their evidence corroborated that which has been given
by former witnesses, showing the eligibity of placing the terminus
of this line of railway near the access to Hungerford.bridge, and
the inconvenience arising from having the terminus at Nine-elms.
At four o'clock the Committee adjourned till to-morrow.

GROUP N.
SOUTH DEVON AND TAVISTOCE
RAILWAY.

Mr. Sergeant KINGLAKE briefly opened the case on the part of
the promoters, The object of the Bill was to enable the South
Devon Company, which is laid down for atmospheric traction, to
construct a branch of 13 miles in length from Crab.tree Marsh,
two miles from Plymouth, to Tavistock, and to construct branches
from Lairy.green to Sutton Pool, of a little more than a mile in
length ; and from Plymouth to New Passage, of a mile and a half
in length ; and to extend the branch line from Plymouth to Millbay,
at Stonehouse. Those lines were to be worked by atmospheric
power, the gradients on the Tavistock branch being impracticable
by locomotion. The wants of all those districts would be accommo.
dated by the proposed line and branches. The proposed station at
Eldad was to be abandoned, and erected in Union-street, Plymouth,
and would offer greater facilities than the former to the three towns,
Plymouth, Devonport, and Stonehouse.
Mr. PEACOCK and Mr. BRAMWELL appeared on behalf of Alder.
mar. Johnson, who has petitioned against the line on the ground
that twelve months ago the South Devon Company gave notice
that they should require the Dartmoor and Plymouth Railway,
which runs from Plymouth to the granite quarries, for the pur-
pose of forming a portion of their line, whereas they had
applied for powers to construct their line in the same direction,
but in no way connected with that line, to its serious injury.

Alr. Whiteford, solicitor to the South Devon Company, gave
evidence with respect to the amount of traffic likely to go by the
lines, and as to the advantages which would accrue from them to
the towns with which they would be connected.

Mr. Pearce, a surgeon of forty years' standing, considered that
the branch to that town would be of great convenience to the in-
habitants, and for the better and more rapid conveyance of mer.
ehandise.

Mr. Symonds, a farmer and land-surveyor, and well acquainted
with the country through which the line would pass, had esti-
mated the land required for the lavistock branch at ninety-two
acres and a.half, and at the value of 9,2501. For the line to
New Passage 8,000/.

As Mr. 13 runel's evidence could not be obtained today, the fur.
ther consideration of the line was postponed until Monday.
The Committee then proceeded with the
TAVISTOCK AND LAUNCESTON LINE,
which is proposed to form a junction with the last line. It was
unopposed. It will be thirteen miles in length, and will be worked
by atmospheric traction. Launceston, which is situated in the
centre of an extensive agricultural district, is a town of consider-
able importance, and has a population of 6,000.

Mr. Gurnty, the solicitor to the Company, residing at Launces-
ton, gave evidence as to the wants of the district through which the
line would pass. The traffic was considerable, more particularly
the agricultural produce. The mude of conveyance at present was
most imperfect and tedious, and the railway would be a great deside-
ratum to the district.

Other evidence was adduced to bear out these opinions, and the
Committee adjourned until Monday.

GROUP P.
NEWPORT AND PONTYPOOL.

On the re-assembling of the Committee this morning, at twelve
o'clock,
Sir 'l'. PHILLIPS addressed the Committee on the rai'may tolls,
and laid a tabular statement of the whole expenses of the railway,
with its contemplated improvements, before them. The expense
of the new railway would be 120,0001., and improvements would
cost 40,0001. The original capital of the Company was 240,0001.
The amount of debts was 41,8371., making a total of 441,8371.
A sum of money, amounting to 39,0001., had been borrowed, and
the gross total of capital, speaking in round numbers,
about 500,0001. The present price of the shares in the
market would be worth 200,0001. more. The income of
the railway derived from the carriage of iron at Id. per
ton, tin at Id., and coal at d. per ton, would be 4,183/. 95.,
and from passengers the gross amount would be 2,9951. 45., from
which 40 per cent. being deducted for working expenses, a net
annual income of 5,9801. 15s. would be the result.
Mr. KEATING called Mr. Barber, who deposed generally as to the
probable revenue which would result from the Newport and Pon.
typoul line. When made, it was estimated at about 30,0001. The
witness also showed the superiority of the proposed new line over
the Taff Vale Railway.
Mr. Brown and Mr. Cartwright gave evidence as to the compa-
rative rates of tolls of the two lines.

Counsel having addressed the Committee on the tolls clause of
the Newport and Pontypool Railway, the Committee adjourned till
twelve to-morrow.

GROUP R.
DUNDALK AND ENNISKILLEN.

The Committee assembled at twelve o'clock, and resumed the
examination of witnesses, Mr. Gibson Craig in the chair.
Sir John M`Niell, civil engineer, examined, said that the pre-
sent line would form a good communication between the north-
west of Ireland and the city of Dublin, and was part of a plan
which was to be carried forward to Sligo. He was now engaged
in malting plans for the extension of the line from Enniskillen to
Sligo. His calculations, however, of traffic had nothing whatever
to do with the success or failure of the extension of the plan.
There were no planes so steep as to require an assistant engine,
unless for ♦ery heavy trains. The severest gradient was one
in 102. There was a station on the top of that
plane. There were no peculiar engineering difficulties, or
tunnels, or viaducts. The entire length of the line was
upwards of 62 miles. It crossed no navigable river, but it
crossed the Ulster Canal once. The canal was crossed at an eleva-
ti•n of 17 feet, and would not be at all impeded in its navigation.
The gradients, with the exception of the one he had named, were
of the most favourable character. There were several roads
crossed upon the level, but they were at places and ever highways
where the public would not be endangered or inconvenienced.
Nearly all of them were at stations where police would be always
Sin attendance, but those which were not so situated would have
pulico appointed to watch them. These level crossings were neces-
sary to avoid heavy embankments The deepest cutting on
the line was seventy-eight feet at the sixty-first mile-stone.
The curves were generally very good. The following were
the estimates he had made of the cost of construction :—land,
50,5111.; earthwork, 211,506/, 13s. sd. ; altering roads,
8,8991. Is. 9id.; altering the course of streams, 6921.; sliding
slopes, 7,6021. 6s. 10d.; balancing and boring, 42,1671. 10s.;
altering approach to bridges, 2,6021. 16s. ; fencing., 10,0271. 10s.;
bridges, 34,0961. ; level crossings, 2,308/. ; culverts, 6,921/. 10s. ;
permanent way, 198,101/. 18s. 6d, ; stations and con-
tingencies, 89,236/. 4s. 3d. Total, 684,144/. 4s. 3d. The
capital of the Company was 750,0001., which, after meeting
these items, left a considerable margin. The annual charge of
working the line he estimated at thirty per cent. on the receipts,
and after meeting that, and the interest of money borrowed at the
rate of four per cent., the receipts would leave a sufficient sum for
the shareholders.

This closed the case for the Dundalk and Enniskillen line.
The Committee, having resumed their decision, called upon the
case of the

NEVITR.Y AND ENNISKILLEN.

Mr. Sergeans WRANGIIAM opened the case on behalf of the pro-
jectors. As the line was unopposed he would but briefly point out
the advantages of the line, and the local benefits it would
confer on the country through which it was to pass. The
line was seventy-one miles in length, and was proposed
to be taken from the town of Enniskillen to the port of Newry,
thus connecting a great interior agricultural district with an im-
portant commercial town and harbour. The Learned Gentleman
then went into the leading facts he intended to prove in evidence,
and proceeded to call witnesses on behalf of his case.
Captain Lewis, of Monrghan, gave evidence as to the feelings of
the people of that county being generally in favour of this lint.
Mr. Kirk, of Keady, gave evidence as to the linen trade of the
north of Ireland, and especially along the route of the proposed
line. It was in substance similar to what we gave in the report of
the same gentleman's examination on the Belfast Junction.
Mr. Carville, timber merchant, of Newry, gave evidence as to
the trade of Newry, which he represented to be very considerable.
In comparing the freights, those of Newry were lower than those
of Dublin and Belfast, arising principally from the superiority of
the harbour.
Lord Gosford, Lord Lieutenant of the county of Armagh, gave
it as his opinion that the line would be of great service to the
county, and that it was most desirable to connect the interior with
idence was then postponed till
haen
further ot ahneta
rpioorgt aosf Nt
he
ew rey;
Monday
sucih.

BELFAST JUNCTION SILL.
The remaining clauses of this Bill were then read and agreed to,
and the Chairman instructed to report it to the House.
The Committee then adjourned till Monday, at twelve o'clock.

UROUP
The Committee on this group re-assembled at the usual hour

this morning, and proceeded with the affirmative evidence in the
case for the promoter of the
EiZEWASH VALLEY RAILWAY.

Mr. William Wilson, agent to the proprietors of Swanwick col_
fiery, and a resident at Alfreton, proved that the Swanwick col-
ieries would have to be shut up if Parliament refused to sanction

this railway. The coal produced from them was carried into a market
where it had to compete with the coal produced from collieries in
the neighbourhood of the Midland Counties Railway; and unless
the present expenses of conveyance and carriage were reduced, and
it was impossible this could be done without a railway. Swanwick
coal would be shut out of the market altogether. _

The witness was cross-examined at some length by Mr. S. E.
DEN ISON, with a view of showing that the existing Erewask Canal,
which was almost parallel with the railway, carried the coal as
cheap and as economically as any railway could possibly do,
The witness was also cross.examined by Mr. GREENWOOD, on
behalf of Mr. Master, the proprietor of Cadnor Park, whose estate
would be seriously disfigured and interfered with by the course of
the Swanwick branch of the railway in question. The witness ta-
citly admitted that the recently projected Nottingham and Amber.
gate line would just as well serve the Swanwick Colliery as the Ere.
wash Valley line. The Learned Counsel endeavoured to elicit
from the witness the fact that the former line would have a mate-
rial advantage over the latter, the one being so completely isolated
as to be unavailable for any other but coal traffic, while the other
would have a tolerable quantity of passengers as well as mineral
traffic.

Mr. Pickering, whose examination in chief was taken yesterday,
was re.called and croas.examined by Mr. Denison, with a view of
eliciting the fact that the canal could convey the coals at a much
lower rate than the railway.
The Committee then adjourned till Monday.