The Sun.
London, England, 1845-05-09 00:00:00

AND CARLISLE RAILWAYS.

T! -.e Committee re-assembled at twelve o'clock this morning, and
shortly after proceeded to business.
A great deal of discussion ensued between counsel as to the mode
of proceeding to be adopted in further pursuing the inquiry into
the different scheme% before the Committee. It was ultimately
decided by
Mr. Hore calling Mr. Black, Lord Provost of Edinburgh, the
eminent bookseller. lie considered that the construction of the
proposed Caledonian line would cause a reduction in the price of
coals to the inhabitants of Edinburgh of upwards of 15,0001. The
diminution in cost would principally occur in the article of gas
coal, as at present it is rather scarce, but is obtain.
able in considerable quantities from the large coal.fielde
in Lanarkshire, through which the line would pass. There is no
direct communication at present between Lanark and Edinburgh.
A most extensive bookselling trade is carried on in that city, and
books are sent in large quantities from there to the west and mid-
land parts of England, which are principally sent originally to Lon-
don, and thence conveyed to their destination. Messrs. Chambers
transmit at least fifty bales a week of various publications, all of
which are first sent to London for circulation in the country. Next
to London, Manchester arid Liverpool have the most considerable
markets for books. He had sent parcels direct to Liverpool and
Manchester, but received many complaints on account of the greater
expense of conveyance. Letters by the proposed Caledonian line
would come much quicker from the western parts of England
to Edinburgh than by any of the present means of conveyance.
Farms in Lanarkshire have already risen 10 per cent. in value, in
consequence of the expectation of the Caledonian line being made.
The terminus of the railway is situated near the Lothian.road, and
is very convenient for the inhabitants of Edinburgh. He held no
share in any Railway Company whatever, and is distinctly of opi-
nion that the proposed line would be of great advantage generally
to the citizens of Edinburgh, in which opinion he was confirmed
by the majority of the inhabitants.
Mr. ANDREWS cross-examined Mr. Black, but nothing material
was elicited with the exception that the Caledonian Railway was
approved of, as it would bring along its line a supply of water to
the inhabitants of Edinburgh.
Mr. SANDFaRD then examined Mr. Low, merchant, at Edinburgh.
There was a very increasing trade between Liverpool and Edin-
burgh in a variety of colonial produce. Liverpool was
a considerable market
fo
quantity
of andt
tea
fromri e .
Ile the beat
anailstohe ob-
tainede
pense of conveyance of these articles averages "
. from 15s. to 17s. 6d.
per ton. The usual time
goods, by sailing
vessels from Liverpool,
in Use transmission of
month to six weeks. averaged from one
If a railway w
carried by it. The Dumfries lice afforded no
all produce would be
no facility for the con-
veying of traffic, and he would prefer the
ance rather than send his goods by it. present means of convey.
Mr. M`Farlan corroborated the evidence
which had been given
by the Lord Provost.

Mr. Muir, merchant at Leith, was next examined. He said that
the amount of exports from Leith to Liverpool was estimated at
4,500 tons annually. The expense of freight varies from 1 Is. to
255. 'per ton, and the cost of insurance averages from 7s. ed. to 15s.
par cent., according to the season of the year. The imports from
Liverpool amount to 10,500 tons per year. There is a very considerable
trade between Leith and Hull. Great quantities oflead were produced

from the Lead-hill Mines, in the neighbourhood of Leith. Up:
wards of 1,000 tons wore annually sent away, the cartage of which
ftom the mines cod 15$. per ton. All the stores for the mining
population Pm, principally obtained from Xciinburgh and Glusoart

Mr. MERREWETHER called Mr. Hill, a surveyor, to show that
the cutting, if so short as 528 yards, would come out at the
western extremity of Portland.place, and that it would sever the
Lammas land, appropriated to the recreation of the people of
Southampton. The houses in Portland-place would then look, in
fact, into the tunnel, and enjoy a sight of all the passenger traffic;
but if the tunnel were continued to the eastward of Kingsbridge.
lane, the whole of the difficulty would bo avoided.
Mr. AUSTIN took an objection to this evidence, in consequence
of the inhabitants of Portland-place not hat ing petitioned.
Mr. MERREWETHER however considered that the Corporation of
Southampton, as the conservators of the public interests, had a right
to take care of the property, whether real or suppositious, of the in.
I abitants of the town.
Mr. ATHERTON, who appeared for Mr. Itawlinson, thought
that however the Corporation might be not entitled to come and op.
pose the Bill, he conceived that the Southampton Improvement
Commissioners were clearly entitled to protest against this in.
fringement on their means of carrying out the object of their
trust.

Mr. MERREWETHER then poined out that if the tunnel wsre
to be carried to the length proposed by the Corporation, all difficulty
would be avoided, and the termination would be made at a place
were no inconvenience could possibly arise.
Mr. Aut,Toz stated ►hat if the wishes of the Corporation were to
be compiled with, the line would come out at a vertical height of
fourteen feet above the level, which would prove a physical impos-
sibility, and the reque,t was tantamount to asking the Committee to
throw out the Bill.

Mr. HILL, having stated that in his opinion, if the line were
made of 528 yards length, the Lammas land would not be mate.
rially affected, it was ultimately agreed that the tunnel should be
of that length, and that the railway should be a single line.
A conversation having ensued respecting the formation of a
shaft into the tunnel without the consent of the mayor and corpo.
ration, it was agreed that the shaft might be made, provided a suf.
ficient protection to the public were placed around it; and the
clause was ultimately withdrawn by Mr. Merrewetl.er.
Mr. MERREWETHER objected to the making the station in South-
ampton without the supervision of the Corporation.
Mr. AUSTIN conceived that the engineer of the line was the
person most fitted to form the station, and suggested an alteration,
which was refused by the Corporation.
On this dispute the room was cleared, and, on the admission of
strangers,
The CHAIRMAN declared that the Committee had agreed to a
clause, giving the supervision to the Corporation, but the arrange.
ments to the engineer.
Mr. MERREWETHER then proposed a clause, obliging the Corn.
patty to stop at the station, instead of going forward to the south.
western station, under a penalty of 251., to be recovered as an
action of debt.
Mr. AUSTIN objected entirely to this clause, as being an unjusti.
fiable interference with the management of the Company.
Mr. MERREWETIIER stated, in reply, that the South. Western
Company were to have a lease of the line; and it was well known
that it would be the object of that Company to carry the passengers
and traffic to the present South. Western station. Such a clause
had been conceded to the West London Railway by the Great
Western Railway Company,
After a long conversation, the CHAIRMAN said that it was tha
feeling of the Committtee that a declaration should be made that
this station should be a bona fide stopping station.
Mr. MERREIVETHER proposed to strike out the penalty, or allow
Mr. Austin to alter the clause as he thought proper.
The room was cleared for the consideration of the Committee,
and on the admission of strangers,
The CHAIRMAN stated that the Committee had considered the
matter very anxiously, and they thought that there was ground
for the requirement of the people of Southampton, but they were
unwilling to encumber the Bill with a clause of which it was
impossible to see the whole consequences, and they thought that
the difficulty would be better met by a written declaration to the
effect, that this station should be used for the taking up and
setting down passengers and goods a sufficient number of times
per day.
Mr. AUSTIN preferred an introduction into the Act of Parlia-
ment to a written declaration : and a clause was framed by the
Committee, which stated that " adequate provision should be
made, by the stoppage of a sufficient number of trains per day, for
the purpose of taking up and setting down passengers and goods
near Bletchington-terrace, adjoining the shore of Southampton
water."
To this clause, as altered, both parties readily agreed.
A clause was then proposed by Mr. DIERREWETHER for the con.
struction of an esplanade on the south side of the railway, near to
Southampton Watsr, and it was desired that the walk should be
made as good as it is now after the railway was formed.
Captain Moorsom was called to show the present condition of the
walk, and he stated that the walk would be replaced on the inside
of the railway, secured from the trains by a wire fence, so as to se.
cure the view, which looked over acres of mud.
Mr. Coxwell, a solicitor, of Southampton, who resided at Ealing,
was called by Mr. MARREWETHER—He stated that he had been in
the habit of passing over it almost every day for 20 years. It was
the last sea walk left at Southampton, and of very great use to the
inhabitants of Southampton, and the abduction of it a serious loss to
the town.
Mr. Steel, solicitor, well acquainted with the site, stated that,
on an average, the present path was 16 feet wide; and a clause was
adopted, which obliged the Company to construct a path of the
same width, and maintain it for the space of two years after the
railway was formed. A clause was then introduced, with the ap-
probation of the Company, to secure the conduits and other water
courses of the town of Southampton.
A number of clauses were then introduced, suggested by the
Duchy of Cornwall, obliging the Company to purchase the lands
of the Duchy under a valuation made by surveyors appointed by
the Duchy, instead of according to the awards of a jury or arbitra-
tors, to save the rights of the Duchy, and to secure the authority of
the Council.
Sever al clauses proposed by the Local Commissioners of Southamp-
ton, for making and preserving the sewers of the town, for not
interfering with new streets, and other objects, all connected with
the well.baing of the town, were also adopted.
Mr. Blame read the report, which contained a statement of the
facts
The clauses having been gone through,
which we have already given in our previous reports of the
proceedings
p ret ofr
was
the Caropmteditt:e.and the Chairman was requested to
Present it to the House,