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

GROUP LL.

THE LONDON AND SOUTH-WESTERN
(METROPOLITAN EXTENSION).
The Committee on this group sat this morning at twelve o'clock,
and proceeded to hear evidence in favour of this extension.
Mr. Tite was the first witness called. The general tendency of
his evidence went to prove that there were no engineering difficul.
ties. He stated that the :expense for the purchase of property
would amount to 400,000/.
Mr. M. CHAMBERS then cross-exam:ned the witness, with a view
to prove that, though the preamble of the Bill stated that the ex-
tension was beneficial to the community generally, yet it would be
injurious to a very large body, and particularly to Mr. Smith, the
proprietor of the Belvidere brewery.
Mr. J. Locke was next called. He said that he was the en-
gineer-in-chief of the South. Western Railway, and he constructed
the greater part of the line. He concurred with Mr. Tite in think-
ing that the proper mode of constructing the intended extension
would be on a viaduct. The ground was favourable to the con-
struction of a railway. All the minor streets would be crossed with
one span. Slr James M'Adam approved of his mode of crossing.
There would be no important crossing until they got to West.
minster-bridge-road, which they would cross with three arches.
They would cross the York-road with three arches, or one, but he
preferred three. He would construct the station entirely upon
arches, putting the platforms and everything upon them. it would be
20 feet above the level of the road. They intended that the de-
scent should be made by an inclined road. He thought that it
would be most favourable to have the terminus near the
access to Hungerford-bridge. It would be much better
than having it on the other side of the river, as it would
be on the concave side of the river, and consequently would
be nearer to the three bridges. If it were on the convex
side, though it might be as near one bridge, would be
very distant from the others. The length of the extension to the
York.road was two miles, and he estimated that the expense, in.
eluding the amount of 45,000/. stated by Mr. The, would be
SOO,OOO/, leaving 35,000/. for engineering expenses. The witness then
entered into a detail of the benefits which would be derived by
what might be termed the middle metropolis and the western
metropolis, from this extension.

The witness then underwent a cross-examination by Mr. M.
CRAMBERS, during which his evidence remained unshaken, after
which the Committee adjourned.

GROUP N.

THE CORNWALL, AND WEST CORNWALL
AND ST. IVES RAILWAYS.
(Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.)
The clauses, with some amendments, were then agreed to, and
the Committee adjourned until to-morrow, when
THE SOITTIIDEVON BILL
will be proceeded with.

GROUP P.
NEWPORT AND PONTYPOOL RAILWAY.
The evidence of Mr. Marsh (continued from our Afternoon Edition

of yesterday)—
The estimate of the entire works, including the expense
of the three branches, would be 12,000/., which was on
the average of 10,0001. per mile. The total expense of the land
necessary for the works was estimated at 8,600/., the cost of the
earthwork would be 28,•1741. He considered 1•,0001. as a suffi-
cient estimate for the entire works. The working expenses had
been calculated at the usual rate of 40 per cent. on the gross
revenue.

The conclusion of this evidence terminated the case for the pro.
motera of the Bill. No opposition to the general interests of the
line was offered, and

The CHAIRMAN said that the Committee were of opinion that the
preamble of the Bill had been proved.
The proofs were then put in by the Parliamentary agent, and the
clauses were about to be proceeded with, when
Sir Thomas PHILLIPS suggested that the opposed clauses should
be postponed and the unopposed clauses be proceeded with, in
order not to occupy the time of the Committee longer than was
necessary.

The clauses for tolls were opposed by Mr. WitavecEr, on behalf
of the iron-masters in the districts through which the proposed
railway would pass. It was endeavoured to show that the tolls de-
manded by the Company for the conveyance were too exorbitant.
The clauses, however, were eventually passed, with a few slight
alterations.

The CIIAIRNIIIN, at the conclusion of the examination of the wit.
nesses, stated that the Committee had not yet sufficient evidence
with regard to the charges on Taff Vale Railway.
It was intimated by Counsel that the further evidence should be
forthcoming to.morrow, and the Committee adjourned at four
o'clock.