The Sun.
London, England, 1845-06-24 00:00:00

THE 2OUTHAMPTON AND DOI:Ler/EST=

Rt X.VJAY.

The Committee met again at eleven o'clock, Lord Auckland in
the chair. The Committee proceeded with the case for the
pi eamble.
Mr. Easton, land surveyor, and Captain Moersom, engineer,
were called and examined by Mr. HOLDSWORTH and Mr. PONSONBY,
as to the engineering merits of the line.
The witnesses were severally cross.examined by Mr. Rows for
Lord Normanton and other landowners on the line, but nothing of
the slightest intri est was elicited.
Mr. Brunel was called, and examined as to the proposed devia.
tion of the line from the New Forest. He was of opinion that the
deviation could be made without detriment to the favourable gra-
alients on the line.
This was the case for the preamble, and the room having been
cleared; the parties were, after a short deliberation, called in and
informed that the preamble had been declared proved.
The clauses were then gone through, and the CHAIRMAN said
the Bill would be reported in due course.
The Committee then separated.

ED IN Et URG7I £1.15.11D HAWI C X RAILWAY.
The Committee on this Bill met to day at elven o'elock. Lords
present—Viscount Sidney, Chairman ; the Duke of Newcastle,
Lord Calthorpe, Lord Foley, and Lord Southampton.
Mr. TALBOT appeared for the promoters of the line, and having
briefly gone through the leading particulars respecting the con-
struction of the railway, the engineering peculiarities, estimates,
&e., proceeded to call witnesses in support of the Bill.
Mr. Wilson, manufacturer, of Flawick, deposed as to the trade
of that town, which he represented to be very considerable, and
still increasing. The proposed railway, he considered, would be of
the greatest service to the town and district.
Mr. Wright and Mr. Maxton gave evidence respecting the coal
and lime that passed along the district through which the line was
proposed to be taken.
Mr. Boyd, a surveyor, was examined respecting the estimates,
the value of the 1 nd, &c., which he represented as very moderate.
The est imateof the value of land and the advantage the line would
confer on the agriculture of the country were corroborated by Mr.
Henderson.
Mr. Roberts, a manufacturer of Galashiels, was next ex-
amined. He said he was principally engaged in
manufacturing tweeds and hosiery. The population
of the town was 5,000. The produce of the place was new nearly a
quarter of a million sterling. All the available water power was
already used up, and unless they could be supplied with coal at a
cheap rate, it would be difficult to extend the business ,of the
place. At present they could not nearly meet the demand for
goods. About 500 tons of foreign wool came into the place every
year, of the value of about 100,0001. It was brought from Leith,
35 miles distant, at the rate of 205. per ton. In addition, there
was a large importation of dye stuff's and other materials. With the
railway about Ss. would be saved in thecarriage of coals, and 10s.
on the carriage of other goods. The carriage of coals at present
was Os. 2d. per ton. He would himself save in the carriage
2001. a_year. He had also a mill at Selkirk, which would be even
better accommodated than those he had in Galashiels.
These witnesses were cross-examined at some length by Sir
WSLTERIRIDDEL and Mr. CLARKE on behalf of Mr. Bruce, a
landed proprietor, and Mr. Meikleham a leaseholder, but no point
of material importance was elicited.
Mr. Miller, civil engineer, went through the engineering details
of the line, the principal points of which have already appeared in
our report of the House of Commons' Committee on the Bill. ,
The witness was cross-examined with the object of showing
that the estimates of engineering expenses were understated ; but,
in his replies, he maintained that they were quite sufficient for all
the purposes of the line.
In answer to a question from the Duke of Newcastle, Mr. Miller
said there would be no difficuliy in laying down a double line at
any time, when it might be required. There was, however, no
clause in the Bill for such an alteration.
Mr. M`Nr it. said the Company was quite willing to insert a clause
to that effect.
The CHAJRMAN intimated that a clause had better be drawn up
and submitted to the consideration of the Committee to-morrow.
It should also be provided that the tunnels be constructed so as to
admit of the laying down of a double line.
Mr. M'Nert. said the suggestion of his Lordship should be at-
dended to.
Mr. Vignelles, civil engineer, was called, who deposed that he
considered the estimates drawn up by Miller perfectly correct, and
quite ample fir all the purposes of the line.
Mr. Mitchell, a railway contractor, gave evidence as to the rea-
sonableness of the estimates. He had been engaged on nearly all
the railways in Scotland, and was at present fulfilling contracts
on the North British line. The estimates of Mr. Miller, he was
quite persuaded, would be! amply sufficient for the execution of the
works.
The Committee then adjourned till to-morrow.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
GROUP A.

The Committee having met as usual this morning, ➢lr. TALBOT
opened the case for the