The Sun.
London, England, 1845-07-28 00:00:00

RAILWAY.

The Earl of HARDWICK brought up the report of
the Select Committee on this Bill, and moved that it be
received.

The Duke of RICHMOND resisted the motion, on
the grotuid that the Committee had refused to hear the
South-Western Company, who had purchased a line to
Guildford, w Melt was looked upon in the light
of a c;impeting line to the Portsmouth Direct-.
As a generd principle, he admitted that it was
unwise to recommit Bills, except under special circum-
stances, but the case of the South Western Company
was an exception to the rule. The Committee had re-
fused to hear them, although they were entitled to ap-
pear before the Committee ; and he should therefore
rt commend the recommittal of the Bill.

Lord REDESDALE thought it better that no further
diseuisiou should take place on this question at present,
b:A, under all the circumstances, it would be better for
their Lordships to order the report and the evidence to be
printed, and cirect that the further consideration of the
report be postpot ed till Monday.

The Duke of RICHMOND aid not care one farthing
for the evidt nce because it would not give the informa-
tion he rt quired. He was the rather inclined to object
to the printing of the report and the evidence, because he
contended that the Committee had refused to take
some very important and material evidence which had
been offered to them.—(llear, hear.) It was upon
the main principle, that all parties ought to be heard
before any of their Committees could come to a deci-
sien, that he called upun their Lordships to re-commit
the Bill.

The Earl of II ARDWICKE said, before entering upon
asons which had induced the Committee not to hear
th. South V* estern Company, he might state the Com-
mittee had agreed to all the three Bills referred
to them, and they considered that the line to
Portsmouth was of great national importance,
and the btst that could possibly be procured.
They did rot consider tlnit the Guild crd line had au),
locus standi whatever, and therefore they refused to al.
low the parties to be heard in opposition to the
direct Portsmouth. The Committee were de-
sirous to give all the advantages of railway
communication at the cheapest possible rate, and they
selected what they considered the best line for this
purpose.
The Duke of RICHMOND did not wish the Noble
Lord to go into the general merits of the line, but he
did not understand how they could know which was the
best line, unless they examined all the lines that were
projected.
Lord REDESDALE said that if the House were not
satis:ied that sufficient care was taken in coming to a
decision, the Bill could be referred back again to the
same Committee, or to a new Committee, to report on the
other line.

The Marquis of CLANRICARDE said, as the Com-
mittee had refused to receive certain evidence, the print-
ing of it would leave them in exactly the same position
as before. _ _

Lord CAMPBELL said the practice in the Coin is
was to receive evidence, which they had at first refused,
by direction of the lourt above. If the Committee had
omitted ma!erial evidence, the better course would be
for thtm to re-a,semble and consider it.
Thy Earl of SHAFTESBURY considered that the
Committee tught to have heard the parties.
The Duke of RICHMOND said he would withdraw
his motion if the sense of the House wag against it.
The Duke of GRAFTON defended the Cotnmittee,
and held that they had peaformed the duty assigned to
them in a proper manner. If they had acted other-
wise they should have done injustice. The parties
whom they refused to hear had no right to be heard in
the tit:yid.

Tae Earl of WICKLOW said the observations of the
Nubia Duke strengthened his opinion, that the Bill
ought to be recommitted.
The Duke of RICHMOND then withdrew his mo-
tion. He then moved that the report of evidence he
printed, and that the subject le further considered on
Friday next.
The Zed of HARDWICK bed no objection to do
anYthin that the Line thought at. The Committee