The Sun.
London, England, 1845-05-26 00:00:00

RAILWAY COMMITTEES.

(SATURDAY.)

Group W.
WAKEFIELD, PONTEFRACT, AND GOOLE RAILWAY.
(Continued from our Afternoon Edition of Saturday )
Mr. Harris continued to detail the estimated expense of the line.
The sleepers for the rails were estimated at 20,7071. ; the wood
stays, 1,01 bl.; wood pins, for fastening the chairs, 7311. ; the
cost of ballast road laying and carriage materials would be 24,6131.;
and stations and contingencies, 20,3061. The total cost was 365,0001.
Was quite sure that the proposed line was the best that could be
selected to open up the resources of the country, and was besides
the least expensive, from the favourable nature of the ground
through which the line passes. The estimated cost would be quite
ample to complete all the works. The whole length was 27 miles,
and the cost per mile would be about 13,0001. The height of the
line above high water was 10 feet.

By Mr. kNOWLRS—The Ayre and Calder Company bas en.
gaged to give every facility to the line.
Mr. PICREIRING here rose and said that he cult himself again
under the necessity of requesting the Committee to interpose their
authority to prevent Captain Laws from making suggestions, and
acting as a prompter to the different witnesses under examination.
The CIiiIRMAN reprimanded Captain Laws, and suggested the
propriety of his leaving the seat where he at present sat and of re-
moving to another part of the room.
Mr. Harris was subjected to a long cross-examination by
Messrs. PICKERING and KsowLas, with a view to point out the
inaccuraey of the estimated cost of the works on the line; but as
the Committee did not think that any alight discrepancy which
could be pointed mat in the cost of the construction of the works was
worthy of such a protracted examination,
The Criatastax suggested to the opposing counsel the propriety
of abridging this cross-examination, unless some very material
error could be pointed out.
Mr. A uarnr, who had entered the room a short time before, here
rose and said thee that was the strangest doctrine he had ever
heard announced from a Railway Committee. At that rate an
engineer might come forward and say anything he pleased. He
might say that the estimated cost of a line was 100,9001., while in
reality it would coat 1,000,0001.

The CHAIRMAN said that the Committee had not the least idea
of dictating to counsel the course whist they ought to pursue,
but he thought that unlees some very great mistake could be
painted out in the estimate, they were only taking up their time to
no purpose. He had no doubt but the competing lines were both
♦ery good, but he thought that their duty would be limited to the
consideration as to which of them would be moat advantageous to
the public interests.
A very smart conversation then took place between counsel on
both sides, in which some personal observations passed between
Mr. Austin and Mr. Wilkins, and which resulted in an apology
from Mr. Wilkins for the warmth into which he had been betrayed.
The Committee then adjourned till twelve o'clock on Monday.

Group V.
IitMEFFIELD AND NEWARK LINE.
(Continued from our Afternoon Edition of Saturday.)
Mr. BAINBS replied, and the Committee determined that they
would not pass the preamble of the line under consideration until
they had heard evidence on the Sheffield, Manchester, and Chester.
field line.
The Committee then adjourned.

Group EE.
DUNDEE AND PERTH (NORTH) RAILWAY.
(Continued frown our Afternoon Edition of Saturday.)
Mr. Enington, cross-examined by Mr. AN:naive—lt is not abso-
lutely necessary in the survey of a line that shafts should be sunk
to ascertain the nature of the earthwork : borings are frequently
employed, but neither will give perfect accuracy. Has had con-
nexion with the Jungian and the Glasgow and Greenock lines, and
in comparison with those lines estimates the expense of working
at forty-five per cent., and the average cost of earthwork at ls. 6d.
a yard. The raanagement will entail an expense of 2,8901.
Mr. Miller, examined by Mr. Fortsvre—is an inhabitant of Perth,
and having seen the traffic tables handed in by the promoters of the
Dundee and Perth line, has discovered various discrepancies. The
witness was on the point if mentioning the items in which inaccu-
racy was palpable, when
Mr. A:sperms objected to any evidence being proceeded with on
the question of traffic, relying on the faith of a pledge given by
Mr. Forsyth 'not to enter Into that subject.
The Consul-Tee ruled In favour of the objection, and witness
was accordingly withdrawn.
This being the last witness on behalfof the opponents of the line,
Mr. COCILBtaRN proceeded to sum up the evidence on the case,
and avowed his intention of confining his objection chiefly to the
erroneous and underrated estimate furnished by the promoters of
the Bill. That estimate had named 200,0001. as the sam neces-
sary for the construction of the line, and they had only asked for
powers to raise that ;urn, besides a loan of 66,0001., which it was
very doubtful if they could ever effect. But Mr. Stowe, a most emi-
nent engineer, and a witness fully competent to give indisputable
evidence, had solemnly stated that not less a turn than 365,0001.
The question, therefore, for the Committee to decide was nar-
rowed to the one, whether they were perfectly satisfied that Mr.
Miller's estimate was sufficient to complete the project, and whe-
ther, in the event of its insufficiency being established, they were
prepared to pass the preamble of a Bill which would empower a
company to begin a line, find their funds inadequate to proceed,
encroach on the land of owners, and then leave mounds and
incuuabrances, whose only effect would be to swallow up the
capital, which, inadequate for the purposes proposed, was suffi-
cient to entail considerable loss, if not ruin, on the unfortunate
parties who subscribed. Another objection was the in-
terference ►t would necessarily create with the Aberdeen
Railway—a project to come before the Committee in the ensuing
week. He, therefore, conjured the Committee to refuse the
preamble of the Bill, as a matter of justice to that company whose
merits and consideration were yet in abeyance.
Mr. FORSYTH, on the part of the conservators of the River Tay,
addressed himself to the subject of the inconvenience arising to
that river from the erection of the bridges.

Group R.
DIIBLIN AND BELFAST JUNCTION RAILWAY.
(Continued from our Afternoon Edition of Saturday.)

To Mr. O'MALLEY—He had read the Board of Trade report re.
specting the North Western Line, from Dublin, through Cavan,
to ltells, but he did not recollect the purport of it. His
opinion was, that a line from the Navan to Drogheda was much
greater than the traffic to Dublin. Drogheda was the nearest and
cheapest port for Navan. and the best market for agricultural pro.
duce. He considered the making of a line from Navan would be
a waste of money. The height of the junction of Kella branchl
with waste
Dublin and Drogheda Railway was 95 feet above the levee
of the Boyne. He expected there would be an arrangement mad
for lifting up produce from the quays to the line, but that was an
after consideration, it was not provided in the Bill.
To the CILIIIIMAN—He was convinced that this line was the
best for the interests of the county. He knew the whole county
well. and that was his matured and decided conviction. He did
sot believe it poasib le to approach Newry In abetter manner tha
he proposed.
Mr. Aekersley, a Director of the Dublin and Drogheda Railway,
was next examined about the traffic of the line. He took it in
October last, at some stations fok fourteen days, and in others for
twenty-one. There are six public conveyances between Drogheda
and Poctidown, each averaging about fifteen passengers. On the
branch, line only three public conveyances, two coaches and a
ear. On the Dublin and Belfast Junction the population was
79,000. The estimated annual increase from all sources was
129,7 which, after deducting all expenses, would leave
an available sum for dividend of 68,3411. 135., or S. per cent. on the
capital. The tables on which these general results were based
were then put tn.
This witness was examined by Mr. Boyle, Mr. O'Malley, and
Mr. Smith, but no material point was further elicited.
The formal proof of the capital was then given by the Solicitor
of the Company.
This closed the case for the Dublin and Belfast Junction line.

The Comriiittee adjourned till Monday, at twelve o'clock.

Group Z.
LONDON AND YORK LINE.
(Continued from our Afternoon lidition of Saturday.)

Mr. Muscharnp, in his cross-examination by Mr. HILDTAID,
who was counsel on behalf of the Midland Counties, the
Lincoln and Cambridge, and the Eastern Counties schemes,
deposed that the coalowners had at present tram-roads
from the pits' mouths to the different p)rts of shipment
Coals were improved by the breakage consequent on repeated.
shipment ; did not think the same amount of injury would be in-
curred by a railroad transit of i 4• miles. Although there were
coal wharfs all along the margin of the river Thames, for the
delivery of Durham coals for domestic use, still witness was of
opinion that coals for domestic use would on an average be de.
livered from the depot at King's-cross one shilling per ton cheaper
than Loin the wharfs.
Mr. W. J. Reynolds, wharfinger, deposed that the charges upon
coals for domestic uses to the merchant, coming by water, exclusive
of the cost price of the article, would be da. l led., which of course
would be charged against the consumer by the merchant; much of
this would be saved if the article came by railway.
After a few questions in cross-examination, the Committee
adjourned.

Group •FF.
THE EDINBURGH AND HAWICK RAILWAY.
(Continued from our Afternoon Edition of Saturday.)
Mr. AUSTIN called Mr. Miller, the engineer to the Company—
He stated that the cost of the tunnel over Use line would be
10,0001., and there would be cuttings at each end.
The room was then ordered to be cleared, and after some time
apont in consultation the parties were called in, and
The CHAIRMAN announced that the Committee declared the pre-
amble of the Bill to be proved. The Committee had also agreed that a
clause should be introduced into the Bill, restricting the rate of
speed between Middleton.muir and Dalhousie-manse.
The clauses ware then gone into.
Some discussion having arisen as to the rate of speed,
Mr. AVSTIN thought twenty miles an hour would not be too
high a rate.
Mr. CLARKE thought it ought to be much lees.
The parties not being able to agree, the room was cleared.
Upon the parties being called in
The CH►IRMAN said the Committee resolved that the rate of
speed between Middleton Muir and Dalhousie Manse should be
fifteen miles an hour.

Mr.. B--......
e—....--
RILE then drew up a clause, limiting the rate of speed,
which, baring been approved by the Committee, was declared to
stand part of the Bill.
The remaining clauses were then agreed to, and the Committee
adlourned to twelve o'clock on Monday, when they will proceed
with the Edinburgh and Northern line.

FRIDAY NIGHT'S GAZETTE.
DIVIDENDS DECLARED.
J. C. Lee, Customs' locker, Liverpool—first div. of Is. 74d.
in the pound, May 28, and any following Wednesday, at the
office of Mr. Morgan, Liverpool.
G. Taylor—first and final div. of 13s. 9d. in the pound, any
Saturday, at the office of Mr. Green, Aldezmanbury.
S. Law, upholsterer, Great Portland-street—final div. of
ls. Yd. in the pound, any Saturday, at the office of Mr.
Green, Aldermanbury.
T. Higginson, pawnbroker, Liverpool—second div. of 2s. in
the pound, May 29, and any fullowing Thursday, at the office
of Mr. Cazenove, Liverpool.
L. Watson, smith, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire—first
div. of ss. 9d. in the pound, next, and any following Wed-
nesday, at the office of Mr. Belcher, King's Arms- dC I
yar , oe-
mail. street.
F. B. and W. Stacy, warehousemen, Lawrence-lane,
Cheapside--first div. of 61,0. in the pound, May 24, and any
following Saturday, at the office of Mr. Edwards, Frede-
rick's-place, Old Jewry.
W. Hinchlitr, haberdasher, Marlborough-road, Chelsea
—first div. of 4s. Bd. in the pound, May 24, and any follow-
ing Saturday, at the office of Mr. Edwards, Frederick's-place,
Old Jewry.
R. Rochester, butcher, Hartlepool—first div. of Is. in the
pound, any Saturday after May 24, at the office of Mr
Baker, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
W. Pringle, carrier, Morpeth—first and final div. of Is. 4d.
in the pound, any Saturday after May 24, at the office of
Mr. Baker, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
J. Donnelly, merchant, Liverpool—first div. of 2d. in the
pound, May 26, and any following Monday, at the office of
Mr. Bird, Liverpool.
J. Herdman and E. Herdman, jun., millers, Congleton,
Cheshire—second div. of 54d. in the pound, May 26, and any
following Monday, at the office of Mr. Bird, Liverpool.
R. Swainson and J. Gardner, grocers, Liverpool—second
div. of 2' d. in the pound, May 26, and. any following Mon-
day, at the office of .\-fr. Bird, Liverpool.
J. Carbuet, publican, Liverpool—first div. of3B. 10d. in the
pound, May 28, and any following Wednesday, at the office
of Mr. Morgan, Liverpool.
DIVIDENDS.
At the Court of Bankruptcy, Basinghall-street.
J. Poulton, stone mason, High-street, Portland-ton?