The Sun.
London, England, 1845-05-31 00:00:00

GROUP NN.

The Select Committee on this gtoUp assembled for the first Oe
this morning in Room No. 5. The Committes. was appointed to
ascertain the merits of the Epping Railway, promoted by the Lott,
don and Blackwall Railway; and the Thames Junction and
North Woolwich Junction, promoted by the Eastern Counties
Company. The Committee decided upon taking first the

THAT ES JUN ::TION AND NORTH WO OL-
WiCH R fiILWAY.

Mr. AUSTIN, Q.C., stated the ease for the promoters. The
Eastern Counties Company, he said, had already obtained powers
to make a branch of their railway from Stratford to the east
side of Bow Creek on the River Thames, where it was proposed
to construct a wharf and depot for goods. The project now
brought forward was for an extension of that branch
along the banks of the Thames to a point called
the Horse-ferry opposite to the Woolwich Arsenal.
The length of the line would be two miles and 65 chains, and as
its course would be over level ground, it might be easily con.
structed. It was calculated that about four millions of persons
went annually by steam-boats from London-bridge to Woolwich
and Gravesend, and the promoters of the present railway estimated
that about a fourth of that number, or one million of persons came
from the eastern part of the metropolis. It was, therefore, rea-
sonable to suppose that that number would come upon the pro-
posed branch ; but, to keep within bounds, the Company had only
calculated upon one-half that number coining upoii their line.
Now, the question which was most important for the Commitfet
to consider was the question of fare. Well, then, they as-
sumed that about half a million persons would come upon the
line, and the charge on the branch would be 21d. each person, or
6d. throughout from the Eastern Counties' station to the terminus
at Woolwich. But then came the question, how are the people to
get from Gravesend to Woolwich? Why, they would go from
Woolwich to Gravesend by a steamer for 6d , and add this to the 6d.
charged on the railway, the sum would be the same as that charged for
conveying a person by steam.boat from London_bridge to Graves-
end. The company proposed to erect a wharf or pier at Woolwich,
which would be made a free ferry, and entirely thrown open to the
public. Those persons therefore who wished to cross to the op.
posite side of the river, would have the advantage of being ferried
over without any charge being made for ferry dues. The money
the Company proposed to raise for constructing the branch would
be 30,000/. He had already told them that the Company fully ex-
pected that 500,000 persons would annually pass over their branch,
and these charged 21d. each, would yield an annual income of
4,1661. For working expenses the engineer would allow 4 per cent.
on the gross income. and after this dednetinn had been mado, it left
to. annual arstribution amongst the shareholders a net sum of
1,6661., or S per cont. on the gross outlay. The Committee
would observe that he had taken no notice of the goods traffic, be.
cause at present it was totally hypothetical ; and the Company,
therefore, preferred relying upon the passengers, without taking
the goods traffic into consideration. The Learned Counsel then
produced evidence in support of his statement. As the Bill was an
unopposed one, it was merely of a formal nature.
Mr. Bidder, the engineer, stated that the line would only be
made with a single line of rails, but sufficient land would be taken,
so as to enable the Company to make a double line of way, in the
event of its being afterwards found necessary.
The room was then cleared, and the Committee having consulted
for a few minutes, the parties interested were re.admitted, when
some conversation arose between the Committee and the agent
relative to the proposed ferry opposite Woolwich.

The CHAIRMAN wished to know whether the river authorities
had been consulted upon this point? The Committee, he said, were
anxious that no powers should be given to the Company which
would enable them to obstruct the navigation of the river.
The agent replied that no powers of that nature could be given by
the Bill. The Bill only authorised the Company to make a railway
to the terminus opposite Woolwich.
The CHAIRMAN remarked that the Learned Counsel had urged
upon the Committee that the construction of the ferry was an in-
clucemeht for them to sanction the line. Now, if the Company did
not intend to carry their passengers across the Thames for the 6d.,
their fares must be reduced.
The agent replied that it would be for the Interest of the Coin
patsy to carry their passengers to Woolwich, and this could be
effected without making a further charge than 6d.
The room was again cleared, and after the Committee had con-
sulted together for two or three minutes, strangers were re-admitted,
when

The CHAIRMAN announced that the Committee considered that
the preamble to the Bill had been proved.
The various clauses of the Bill were then agreed to, and the
Committee adjourned.

GROUP R.
NORTH WESTERN RAILWAY, FROM
DUBLIN TO CAVAN.

At the assembling of the Committee this morning the

CHAIRMAN decided that they should go into the project, namely
the Great North-Western Railway, proposed to be constructed from
Dublin to Cavan.

Mr. MALLtV opened the ease on behalf of the projectors.
After some observations having reference to the advantages of the
proposed line,

Mr. Miller was called and spoke to the expected traffic on the
line. The counties benefited by it would be Meath, Fermanagh,
Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan, Londonderry, Leitrim, and Tyrone.
The populaiion of these districts, who were at present sent round,
would avail themselves of this railway, and if sent by Drogheda
their excess per annum, calculating at only 10 pet cent.,
would be 14,000/. This was only supposing them to go to Dublin
once a year,

herd rarnham spoke to the general feeling of the landed proprie-
toi•s, and the population generally in favour of this line, and against
the Kells branch,

GROUP S.

The Committee re-assembled this morning. Present, Mr. S,
\Vortley, Chairman; Mr. Ainsworth, Mr. Ewart, Mr. B. Hughes,
and another lion. Member.

LONDONDERRY AND CO.LERAINE
RAILWAY.

Mr. HILL, proceeded to open the case for the promoters of this
railway. The Company proposed to reclaim :20,000 acres of land
from Loch Foyle, and this would enable them to construct the
railway cheaply,

Considerable discussion arose as to the right of appearance before
;tit Committee of Mr. Dimsdale, who had a right to certain lands
,hat might be reclaimed from Loch Foyle.
The Committee decided that he could appear.
This discussion occupied nearly two bouts.

Group
COVENTRY, EEDAVORTR,A.Z.TXI NUNEATON

nausiurAit. -
(Continued from our Afternoo❑ Edition of yesterday),
Mr. Brown, a ribbon and !lingo mattufattlirer, at Coventry,
gave similar evidence. He mid there were five master manufae.
turers in the trimming and fifty in the ribbon business l and bin
sides these about four hundred minor trianttfattUrers in Coventry,
who would be all greatly accommodated by the proposed railway.
Mr. Thomas Williams, a ribbon manufacturer, at Coventry,
and Bedworth, said he kept from 50 to 60 French looms constantly
at work at home, and besides these, he sent into the country
every day a basket of raw material, and receives) in return
a basket of manufactured goods Ile went once a week
to visit his works, but if there was a railway the probability
was that he would go every day. In his opinion, a better
line of railway could not be laid down than the present one, be.
cause it accommodated the manufactures of the district and
passed near to some very important collieries.
Mr. Thomas Dalton, a silk dyer at Coventry and Bedworth,
and other witnesses, gave corroborative testimony, and the Com,
mittee afterwards adjourned,

GROUP W.
DRAYTON AND GOOLE RAILWAY,
The evidence ssf Mr. Shepherd (continued from our After-
noon Edition of yesterday)—
By Lord Svirmotin—Had said that railways had not added to the
p osperity of Wakefield ; had, nevertheless, signed the petition,
although it would be adding an additional line to Wakefield. His
reason for doing so was the communication which it would open.
with the south.
Mr. T. Binney, corn-factor, Wakefield, examine!' by Mr •
Knowts-s— Was well acquainted with the corn trade betwee
............................ •.•
Goole and Wakefield and Goole and Leeds. Agreed with 'he 13 St Fencing .......................................
witness in every particular. Did not consider that any adva 'alta/ le Earth •and Works ..........
would be gained in point of time by the rail. Increased 'Y Bridges, Viaducts, &c ...
would not be at all times an advantage to corn-factors.—(A laugj N..)
. ..•
Cross-examined by Mr. Ilomn—There was a great many ma .41k‘ Total . ............
.........
kilns at present unoccupied in Wakefield. Did not know the nom. • I Contingencies ............
ber. Did not know what quautiiy of wheat was malted weekly at
Pontefract. Did not hear that there was any very great quantity
Grand total
......... ••• • ............. ••• •••••
of corn pilfered while on the canal. It would be more profitable a -ermanent Ways, .
..
to ship corn to Goole in a large vessel than i
one, but he would take care lest these large vessels should strike I,v, mts ...... ••••
on the Whitton Sands. The rate of insurance on large vessels - d Compensation
in this trade was less than on small ones.
vbp
By Mr. KNOWLES..—aIti small vessels could go up to Cast)
nd were on that account preferable to the large ones.
-rford

Grand total