The Sun.
London, England, 1845-05-30 00:00:00

Group SS.

The Select Committee appointed to inquire Into the merits of
the Coventry, Bedworth, and Nuneaton and Erewash Valley Rail-
way, assembled for the first time in Room No. 13. The Committee
consisted of Mr. David Dundas, Chairman; Mr. Hutt, the Earl of
Listowel, the Earl of March, and Mr. Briscoe.
Some time was taken up in the discussion as to whether the
Leicester and Coventry line, being only provisionally registered,
without having lodged any plans or sections, had a Parliamentary
/ocus,standi.
The Committee decided they could not be heard.
THE COVENTRY, BEDWORTH, AND NUNEATON
RAILWAY.
_ .

Mr. CALVERT then proceeded to open the case for the promoters
of the Coventy, Bedworth, and Nuneaton Railway. He reminded
the Committee that the principal trade of Coventry consisted of
ribbc,n and leather manufactures, which were chiefly conducted
by what were called undertakers, who purchased the raw material in
Coventry, took it into the neighbouring villages to be worked up,
and returned it to Coventry, where it was sold to dealers, who
never went into those villages. The undertaker frequently had to
lose whole days, in consequence of not having a quick transit be.
tween the places surrounding Coventry, and which was of great
importance, in consequence of the work being frequently
altered by the changes of fashion. The districts would
also be greatly advantaged by the supply of Bedworth
coal to Warwick and the neighbourhood, where coal
was 1/. Is. per ton, having to come sixty miles of canal, while it
could be brought by railway a distance of only fourteen miles,
which of itself would cause a great saving, as well as that which
would be effected from not having, as the mercha►►ts called it, to
break bulk. The length of the railway was six miles fifty.eight
chains, and the capital 120,000/. The Learned Counsel then
alluded to the opposition which was expected, which he thought
the Committee would see was not of that nature which cou d
not be easily overcome. As regarded that of the
London and Birmingham Company, complaining of the inconve-
nience of the junction, he thought there must besome mistake, as

they had a letter containing a minute passed by their board approving
of that junction.
Evidence was afterwards given in support of the Learned Conn..
set's statement. The first witness called was Mr. Watton, a carrier at
Coy, ntry, who said that the inhabitants and corporation of Coventry
were strongly in favour of the line. In his opinion it would ma.
terially assist the trade of the town, and contribute to the convent.
ence and comfort of the inhabitants of the various villages and dis-
tricts through which it passed.
The witness was cross.examined by Mr. AUSTIN, with a view of
showing that the Town Council of Coventry were in favour of the
line, because it would run through land of which they possessed
" the use of front," and for the loss of which they would be libe-
rally remunerated.
Mr. Win. Clarke, the Mayor of Coventry, confirmed the evi.
donee of Mr. Watton, and the Committee afterwards adjourned till
to. morrow.

Group X.
LONDON AND YORK LINE.
(Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.)
COACR TRAFFIC EVIDENCE.

Mr. \Vinberly was called to give evidence as to:the district north
of Huntingdon. He deposed that he had made his calculations
from the Stamp-office returns ; had taken care not to calculate any
line twice over.
Mr. PAGET then proposed to hand In the passenger traffic table.
Mr. DARBY said he had never heard of an instance where such
tables had been handed in.
Mr. HILDYARD said, he had never met with an instance of such,
and therefore he would object to this course. He subsequently
withdrew his objection ; but counsel for other lines having pressed
it, the room was ordered to be cleared, and after a lapse of about
half an hour, the parties were re-admitted, when
The Cliantm,v4 announced that the Committee had decided on
admitting the tables, reserving to itself the right to call upon the
promoters of the Bill at a future period to amend these tables.
The examination of the witness was then resumed—Had 12
men employed from September to October taking the
traffic on the main line from Stamford to Selby tock