The Sun.
London, England, 1845-06-03 00:00:00

irb Wibitton

SUN OFFICE, Seven o'clock.

RAILWAY COMMITTEES.
(THIS DAY.)

GR()ITI) A.

LONDON, CHATHAM, AND NORTH KENT

RAIX.V.TELY.

The Committee met at twelve o'clock, and resumed the examina.
tion of witnesses in support of the Bill.

Mr. Brunel, the eminent engineer, gave evidence strongly in
favour of Mr. Vigrol es' plan. He denied that there was any
danger whatevrr to be apprehended for the powdtr.mills at Fever.
sham from the proximity of the railroad. _ _

Mr. Rend!e, civil engineer, had examined the line, and corrobo.
rated the previ,ius evidence in its favour, but the details were re.
petitions of that evidence. .

Mr. Miller, also an engineer, who had been engaged in the con-
struction of most of the railroads in the north of England, gave
similar evidence, and stated his opinion that in many important
points of comparison the Vignolles' lint was superior in engineering
merits to the South-Western.

Mr. Finch, from the office of Mr. Stephenson, put in voluminous
details of the population along the line.
Mr. Miller, civil engineer, gave evidence of precisely the same
character, and equally favourable to this line.
The cross-examination elicited nothing material,
Mr. Thornton, an extensive contractor, had surveyed the whole
of the proposed line, with a view to contracting for the
works. tie had examined the subsoil in all those parts where
any supposed difficulty existed with respect to the foundations of
♦iaducts, &c., and he found that there was no difficulty throughout
the line which would raise the expense higher than Mr. Vignolles
had estimated. He had offered to take the whole of the works at
Mr. Vignolles' prices, and he was now in negotiation for the con-
tract with the Company on those prices.
Mr. Miller, in answer to the Chairmain said, that the Paisley
and Glasgow Railway having to compete with a very excellent
water carriage upon the Clyde, was consequently not very remu-
nerative.

Mr. Tite, the president of the Architectural Society, and archi.
tect of the Royal Exchange, was examined, to prove that the value
of the land would not exceed the estimate of Mr. Vignolles, which
was about 2'5,0001.
Mr. Locke, civil engineer, was also examined, but his evidence
was again substantially no more than a corroboration cf the pre-
vious engineering testimony in favour of the North Kent line. He
considered th'it the line was very fortunate indeed in having but
one crossing on a level.
Mr. B. Sherwood, a contractor fir railway works—Had had
considerable employment and experience in the construction of
works upon railways in France and England. He had examined
the schedules of Mr. Vignolles, and would be very happy to take
the contract for all the works at the prices of those schedules.
Mr. ATERREWETHER, in cross-examination of the witness, re-
quested to see the schedule of prices at which he (slr. Sherwood)
was willing to take the contract. To this there was some opposi-
tion, which gave rise to a somewhat angry discussion. The docu.
ment was ultimately put in, and was found to correspond correctly
with the schedules already before the Committee.
The Committee then adjourned till twelve o'clock to.morrow.