The Sun.
London, England, 1845-07-15 00:00:00

DIRECT NORTHERN LINE-TARRINGDON•

STREET EXT,,NSION.
IMPORTANT DECISION.

The Committee on the London and York lines met this morning
at the accustomed hour, and having withdrawn to deliberate on the
question argued on Saturday last, after an hour and twenty
minutes' absence returned, and
The CHAIRMAN, addressing the counsel, said he was sorry for
having detained counsel so long, but they had been discussing the
matter suggested on Saturday last, and he had now to inform the
parties that, in reference to the application then made, after the
most mature consideration, the Committee had come to the
following resolution :—That when the cases of the Direct
Northern and Farringdon.street Extension had closed, they would
proceed to discuss the merits of the two competing schemes
at present before the Committee for effecting a second
trunk line between London and York, viz., that of the
london and York Company, the Cambridge and Lincoln, Direct
Northern and Farringdost-street Extension Junction, in connec.
Lion with the Eastern C 'unties Railway.

Mr. AUSTIN inquired when the Committee meant to go into the
case of the York and North Midland Company, and other evidence,
apart from that which impugned the engineering accuracy of the
competitors, which he was prepared to urge in opposition to the
London and York line ?

The CHAIRMAN replied that the effect of their late decision was
to arrange that, immediately after the question of the Faringdon.
street Extension had been closed, anything which could be ad-
vanced by the Direct Nor.hern Company would be heard prior
to any other consideration ; all engineering evidence, therefore.
which could be adduced as a rebutting case to the London and
York scheme, would be included in that hearing.
Mr. AUSTIN, on benalt of the York and North Midland and
Eastern_Counties Railways, complained that this virtually put the
case of those companies out of court, at they had been previously
postponed to late stage of the proceedings, and were now excluded
altogether.
The CHAIRMAN replied that the decision of the Committee had
not been come to without considerable anxiety, and it could not
now be opened anew.

Donaldson, an architect, examined by Mr. WEBSTER—De-
posed to the accuracy of an engraving and a survey of the site and
approach to the Tottenham and Farringdon.street Extension Rail-
way London terminus, and described the various localities as indi-
cated on the plans; but the evidence would be wholly unintelligible
apart from the representations it explains.
Mr. Fuller, examined by Mr. WEarrEa,"deposed to having
surveyed the land with Mr. Donaldson's valuation, and proved its
accuracy in every respect.
Mr. Scales, a cattle dealer and grazier, examined by Mr. WED-
srea, gave his opinion as to the inutility of layers for cattle, unless
they were brought from a distance.
Mr. Broughton, examined by Mr. WEBSTER—Is a clerk at the
Eastern Counties Railway station, and deposed to the fact that
1,000 sheep and cattle pass weekly on an average by that railway.
They never look jaded, and do not avail themselves of the use of
layers.

Mr. Robert Herbert, examined by Mr. WEBSTER—Is clerk of
Smithfield market, and produces tables of the amount of cattle.
Islington station is now nothing but a site for layers, but these are
but little used by cattle travelling by rail.
Mr. Lane, examined by Mr. WEBSTER —ls clerk on the
Northern and Eastern Railway, and states that the traffic tables,
which he now hands in, are correct.

Mr. Carpenter corroborated the accuracy of Mr. Lane's tables,
and the Committee adjourned at five o'clock.

MIDLAND RAILWAY COMPANY.
DERRY, SATURDAY EVENING._This afternoon a special
general meeting of the Proprietors of the Midland Railway
was held in the large room at the station in this town, for the
purpose of agreeing to a lease of the Great North of England
Railway.
Considerable disappointment was felt be a number of Share-
' holders, who left London by the train for Derby in the morn •
ing. This train should have arrived in Derby half an hour
before the meeting commenced, but, in consequence of a large
number of private carriages having arrived at the Euston-
square station to go by the quick train to Birmingham, which
starts before nine o'clock, that train was delayed three-quarters
of an hour beyond its usual time of starting. The Derby train
consequently could not get off, and instead of starting at pine
o'clock, the usual time, it was ten before the train left the
station. Several of the Shareholders of the Midland Railway
were in the train, together with the reporters for the railway
press, and much disappointment was felt by the parties as they
did not arrive at the meeting until half an hour after its com-
mencement.
George Hudson, Esq., Chairman of the Board of Directors,
occupied the chair.
The Secretary (J. F. BELL, E-q.) having read the adver-
tisement, by which the meeting had been convened,
s The CHAIRMAN submitted a resolution confirming the
agreement entered into with the Great North of England Com-
pany. The Chairman entered into a statement of the advan-
tages likely to arise from the arrangement which had been
made, and recapitulated nearly the same arguments which he
used at the meeting on the same subject, held a fortnight ago,
of the shareholders of the other railways, with which Mr. Hud-
son is connected.
Captain WATTS contended that too high a price had been
paid for the Great North of ENland line, and moved that the
agreement be rejected.
The motion, however, fell to the ground, for want of a
seconder.
The CHAIRMAN was about to put the resolution, when the
shareholders who had come by the trains from London entered
the room.
Colonel BLAINE, who was one, said that he had just arrived
by the train which had been so much delayed, and therefore he
did not know what proceedings had taken place. He would,
however, before the resolution was put, suggest that if there
should be more than 10 per cent. returns on the Midland Rail-
way, some of the surplus should be given to the shareholders in
the Birmingham and Derby Railway.
The CHAIRMAN said he should be delighted to see the time
arrive when this railway paid ten per cent. Certainly, he
would he very glad, if he had the opportunity, of supporting
the proposition of the Hon. and Gallant Gentleman. It must,
however, be remembered, that their receipts must increase
250,00 t)/. before they would be enabled to pay ten per cent.,
and 'hat even to pay o.ie per cent. more than they did now
would require an increase of nearly 50,c00/. That was without
taking into account any increased expenditure. He did not
say that each an increase would not take place ; he hoped it
would, of course ; but, certainly, if it should, and they should
be enabled to pay ten per cent., he should be glad to aid in
crrrying out the proposition of the Honourable and Gallant
Gentleman.
Col. BLAINE expressed himself perfectly satisfied.
The resolution was then put, and unanimously agreed to.
The CHAIRMAN then rose, and said—l think this is not an
unfitting opportunity to call the attention of the Proprietors to
the different extensions of our lines which we have felt it our
duty, at various times, to submit to your consideration. We
anticipate that every person who has watched the course of
lace events will be impressed with the convicti in that the Lon-
don and York Bill will not be enabled to pass through Parlia-
ment this session. We may, therefore, falrly anticipate that
the whole of the projects in the group of Bills referred to the
Committee will go over to the next session. There will then be a
lair and open field for us all, the London and York, the Cam.
bridge and Lincoln, and other companies. Gentlemen, it was
said last night in the House of Lords by a Noble and Learned
Load that we had been the means of placing obstructions in the
way of passim, the London and York Bill, that the counsel em-
ployed by the companies with which I have the honour to be
connected had been the means of obstructing the Bill, and of
preventing a decision being come to on the merits of the dif-
ferent lines. A Noble Lord did me the honour to get up and
give a contradiction to Lord Brougham, for the Noble and
Learned Lord had stated a thing that was totally untrue.
hAamdott,ei
ngovteher things that Lord Brougham stated was that w
counsel employed. The simple fact is that we had
four or five counsel who, during the progress of the London
and York case, attended to watch the course of the business.
But when the Cambridge and Lincoln came under consideration
of the Committee, our counsel did not attend, because we did
not feel ourselves 'n a position to oppose that company. WP,
therefore, took no part whatever then in the proceedings. Then
came on the direct Northern, in which we were interested, and
then our counsel did attend. Every one knows that that case
did not last more than a week or so ; and to say that we were

the means of obstructing the business of the Committee was a
most unfair and unjust accusation, not only upon you, but upon
me individually. The Faringdon station case is now before
the Committee; and as in the case of the Cambridge and
Lincoln, we did not think that we were in a position to
oppose it, and therefore we withdrew our counsel from the
Committee. As I said before, I think that no determination
will he come to upon these Bills this session, and we shall,
therefore, have to begin afresh. The Directors of this Com-
pany have taken an interest in the lines which have been
before Parliament, which lines we felt it our duty to resist as
much as possible. I allude to the Chesterfield and Sheffield
and the Sheffield and Newark. We opposed them, and very
fortunately we were successful in throwing out the two lines.
We were, however, fully aware that such a district as that
ought to be supplied with railway communication, and we are
quite prepared to adopt such measures as will enable us to
supply that district with good railway communication. We
intend, therefore, gentlemen, to request Mr. Stephenson to
survey for us a good communication with Nottingham, going
near to Newark, then going on to Mansfield and down to Ches-
terfield. We are also fully aware, from the feeling which has
been evinced in the town of S'aeffield, that it is our duty to
give to that town a better sou':nern communication. Ido not
think, however, that there will be any saving in time, although
there may be in distance. Still, seeing the feeling of the town,
we are prepared to recommend to the Proprietors of this Com-
pany to adopt a line which will give a better southern com-
munication to Shefleld than at present exists. We are also
anxious to accommodate Worksop, and we hope to be enabled
to give such accommodation to that town and its neigh-
bourhood as will be satisfactory to you and to the public.
You are aware that there is a line projected called
the Barnsley Junction. This will accommodate Silkstone coal
fields. We propose to do this, if no other parties purpose doing
so, but we do not wish to interfere with our neighbours, the
Sheffield and Manchester Company, if they think proper to
afford the accommodation. You are aware that we have two
lines, one front Nottingham to Lincoln, and the other from
Syston to Peterborough. These Bills have received the royal
assent, and the railway from Nottingham to Lincoln we shall
ern to the public as early next year as we possibly can.
( Applause.) The town of Grantham we hop* to supply from
our Syston and Peterborough branch, which will give both a
northern and a southern communication. There will be a
northern communication by means of the Amber-gate scheme,
of the capital of which this Company holds one quarter.
When the line is completed, they will not only have the best
north and south communication at Grantham, but the best
communication to the west of England. You are aware that
we have a scheme before Parliament for a line from Swinton
to Lincoln and from Lincoln to Ely. This scheme has been all
but rejected for the present, but I see no reason why it should
not be prosecuted next session if we do not this. We will,
gentlemen, now come a little nearer home. We propose to
make a line from Burton to Leicester. W. have made ar-
rangements by which we have purchased the Leicester and
Swannington Railway. We have guaranteed to the pro_
prietora of that railway an interest of eight per
cent., the return which the railway makes to them
at the present time. We feel that it is important
that we should have possession of that line, as it will form part
of the line from Burton to Leicester. There are other mea-
sures which are before us, by which we hop* to fortify your
position, and by which we shall endeavour to make our railways
afford the public accommodation in the best possible manner.
We may con,idsr that we have now 800 miles of railway
which have been sanctioned by Parliament, all carried on, and
to be carried on, I may say, under one direction. We shall,
therefore, be enabled to carry on the undertakings in a manner
far more efficiently than it would be possible for any other
company to do. I am sure that every one around me will
admit that a more perfect establishment than oars could net be
found, and I hope and trust that it will long continue to be so,
and I trust that we shall continue the undertaking in such a
manner as to entitle us to the continued support of those who
have invested their money in these Companies. Gentlemen,
there is one other matter to which I beg to call your attention,
and that is that in the next published returns of the Midland
Railway we shall include the receipts of the Birmingham and
Gloucester and Gloucester and Bristol lines. We think it
better that they should appear together. I hope and trust that
the receipts which have latterly appeared have been satisfac-
tory to the Proprietors. I think that they justify the step
which we took as Directors, in leasing the Birmingham and
Bristol lines. I think that the receipts will still continue to
be satisfactory, and still further justify the step which we took.
—( Applause. )• The reason why we thought it better to unite
the receipts of all the Companies was, that it would give you
a better opportunity of estimating the value of your stock.
Gentlemen, I have now discharged my duty as chairman of
this meeting ; but there is one other subject to which I beg to
call your attention.