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

lAILWAY COMMITTEES.
(THIS DAY.)

HOUSE OF LORDS:
CORNWALL RAILWAY.

The Committee met at eleven o'clock in the Lord Chancellor's
Court, the Earl of Ellenberough in the chair.
Mr. Rowe handed in two letters from the Board of Ordnance
expressive of dissent at the line passing through a glacis near
Devonpurt, by which the military fortifications at Devonport
would be impaired. The Master-General of the Ordnance said he
would not interfere with disputes between railways, at the same
time he objected to any railway passing through the Ordnance pro-
perty at Plymouth.

The Committee retired to consider upon these letters, and, after
some time spent in deliberation, returned into court, when Lord
ELLENBOROUGII directed Mr. Rowe to proceed with his case.
Mr. Tremaine, whose testimony we gave at length yesterday
evening, was further reexamined.

Mr. Humfrey Williams, is a m2gistrate, landowner, miner, and
banker in the county of Cornwall. Felt much interest in endea.
vouring to procure a direct communication from Falmouth to
Exeter. Left the committee when he understood a negotiation
was about being carried out with the Great Western, which he
thought would be prejudicial to the interests of the county of Corn.
wall. The largest portion of the leading men in Cornwall were
opposed to the southern line. The central line, which he advocated,
would pass through a very large and fertile mining district. These
mines were much in want of railway accommodation, for they had
no communication by the sea. The supplies to these mines
would not pass over the projected line of railway.
" '

Cross-examined—Did not think the central line would cost
3,000,0001. Thought the expensz of the formation of the cen-
tral line had been greatly exaggerated. Ihe survey had been
made when the snow was on the ground, and imperfectly. A line
from St. Austell to the central line would be a great convenience.
The population of the St. Austell district was 17,300. If two
railway lines were constructed, running from Truro—the one
going south to Torpoint, the other north to Launceston—the one
would have a population of 69,000, and the other of 63,000 along
it. The miners were not, as had been stated, a roving population ;
and the greatest care was taken by the mine owners that none but
men of good character should be employed in the mines. The
Lord Lieutenant of the county was anxious for a county meet-
ing, in order that there might be unanimity as to the adoption of a
line. Did not think his Lordship was in favour of the southern
line. Believed the expenses incurred upon the surveying, &c., of
the central line had not yet been paid. Every share would have
been better in the central line but for the report of the Board of
Trade, which was unfavourable to that project.
The next witness examined was Richard Haydon Downes, who
gave evidence respecting toll on the Hamoaze and other places,
showing there would be an increase of it on the projected Corn-
wall line.

Mr. J. Jeffrey resided at Torpoint, and knew the feelings of the
people there. An increase of toll must greatly affect the lower
classes there. Was oppo,ed to the present schedule, on account
of these tolls.

➢ir. Collins, mayor of Bodmin, gave evidence to the effect that
he and the people of Bodmin would prefer the central to the pre-
sent southern line, to which they were opposed.

Francis Rodd, Esq., High Sheriff of Cornwall, and J. C. Leth-
bridge, Chairman of Quarter Sessions in that county, gave evi-
dence against the projected line, and in favour of a central one,
after which

Their Lordships adjourned, at a quarter past four, till to-mor-
row morning.

THE SCOTTISH MIDLAND ItiiIVIXTAY.

The Committee reassembled this morning at eleven o'clock,
and proceeded to hear the examination of witnesses on behalf of
the opposing landowners.
Mr. Scott spoke generally as to the markets and traffic of Forfar,
Perth, Glammis, Kerramuir, Brechin, Cupar, and other places in
the neighbourhood of which the line would pass. His evidence
went to prove that sufficient facilities for conveyance already
existed between these places, and that consequently the proposed
railway was not needed.

Mr. Simmond, magistrate in Forfarshire, said that he was one of
the harbour trustees, ex qfficio, as a magistrate. The distance
between the gap on the Dundee and Arbroath Railway was 580
yards. He believed that Mr. Locke, the engineer, was decidedly
wrong when he said the horse haulage ping that distance would
occupy a quarter of an hour. The distance was barely a quarter of
a mile, and agood horse walking at the rate of five miles an hour
could accomplish it in five minutes or less. In Dundee t: ere
would be a stoppage of ten minutes on the railway. Between Dun.
dee and Arbroath there would be no change of carriages. The
course of that part of the country was from the seaports to the
north and south. The number of inhabitants along the coast front
Keith to Arbroath amounted to 130,000. The population in
Strathmore and the agricultural districts was comparatively small.
There was a railway between Glammis and Forfar, but it had never
paid. The railway between Dundee and Arbroath had been a very
profitable line. Until he heard the evidence he had no idea that
there was any traffic at Strathmore in the direction that had been
stated, although he was well acquainted with the locality. All the
wealthy parts of the district traded with Dundee.

Mr. Errington was called, and explained to the Committee the
details of the working expenses, which amounted in the gross to
16,496/. 13s. 4d., being 45 per cent, on the capital.
Mr. HOPE proceeded to address their Lordships on behalf of the
promoters of the line, in reply to Mr. Andrews' speech yesterday.
He called attention to the nature of the opposition, and said, that
for 140 assents amongst the landowners on the line, there were
only 15 landed proprietors who dissented. The opposition to the
Bill was an aristocratical opposition got up by Lord Mansfield, for
the purpose of preventing the line passing within sight of Scone
Palace. The labouring classes and the poorer people felt, how
ever, a great interest in the making of the line, as they con-
sidered it would be a great public convenience to them, and
their claims ought not to be neglected in order that the fancy or
perverseness of a few. influential men might be humoured. Nor
were the poorer classes alone in their support of the scheme—
Lord Breadalbane, Lord Wharncliffe, and other most respec' able
men approved of it. The Learned Counsel then went into detail
to show the fallacy of Mr. Andrew's inferences with respect to the
traffic tables, and contended that the traffic, as originally stated,
was correct, and yielded a fair presumption that it might be ex-
pected to be conveyed along the proposed railway when constructed.
At the close of the Learned Gentleman's speech their Lordships
adjourned at half-past two o'clock until to-morrow.

WATEEFTELD, PONTEFRACT, AND GOOLE

MINE.

The Committee reassembled this morning in the Rolls' Court,
and Captain Lays was placed in the box for re-examination. His
evidence went to show that steep gradients on a railway did neither
add to the cost of transit, nor occasion any irregularity in the time
taken from station to station. The Manchester and Leeds was,
perhaps, as expensive as any line in the kingdcm, and yet their
charges were as moderate as any.
Mr. Thompson, collector of dues on the Manehester and Leeds
line, spoke to the delays which took place in the passing of the
trains on the York and North Midland, and he estimated the
amount of traffic in malt, &c., as amply sufficient to support a line
direct to Goole.

Lord Pollington, one of the representatives of Pontefract, said
that the feeling of his constituents was decidedly in favour of the
proposed line.
Mr. William Ache, corn-merchant and factor in Wakefield,
proved the traffio which would go upon ►his line if once con-
structed. He had no doubt that the railway would be remunerative.
Several witnesses were examined on the same points, and their
opinions were that a greatly extended trade in malt, coal, lime, &c.,
would be opened up by means of the projected railway. The
evidence was of the driest character, and shortly after four o'clock
the Committee adjourned till tomorrow.

THE 03LIPORD, WORCESTER, AND WOl.-

VERHABIPTON RAILWAY.

The Select Committee on this Bill met to-day, at eleven o'clock
Lord Auckland in the chair.
Mr. Walker, civil engineer, was first examined. He generally
corroborated the evidence adduced by Messrs. Brunel, Cubitt, and
Vignolles before the Committee yesterday. He apprehended no
difficulty in working the two sets of gauges on the same line. He
likewise deposed that the transhipment of goods could take place
with great ease and rapidity, and that the point of gauge ought to
be at Rugby in preference to Oxford. He had examined the sec-
tions of both lines, and gave his decided preference to those of the
Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton.
In cross-examination the witness admitted that he had had but
little experience of the mode of working railways, or the tranship-
ment of goods, and merely gave his opinion as far as he knew.
Mr. Saunders, secretary of the Great Western Company, was
next examined respecting the traffic tables.
On the termination of Mr. Sanderson's evidence the traffic
tables were put in, on which a brief examination took place, which
closal the case on behalf of the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolver-
hampton line.