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

4arSTOL AND EXETER RAILWAY.
The Select Committee, appointed by the House of Lords to in.
1111 ,ra into the merits of the projected branches of the Bristol and
4itet. -r Railway Company assembled, for the first time, this morn-
Lord Glenelg in the chair, and immediately proceeded with
the investigation.
Mr. TaLacrr stated that the object of the Bill the Committee
Dad to consider was, to give the Bristol and Exeter Railway Corn.
pang Power to effect a junction of their own line at Bristol with
that of the Great Western Company, and also to make three
branches from their main line to Cleavden, Yeovil, and Tiverton—
Places of some commercial importance, and trading to a large ex-
tent with the towns of Exeter and Bristol. The line to Yeovil was
the only one opposed.
Mr. Charles Brown, a director of the Bristol and Exeter Rail.
Way, Mr. Christopher Shapland, a merchant at Bristol, Mr. Thos.
Pairett, a farmer and grazier, at Middlezoy, and Mr. Joseph Board,
of Bridgewater, gave some general evidence in favour of the
Yeovil line.
Mr. Brunel, the engineer of the Great Western and Bristol
and Exeter Company, proved that the length of the Yeovil line
would be about twenty miles, and would cost about 220,000/., or
11,0001. per mile. The junction at Bristol would be about a
quarter of a mile in length, and cost from 50,000/. to 60.0001.
The branch to Clevcdon was about three miles, and the branch
to Tiverton would be four.miles and three-quarters, and the cost
of the whole of these works he estimated at 375,000/. There
Were no engineering difficulties on any of the branches.
Mr. Board was called to put in the traffic tables which had been
taken in the district of the proposed line.
This closed the case for the promoters.
Mr. Henry Hethanage was then called by the opponents to
Prove that the traffic tables were considerably overrated, and based
upon inaccurate data.

Mr. Giles, the civil engineer, proved that a better line might
obtaintd by way of the valley of the Yeo.
14r. MERRWETHER then addressed the Committee on behalf of
motets
the opponents of the Yeovil branch, contending that its pro.
brought it forward, not with a view of accommo-
(!ating that town, but to gain a preoccupancy of the
district through which the branch would run. It was quite ori-
ent from the evidence that the line would never prove a re-
tattnerative one-
Tatilov replied that although the line would not of itself
rove remunerative, yet it would amply compensate the promoters
'e the way of a feeder to their main line.
The Crisiestax then directed the room to be cleared, and the
‘;ciretnittee having remained in deliberation for a few minutes,
Strangers were re-admitted, when
The CHAIRMAN announced that the Committee had determined
upon adjourning till to morrow.

CLYDESDALE JUNCTION RAILWAY.
The Committee met to-day at eleven o'clock, Lord Radnor in
the chair
•
Mr. HILDYARD, on the part of the Garnkirk Railway Company,
Madethem a proposition about referring the matter in dispute between
'nem to the Board of Trade, to which
Mr. Sergeant WRAROHAM objected, and preferred leaving the
Matter in the hands of the Committee.
The examination of witnesses was then resumed.
Mr. Pare gave evidence with regard to the traffic that might be
;alculated on, taking the existing trade of the district as a
oundation. The first tables he drew up and submitted to the
Committee of the House of Commons contained local traffic alone.
Re did not then assume anything for the Caledonian line, as it had
not received the sanction of either House. In those tables the
ocal traffic was set forth in gross at 31,2561. 19s. 3d.; deducting
44.. Per Cenr *Mr working the line, the' amount left was 17,5041.
a. 3d,, or about 51 per cent, on the capital of 330,0001. The
Caledonian Railway having now passed the Committees of both
Houses he had drawn up supplemental tables. The through
trail from the Caledonian Railway to Glasgow that would pass
along this line be estimated at 10,9971. ss. 6d. In addition
to this he put down 3,715/. 12s. 6d. that would come
oand
Glasgow Railway, which had passed the House of Commons.
D-
eduting the expence of working there would remain a nett
additional revenue of 8,239/. 121 3d. ; that, added to the revenue
calculated in the previous tables, gave a return of 8 per cent, on
the capital. The witness then put in both sets of tables.
Mr. John Williams, mineral engineer,
estimateeer,
wasexamined as to the
h
data of Mr. Pare's tables, on whichof mineral traffic
was based. He entered into a calculation of the tons of coal,
i▪
ronstone, and lime that would pass along the line, the particulars
of which have already appeared.
Mr. Errington, civil engineer, deposed as to the engineering
Peculiarities, giving some explanations of the gradients, cuttings,
and embankments ; also respecting the proposed connexion wirh
the Barrhead and Glasgow direct, the Greenock and the Ayrshire
districts. The particulars were the same as those given in the Re-
Port of the Commons Committee already printed, He was of
°Pinion that 290,0001. would be quite sufficient for all the purposes
of the line.
The witness was cross.examined by Mr. HILDTAAD as to the
superior merits of the Garnkirk Railway as a means of entrance to
Glasgow, but no new point of importance was elicited..
Mr. Smith, of Deanston, the celebrated agriculturist, was
examined respecting the value of the land to be taken by the rail-
Way, and also respecting the value of the 'estates of Mr. Graham
and Mrs. Hamilton intersected by the line. He stated that he had
endeavoured to effect an arrangement with Mr. Graham, and on
behalf of the Company offered what he considered ample terms,
Winch were refused. He also conducted a negotiation with Mrs.
Hamilton's agent, and an agreement come to, which was afterwards
broken through on a dispute about paying a sum of money down.
IU cross-examination it came out that Mr. Smith had concluded
an arrangement with Mrs Hamilton's agents, agreeing to pay 1501.
Ibr :the expenses then gone into to the Bill, and that the
culverts, bridges, and reservoirs on that portion of the line should
be left to the regulation of the witness. This was afterwards
repudiated by the Committee acting on behalf of the Company.
The witness having stated that a correspondence had taken place
" this matter, it was ordered to be read, in which the foregoing
statement was clearly set forth.
HOPE was proceeding to examine this witness further,
with the object of showing that there must have been a misunder-
standing. when the Chairman stated that he considered the Corn-
Patsy had broken their agreement, and had not acted fairly in the
transaction.
Gucci, on behalf of Mrs. Hamilton, was willing to take the
lave teems, providing all the expenses of the opposition were paid
Up till that time.
Cas:r. HOPE was not prepared to assent, and on the recommenda-
tion of the Chairman, the point was postponed till the rest of the
was gone through, by which time perhaps an amicable settle-
territ would be come to.
Mr. Rutherford, Mr. Bain, and Mr. Fisher, were severally exa•
Mined respecting the value of Mr. Graham's property, when
The Committee rose, having decided, on account of the engage-
Meats of some of their Lordships, to adjourn till next Friday, at
eleven o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
GROUP A.
Asurortm AND HASTINGS (SOUTH—
EASTERN) LINE.
The case on the part of the promoters of the above line was
ned by Mr. Merrewether on Friday last, and the evidence given
14141A1 Ya 44 &gips gi.104 of t 4.17,t