The Sun.
London, England, 1845-06-05 00:00:00

RAILWAY COMmt rr ELS.

(YESTERDAY.)

GROUP AA.

The Committee rnet at twelve o'clocirplr. Henley in the chair.
3he rostponed clause of
THE GREAT SOUTHERN AND WESTERN
(IRELAND),

from ye.terday, after a long discussion, was again postponed until
Friday.

The unopposed eleuses of the
WAT POD AND LIMERICK RAILWAY
were then agreed to, and the Committee adjourued until Friday.

GROUP A.

LONDON, CHATHAM, AND NORTH KENT

RAILVIAT.

The Committee met a•ain at twelve o'clock this morning, and
proceeded with the engineering evidence.
The first witness called was Mr. Crowther, lanel-surveor, who
confirmed the evidence in favour of the superiority of the line, the
facilities of the cuttings, tunnel, bridizes, and level crossings, as
well as the cotrcelness of Mr. Vignolles's estinive.
The cross-examination, which was extended, elicited /In varia-
tion in the testimony.

Mr. AUSTIN then requestd the Committee to decide in what
order they would take the ease of the landowners, and the case
as to the relative merits of the South-Eastern and the Croydon, as
competing lines.

The CHAIRMAN said that the Committee had determined to go
into the case of the landowners first, but they had not yet decided
as to the order in which they would take the question as between
the Croydon and South-Eastern lines.
After some further conversation the Committee de'iberated for
a time, and announced their intention to hear out whatever evi-
dence was to be offered for the North Kent—to go then into the
case of the Suuth-Ea.stern—and lastly into that of the Croydon
Company.

Another conversation then took place as to the time when
Counsel adverse to any line should be 'ward against that line, upon
which the Committee (atter some deliberation) resolved to hear all
the evidence to the ead before counsel should be heard.

Mr. Sergeant SHEA then put in letters from the Boards of Ad.
miralty and Ordnance, acquiescing (as had been already stated in
the ,videl.ce) with the arrangments of the North Kent line, in
passing the fort :fica'ious, Woolwich.common, and the Medway.
The case for the promoters of the Bill being concluded,

Mr. CoeitatteN rallrd the serious attention of the ( °nominee to
the fact that Mr. Vignolies had not comp ied satisf..ctorily with
the order of the House, that the estimate of expenses should be laid
before tie Ccmmittee of Standing Orders. He did not think the
departure was sulticient to require the Committee to stop the
progress of the Bill. But he gut:mated that tire matter should
be again referred to the Committee of Standing Orders.
Mr. Ausrim followed at great length upon the same side.
Mr. Sergeant WitANGH•3I replied, and pointed out to the Com-
mittee that the alleged alterations in the estimates were merely con.
tingent, and did not substantially or formally depart from the
stanaing orders.

The CHAIRMAN interrupted the Learned Gentleman, and said
that 'he Committee was of opinion that hitherto there appeared no
objection to the Bill.

This announcement was followed by a very loud expression of
delight, which gave great umbrage to the Committee, and was
immediately checked.

Mr. AUSTIN then addressed the Committee on the part of
Messrs, Hale, the powder manut“c.urcrs of Feversham, and argued
that the railroad would come within dangerous proximity of the
works.

The Committee then adjourned to twelve o'clock tomorrow.

I:0UP 88.

vrATEnronn, WEXPOILD, WICKLOW, AND

DITZLTN ItAXI.VJ'II.Ir.

The Committee resumed to-day at twelve o'clock, Mr. Colqu-
houn in the chair.

Mr. Sergeant WRANGUAM opened the case on behalf of the pro-
jectors of the line. The Learned Gentleman proceeded to show
the course the line was intended to take. It started :t
using the Dublin and Kings:own line as far as the latter
went. From Kingstown it proceeded along the coast
by Bray. Wicklow, Arkiow, Gorey, Ennicorthy, New
Ross, to Waierfrd. Near to Enniscortby there were two
forks, dis erg,ng right and left; one into the interior to Carlow,
and another to Wexford, so as to connect the latter place with
Fishguard in Walss, from whence a line was proposed to Glouces-
ter, by Carmarthen, Neath, and Newport. The who a extent of
railway to be fermi d was 150 miles, connecting the most important
towns and districts in the south of Ireland with the west of
England. The Learned Gentleman having described the line,
reviewed the benefit which it would confer by connecting toge-
ther the rich mineral and manufacturing districts of this country
with the fertim agricultural iiistricts of the south of In
the event of P..rliament sanctioning this Bill, he said it was in-
tended to tmpro,e the harbour accommooation of Wexford, and
to estabish regular and effic.ent steam c,rmounication between
that place and Fishguard. Having shown the great amount of
traffic likely to pass over the line, and the engineering difficulties,
which he represented as being generally of a tavonrable nature, the
Learned Gentieman c.,iiciuded by p., out, at some length, the
Bdv4ntages this line presented over the Carlow and Wexford line,
already brought under the notice of the Committee.
Witnesses were then called on behalf of the Bill.

The oecre'are of the Company deposed to the capital of the Com-
pany. w:.qc,h he 'tate! at •2 00,000/.
Mr. Lewis Vugors. Charmari of the South Wales Railway Com-
pany. gave evidence as to the vaiue of this hie as a connexion
between Ireland and England.
Dr. Newland, Dean of Hearns, and Mr. Charles Doyne, were
examined as to the feeling of the inhabitants of the country
through which the line passed, which was generally favourable.
Giobons, engineer, sale that he was etig.gen in surveying
the line, and iii mak,ng sections of the same. There were several
severe cutt:!igs and embankments on the line, but none of a difficult
character. L'he7e was a tunnel of 500 yards long between King.
stows and Bray, and :nother through the Dips of Bray cf :320 yards.
The heaviest cutting at .:"!is place was 43 feet, through schistus
rock. Between Bray and Arilow there were two embankments,
968 and 72 feet high. At Arkiow there was a viaduct 150 feet
long and 16 feet. high. There was a cutting through high rock at
the same place s. averaging for the extent of two furlongs 32. feet.
There was an embankment and viaduct over the River Bann 35
feet and another viaduct 100 feet high near to
Enniscor I.y over the river. There was a serious cut-
ting at New Ross of above two miles long, the deepest part of
which was 54 net. The Barrow river was crossed three times
after :e:ving New itos;, by viaducts of 70 feet, 45 feet, and 35 feet
high rapectivjy. Fun r•er on there was a tunnel 369 yards in
length. These were the priuc pal engineering difficulties.
The Committee then adjourned till tii.morrow at twelve o'clock.

GROUP DA
IMPoRTAIs T DE( ISION.

THE CALEDONIAN, THE GLASGOW,
DUMMIES, AND CARLISLE, AND TH".,.:

C7.7:1) CTI ON.

The Comii.ittee met this morning at twelve o'clock, and, after
defiberatids some Vine on the points which they had not defini-
tively decided on their adjournment yesterday afternoon,
The CHAIRMAN said that the Committee, having proceeded to the
consideration of the subjects before them, had come to the delibe-
rate and unanimous decision, that the preamble of the Bill called the
Glasgow ,Dunitries, and Carlisle Raiiway Bill, had not been proved.
Mr. HILDTARD then said he appeared on behalf of the Glasgow
and Germ irk Railway, to oppose the Motherw.ll branch of the
Clydesdale Junction Railway, and called Mr. King to give evi-
dence, whO was examined by Mr. CR&NVORD.
Mr. Knife deposed that the authorised original capital of the
Garnkirk line was 140,0004, and the rate of dividends on that
capital had averaged, for Some years past, about 21 per cent. The
directors of the Garilleirk Railway applied to Parliament last year
for a new Act, which they obtained, for the purpose of making
two different extensions of their line. One of these extensions
was intended to carry the line further into the city of Glasgow, and
was now in course of construction, The extension would
doubtless be a very considerable improvement, as it would bring the
terminus of the Garnkirk line to a convenient terminus, and both
passenger, and goods be carried nearer to the centre of the city and
to the harbour. The expense of the extension would be 50,000 i.
The second extension was proposed to be made to a point called
Cargill, by which an unfavourable line of railway would be avoided
on toe Kirkintilloch line. The estimated expense of that extension
was 30,000/. or snore, and it was nearly completed. A further
consi.!sraole sum, amounting to about 25,0001. had been expended
on the Coltbridge extension for the purpose of obtaining the benefit
to be derived Scorn the Wisbart and Coitness line in forwarding
passengers and minerals to Glasgow. A number of coal proprietors
and iron masters had been examined before a Committee last year,
and had expressed very favourable opiitions of that extension.
The expense of the conveyance of pig iron and coal would be
materially diminished when the contemplated improvements were
all completed.
The CHAIRMAN interrupted the examination of the witness at
this point, sod said it was he wish of the Committee to hear
further engineering evidence as to junction of the Caledonian
line with the Cldesdale branch to Hamilton. They wished to
know whether it would interfere with the Duke's palace at Hamil.
ton. It appeared to them exceedingly desirable that this junction
should be effected, as the intermediate fork on the Motherwell
branch wpuld, in that came, he renLer,ai tainecessare.
Mr. Locke, the engineer, stated that it would be impossible to
make a line to Hamilton without materially interferiPg with the
Duke's palace, and also with the town of Hamilon, besides pre-
senting some engineering difficulties in the passage across the
Clyde.

Mr. CRAWFORD resumed his examination of Mr. King, who
proceedei to state, that if the Motherwell branch were constructed,
the traffic xol.g the G..:.riikirk Railw..y would be so greatly dimi-
nished, that scarcely sufficient avenue would be realised to pay the
ordinary working expenses of the line.
The CliAllaNt AN said that regarding the Caledonian line as a na-
tional scheme, the Committee were desirous that there should be
no obstruction offered in any way to the Glasgow and (larnkirk
line, in its connexion with the Wishart and Coltness Railway.
Some unimportant discussion having ensued without any definite
decision being come to,
" • .

Mr. MAXWELL appeared to resume his opposition to the Clydes-
dale Junction Railway on behalf of Sir John M:ixwell, the magis-
trates of Gorbals, and the road trustees and others of West-strLet,
When

The CITAIIVIAN decided that the objections should not be enter-
tainedtter as aga eat the preamble of the 'Bill, bet would be a in
for consideration H h ii the clauses were being prose eded with.
The preamble was then declared ro have been ,rived.
The clauses were immediately proceed, d with, and cn arriving
clause 26, which gave power to the Clydesdale Junction to con-
nect it with the Polio and Gov an Railway, under certain restrict ions,
Mr. NlaxwELL proposed to insert a clause which would have the
effect of compelling all the traffic conveyed along the Polloc line,
where it passed \Vest-street, to be carried either over the street by
a viaduct or under it by a tunnel.
The proposed clause was negatived, and on the suggestion of the
Committee a ,ecorici clause, to the Effect that it should not be
lawful for the Polloc and Groan Railway to connect with, or to
convey any traffic from. the Clydesdale Junction Railway until the
consent in wri.-ing had been obtained from the Board of Trade, was
prepared and agreed to.
Several written clauses for regulating tolls, &e., having been
introdoced, the remaining clauses were passed, arid the Bill was
ordered to be reported.
The clauses of the Caledonian Railway Bill were then proceeded
with, and after a few trivial alterations had been inserted, were all
agreed to.
Mutual congratulations having passed between the Committee
and the various counsel, the Committee broke up, after having been
assiduously engaged, during a period extending over six weeks, in
the consideration of the important and intricate schemes comprised
in the group which had been referred to them, and which had
involved in the investigation the examination of upwards of two
hundred witnesses.

GROUP EE.
SCOTTISH MIDLAND JUNCTION.

day, Mr. Baring, chair_
The Committee sat at twelve o'clock to-
Dian. The examldation of witnesse, wa, resumed.
Mr. Blackadder, .urveyor, deposed that the amount of land re-
quired to be taken for the line was '214 acres, 2 rcsxls, and 6 piles ;
in value, 32,24'21. l is. I dd. The dist, ict or country through
tvhicli the railway passed was very favourable, and the inhabitants
general y were favourable to it.
Mr. P. Wallace, a member of the Perth Town Council, and an
extensive coach.builder, pre evidence as to the traiNc between that
town and Forfar.
Mr. Jack of Dunkeld, was next examined. Th;s line of
railway as far as it went wou'd be of great bene!., to that
town and district There were extensive slate quatiies
in Dunkeld, la. ge portions of which were at present carted