The Sun.
London, England, 1845-06-10 00:00:00

tion, not calculating damages to property, *c., would be in round
numbers about 75,0001.
Mr. Gibb, civil engineer, had been in partnership with his father
for many years, and had now contracted for about 200 miles of
Scotch railways, and he considered the estimates of this line amply
sufficient for its construction. He would accept the works for the
amount given in the estimates.
Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Lyon gave precisely similar evidence.
Mr. Brunel had not examined the plans and sections, but he
could see no difficulty in the formation er working of these tunnels,
and he thought it was an absurdity to question the safety of them.
Dr. Harmah, Governor of the Towns' Hospital, said that the
tunnel passed beneath the hospital through a stratum of sandstone,
which was a good conductor of sounds. and he bad never heard the
noise of the trains passing through.
Mr. Thomas Leadbetter put in and proved the estimate of damage
done to the land and other property by the railway. The amount
was above 90,0001.
The Committee adjourned at four o'clock.

GROUP K.
NORWICH AND BRANDON LINE.

The Committee on this line resumed this morning, by hearing
evidence on the merits of the Lynn and East Dereham project,
Mr. Talbot, Q. C., with Messrs. Birch and Baggalley appearing to
support the Bill.
Mr. Rastrick, civil engineer, examined by Mr. BIRCU—Has
examined the line of country through which the proposed Lynn and
Derelsam Railway will pass, and considers it unusually favourable.
The gradients are easy, the worst being 1 in 100, and the
radius of the smallest curve at the termini is twenty chains.
Passengers will be taken at the rate of twopence per wile. Mer-
chandise is anticipated to yield 4,527/., coal 4,4321., and lime and
other contingencies 1,0001., making a total traffic income of 9,9601.,
which, with the passenger receipts, will give a return of 11 per
cent. on the capital of 270,000/., the sum computed for the under-
taking.

Robert Pitcher examined by Mr. BAGCALLEY—Is mayor of Lynn,
the traffic of which town in oil.cake and ironmongery—general
merchandise is ♦ery considerable, and a direct railway com-
munication would be ♦ery valuable, as enabling them to
send their produce either to the north or the metropolis,
and affording them goods for their own consumption at
economical rates. The cost of conveying coal from Lynn to
Swathain is at present I ls. per ton.

Mr. Frederick Lane, examined by Mr. Brace—ls Town.clerk
of Lynn, and having heard the testimony of Mr. Pitcher, as to the
desirability of the proposed line, can confirm it in every particular.
Mr. Everard and Mr. Armes gave similar testimony of the im.
portance of the project; but that point being uncontested, the wit-
nesses were not cross examined, and the evidence was merely
formal, and wholly devoid of interest.
Proof was then given of the accuracy of the traffic and distance
tables, the feasibility of raising the capital by the Issue of 10,600
shares, and other technical matters, and the preamble of the Lynn
and East Dereham line through Swaffham was passed.
On the clause which authorises the Company to pay interest at the
rate of 4 per cent on the amount of subscription paid up being read,
the Committee regarding the principle of the power objectionable,
agreed to concede it only on the condition that if on their repre-
sentation to the House of Commons a concurrent opinion
were expressed, the Bill should be recommitted. The agents for the
Bill, however, rather than be liable to a contingency which would
entail such enormous expense, preferred the withdrawal of the
clause, which was accordingly done. _ .

The other clauses were subsequently discussed, and passed with-
out difficulty. . _

The Committee then proceeded to the consideration of the
DISS AND ATTLEBOROUGH BRANCH Or
THE NORWICH AND BRANDON LINE.

Mr. Samuel Farrow examined by Mr. GIRDEN—Was some
years since a timber-merchant at Diss, but owing to the difficulty
of conveyance by the present slow and expensive transit, he was
unable to compete with the tradesmen of Ipswich. The price of
coals at Diss is 365. per ton, 12s. of which is paid for carriage from
Ipswich, while at Yarmouth the cost is materially less, and the
price of conveyance proportionably so.

By Mr. Coisoes—The meeting was not convened by advertise.
ment. The opinion of the inhabitants of Diss is decidedly in
favour of the Dies and Attleborough Branch, rather than the
project of the Eastern Counties Extension.
Mr. Chaplin examined—ls an extensive miller, residing at
Diss. Sends off 300 quarters of wheat and barley per week to fps.
wich and thence, if not sold, to Liverpool, at a cost of 7s. a quarter.
The want of a rapid communication prevents his sending any con.
stderable quantity of flour. Last year he paid 1,5081. for the land
carriage of grain, the shipping subsequently entailing a large in-
crease. The proposed Diss and Attleborough branch would effect
a saving of 6s. a quarter in the transit of produce.
Cross-examined by Mr. WHATELSIY, Q.C.—From Ipswich to
Liverpool grain at this season of the year is conveyed at Is. a
ton, and the price between Dies and Ipswich is t2s. or 3s. a quarter.
The Eastern Union Extension line would not be a readier commu-
nication to Norwich than the Diss and Attleborough branch.
Re-examined by Mr. ANDREWS. Q.C.—lt costs him 7s. a quarter
for conveying wheat, and 6s. for malt, to Liverpool.
By Mr. COWEN—The price of 7s. a quarter is made up by com.
mission, meterage, dues, &c. The average time to Newcastle is two
or three hours.

Mr. Whaide, examined by Mr. Grave—ls an ironmonger at
Diss, getting his wares from Birmingham via Ipswich and Yar-
mouth. Supposing they had a communication between Diss and
Birmingham, the most invaluable accommodation would be afforded
the former. Pig iron is now obtained from Scotland, and reaches
Diss through Yarmouth.
Cross-examined by Mr. WHATRLEY, Q.C.—Now one-fifth of the
coal consumed at Dies is procured from Ipswich.
Previous to the separation of the Committee it was agreed by
Counsel to present tomorrow a tabular account of the popula-
tion within three miles of the towns. It was also announced
by Mr. Whateley, Q.C., that the opposition of the only resisting
party to the Bury and Cambridge line had been withdrawn.
The Committee adjourned at four o'clock.