The Sun.
London, England, 1845-07-09 00:00:00

RAILWAY COMMITTEES.
(YESTERDAY.)

HOUSE OF LORDS.
nunLiN AND BELFAST JUNCTION
RAILWAY.
The Lords' Select Committee on this railway assembled for the
first time this morning.
Mr. Talbot, Q.C., and Mr. Murphy, appeared for the promoters.
and Mr. M. Chambers for the opponents.
Mr. TALsar stated that the line was to connect the Dub i!nst.
Drogheda Railway with the Ulster and Belfast line, and thwir
completing the railway communication between Dublin and
Belfast. The line would take in the important towns of
Drogheda, Dundalk, Newry, and Portadown, and be about 56
miles in length. It ran along the coast, and, for forty-six miles it
presented no engineering difficulties worth speaking of. There was
a competing project running inwardly, but it did so at the expense
of leaving out some of the most important towns on the route be.
tween Portadown and Drogheda. It was estimated that the coast
line would only cost 7,0001., but the measure of the gradients and
works on the inland line were such that it could not be con-
structed for less than 12,000/• per mile, while the
line presented many other objections of a minor character.
Mr. Frederick Turner, a merchant, and Mr. Smith, a dealer in
agricultural produce at Drogheda, spoke to the important accom-
modation the proposed line would afford to the trade and commerce
of that line.
Mr. Shillington, a corn- dealer at Portadown, proved that the
proposed line would greatly facilitate the linen and flax trade of that
district.
Mr. P. Russell, a distiller of Dundalk, proved that the line would
be of considerable importance to that town.
Mr. Ackerley estimated the traffic likely to come on the pro.
posed line at 129,741/. 135., and, after deducting forty per cent.
for working expenses, and forty per cent. to. other purposes, there
would still be left nine per cent. for the shareholOaL
The Committee then adjourned till eleven o'clock to-morrow.

NORTH WALES MINERAL HAZY:WAY.
The Select Committee on this Bill, Lord Lovelace, hairman.
met this morning. It proposes to construct a railway from
ham to Cefn Mawr, in the county of Denbigh. Length; sixmiles. Capital, 120,000!.
Wrex.
Mr. Austin appeared for the promoters of the Bill ; Mr. Seri
liG
Allen and Mr. Daniels for Mr. Walley, who is receiver in the'
Court of Chancery for the Plas Maddock estate.
Mr. AUSTIN briefly stated the case on behalf of the promoters of"
tha Bill. He pointed out the advantages which the line would
confer on the distfct, explained the engineering peculiarities, which
he represented to be generally favourable, and detailed the WA.;
and the profits that might reasonably be expected.
Mr. Whalley petitioned against the present line, and in favour
of a deviation line that would save the property in question.
Some discussion arose as to whether evidence was admissible irs
favour of the deviation line, after which the room was cleared.
On our return,
The CHAIRMAN decided that evidence was not admis-
sable on behalf of the deviation line, as, if the evidence went
in favour of it, it would not be possible to carry it through this
session. They would, however, receive any evidence that might
be offered, as to the injury the proposed line would do to the pro-
perty in question, in order to see whether it was such as to justify
the Committee in rejecting the Bill. He (the Chairman) sug-
gested that the parties should retire and try to come to an amicable
settlement.
It was then agreed that the counsel and agents retire for half

an hour.
On their return, Mr. MILLER intimated that a satisfactory ar-
rangement had been come to, and that the opposition was withdrawn.
Witnesses were then called formally to prove the preamble of
the bill.
On the termination of the evidence, which only lasted to
short time, the Committee decided the preamble of the Bill to be
proNei, and the cLuses being gone through, the report to the
House was agreed upon, when the Committee broke up.

RICHMOND AND SURREY RAILWAY.
The Select Committee on this Bill met this morning at eleven
•'clock, when the opposition to it was withdrawn, and the evidence
on behalf of the preamble taken. This occupied but a short time,
when the preamble of the Bill was declared to be proved, the clauses
read and agreed to, and the report ordered to be brought up before
the House.

BRISTOL .ND EXETER RAILWAY•
The Lords' Select Committee re.assembled this afternoon, and
passed the preamble, inserting clauses in the Bill to protect the In.
terests of the landholders who had opposed it.

CORNWALL RAILWAY.
The Committee met at eleven o'clock, the Earl of EllenbotOUgh
in the chair.
The first matter brought under the consideration of the Com-
mittee was whether or no the Central Cornwall and Devon Rail-
way had a locus :Saudi before the Committee. The question w`ei
yesterday argued very fully and the argument was resumed this
morning by Mr. Sergeant Kinglake.
After considerable discussion the Committee decided that upon
the Falmouth petition only their opposition would be entertained bY
the Committee.
Mr. AUSTIN then addressed the Committee on the merits of the
respective lines, showing the merits of the Cornwall line beyond any
other that could be selected, and quoting the report of the Board of
Trade to the same effect. The Learned Counsel also stated that
there was nobody of any weight or authority in the county of Corn-
wall opposed to the Bill. The Earl of St. Germans, Lord Vivian,
Lord Mountedgecumbe, and all the noblemen and landed pro-
prietors in the county, were in favour of the Cornwall line. The
Learned Counsel described the course of the line and its engineering
difficulties and facilities, but these matters have been so fully and
so recently before our readers in the report of the proceedings of
the Committee of the House of Commons, that it is unnecessary to
repeat them. The Learned Counsel also remarked upon the several
petitions which had been presented, one in particular from the
vicar and churchwardens of St. Austell, praying earnestly for a
deviation in the line. The Learned Coinage' said he was quite
willing to accede to the prayer of that petition. In
point of fact there were only two landowners who
petitioned on the ground of interference with private property;
their opposition was indeed pertinacious and determined, but for-
tunately Parliament gave ample powers to make the line in spite
of them, when that line was proved to be desirable in point of pub-
lic convenience and public utility. Due compensation would of
course be made to all whose property was in any way affected.
Mr. William Broad was the first witness examined—ls Mayor
of Falmouth. Knows the harbour. The principal point in this
wittiesss' evidence was the falling off in the number of foreign
packets which formerly harboured at Falmouth, but left, and went
to Southampton in consequence of the want of railway communica-
tion for the transmis.ion of goods and passengers. The harbour
dues were light. The traffic would be very considerable in case the
new line was carried out.
The Earl of ELLENBOROUCIII observed that this evidence went to
show the importance of a railway communication, not of the line
proposed. Such evidence as this would not be disputed by the op-
ponents of the Bill.
Mr. HARTLEY said he did not dispute the importance of a rail-
way communication with Falmouth, but, on behalf of the oppo-
nents of the Bill, would be inclined fully to support it.
Mr. AUSTIN observed that his experience before Railway Com-
mittees had taught him that the importance of a line of railway
could not be very well left for mere assumption, and he would

therefore tender evidence to that effect.
Mr. Bread went on with his evidence. Ninety-nine out of every
hundred of the people of Falmouth were in favour of the Bill be-
fore the Committee, all the principal traders and merchants in-
clutled.
Cross-examined—llimself and family were shareholders in the
Cornwall line. Did not think this line would be at all injurious
to Falmouth. Supported the present line, because it was the best
that could be got.
Mr. Alfred Fox, a merchant residing at Falmouth, gave evidence

in favour of the projected line.
Mr. George Smith, of Camborne, in Cornwall, inventor of the
patent safety fuse, likewise stated that he considered the Cornwall
line would be most desirable, and he supported his evidence by
reference to the traffic tables. 27,000 persons were engaged in
working mines in Cornwall, and the number of persons depending
on mining labour was 100,000. The population of Cornwall was

the most locomotive in England.
Mr. E. Sharp, customs' agent for Truro, in Cornwall, was next
examined—A large quantity of sour was yearly imported into the
mining districts. He approved of the projected Cornwall line.
Mr. Reynolds, a grocer at Truro, likewise gave evidence in
tavour of the line.
'rise Committee adjourned soon after four o'clock.

TIIE OXFORD, VITORCZISTER, AND W'Olr-
VF.RaIAIVIPTON RAILWAY.
BROAD AND NARROW GAUGES.
The Select Committee on this Bill met to-day in the Vice.
Chancellm's Court, Lord Auckland in the chair.
Mr. Cockburn and Mr. Talbot appeared for the promoters of the
Bill ; Mr. Merton, Mr. \Vrangham, and Mr. Hope for the peti.
tioners against the Bill.
Mr. COCKBURN proceeded to open the case for the promo-
ters of the Bill. He stated that the line was intended to connect
the important agricultural districts of the south with the mineral
districts of the Borth, so as t.) admit of an interchange of produce.
Having explained the nature of the route of the line, he then
stated that there was an opposition to the Bill from a Company
called the Tring, or London and Birmingham line. That line was
longer and more circuitous, and did not accommodate such populous
and wealthy districts, and would cost much more in the construc-
tion than that proposed by the Bill—the estimated expense of
the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton line being
1,600,0001. ; and that of the Oxford and Rugby, 600,0001.,
making together 2,100,0001. ; whereas the rival lines were
estimated to cost 3,080,0001. With respect to the towns of
Stourbridge and Droitwich, the line proposed by the Bill accom.
modated Droitwich, which was an important place, with large
salt-works, while Stourbridge was a place of little commercial
importance. With respect to that portion of the line from Oxford
to Abbotswood, it was proposed to lay it down with the broad gauge
exclusively ; but with respect to that portion of the line
from Abbutswood to the north , it was proposed to
lay down two sets of rails on both the broad and narrow gauges, so
as to accommodate the important iron and coal districts of Stafford-
shire. The Learned Gentleman concluded by referring to the esti-
mated traffic, engineering peculiarities, &c., and proceeded to call
his witnesses.
Mr. Matthews, of Edgbaston, Birmingham, was the first witness
called. He was an ironmaster, and had works in the neighbourhood
of Birmingham. He deposed to the circumstances which
led to the origin of the present scheme. It aro!e,
he said, from a number of gentlemen in the midland counties
being dissatisfied with the amount of railway accommodation
soliciting the Great Western Company to take steps to supply the
desideratum. After several interviews the present scheme was
.
the result. He believed the great majority of the iron-masters in
the district were in favour of the scheme under consideration.
The competing schemes were not thought of the present one
was before the public. He had no hesitation in saying that the
present scheme was far more important for the public interests
p
than the other. It would accommodate a much greater number
of public works. He
>t
e had a plan
plan, whichand woulai l exd
ned show th
itis
at clearly
some
nlileticioensidered that all the concessions
The
length w
w itn
th eess cotmhernnitti
elt
that had been made to the public within the last year had been
occasioned by the fear of competition. There were about 140 fur.
naces in the district, of which 100 were in blast. Of these he
believed there were about 61 whose proprietors were in favour of
the Bill.
Cross-examined by Mr. IlorE—At the last meeting of the iron-
masters he believed the majority were in favour of the Bill. The
subject of tolls was discussed, and he rebutted certain charges
of Mr. Sparrow, a considerable ironmaster in South Staffordshire.
This was about a fortnight ago. He (the witness) endeavoured to
chow that Mr. Sparrow laboured under a misunderstanding re-
specting the toll clauses, and that if there was any ambiguity in
them, he believed that it was not intended. Mr. Sparrow's charges
against the Bill were very broadly and emphatically stated,
iiii though he did not attempt to go into detail on the sub-
ject. He stated the result of an interview with the
Chairman of the Great Western Company, and also the
Chairman of the new, at which an agreement was come to expla-
natory of the true interpretation of the toll clauses, on which the
discussion had arisen. The witness was next subjected to a
very close cross-examination of the respective merits of the two
gauges to accommodate the mineral traffic of the district, during
which he maintained that not only for the advantage of the iron.
masters, but the interest of the public, the broad gauge was much
preferable to the narrow one.
The Committee then adjourned till to morrow, when the ctou
examination of the witness will be resumed.