The Sun.
London, England, 1845-07-08 00:00:00

TON R.A.XLIWILY

SOUTRPOIZT AND EUXTON SUNCTIOX.

As only Sir Chlries Lemon, Chairman, and the Hon. Mr. Hope
attended this morning, no evidence was called on either of these
Bills, and these Members having sat for some time, the Committee
adjourned until to morrow at three o'clock.

GROUP N.
IMPORTANT DECISION.

LAUNCESTON AND SOUTH DEVON, SOUTH
I 9 VOA AND TAVISTOCIC, AID OTHER
BRANCHES.

The Committee on these Bills re-assembled this morning. They
adjourned from the 10th of June until today, as the members
were then unprepared to pronounce an opinion on the atmospheric
principle, by which it is proposed to work the South Devon and
Tavistock line.

The preamble of the 13ill for the Launceston line was declared to
have been proved at their last meeting. The clauses were now gone
through and agreed to with some amendments, and the Chairman
was desired to report their decision to the House.

The Committee room was then cleared. On the re admission of
strangers,
The CHAIRMAN (Mr. Macaulay) declared the preamble of the
SOUTH DEVON, TAVISTOCIE, AND
BiI..ANCHES BILL

had been proved.
Considerable discussion ensued with respect to the Dartmoor
Railway, which belongs to Messrs. Johnson, and
Mr. BRAMWELL suggested that, unless the promoters either gave
up the powers given to them under the old Act, or put them in
force, they should report against that portion of the Bill.
The COMMITTEE declared that they could not call upon the Com-
pany to do so. _ .

Clauses were inserted to protect the property of the Messrs. John-
son ; and the Chairman having been requested to report their de-
cision to the House, the Committee adjourned.

GROUP NN.

BLACKWALL .111:173 EPFING
The Committee on this scheme, after several adjournments, re-
assembled to-day, arid proceeded, without further delay, with the
business before them.

Mr. WIIATELEY addressed the Committee on behalf of the pro-
moters. It appeared that it was the intention of the Blackwall
Company to carry back their line as far as Fenchurch-street into
the City, and thence, by a branch to Stepney, to connect with
the Eastern Counties Railway at Stratford, to Westham and
Epping. No property of any great value, or of an ornamental
nature, would be required to be taken for the purposes of the rail-
way. The objects of the railway were greatly required for
the inhabitants of Bow and Westham. There was no rail.
way between those places, and the intermediate ground was so
heavy that even the omnibusses could not run ; and if the railway
were made from Epping it would be a great convenience to persons
in that district. The agricultural produce was large in
Epping and its neighbourhood, and a sufficient market was greatly
needed. He would show in evidence that the railway would afford
great facilities for conveying the agricultural produce to London for
sale. The population of the district which it was proposed to tra-
verse, would give a fair estimate of the necessity of a railway being
constructed. The majority of the gentlemen who inhabited Epping,
pursued professional and business avocations in London, and they
were all desirous of having the railway. As to the Blackwall Rail-
way, it appeared that the estimated number of passengers
before the line was constructed, was two millions three hundred
and thirty-one thousand,but, subsequently, after the line had been
made, the number of passengers amounted to 2,402,000. The original
estimate was not very wide of the mark, and it was only reason-
able to suppose that the passenger traffic, as would presently ap-
pear from the tables of the Epping Extension, was correct. The
Eastern and North-Eastern lines conveyed nearly a million of per-
sons. The Epping Railway would not interfere with its traffic, but
would convey it into the heart of the City. He was in a situation
to bring before them the traders and other parties of the district, to
show the importance of having a direct railway communication with
London. The line was proposed to be constructed by a company
who possessed abundant means of making the line, and of after-
wards keeping it in thorough repair. He weuld not trouble the Com-
mittee to listen to any details connected with gradients, and curves,
and other technical matters connected with the construction of the
line, it would be sufficient to say that there were no engineering
difficulties. The only opposition against the line was from the
Eastern Counties Railway Company. The ground of the opposi-
tion arose from their line being crossed diagonally on the level but
it was intended to go over their line near a station
at the best points both for convenience and safety.
The Blackwall Company were willing to accede to any arrange-
ment that the Committee might recommend. It was urged that
part of the traffic of the Eastern Counties line would be taken, but
this could constitute no ground of objection in a Parliamentary
sense. The promoters of the line for which he appeared would
readily fall in with the views of the Eastern Counties Company
consistent with the public convenience, and with what was due to
the Blackwall Company. These were all the facts that he thought
it necessary to lay before the Committee, and he should now pro-
ceed to call witnesses, alter which he had little doubt that the
Committee would decide that the preamble had been proved.
Mr. Maitland, late Sheriff of the county, deposed generally as
to the convenience which a railway would afford to the inhabitants
of Chigwelt and its vicinity.

Mr. Coxhead Marsh, of Park-hall, spoke as to the facility
which the railway would yield for the conveyance of coal and
manure to Epping. _

Mr. J. G. Walford, Solicitor to the Customs, said the railway
would be of great use as a means of transmission for passengers
from Epping and its locality to London.
_ _

Mr. White, East India director, confirmed the previous
testimony.

Mr. G. Noble, surveyor at Woodford, said the railway would
afford facilities fur the conveyance of lime and other manure for
agricultural purposes at Woodford. Great quantities of cattle were
fattened at that place and its vicinity for the London market, all
of which would be conveyed by the proposed railway if it existed.
The construction of the line would, in his opinion, tend considerably
to increase the value of the land and house property at Woodford.
The grain, corn, and other agricultural produce would all be con-
veyed by railway to London.