The Sun.
London, England, 1845-06-11 00:00:00

The room was then cleared, in order that the Committee might

deliberate.

Mr. Mills, the traffic-manager of the London and Birmingham
Railway, deposed as to the qaantity of goods brought up the line to
London. One-fourth of all the goods thus brought were taken on
to the river Thames. The extension was very much needed to
accommodate the traffic.

prepared to hear what arrangement he had to propose in reference
to the suggestions thrown Out yesterday.
Mr. AUSTIN saw no great difficulty in postponing the considera-
tion of the Bill till a decision was come to on the.other three lines
that had been referred to, but he saw a very great difficulty in
withdrawing the Bill altogether. The expense which this
would entail upon the promoters would be very great. He
would therefore suggest the propriety of postponing any further
proceedings till after the Committee on the London and York line
had come to a decision with respect to that project. They would
be in a better condition then to form a judgment as to the
course proper to be pursued with respect to the proposed
line. He was desirous that they should postpone
it ; also, in consequence of the proceedings that were at present
going on in Parliament with respect to railways in general. On
these grounds, as well as the very great cost which would be en.
tailed by the withdrawal of the Bill altogether, he thought it
better to adjourn the further proceedings for a considerable time,
or till the decision on the York and London line was known. He
thought it right also to mention this, as he did not look upon the
line as contingent or dependent upon the decision that might be
come to upon the other Bills that were at present before Com-
mittees. It commenced at a very important port, and the
other terminus was a very large and populous commerciel
town. He considered that it had independent merits of its
own. Nevertheless, he was quite willing to submit himself to the
feeling of the Committee. He was only desirous that the pro-
moters of the line should not sustain the loss which its withdrawal
altogether would necessarily entail.

IMPORTANT DECISION.

The CHAIRMAN, upon our re-entering the room, declared the
preamble of the Liverpool and Bury line proved, with some
reservations ; these were, first, the deviation at Messrs. Gray's
cotton factory, and, secondly, the stations at Liverpool. They
threw out the Liverpool and Rufford branch, and also
that from Rufford to Rainsford. With the Ormskirk
project they had nothing to do. They reserved the Haig branch,
with the exception of the Liverpool, Rufford, and Rainsford
branches. The preamble of the Manchester and Liverpool Exten.
sion Bill was still under consideration.
The Committee then adjourned.

Mr. Roy, and Mr. Thomnson, the Secretary of the West London,
proved that negotiations were in progress three years ago for the
purchase of the plot of ground at Chelsea, and that Lord Kensington
assented to the extension two years ago.
This closed the case for the Bill.

Mr. CHAMBERS addressed the Committee on behalf of the Board
of Highways for the parish of St. Luke against the Bill, on the
ground that the railway would interfere with the roadway and
esplanade along the banks of the Thames.

Mr. Whitehead, solicitor to the Chelsea Improvement Act, gave
evidence to this effect, when the Committee adjourned.

GROUP N.

SOUTH DEVON, TAVISTOCK, AND oTi-azg
ERANCHES. THE LAUNCESTON AND
SOUTH DEVON.

Immediately on the assembling of the Committee, the room was
cleared After remaining in deliberation for an hour,
The CHAIRM•N made the following announcement:—That the
Committee were not prepared to come to a decision on these Bills
until they had had further experience respecting them, more par.
ticularly with respect to the adoption of atmospheric
traction. Not being desirous to reject Bills which
had been brought before them at great expense,
they had consulted the Speaker respecting the course whici, they
should adopt, and they had come to the determination to adjourn
until Tuesday, the Bth of July. As it was possible that they might
not be able to come to a decision in time for the Bills to pass this
session, they would then probably report to the House, that they
may be placed under its protection with other Bills which could
not pass into a law during the present session.

The CHAIRMAN thought as great stress was laid by Mr. Austin
in opening the case on the traffic from Sheffield, and the towns in
that direction, to Goole, he did not see how they could enter into
a consideration of its merits till a decision was come to on the
Swinton and Doncaster, and other lines that were then under con-
sideration.

Mr. AUSTIN said that nothing was more common than the pro-
jection of two or three competing lines when one was first pro-
posed, but he would show such a case on behalf of the Doncaster
and Goole line, that the Committee must, on the reasonable grounds
which he would offer, give their sanction to it.
The CHAIRMAN thought, as the decision of the Committee on
the London and York line was not likely to be ascertained for
a considerable time, it better that they should adjourn till a certain
fixed day.
Mr. AUSTIN acceded to the motion.

Some evidence was then given with respect to the branches, and
the Committee adjourned until the day they had named.

GROUP P.
SOUTH WALES RAILWAY.
The Committee re-assembled at the usual hour this morning, and
soon after proceeded to business.
Sir T. PHILLIPS resumed the examination of Mr. Birkland. He
deposed that the amount of iron annually exported from Newport
varied considerably, but during the last year it was 220,000 tons,
and of coals, 600,000 tons. Great quantities of timber and char-
coal were produced in Herefordshire, and those articles were very
valuable to mining and manufacturing districts. The timber, at
present, was conveyed down the Wye into Monmouthshire, and
the Monmouth branch would be of great use in its conveyance.
The quantity of iron that was produced in the Merthyr diatricts
and sent to Cardiff for exportation, amounted to 18,000 tons
yearly, and the trade was rapidly increasing. A 'great
traffic existed in iron ores from Newport and Cardiff.
A similar trade in agricultural produce existed both at Newport
and at Cardiff, with the exception that at Cardiff a greater traffic
existed in such produce. The imports and exports to and fro be.
tween Bristol and Gloucester and Cardiff amounted to 89,000
tons annually. The intercommunication between Glamorganshire
and Pembrokeshire and Monmouthshire was, very considerable,
and the establishment of a railroad through those districts was
highly desirable. The valley of Neath abounded in mineral pro-
duce, and there were chemical works in the neighbourhood, which
produced considerable quantities of acids. There was a
canal extending up the Neath valley, which would com-
municate with the proposed railway. The aggregate quan-
tity of coal used amounted to 150,000 tons annually.
The population of the Neath district amounted to 5,000, and a
considerable population also existed between Cardiff and Neath.
All the copper ores that were consumed In South Wales were im.
ported into Swansea ; the consumption was fully:three-fourths of
the entire quantity consumed in Great Britain. The value of the
copper was estimated at about 2,000,0001. Some of the copper was ex-
ported to foreign markets, and to Bristol, Liverpool, and London. The
continuation of a railway would afford very great facility for the
transit of the copper. A large number of persons frequented
Swansea during the summer months, fur the purpose of sea-
bathing. The annual consumption of cJal at Swansea amounted
to 50,000 tons, and it would be a convenient port for the exporta-
tion of coals to Ireland. A great interchange of produce
existed throughout the whole of the South Wales district, amount-
ing to 500,000 tons annually, and he knew of no other locality
in the kingdom which so much needed the facilities for convey-
ance which a railway would afford. The metallic productions
through all the districts which the line traversed were very
valuable. The: quantity of tin plates manufactured last year
amounted to between 27,000 and 28,000 tons, the value of which,
being estimated at 301. per ton, was about 800,000/. Consider-
able quantities of block tin, spelter, and copper ore were also
manufactured in the vicinity of the line. The quantity
of iron produced during the last year amounted to
between 450,000 and 500,000 tons, which, being estimated at the
present average value of 9/. per ton, would yield a result of
4,500,0001. These calculations had all been taken from the
quantities of 1844, which gave only a low average, and they would
be considerably increased during the present year. The total
value of the entire mineral produce, exclusive of coal, taking the
estimate of last year, amounted to between 9,000,000/. and
10,000,000/. He had no hesitation in saying that, in his opinion,
the greater part of the traffic in South Wales would be carried by
railway, if such a means of conveyance was in existence.
Mr. COOKE, who appeared to oppose the line on behalf of the
Stroud Canal Company, was about to cross-examine the last wit-
ness, when he was interrupted by
Mr. TALBOT, who denied the right of Counsel to cross.examine
the witness on general points.
After some discussion the room was ordered to be cleared, and
on our re.entranee
The CHAIRMAN said that the Committee were of opinion that Mr.
Cooke should be restricted in his cross-examination to the parti-
cular points which affected the Company for whom he appeared,
and that he should not be at liberty to enter generally into all the
bearings of the line.
Mr. Cooke did not proceed with his cross-examination.
The witness was cross-examined shortly by Mr. Law on behalf
of Sir Richard Phillips, but nothing of material importance was
elicited.
Mr. WHITMORE, who appeared on behalf of the Welsh Midland
Railway,was objected to being heard. The objection was allowed.
Air. Sergeant WRANGHAM then proceeded to cross-examine the
witness on behalf of Mr. Place, a landowner.
Mr. Davies, of Gloucester, cross-examined Mr. Brickland on
behalf of the Rev. Mr. Jones, a landowner, and possessing an in-
terest in the Forest of Dean Railway.
Mr. Stainton, manufacturer at Stroud, was next examined
by Mr. BENSON—He knew the line of the South Wales Railway,
and was of opinion that, from the facilities it would afford for
the conveyance of coals into Stroud, they would be cheapened
nearly one-half of their present price. The population that would
be benefited from the diminution in the price of coal from the
proposed railway was upwards of 50,000.
In answer to a question from Sir PHILIP RIDLEY, Mr. Stainton
replied that he had heard the Admiralty had interfered with the
proposed erection of a bridge across the Severn for the purposes
of the railway.
On cross examination by Mr. LAW, he said he did not con.
eider the navigation of the river would be injured by erecting the
bridges.
Mr. Nathaniel Marley concurred entirely with the statements
of the last witness.
Mr. Fisher was next examined—He stated he had been eaten.
sively engaged in preparing traffic tables for several railway corn.
panies, and had made up the traffic tables for the South Wales
Railway, in conjunction with Mr. Buckland. He had heard the
testimony of that gentleman, and entirely agreed with him in his
statements of the traffic.
The Committee adjourned till twelve to-morrow.

Mr. CROWDER objected to the postponement of the Bill. He
considered it unfair to his clients, who were opposed to the Bill, in
consequence of the expenses which the postponement would entail.
He would, therefore, submit to the Committee that Mr. Austin
should either proceed with hi 3 Bill, or withdraw it altogether.
The CHAIRMAN then ordered the room to be cleared, and the
Committee remained in consultation about half an hour.
On our re-admission

The CH•IRMAN said that the Committee had given the case their
best consideration, and they were of opinion that if they were to
accede to the first alternative proposed, namely, that of going on with
the Bill, they {could be proceeding under disadvantageous circum-
stances, as they could not come to a decision while the other Bills
were pending. They therefore thought that the best course to
adopt was to postpone the Bill till Monday, the 7th of July.
The Committee then proceeded with the several clauses of the
Wakefield, Pontefract, and Goole line, which occupied them for
the remainder of the day.

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY MORNING, JUNE 11, 1845.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
HOUSE OF LORDS. June 10.
Their Lordships assembled at the usual hour.
Messengers from the Commons brought up several Bills,
which were read a first time.
MAYNOOTH.
Petitions against the grant to Maynooth were presented by
the Duke of Buckingham, the Earl of Radnor, and Lord
Campbell.