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

GROUP W.

The Committee, to whom the railways comprised in this group
were referred, met this morning at twelve o'clock.

The Ca•i Imo( then announced that they would proceed, agree-
ably to the arrangement entered into on Friday last, with the Don-
caster and Goole line, and as they had not finished all the elaubes
of the Wakefield, Pontefract, and Goole fine, they would procee4
with the remainder of them to-morrow.

The consideration of the
DONCASTER AND GOOLE RAILWAY

was then proceeded with.

Messrs. Austin and Pollock appeared on behalf of the promoters
of the Bill; Mr. Pickering (on behalf of the Don Navigation Com-
pany;, and Mr. Bliss (on behalf of the landowners on the line),
appeared to oppose the Bill.
Mr. AUSTIN then opened his case. The Doncaster and Goole
projected line was intended to connect the port of Goole
with Doncaser. It was 18 miles in length, and the capi-
tal was 280,0013/. He would not oppose the evidence
which had already been brought before the Committee, nor descant
upon the importance of the port of Goole. The traffic which this
!Me would accommodate could be served by none of the lines which
had been before the Committee. The only serious opposition to
the line was from the Don Navigation Company, for the
opposition of Mr. Bliss on the part of the landowners
was merely on account of the agricultural nuisance which
might be expected from the line passing through their
property. The Learned Counsel then referred to the different
places whose traffic would be accommodated by the proposed line,
and enumerated Sheffield, Barnsley, Stafford, Birmingham, Wol-
verhampton, Belpar, and Derby. There is at present a branch
between Rotherham and Sheffield, which, by connecting with
the North Midland line, would afford almost a direct COM.
monication between Sheffield and Goole. It would also
open up a communication with Nottingham, Leicester, and the
various coal.fieds along the whole line. At Barnsley there were
extensive linen manufactures, and there were also in its neighbour.
hood immense beds of coal and iron-stone, which would find a ready
outlet by the proposed line. Sheffield, which had a population
of 120,000, would also find a more convenient and cheaper
mode of conveyance for the traffic which it now sends
to Hull. The line of railway at present existing from Sheffield to
Hull was seventy.six miles in length. The proposed line from
Sheffield to Goole was only thirty.six miles. The cost of a quarter
of wheat by the present conveyance from Sheffield to Hull was
Is. 10(1. ; the cost by the proposed line to the tort of
Goole from Sheffield was only 10d. He adduced that
as a specimen of the comparative transit of the two
lines. With regard to goods, the cost by the best con.
ecyance was 10s. per ton, and by the proposed line it would be only
3s lid. There was a saving, too, of time. Goods were at pre-
sent five hours in the carriage, and by the proposed line only
two hours and a half would be occupied. The Learned
Counsel then referred to the traffic of the Don Nevi •
gation Company, and contrasted the bad navigation
and heavy tolls and delays of the Don, which was 191 i
miles in length, and a long turnpike road of 22 miles in length,
with the cheap, rapid, and convenient accommodation which would
be afforded by the proposed line. As a proof of the traffic which at
present existed in that district he would state that at present there
were 18,000 tons of goods carried weekly to and fro
on the Don, and no less than 1,000 tons of coal a day from the
collieries on the line. He would not take up the time of the Com.
mittee by alluding to the engineering works on the line, or to the
estimates. There was no engineering difficulty on the line. It was
very easy of construction, and almost fiat, and no injury would be
sustained by any house or residence along the whole course of the
line. He would now proceed to call witnesses, in proof of the
traffic, &c.

Mr. WiLcius, on the part of the Wakefield, Pontefract, and
Goole line, said that he would be under the necessity of opposing
the line if Mr. Austin would rely on the traffic of Barnsley or Ashton.
They were much nearer to the line on which he had been engaged
than they were to the proposed line ; and the Manager of the
Barnsley Coal Company had actually entered into an agreement
with the Wakefield, Pontefract, and Goole lime for the carriage of
their coals. He could not therefore allow the traffic to be again
adduced in favour of the proposed line.
Mr. AUSTIN did not intend to tely upon the traffic of those
places. He had merely mentioned them in the course of his re.
marks, but not for the purpose of relying upon them as a principal
pcint In his case.

The CHAIRMAN thought it better if he dropped the Barnsley and
Ashton traffic altogether.
Mr. AUSTIN agreed to do so, and Mr. Wilkins tken withdrew
his opposition.

Mr. Brown, a coal and salt merchant, living at Masberough, was
then examined. He was a manager of the goods traffic on the
Don Navigation from 15:29 to 1539. His province was to receive
the dues at Rotherham. The supply of water on the Don Navi-
gation for the last eighteen months was very bad. Two days we,e
at present occupied in passing between Rotherham and Goole.
The distance was thirty-eight miles, and the carriage of goods cost
6s. Sd. to is. per ton. The witness then proceeded to give evi-
dence on the difficulties of the Don Navigation, and the traffic
which at present existed in that district, all of which have been
already referred to in Mr. Austin's opening speech. He consi.
dercd that the proposed line would be of great aivantage. The
people of Sheffield were all favourable to it.
Messrs. PICKERING and Buss cross-examined this witness at
considerable length ; after which,
The CHAIRMAN asked if there wire many more witnesses to
be examined ?

Mr. Pot.Loce replied that there were a considerable number, but
the time of the Committee would not be occupied unnecessarily.
The CIIAIIVIAN then ordered the room t• be cleared, and the
Committee remained in consultation for about a quarter of an
hour.

On our re-admission,
The CHHAIRN•N requested Mr. Austin, the leading counsel in
the case, to be sent for.
Mr. Austin, having been engaged in addressing another Com.
mittee, could not make it convenient to attend.

The CHAIRMAN then said that the Committee found it would be ex.
ceedingly difficult to come to a satisfactory conclusion with re-
spect to the proposed line. There were three schemes at present
before Committees, the decision on which would materially in-
fluence the Committee as to the course they should adopt with the
proposed line. In the first place there was the Swinton branch to
Doncaster; secondly, the proposed Sheffield anti GaineKirough branch;
and, thirdly, and above all, the projected London and York line,
which would run side by side with the proposed line, at many
points not more than 2 miles distant. He did not mean to say how
far any of the projected lines would, if carried, interfere with the de.
cision of the Committee as to the proposed line, but he would suggest
the propriety of withdrawing the proposed line for the present, and
suspending any further proceedings with it till another session. He
would be glad that Mr. Pollock would consult with Mr. Austin
till to.morrow, as to the course they should think right to adopt
under the circumstances, and communicate their intentions to the
Committee by to-morrow morning.
Mr. Pouocit assented to the proposal of the Chairman.
The Committee then adjourned till twelve o'clock to-morrow.

GROUP X.
CAMBRIDGE AND LINCOLN LINE.

At the sitting of the Committee this day tae cross-exarnina.
tion of Mr. Rendall by Mr. Sergeant WRANiHAhI was resumed.
The principal object et it was to show the utility of the drains in
what was called the "Loup line." His opinion was, that a railroad
intersecting these drains, which were local roads, would have all
the traffic now carried on upon them transferred to the railway.
'1 he cross-examination next referred to the cuttings on the datum
line. On the 16th mile from Cambridge, where it weuld cross the
" great wash," there was a discrepancy discovered by the
Counsel between the actual height of the cutting and
the distance marked on the datum line, by which it
appeared that this line, if carried out in accordance with
the section, would pass at a distance of ten feet under the bank of
the Great Wash. (Some discussion arose on this point, as to whe-
ther the question might to be put, but the Committee allowed It,
and the witness said that such a work could not, in fact, be done).
Mr. Sergeant WiIINGRAM said that, with such evidence, he
would contend that it would be idle for the Committee to enter
any further upon the investigation of this line, for if it even re.
ceive.l the Royal assent to-morrow, it could never be proceeded
with, owing to this fatal objection. The Learned Counsel then
proceeded to read the Standing Orders, applicable to his objection.

Mr. HILDYARD said that it was distinctly understood between
all the counsel that all Standing Order objections should be waived,
and that they should fight out the Bills on their merits. However,
his application to the Committee now was that they should proceed
with the inquiry, and that this objection was met by a clause in the
general Act, by which no work eould be proceeded with until
any additional proposed alterations should be intimated to the
clerks of the peace, &c.; and this difficulty might be proposed to
be met, either by a trough, or by deepening th beds of the river.
Bcsidts, the Committee had the power to ordee the insertion of a
clause to rectify this inaccuracy, which he conrtended was nothing
more than a technical objection. Whether the House of Com-
mons would approve of the alteration or not, was another question ;
but certainly the Committee had the power to do so.
At the close of the discussion the room was ordered to be
cleared , and the Committee remained in consultation three.quar-
ters of an hour, at the expiration of which period the parties were
re-admitted, and
The CHAIRMAN stated, that the Committee considered this to be
a question of suck great importance, that they would take until to•
morrow to decide, and that they would announce that decision at
one o'clock.
They then adjourned at five o'clock.

HOUSE of LORDS.—(YESTERDAY.)