The railway committee.

The Railway Committee of the Privy Council held a meeting this morning, when Hon. Charles Fitzpatrick too his seat as a member of the court for the first time since his appointment as Minister of Justice. The other members present were Hon. A. G. Blair, Chairman, Hon. J. Israel Tarte and Hon. M. E. Bernier. The Toronto and Toronto Junction cases were allowed to stand by consent. Application was made by the Schomberg & Aurora Railway Company for approval of the plans and modes of crossing by that railway of the Grand Trunk Railway at a point north of King station. Mr. Moore of Toronto represented the applicants, and Mr. Biggar of Belleville appeared for the Grand Trunk. The latter raised the objection that the applicants had deviated from their original plan and now proposed to cross on the level instead of making an overhead bridge. Moreover, there was a heavy grade on the Grand Trunk Railway at this point, and the Schomberg Railway approached the Grand Trunk on a curve.

Mr. Blair said a Government engineer had inspected the location of the proposed crossing and did not consider it dangerous.

The case was, however, allowed to stand until the solicitors on both sides had had an opportunity of perusing the report of the engineer referred to.

Approval was given to the plans and profiles for the crossing by the Tilsonburg, Lake Erie & Pacific Railway Company of highways in the Townships of Durham and Oxford and the Town of Ingersoll, subject to approval by the Government engineer.

On behalf of the Grand Trunk, Mr. Biggar made application that the costs of occasional inspection of its tracks on King street, Berlin, by the Berlin & Waterloo Street Railway Company should be charged against the latter company. To this the Street Railway Company objected on the ground that to saddle it with the cost of inspection would be an invasion of the terms of the order upon which the maintenance of the crossing was settled. The matter stood in order that the parties might try to reach an amicable agreement.

Permission was sought by the C.P.R. to construct a branch line in the Town of Smith's Falls. the consent of the municipality having been obtained. Mr. Mulock thought there should be some evidence that the interests of the property-owners along the line of railway would not be injuriously affected, and the motion was allowed to stand, in order that evidence might be brought to show that the company had given proper notice to the public of the application.

Railways: B. & W.St.Ry., C.P.Ry., G.T.Ry., S. & A.Ry. , T.L.E. & P.Ry.

Stations: King

Results