C. who had routed the
enemy. Littler enjoyed it immensely, and was charmed with Irish warmth
and Irish ways. Full of good humour and good nature himself, with a
lively wit, and an easy unaffected manner, he gained new friends to our
cause, and increased the zeal of old ones. He was a charming companion,
a keen observer and interested in everything he saw and everybody he met.
Before the next session arrived my company determined upon a bold course,
and decided to themselves lodge a Bill to acquire the Waterford and
Limerick line. There was much to be said for this. With the Waterford
and Limerick in our hands the competition, which the public loved, would
continue, whilst in the hands of the Great Southern monopoly would
prevail. That we would command much public support seemed certain. So
in the following year three Bills were presented to Parliament, viz.:--
Midland Great Western
Great Southern and Western and Waterford and Limerick
Great Southern and Western and Waterford and Central Ireland
That Parliament regarded these proposals as being of more than ordinary
importance is clear from the fact that it referred the three Bills to a
Joint Select Committee of both Houses--Lords and Commons--describing them
as "The Railways (Ireland) Amalgamation Bills.
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