The Press. — London, England, 1855-07-28 00:00:00

11. - JULY 28, 1855. triorrtspoitlatut. PURIFICATION OF THE THAMES. TO THE EDITOR OF " THE PRESS." Sir,—You inserted two letters on the 26th of May and 2nd of Juno on the purification of the Thames, in which was questioned the future operations of the proposed Metropolitan Board of Works, to consist of forty-two members, a large majority representing those high districts which have no need of "new bridges over the Thames," nor of "opening up narrow thoroughfares," nor of dispolluting the Thames," the throe works which the Board has per mission to make. . . Taxes are increasing, houses are beginning to be unlet, and the Board will hardly find itself in a posi tion to execute the two former, and the latter remains the subject of especial interest, and peculiarly so at the present moment. The present Commissioners have suspended their proceedings from want of power to purchase land, and Sir B. Hall's new bill gives five years for completing works which might easily he constructed within eighteen months. Henee, if the Board be constituted by the close of the year, it may safely defer the subject for three years to come. Is this to be endured? You have Lord Palmers ton's words on the 4th and 9th of March, 1853, in the House of Commons ; on the 23rd of July, at the Mansion-house; in August, in the House of Com mons ; as also on the 27th of July, 1854, when 300,0001. were granted to commence the construc tion of the two tunnels ; and I now beg to submit a few facts : 1. Since the digpollution of the Thames has been publicly advocated and admitted to be necessary, there have been expended in works causing addi tional pollution—viz., from 1840 to December, 1864 (six years) : For new sewers X418,79 8 -7, . . _ " side entrances, air -shafts, gulleys, &c 75,323 1 0 " repairs, &c " cleansing and flushing " incidental works £718,548 17 4 Cost of private works, 1840, 1854 402,546 11 8 £1,116,093 9 0 Works constructed by the City Commis sion, about £1,210,093 9 0 2. The state of the Thames has been such that one of the large companies whose new works will not be ready till next year, has not been able to take any water from the Thames for the past week. This was publicly stated by Mr. T. Chalmers, the Metropolitan Commissioner of Sewers for Chelsea. 3. The Public Health Act gives power to enforce its adoption when the mortality amounts to 23 in 1,000. In large portions of the metropolis the mor tality has been up to 35,36, 37, and 38, in 1,000, for ten years past ; and yet the Metropolitan Local Management Bill gives only permissive powers —or, as is said, to make the improvements required within five years time. 4. According to Sir B. Hall, the present Commis. sioners of Sewers have a variety of plans "under consideration" for dispolluting the Thames. They invited the submission of plans from the sth of December last to the 3rd of April, when twenty-eight were received, and a committee of the whole Court was held on the 18th of April to consider and select such as were to be further submitted, and it was then resolved— That it be recommended to the Court to order that the reports and communications of the gentlemen under-men. tioned, having reference to the drainage of the metropolis, or part thereof, be referred to a Committee of Engineers for their consideration and report, viz.:—Messrs. Basal gette and Heywood, Mr. Roe, Mr. Morewood, Mr. Perkes, Mr. Booth, Mr. M`Lean, Mr. Law, Mr. Jones, Mr. Bruce, and Mr. Ward. A General Court, including City Commissioners, was thereupon held on the 16th of May, when it was moved and seconded, "that the further consideration of the subjeot be adjourned ;" and, after discussion, the motion was put from the chair and carried. A letter is printed in their minutes, from Sir J. V. Shelley, in which he says that he was unable to attend, and adds : As I have been the chief mover in the question which is to he brought before the Court, I hope I may venture to ask that the question of sending the plans for the main drainage to engineers, dm., may be postponed. Since the 16th of May the hubject has not been " under consideration," as Sir B. Hall's words imply. _ _ 6:Referring the plans for the drainage north and south cf the Thames to engineers, and giving powers to purchase land, is really all that is required; and yet Sir B. Hall actually stated to Parliament on the 3rd inst. that "all the plans, and levels, and con tracts would, under the provisions of the bill, be THE PRESS. made by the Board." This contrasts strangely with his statement on the 9th, when the present Commis sioners have various plans under consideration, and with the fact that they only await a reference to, and report from, engineers. 6. There is but one reason why the bill should be in the hands of the President of the Board of Health. Lighting, and watching, and gas supply, and paving, are not sanitary questions. The dispollution of the Thames, the intercepting tunnels, is the vitality of the bill, and yet the object is hardly likely to be accom plished by a General Board, as proposed by the bill. The ratepayers electing their Vestries, these their Local Boards, and these the General Board, which electing three for chairmen, the Government selecting one of the three, then the choice of officers, the division of districts, the making and raising of rates, will all cause an accumulation of works in respect to the metropolitan area which will scarcely leave time for the General Board to commence the building of new bridges, opening thoroughfares, or intercepting the sewage. 7. A reference to engineers in two months time is almost impossible, as they are out of the country during the autumn. A prompt decision from them now will probably materially narrow the question. The successful candidate would naturally have the supervision of the works, in connection, no doubt, with the ablest engineers. The Royal Institute of British Architects might decide the question of re muneration to be received by him, if not an officer of the Commission. Millions are annually and tens of millions are now being spent on the responsibility of two or three individuals. The engineers to the Commission, or a successful candidate, with other engineers, and her Majesty's Board of Works, or Commission of Sewers, may commence the works within a month, passing them into other hands when constituted. 8. That the Commissioners' plan was quite ready for letting the contracts was shown in your paper of the 26th of May. Nothing will supersede it unless it be more perfect and prepared; and the Metro politan Board, not having to make "all the plans and levels," may perhaps also be dispensed with for making the " contracts." It is much to be feared that the Metropolitan Local Management Bill would be worse than a Sunday Bill, and that the dispollu tion of the Thames would be again and endlessly deferred, leaving us to deserve the ridicule of the world, as able to penetrate a north-west passage, suppress the slave trade, repel northern aggression, &c., and yet unable to remedy an acknowledged and crying evil in our very midst of our own making and continuing. Lastly, Lord Palmerston's promises made during the sessions of 1853 and 1854 have left the question where it was. If the present juncture be lost the whole subject will inevitably be delayed, and probably be entirely lost sight of. Although Parlia ment granted 300,0001. for commencing the works— (July 27th, 1854, Hansard)—yet Sir B. Hall in formed Mr. Walter on the Oth " That there was no power to prevent the nuisance ; that the Commis sioners had no power of acquiring land for the pur pose of making outlets for the drainage ;" and thus the powers granted by Parliament to raise money have remained ineffectual and abortive. 2EOIIIB. July, 1855. FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE. Tuesday, July 24. BANKRUPTB.—WILLrus, Jowx, and Sawtrzt 8. Burrow, Carlisle and Bradford, Yorkshire, wooletaplers—Taos. BARNES, Southampton, woollendraper—Sswom. How, Liverpool, broker —THOKAS CROWDEN TIPTAPT, Taunton, haberdasher—Joux Hssay BRADSHAW Birmingham, innkeeper—Jsisza Bzsans• MORE, Audley, S taffordshire, miller—Twomss Bautos, North Shields, grocer. SCOTCH SEQUESTRATION. Jowls 13zcks, Scotetoun, near Glasgow, contractor. Friday, July 27. BANKRUPTS.-"ARTHUR FERDINAND Ds NROYANN, Glonees ter-street, Pimlico, merchant—ALYßaD GIBSON, Great St. Helen's, City, ship and insurance broker—Tuonts NAIR, Stourbridge, Worcestershire, builder—Bonaire Baown, Lim& street, City, ship and insurance broker—Joint Wasvox, Market Harborough, Leicestershire, tailor and woollen draper—Joun Jonas, Tottenham-court-road, earthenware dealer—Tuouas Reza, Mile-end New-town, shalt and bent Umber manufacturer STZPREN EDWARD SHERWOOD, Selling., near Canter bury, tailor—Pumps Wasson, Loughborough, Leicestershire, bleacher—ANTHONY BIRCH, Birmingham, grocer Prataux Bnowns, Grosvenor-street, Bond-street, Middlesex, wine merchant Jour; JONES, Manchester, machine maker JOSEPH SKINNER, Bouverie-street, Fleet -street, carpenter— ANDREW Ham., Manchester, garden net and Berlin canvas manufacturer—Jamas BEARDSMORE and THOMAS Jon. BARD.- MORE, Stafford, millers—GEOßGE GOODFILLOW, Rowell, North amptonshire, shoe manufacturer—Gaoaea Wets= Howiwa, Liverpool, ironmonger—Wmuem WATRIII FORD, Sydasy-cot tage, liornsey t brushaanufacturer. i)COTCH iIEQUESTRATIONb.—Jauss Scam, Edinburgh, furnishing ironmonger—Gaosoa GonaLar, Glasgow, slater— ANTHONY IWOLIS, Panda, road oontraotor—lßS FORSTSB and Co, Kirkcaldy, merchants. THE CITY STATUE OF SIR ROBERT PEEL, having been finally adjusted on its pedestal at the west end of Cheapside, by the sculptor, Mr. Behnes, waM un covered and inaugurated at eleven o'clock on Satur day morning. Iltiroplitan Varkfts. (Reportedexclusively for "Tits Paige.") CORN - EXCHANGE—The present week's arrivals of English wheat up to our market, coastwise and by land carriage, have been ♦ery limited. Although the show of samples has been trifling, the demand has ruled inactive, and very little change has taken place in the quotations. Foreign wheats—the im port of which have been tolerably good—have sold slowly, on former terms. Floating cargoes have realised full currencies. The arrivals of foreign barley have increased to some extent. and the inquiry has ruled heavy, at barely stationary prices. In the value of malt we have no change to report, but the trade has continued very inactive. Good sound oats have sold steadily, at full quotations; low and inferior kinds have given way fully bd per quarter. In the value of beans, peas, anti dour, no altera tion can be noticed. Eric:imam—Wheat, Essex and Kent white, 75s to 365; red, 698 to Ida; Norfolk and Lincoln red, 688 to 765. Malting barley, 32s to 36s ; grinding ditto, 308 to 328; distilling, 30s to 335. Malt, bas to 725. Feed oats, 26. to 288; potato, 27s to 30s. Nye, 40s to 445. Tick beans, 398 to 435; pigeon, 41s to lbs. Grey peas, 368 to 391; maple, 398 to 41s; white boilers, 49s to 46. per quarter. Town•made flour, CU to 70s; country marks, Us to 618 per 2801bs. ARRIVALS THIS WEEK. Wheat. Barley. Malt. Oats. Flour. English ....2520 .. 110 .. 2680 .. 1180 .. 1810 frish - - Foreign .. 20310 .. 13700 .. .. 28700 .. 2250 ski. Ms. LONDON AVERAGES DECLARED ON FRIDAY—Wheat, 4,141 quarters, 10s 6d ; barley, 316 quarters, 33s 3d ; oats, 3,553 quarters, 28s 7d ; rye, quarters, ; beans, 742 quarters, 43s 3d; peas, 20 quarters, 41s 6d. IMPERIAL WEEKLY AVERAGES—Wheat, 78. 4d; her• ley, 114 s 8d; oats, 28s 6d ; rye, 45s 2d ; beams, 465; peas, 42s 10d. THE STX WEEKS' AVERAGES—Wheat, 76. 4d; barley, 1141 4d; este, 286 6d; rye, 45s 3d; beans, 466 84; peas, 42s M. ENGLISH GRAIN SOLD LAST WEEK Wheat, 95.103; barley, 6,143; oats, 9,477; rye, 91; beans, 9,738; peas, 975 quarters. DREAD—The prices of wheaten broad in the metropolis are from 104 to 104 d; of household, ditto, Bid to 90 per 4ibs loaf. TEA—The business doing in our market this week has been trifling, yet no change has taken place in the quotations. The show of samples eontlnues good. Prices are as follows: Cougou, 84d to 2s 6d; Ning Yong and Oolong, IJd to is 9d; Souchong, 9d to 2s 84 • Flowery Pekoe, Is 4d to Bs 64 ; Caper, is to is 4d; Scented Caper, is 4d to Is 8d: Orange Pekoe, Is 2d to is 6d; Scented Orange Pekoe, Is 8d to 2s 9d; Twankay, 7d to is Id ; Hyson Skin, 71 to Is 6d; Hysou, Is 64 to 3s 9d; Young Hyson, 9d to Ss; Imperial, is to 2s 8d; Ounpowder, is to Si 6d; Auam, is 3d to 4s 44 per lb. Up to Saturday last duty was paid on 26,432,21u1b5, against 24,756,3671bs in 1854. SUGAR—AII raw qualities have changed hands freely, and, in some instances, the quotations have ruled in favour of sellers. Barbados, has realised 35e 6il to 38s; Demerara, 8668 d to 396 6d; Antigua, 366 ed to 375; Mauritius, 34s 64 to 995; Bengal, 34s to 396 64 per cwt. Several cargoes of foreign sugar, afloat, have changed hands at extreme rates. Refined goods are steady. Brown lumps, 46s Gd; and low to fine grocery, 47s to 326 per cwt. The total clearances to the 21st instant were 8,814,652 owls, against 3,796,396 owls last year. MOLASSES—About 500 puns. have found buyers this week, at from 176 6d to 18s 6d per owl. COFFEE A full average business has been trans- acted in most kinds, at full quotations. Plantation, tine, is i quoted at 73. to 80s; tins middling, fille to 73s ; good middling 656 to 680; middling, 59s to 64s • ' fine ordinary to middling, 55s to 585; triage, 43s to 541. Mocha, fine to finest, 785 to 906 ; garbled, 886 to 77s ; ungarbled, 566 to 656. Costa Rica, middling to tine, 57s to 72s ; good and line ordinary, 50s to 565. Java, 471 to 65e. Jamaica, good middling to fine, Cis to 86s. _ _ _ _ COCOA—Great firmness prevails in the demand, but we have no advance to notice in the quotations. Bed Trinidad, 41s to 47a; gtey, 32a to 41s; Granada, 35s to 42s 6d; Bahia, 33s to 34s 6d per cwt. SEEDS—Linseed continues to move off freely, at full quota tions. Cakes are tolerably firm, at 11l 118 to 121 10a per ton for English. All agricultural seeds are a dull inquiry. HEMP AND FLAX Baltic hemp is in fair request, at 451 per ton for Petersburg clean. Manilla qualities are some what neglected. The flax market is rather dull; but the best qualities of Jute have advanced 10s to 15s per ton. COTTON—We have to report a dull market, yet importers re fine to accept lower rates. The quantity of cotton here is limited. WOOL—About 47,000 bales have passed the hammer up to this time, and the bidding. continue somewhat active. English wools are firm, and realise Hill quotations. RlCE—About 1.200 tons have sold, at full prices, Bengal being worth 14s 6d to 15s ad per cwt. INDIGO—The quarterly sales have been brought to the close: About 6,500 chests changed handr s METALS—tiootch pig iron has sold slowly, at from 72s to 735. Tin and tin plates are in good reqiest, at fully the late advance in the quotations. Bpelter, on the spot, is heavy, at 231 per ton. Steel and copper continue firm. Quicksilver, Is 104 to Is lld per lb. SPIRITS—Rum has sold slowly, on former terms. There is a steady business doing in brandy, at fully last week's quota tions. Malt spirit is in request, on French account, at Nis 10d per gallon. TALLOW—Prices still rale steady, Nut the business doing is very moderate. P.Y.C., on the spot, 54s 94 to sbe 6d ; and for forward delivery, 568 per cwt. Town tallow is scarce, and worth 53s net cash. _ HOPS—As the plantation eacounte continue very favorable, the demand for all kinds of hope is heavy, and, to effect sales, a considerable reduction in price must be submitted to. The duty is called 250,0001. Mid and East Kent pockets, 131 to 171; Weald of Kents, 101 to 121 ; Sussex, 91 10s to 111 66 per owt. The imports are only nineteen bales from Hambro'. COALS—Townley, 17s; Riddell, 19s; Eden Main, 30e ed ; Belmont, 20s; Lambton, fle 3d; Stewart's, 21s Id ; Caseop, 306 Id ; Kelloe, 216 ; South Hartlepool, 21s ; South Kelloe, 206 per ton. POTATOES—The aupplies of English potatoes are good, end the demand for them is steady, at from 64 to 75 per cwt. Very few foreign qualities are on sale. METROPOLITAN CATTLE The supplies of fat stock having been very limited, the trade has ruled brisk, and prices have been on the advance. Beef, from 9s 10t1 to 5s 2d ; mutton 3s ed to 5s 2d; lamb, 4s 10d to 65 2d ; veal, 4s Id to ris 2d ; pork, 36 6d to 4s rid per Sibs to sink the offals. NEWOAI Z AND LEADEN!! ALL The trade has ruled firm, as follows : Beef, from Is 6d to ls 8d ; mutton, 3s 4d to 45 10d; lamb, 4s 3d to 5s 10d; veal, 36 10d to 45 10d; pork, 3a 45 W 46 ad per gibs by the mesas. MI .~ . 711