The Press.
London, England, 1858-04-03 00:00:00

TH E SS, APRIL 3, 1858.

sewage down to Sea-reach, by long open canals
of nearly eighteen miles in length.
The additions and alterations thus proposed
by the three engineers are approved by no one.
Their seven mouths labour seems to have been
nearly thrown away. But this one result we
do obtain—that, in their judgment, the plan
proposed by the Metropolitan Board is, in all
its main features, the right and only plan.
So stood the question, then, a month ago,
on the accession► of Lord JOHN MANNERS to
office. But within the last week a new circum-
stance has occurred, which a little, but not
considerably, alters the aspect of the whole
affair. After all the complaints we have had
of the dilatoriness of the Metropolitan Board,
a body of delegates waited, very recently,
upon Lord JOHN MANNERS, seriously to urge
upon him the uncertainty which surrounds
the whole question, and to request—

That he will defer giving assent to any plan for the main
drainage and sewage interception of the metropolis until
full and open inquiry shall have been made—first, into the
unitary necessity of the undertaking; secondly, its ade-
quateness to accomplish the object proposed; thirdly, the
sufficiency of the estimates for the whole amount of the
work, so that the ratepayers may he acquainted with the
total liabilities with which they will thereby be encum-
bered; and, fourthly, the mode in which it is proposed to
raise and pay off the enormous sums that would be ne•
cessary.

Now, as this deputation was not a con-
temptible one—comprising, as it did, three
members of Parliament and three members of
the Metropolitan Board—we think it right to
say something of its request; though, coming
from any less respectable body, we should
have described it as an unmeaning jumble of
words.

The first and the last part of the petition of
these memorialists seem quite unnecessary.
Can it be a question, at this time of day, whe-
ther the Thames needs cleansing? Who can
venture on its stream, in one of the innume-
rable steamboats which now " plough up the
mud," without having ocular demonstration of
the necessity of immediate reform ? And, as
to the adequacy of the estimates, and the
mode of raising the money, surely the Metro-
politan Board, consisting of forty-five men of
business, specially selected by the vestries of
London for this purpose, may be trusted by
those who selected them, both to look well
into the estimates, and also to take care, be-
fore they incur a large expense, that the means
of defraying it will be available.

The t-wo -chief things which claim Lord JOHN
MANNERS'S attention just now, are :
I. The adoption of the best plan; and this
includes two points of detail.
(1.) Is it quite certain that a plan of Thames
embankment, leaving all the present sewers as
they are, and merely emptying them into
tunnels lying on each side of the river, in-
stead of into the river itself :—is it quite
certain that such a plan would be very much
more expensive than Mr. BAxALoErre's plan?
If not, there is certainly a great deal to be
said in its favour.

(2.) But, if such a scheme as this be not
feasible, then there remains nothing but a
simple Ay or No to Mr. BAZALGETTE'S plan—
i.e, the plan of the Board. And here, one
point only is still contested—namely, the
point of outfall.
Erith says, Do not bring your sewage here.
But Erith is not taxed one single penny for
the work; and Erith's fear that the broad river
there flowing will be horribly polluted by re-
ceiving that sewage which at present is de•
posited in a stream of one-eighth of the
volume, is probably chimerical. At all events,
if the Kentish towns claim a voice in the
matter, let the Kentish towns offer them-
selves to bear a portion of the burden.
11. The cost of this great work, and the
means of defraying it.
We take for granted that the metropolis will
be expected to pay for its own drainage. But
the late Government, having, to escape the un-
popularity of laying on new taxes, constituted
a new Board, or taxing-machine, which is to
find the money, ought not now to leave that
Board to provide the funds in a disadvanta-
geous and costly manner.
A new Board, of doubtful permanence,
raising iates which may not be peaceably
paid, will hardly borrow money on such
security, at less than four, or four and a half,

or five per cent. Let the Government say,
" We will see this work carried out, and we
" will guarantee the loan," and the money will
be raised at three and a quarter or three and
a half per cent. The difference will amount
to twenty per cent. of the whole sum. And
this difference the Government ought not to
throw upon the metropolis, by declining to
guarantee such a loan ; which must be raised
for a public purpose, and by a Board consti-
tuted by Parliament; not on the motion of
any private person, or single district, but by
the will of the Government itself.

316

grant arrives at his new home. There is no
tedious voyage of several months, as in the
case of a journey to our Australian pos-
sessions. Ana what is of more importance,
on landing, the emigrant finds himself still
surrounded by kindred associations to those
which he has left behind. There is no sub-
version of all his accustomed modes of life
and thought ; he is not for ever making pain-
ful contrasts, and sighing for what he has
lost. He gladly recognises the prevalence of
old English habits and old English feelings
in the country of his adoption, and he rejoices
to find that it is the earnest wish of all true
Canadians to draw more closely together the
bonds of friendship and sympathy between
themselves and the " old country."
These particulars, which have been drawn
from a pamphlet published by authority of the
Board of Agriculture at Toronto, will enable
our readers better to understand the extracts
which we subjoin from the Report of Mr.
BUCHANAN, chief agent for the superintendence
of emigration to Canada. Tbis report, dated
December 31st, 1857, has just been laid on
the table of the House of Commons by Lord
STANLEY, among other Papers relative to Emi-
gration to the North American Colonies. In
reference to the classes of emigrants most
needed in Canada, Mr. BUCHANAN says:—

Labourers, and more especially agriculturists, have been
in general demand throughout the spring and summer ; and
in many parts of the province the supply was so far from
meeting the demand that the farmers were subjected to
much inconvenience, and even loss, from want of hands.
Females were universally inquired for, and all such readily
found employment at fair wages. But during both the
past season, and that of 1856, we have received a large
number of skilled mechanics, such as machinists, locomo-
tive builders, tool makers, and others practising the higher
branches of mechanics, who have found it difficult to
obtain employment. The demand for this description of
labour is at all times limited, and new comers are at great
disadvantage in finding places for themselves.
But the classes to whom this country offers the least
encouragement are those who have no business or calling.
Persons who have been brought up as merchants, bankers,
or lawyers' clerks, unaccustomed to labour, or persons
whose sedentary employment has affected their constitu-
tion and strength, or who have been confined to a single
branch of a manufacture until they are incapacitated from
taking other labour. No persons of these descriptions
ought to be induced to emigrate, unless some previous
preparation has been made for them, or unless they come
out to friends who are in a position to provide for them
until suitable employment can be found.

Having mentioned the classes of emigrants
for whom there is no• place in Canada, Mr.
BUCHANAN goes on to say :

Farm labourers are the most generally sought for, and
fair wages are always open for their acceptance. But no
man who possesses health and strength, with a determina-
tion to take up such offers of employment as may be made
to him, can fail to earn a good livelihood; nor, if he exer-
cises his intelligence, within a short period greatly to im-
prove his condition and that of his family. Lands are
open for purchase or occupation on tams that bring them
within easy reach, and the labouring man who is saving
cannot be long in any employment without laying up suffi-
cient store to enable him to become a settler and proprietor
of a lot of land which in a few years may be made a valu-
able farm.

As was to have been expected, the com-
mercial difficulties of last year acted as a
check upon both public and private enter-
prise in Canada, and the field of employment
was necessarily contracted. The suspension
of several large public works threw a number
of unskilled labourers out of occupation ; and
during the winter there was considerable
distress among the newly-arrived emigrants
in the larger towns. But this state cf things
was only the temporary result of an extraor-
dinary financial crisis :
By the spring (adds Mr. Buchanan) I anticipate that
business will have resumed its usual course, and that the
country generally will have been restored to its progressive
condition : so that, even if none of our extensive public
works should be immediately re-entered upon, there will
be a general activity among the farmers and aettlers,whose
ample stores will enable them to undertake further im-
provement of their lands by means of the labour now to be
had on terms within their reach. Wages will be lower
than for some years back : mechanics and artizans, unless
in a few branches of work, will still find a strong compe-
tition for employment ; and unskilled labour must be dis-
tributed throughout the provinces, in order to be provided
or; agriculturists, however, and all who can assist
efficiently in the farm work of the country, with plough,
hoe, or axe, will not fail to meet employment at fair wages.
Such are the prospects offered to emigrants
to Canada during the present year. In re-
fetence to New Brunswick, another important
North American colony, the emigration officer,
Mr. M. H. PERLEY, writes, under date of Jan.
IS, 1558:

hik.