The Press.
London, England, 1856-01-05 00:00:00

glttropolit an.

TUE METROPOLITAN I3OAItD OF WORKS held their
first legal meeting for the despatch of business ou
Tuesday last at Burlington-house. The president,
Mr. Thwaites, in opening the proceedings, first ap-
plied to the board for an indemnity for various pre-
liminary steps taken by him without the board's
sanction, with reference to temporary arrangements
rendered necessary by the cessation of the engage-
ments of the Board of Sewers, and pending the
transfer of the duties of that commission to them-
selves. Mr. Thwaites then proceeded to call the
attention of the board to the high position they held,
as representing the interests of 2,500,000 people, and
trusted that in all their debates, while they would
avoid political discussion, they would seek to attain
a speedy despatch of business, that they would watch
over and promote the interests of the metropolis with
some regard to a spirit of economy, and deal with
the great and comprehensive questions that came
before them "in a kindred spirit and with a vigorous
hand." In conclusion, Mr. Thwaites explained that
he should never take part in the ordinary discussions
of the board, that he hoped they would so conduct
their business that they would give him little trouble
to preside over them, and that the great principle of
local self-government would not suffer in their hands.
At the conclusion of the address the steps taken by
the president with respect to the Commission of
Sewers were unanimously approved, when the report
of the committee was read recommending the tem-
porary appointment of Mr. Bazalgette to supervise
the sewers and other works, and the immediate ap-
pointment of a secretary, treasurer, accountant, and
engineer. After some dispute, and upon the under-
standing that Mr. Bazalgette's temporary charge of
the sewers would not in any way influence the board
in appointing a permanent engineer, the motion for
that gentleman's temporary appointment was carried.
Mr. Wilkinson, the hon. secretary, having first ex-
plained that he never had any intention of offering
himself for the permanent appointment, and ten-
dered his resignation, Mr. Drew accepted his duties
pro tem., and a committee was then appointed to
report upon the salaries and duties of the engineer-
in chief, architect, secretary, and accountant. The
president then read a letter from Sir John Shelley
tendering his resignation on the plea that his majo-
rity had been disputed by the vestry of St. James,
when the meeting was shortly adjourned to Monday
next.

THE REGISTRAR GENERAL'S RETURNS for the week
show the total number of deaths 1,485, an excess in
the rate of mortality as compared with an average
rate for the last week of the year. The births
amounted to 1,563 children. In the ten correspond-
ing weeks of the years 1845-54 the average number
was 1,332.

THE COMMISSIONERS' FOR THE REDUCTION OF THE
NATIONAL DEBT have this week gratuitously made
public the two great facts, that for the next three
months, at least, no sums will be applied by them
on account of the Sinking Fund, and that for the
yeat ending Sept- 1855, there was no actual surplus
of revenue over expenditure.
THE SHAREHOLDERS COMMITTEE OF THE EASTERN
Cot:NT'Es RAILWAY are preparing an answer to Mr.
Waddington's reply. The decument, we believe,
will not be drawn up by the persons connected with
articles of charge against Mr. Waddington.
A NEW LINE OF BELGIAN STEAMERS has com-
menced running from Antwerp via Southampton to
New York. A second Belgian line, vii Southampton
to the Brazils, will commence to run in May next,
when a grand commercial visit will tale place be-
tween the civil authorities of Antwerp and South.
ampton.