The Press.
London, England, 1858-08-14 00:00:00

THE PRESS, AUGUST 14, 1858.

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far removed that the sewage should be no nuisance,
and not come back again within the limits of the
metropolis. He then generally combated the objec
tious which had been urged against the plan, and
particularly referred to one, es to provision only being
made for a population of 3,500,000. He said at any
future time, if any extension of the plan was required
for an increased population, that could be effected at
a comparatively small expense, and contended that
it was not the duty of this board to make provision
for a state of things which might arise at some very
distant period. He concluded by moving the adop-

tion of the report.
Mr. CRELLIN, although desirous of seeing the
sewage of the metropolis altogether abstracted from
the river and applied to useful purposes, seconded the
motion. His object was to afford some remedy to
the present state of the sewage of the metropolis.
Mr. LEst.in said he was anxious not to take up the
time of the board, but still he was utterly unable to
say what the plan before them was. Indeed, it was
a series of plans, without any connection with each
other. He contended that the calculations which
had been made by the engineers were erroneous, and
urged them to delay the execution of these works for
a time until they ob•ained further information, as a
false step then taken might be fatal to the existence
of that board. He contended that the pumping
stations, reservoirs, and liming were altogether un.
necessary, and said that in Paris the whole evil from
sewage was met by negative artesian wells, placed
under the municipality of that city. He alined to the
hospital at Bicetre, where a negative artesian well
was constructed in 1790, and it had gone on working
satisfactorily up to the present time. These wells
were also formed at the laystalls of Montfaucon, and
although a number of horses were slaughtered in
that district, the whole of the refuse from the
knackers' yards was passed down negative artesian
wells, got rid of, and that without any nuisance to the
wells sunk in that neighbourhood for the purpose of
supplying the inhabitants with water. This plan
was supported by Mr. Hyde Clarke, a civil engineer,
and he was also supported by Monsieur Duchatel
and other eminent French engineers. If this plan
were adopted in the metropolis it would save a large
amount of money, and would also avoid the necessity
of breaking up the public streets. He concluded by
moving, as an amendment :
That the Metropolitan Board of Works come to no
decision upon the subject until the evidence upon the
geological drainage of the metropolis be received by the
board, one important fact being, that at an expense of
3301. a negative artesian descent fur foul water has been
made, 234 feet in depth, which has been discharging at least
2,700 cubit feet per hour.
Mr. Alderman CUBITT hoped they would come to
no conclusion upon this subject before the adjourn-
ment for the holidays, and said that as their officers
had been at work for years upon it, the public could
well afford to wait for two or three months to enable
them to receive further information.
Mr. BENNETT did not think the board could be
charged with precipitancy, as the scheme, with few
exceptions, had been for two years before the board,
and during that time it had been well sifted, both by
the board, and also by the engineers, to whom it had
been submitted by the President of the Board of
Works, Sir Benjamin Hall. He hoped the board
would not adjourn until after the subject for the
main drainage had been disposed of, or was in some

progress.
After a few words from Messrs. D'lffanger and
Offer,
Mr. CAnrMAEL replied with a few brief remarks.
The CHAIRMAN put the motion, and on a division
it was carried by a majority of 19 to 1.

THE selection of seven members of the Court of
Directors of the East India Company for the new
India Council took place on Monday in Leadenhall.
street. The successful candidates were Mr. Charles
Mills, of the banking firm of Glyn, Mills, and Co.,
and senior director of the East India Company ;
Captain John Shepherd, lately deputy-master of the
Trinity House, and governor of the Hudson's Bay
Company, both of which appointments he has re-
signed for his present office ; Mr. Elliot Macaaghten,
formerly of the Indian bat, and ex-Chairman of the
India Company ; Sir James Weir Hogg, late member
for Honiton, and twice chairman of the company ;
Mr. B. D. Mangles, member for Guildford, and last
year chairman of the company ; Mr. W. J. Eastwick,
formerly captain in the military service of the com-
pany ; and Mr. H. T. Prmsep, formerly Government
secretary in Calcutta, and afterwards member of
council. The unsuccessful candidates were Mr.
Astell and Colonel Sykes, togetber with the five
directors who held seats as nominees of the Govern-
ment :—Sir F. Currie, Sir Henry Rawlinson, Mr.
J. P. Willoughby (the member for Leominster), Sir
R. H. Vivian, and Sir G. Pollock. The Government
have now to appoint eight members to make up the
total council of fifteen, which must be constituted
by the Ist of September, when the East India Com-
pany will cease to exist. We are at liberty to state

that Sir John Lawrence, who is now on his passage
home, has been offered and has accepted a place in
the new Indian Council. It is stated that Sir Henry
Rawlinson and Mr. Willoughby will also be among
the members nominated by her Majesty's Government.