The Express.
London, England, 1864-12-24 00:00:00

METROPOLITAN BOARD OP WORKS.

The weekly meeting of the board was held yea-
terday at the new office in Spring-gardens, M. Jon.%
THWAITEB in the chair.

A report was brought up from the Thames Embank.
meat Cammittee, relative to the progress of the works for
the Thames Embankment, contract No. 1. The report
stated that the committee had conferred with the engineer.
cud Mr. Farnesshad also attended before them to explain
the coons be proposed to take in future as to the execution
of the works, and had expressed his confident anticipation
of proceeding with much greater rapidity than hitherto. In
about a fortnight's time he would be in a position to con.
strut the requisite coffer dam at the rate of 10C feet per
week, and by other arrangements he wu about to make he
would be enabled to complete the works within the time
limited by the contract. They had also instructed the eogi.
neer to report at the expiration of a fortnight the progress
which Mr. Furness had made, and in the meanwhile they
considered it expedient to submit this statement of facts to
the beard, and requested authority from time to time
to repot on the state of the works and the progress made.
The recommendation of the committee was agreed to.
A report was brought up from the finance committee,
submitting for approval the estimate, of soma required for
the expenses of the board for the year 1863. The amount
required was divided under the following beads :
Sewerage and Drainage £42,800 0 0
Metropolis Improvements
General Pawnee 19,350 16 0
Expellees under Sale of Gas Acta 1.710 0 0
Sums required for Hausskes Poor 3,500 0 0
Bepsyment of Loans and interest es
Mortgage Debts 45,778 3 4
Compensation Allowances to late came 1,177 12 4
Mortgage Debts of Metropolitan Com
misnomers of Sewers

Total 144,501 6 4
Deduct approximate surplus estimate
for 1864

130,501 6 4
These Minutes gave rise toe desultory conversation, but
mutually the farther 001181481104011 of them was deferred
until F3Vdey next._

Mr. Dociros, M.P., called the attention of the board to
the act of last session authorising the construction of the
Metropolitan Railway in the line of the Thames Embank.
meat, and moved that • letter be at once addressed to the
directors, urging thsm to take the necessary steps for so
carr)mg out their undertaking as to avoid interference with
the 's works alter their completion." In support ol
his motion the hoe. member urged that as the streets were
so frequently broken up by gas and water companies, to pre-
vent any delay the board ought to call upon the Metropoli.
tan Railway Company atones to proceed with their works
for their authorised line of railway under the Thames em-
bankment.

Mr. CARPMAEL seconded the motion, and said unless the
Metropolitan Railway Company proceeded with their works,
the opening of the Thames Embankment-road might be
delayed forty° or three years, and it might be five yeast
before they finally obtained possession of the roadway.
Kr. ll'lnosocn 'eked the chief engineer if it was pos•
sible to carry on the railway concurrently with the Thames
embankment.

Mr. BAz►Lcgrrs replied in the affirmative.
Mr. H. L. TAYLOR thought it was an net of negligence on
their part in not getting a clause inserted in the 'flumes
Embankment Act to compel the railway company to coin.
mence their works.

The CHAIRMAN said they did seek the necessary powers,
bat they were defeated.
Mr. H. L. TAYLOR said that if parliament had made a
mistake they ought to follow up the ~Intion and get coal.
pulsar, powers ea against the railway company.
Mr. Mules, If.P., believed that the railway company
would be reedy to commence their works aa soon as they
were told that the caimona were put down to keep out the
water.

The motion was agreed to, and after some uoimportant
business had bean disposed of the board adjourned.

THE SUPPOSED FOUNDERING OF THE SHIP
FLOATING LIGHT.

A few days since we announced the appre-
beaded has, with all hands, of the ship Floating
Light, with a cargo of cotton valued at upwards
of 200,0001., off the Welsh coast, whilst making
her way up the St. George's Channel for Liverpool.
The report was founded on the fact of *event bales of cot•
ton bearing the same character of marks as those stated in
the ship's manifest having come ashore on the coast of ram-
, brokeshire, as also a stern beard of a ship bearing the name
of the miming ship upon it. The underwriters interested
in the loss resolved to send one of their agents along the
coast with a view of tracing any portion of the wreck, they
being satisfied that the vessel had foundered with
all on board. That officer has returned, and
in the nouns of yesterday made the following re-
port :—"I searched the coast from St. David's Head
to Tesby, and made inquiries, but no precise information
could be elicited as to the probable spot where the vessel
lies. Such information, however, as could be gathered,
led to the conclusion that it must be very nearly on a
line draws from the Slaabpole Head to the south-west
point of Caldy Island, about two and a half miles from
the latter, and one mile and • half from the Old Castle
Head. Bales of cotton have been found in the bay be-
tween Old Castle Head and Lydstep Point, and a New.
foundland dog, which has been ideutified as belonging to
the Floating Light, has been found alive in the vicinity of
Carmarthen Bey." It was from the point iodinated above
that the sound of guns was heard and lights weals seen
on the sight of the 30th of November. It is proposed to
offer • reward to boatmen on the coast to discover the exact
positioo of the wreck. Two boats were employed for one
day seambiog, by the agent of Liverpool, but the rocky
ante of the bottom perverted the operations for sweeping
for the wreck. Balsa of cotton have been picked up at the
following places :—,t Freshwater East, 0 bales; Manorbeer,
3 ; Tenby, 18; Saunderfoot. 11 ; Flysistes, 10; Fresh-
water West, 2 ; Milford Haven, 3 ; off Caddy, 2 ;
5; end St. David's, 1. Total, 64 bales. The Floating
Light had nearly 5,000 bales on board. There cannot be
much doubt as to the fats of the crew, sod it is somewhat
remarkable that none of the bodies have as yet been
cast up.

Hn blanasn's THEATEE.—The pantomime to
be produeed on Borieg-night is founded op the popular
legend of "The Lion and the Unicorn fighting for the
Crown," which in made the groundwork of a " animation"
drama, full of striking theatrical effects. There is, in par
tinnier, a new invention which is actually magical ; perm=
speaking and acting on the stage become, without moving,
visible and invisible instantaneonsly—a contrivance which,
la this piece, is turned to startling account,

The Musical Directory for 1865, published by
?deem. Burial, Ross, and Co.. Charing-aces, has just Lee
peered. This is • most useful publication to every me
concerned or interested in musical affairs. Besides ample
lists of members of the musical profession, mosicsellers, and
manufacturer of instruments, in London and the pro,
vinces, with their addresses, it contains notices of the prin.
cipal musical societies and other institutions, a hit of the
moat eminent musicians recorded in the annala of the arts
and a review of the musical occurrences of the past year.
The work is praiseworthy for its care and correctness.
THE PROPOSED DrBLIN INTERNATIONAL EsErt-
1863.—This enterprise will, it is now believed.
fully realise the hopes of its promoters. The pre-
paratory arrangements are in • forward condition, and
the promises of support from home contributors ensure
the success of the exhibition. Continental exhibitors
have corns forward with alacrity, and from them
large cootnbutions are expected. From France there will
be a magnificent collection of brooms and goldsmiths' work,
of silks and laces ; it is even hinted that the Gobelins and
&nes will not be unrepresented. Austria will send
specimens of all those beautiful manufactures which
attracted so much attention in 18412. Italy intends to
surpass herself ; filings work from Genoa, ornamental
metal work from Milan, mosaics from Florence, and
cameos from Leghorn, will attest the renewed Indus-
' trial activity of this rising counts-. A display of scalp.
tore equalling, if not surpassing, the sttrsctive col.
!retina sent in ltz62, u premised from Rome. The show
of manufactures from Belgium will be in proportion to the
extent of her important industries. Courant. io the north
of Europe will be chiefly represented by 'works of fine mit
of these special details will be given hereafter. One
special feature of this exhibition, not attempted on any
former ocoasioo, will be an International display of mu-
sical instruments. A large hall, spe7ially designed for
concerts, and capable of seating 3,0u0 persons, has bees
devoted to this purpose. In it the instruments of all na-
tions will be collected, and daily performances will take
pikes daring the continuance of the exhibition. Exhibi-
tors will therefore have the advantage, not only of showing
their worts, but also of having them tested under most
favourable circumstances, and music as an art will be added
to the other attractions of the exhibition.
THE Simmer BOARDII Ex.—We are informed that
Mr. German Reed had an interview with Sir R. Mayas
respecting the hardship upon this poor but iodustrious
class of men. The result is that Sir R. Mayes km gives
his sanction for these men to renew their occupation upon
the distinct understanding that they are Dot to permits the
streets in maps to the annoyance of the traffic.—Pear.
Tits KANGAROO. —We have had left at our office
a specimen of the young of kangaroo not more than an inch
long, and probably only a few days old. At birth the Iran•
pros is about an inch in length, when it is placed by the
mother on the teat io the poach, where it rapidly incresase
io sire, remaining firmly attached to the teat till it pine
sufficient strength to leave it, which it dots occasionally.
returning to the mother for warmth or piotcctiou.—S,"de
Australian paper.