The Express.
London, England, 1862-05-12 00:00:00

FIRES IN THE METROPOLIS.

REPORT FROM THE PAR
COMMITTEE.

This morning the report from the select cons-
mitten of the House el Commons, appointed to inquire
into the existing arrangements for the protection of life and ,
property against fires in London, was issued from the par- ,
liamentary printing- offios. The report itself is dated Thurs-
day last. The first 15 paragraphs of the report are occu-
pied with a description of the area covered by the inquiry,
and a brief review of the various steps in the development
of the appliances for extinguishing fires in London. Every
witness, including the managers of the brigade, has admit-
ted that the present Sate of the staff, engines, and stations
Is totally inadequate for the protection of London from fire.
The committee espies, an opinion that the existing staff of
the London Fire Brigade ought to be made available in con-
nexion with any new system. After alluding to the brigades
of the dock companies and of some of the parishes, the.
latter being charged on parochial rates, and eulogising the
Society for the Protection of Life from Fire, they
proceed to notice the arrangements in operation at
Liverpool, Manchester, and Glasgow. Their reoommendations
after reviewing the various points brought under considera-
tion by the evidence, are is follows :—"That a fire
brigade be formed under the superintendence of the Oem-
missionen of Police, on a scheme to be approved by the
Secretary of State for the Home Department, to form pert
of the general establiehment of the metropolitan polies,
and that the acts requiring perished to maintaia aegis's
be repealed. 2. That an account of the expenditure of the
DOW police fire brigade be annually laid before parliament,
together with the general police amounts ; in such amasser
that the special cost of the bripds may be ucertained.
3. That the area of the new fire brigade errangenneete be
confined within the limits of the jurisdiction of the Metro-
, *aim Board of Works, with the option to other parish's
to be included, if within the 1/06 of the metropolitan

00lIBT OF QUEEN'S BENCH.
flittinp in Banco.—(Before Lord Chief Justice, Cockburn end
Justifies Crompton, Blackburn, and Mellor.)
MI QOM O.
who
ILNOTHZIL
Yr. M. Chambees, Q. 0., with whom were Mr. Hawkins,
Q.C., and Mr. Joyce, prayed the judgmeat of the court
against Mr. Troia sad Mr. Hathway. who had been cow
meted of • suissecre in laying down the tramway in the
Westminster-road.
Mr. Bovill, Q.C., with whom were Mr. Knapp end Mr,
Garth, appeared on behalf of the defendants, mid the we
stood in • peculiar poetical. There was a rule pending
relative to the liability of certain vestrymen of Lambeth,
who were indicted with the present Umbria/de. If the
owe pasted a new trial in that case, the two defeodants
thee t were equally entitled to that benefit, and he
sa that the court ought not to paw sentence on
these two defendant. until after the rule was disposed of.
There was no precedent for the cause proposed by ths
prosecution.
The Lord Chief Julies said that in the event of the
Court making the role absolute for a new trial in the awe of
the veatryineo, would the prosecution undertake to pledge
themselves to enter a idle prom/qui Ir
Mr. Bovill said it was • very important matter. There
wassraother indietensat pending with regard to the Birkenhead
toessway in which similar points would arise, and there was alio
the ease of the electric telegraph poste involviog a like qaew
ties. The matter was now before parliament. There could
be se &ale it was • mode of travelling beneficial to ths
AMR. public with rapid to ease, cheapness, and • saving
of Uwe
TPA Led Chief Justine said that might be, but if it saw
useful to some it might be undoubtedly a grievous nuisance
to others.
Mr. Bovill reminded their bedsides that there was so
medial is fast sweet the other defendants.
TIM Lad Chief Jangles asked what waa the state of the
unleashes—me it eintionWg
Mr. Chambers maid It was, and that accidents were dopy
occurring. He suggested that the verdict should be mi.
= serl as against the other defendants. There iims
preen for • heavy floe spinet Mr. Trak
but wily to get the tramway takes up, a
Mr. Toga would enter into a ride of mart to remove the
trainwity lietWeen this sod next term, and pay all the caw
in the promeutiost, or that he would pay the expenses of
The Emperor and impress Napoleon and the doieg so maker • writ of prostration.
King and Queered Holland meet Friday last at VeriaMee. The Lord Mel Justice
the
dilleulty was in dealing
. with Mr. Train • IPhilik there was no verdict entered so
Th•t° was • grand disuse, at"" 150 "eats .at 4"ra• sagest the seer dedmileets, and the rule for • new trial
•The gnat waters played, and the town was illastinated at
night. I wee
Kr. seldiletPOWEed that it was competent for

police."
The committee further state that " in their opinion no
security an be given by legislation on this important ques-
tion which would supersede the necessity for individual
care by the occupiers of houses against the risk of fire ; no
precaution an prevent the occurrence of fires, nor can any
public measures be enacted which could or should prevent
individuals from suffering lasses from those acts of careless•
nen from which fires generally arise ; public measures an
only be of real service in arresting the progress of fires when
they oocur,and in preventing the enormous lasses which arise
from allowing a fire to attain toany considerable dimensioa
Nor can any legislative enactments be ads which would
probably prevent the necessity of Ire brigades be an
maintained at the cost of ovate of Lego properties, suck
as the docks ; it may even be reasonably quertiosed whether
the owners of large properties, where goods are perseherly
exposed to risk of fire, ought not to make ease amid pro-
tection for their own property ; for if a erases of rang
were observed on the same plea aa at present SAWS tee
county police rates, the property in warehouses would hardly
be charged a aufficiat rate to entitle thou to deemead sore
protection than is afforded geeerolly to other property
throughout London ; if a larger degree offs pense wee
incurred by the new fire brigade especially or their pro-
tection, it would be only fair towards other ratepayers that
they pa a larger portion of rates so increased for their
special protection.*