The Press.
London, England, 1856-02-23 00:00:00

Ittropolitan.

THE METROPOLITAN BOARD OF WORKS were enter-
tained at dinner by their chairman, at the Albion
Tavern, on Monday evening. Amongst the company
were the Lord Mayor, Sir B.Hall, M.P., Sir James Duke,
M.P., Sir J. V. Shelley, M.P., Sir W. Clay, M.P.,
Mr. Ansley Pellatt, M.P., Mr. Montagu Chambers,
M.P., Sir Charles Napier, M.P., Mr. Masterman, M.P.,
Mr. W. Williams, M.P. Among the responsors to
the usual toasts were Major Lyon and Sir Charles
Napier for " The Army and Navy," and Sir Benjamin
Hall for " Her Majesty's Ministers."
THE DIRECTORS OF THE EASTERN STEAM NAVIGA-
TION COMPANY, in their annual report, anticipate from
the bankruptcy of Mr. Scott Russell no very serious
difficulties in the completion of the Great Eastern,
now building at Millwall.
THE NEW OMNIBUS COMPANY, at their offices, West
Strand, held an inspection on Saturday last, of van-
ous models for a new omnibus. Very few of the
models were in any respect calculated to answer the
objects of the company ; most of them were too heavy
and clumsy, and nearly all were wanting in elegance
of design. After the inspection of the models had
taken place, the directors provided a collation for
themselves and friends, at which Mr. Chadwick,
chairman of the company, explained the objects they
had in view. He said that the company were await-
mg the completion of their negotiations to work the
whole of the omnibus traffic of the metropolis upon
one general system of intercommunication. When
this was accomrlished, a passenger from any part of
London, by placing himself in the first omnibus pass-
ing, would be conveyed to whatever part of the metro-
polis or suburbs he might wish to reach, the omnibus
into which he entered setting him down at that point
of the line of intercommunication crossed by the
omnibuses on their road to the place to which be was
proceeding. This would be done at one fare, and, to
prevent mistake or delay, a regular set of omnibus
timetables would be published. At the starting-
pia 'es, and on certain central positions of the great
omnibus routes, waiting-rooms would be provided for
the convenience of the passengers, after the fashion
of those at railwav-stations. New cross lines would
be opened where the exigencies of passenger traffic
might seem toorequtre them, and short-distance
omnibuses, at reduced fares, would be introduced
where accumulation of traffic warranted the experi-
ment.

A MEMORIAL TO THE LATE JOSEPH HUME was
considered at a general meeting of the admirers of
the late member for Montrose, held at Willis's-
rooms, St. James's, on Saturday last. The Earl
Fortescue presided, and the Duke of S merset,
Lord Panmure, the Earl Granville, Lord Robert
Grosvenor, M.P. ; Viscount Ehrington, M.P.; Right
Hon. E. Ellice, M.P. ; Sir B. Hall, Bart, M.P. ;
Ewart, M.P.; Lord Hatherton, Sir J. Dake, Bart.,
M.P.; the Marquis of Breadalbane, and Sir De Lacy
Evans, M.P. Sir Joshua Walmsfey, M.P., and Mr.
Williams, M.P., addressed the meeting. It was
agreed that the subscription should be limited to
sums not exceeding 10/. A committee was appointed
to carry out the objects of the meeting. Names were
put down for nearly 2001. in amount before the pro-
ceedings terminated.