The Express.
London, England, 1853-02-02 00:00:00

COMMISSION OF SEWERS.

A special Coact of Sewers was held at the Court-
house, Soho, yesterday. The earnmissionete prceent were
Mr. RICHD JY1313 (chairman), Sir Chas. Faience, M.jor
Dawson, Mr. G. S. Smith, Mr. S. Baker, Mr. W. Hoskin',
Mr. H. A. Hunt, Mr. T. F. Gibson, and Mr. J.
Hawkshaw.

The SECRSTARY reported that the funds in the bands of
the tressuro., on Jar. 29, amounted to 22,1251., and that
after the necessary payment., there would remain an avail-
able balance of 21,539/.
Rates were then ordered to he advertised in the follow-
ing districts : Surrey and Kent, Tower Ilamiets Level,
Limehouse Level, Upper Limehouse Level, Wondie Dis-
trict, Fulham and Hammersmith District, and Counter's
Creek District. In all ti.wse cues the c-timates for works
required, and present lia `slimes, exceeded the amount
which would be raised by the rates to be levied.
Upon the recommendation of the general committee, the
court ordered pipe sewers to th.e extent of 2,124 feet, and
brick sewers to the extent of 12, 431 feet, to be laid down
in carious localities throughout the Finsbury Sewers Divi•
'ion, at an aggregate cost of 6,452,'. 164. 7d. The court
also ordered 2,810 feet of pipe sewer, and 10,84 teet of
brick sewer, at various diameters, to e laid down in the
Spitalfields Level, and in the Holborn D.''fistont in streets
s
specified, at an aggregate cost of 6,3701. Total cost of
works ordered, 12,822/. 16s. 7d.
h•eneral drain-
A conversation arose with reference to the
age scheme so often referred to. Speaking of k • case befere
the court, in which it was determined that the sroprietors
of houses in Cheyne-walk, Chelsea, should be req cored to
open separate sewers from their property into the riser,
which was directly in front, Major Daw.on said tho the
set would not allow of an order to have a common at 'wet'
for all constructed ; and that, in fact, nothing could be eh me
in the way of common drainage until the general drainas
scheme of the court was carried out. Thereupon, Mr.
}Liking, in strong language, said that to talk in that man •
nor was to attempt to impose upon the public ; inasmuch as
the scheme in question was in quite an immature state, and,
as all who considered the matter would see, was, at all
events, utterly impracticable. The Chairman interfered to
prevent se irregular a discussion, but he obstrved that he
could not let what had passed go to the public without
his saying that there were no grounds for asserting that the
court had not already very fully considered a scheme
for the main drainage of London. No doubt that scheme •
was not complete; but it should be properly understood
that it had been laid before the commissioners, after an
investigation of 200 different plans; and that among the
commissioners were included some of the first engineers in ,
the world:; and that it had obtained the approbation of a
large number of that body. In all its' details it had not •
been pronounced perfect ; but to its general scope and
character a decided approbation had been extended. There
was, therefore, a distinct plan arrived at, and a tangible I
scheme under discussion; and when it was remembered
that the consulting engineers to the court were Sir
William Cubitt and Mr. Stephenson, he thought the public ,
might rely upon completeness and perfection in the end. The ,
conversation then dropped, but subsequently Mr. Hocking
gave notice be would move, at the next meeting of the
court, that the secretary be requested to read the resolu-
tions of which Mr. Booking gave notice in the general
committee on the 7th October ult., and the resolutions I
passed by the committee on the 12th October ult.; and,
thereupon, to inquire on how many occasions since the
latter date the general committee have had the drawings of
the scheme of arterial drainge prepared by the late engi-
neer to the court under consideration, and with what re-
sults, if any.
No other business of importance was transacted.

CITY COMMISSIONERS OF SEWERS.

Yeetcrday, a court was held for the general des-
patch of business ; Mr. Deputy PEACOCK in the chair.