The Express.
London, England, 1853-12-21 00:00:00

METROPOLITAN COMMISSION OF

SEIVERS.

Yesterday the commissioners held a special court
at the Court-house, in Greek-street, Soho. Present—Mr.
Jebb (the chairman), Mr. Thomas Hawes, Mr. 0. Baker,
Mr. T. P. Gibeon, Mr. G. S. South, Mr. L. P. Gordon,
Mr. L. Redhead, and Mr. J. liewkaltaw.
Mr. WOOLZYCV, the secretary, reported that the avail-
able balance in hand was 49,369/. 10s., subject to certain
payments to contractors end others on account of works,
which payments were ordered.
MIMIC' sewers rate. at the rate of sixpence in the
pound wire made upon the following sewerage dis-
tricts: The western division of Westminster, Spi.
taltirlds, level, Hackney-brook level, Hermitage-street
level, Lower Wapping level, and the Poplar and
Blackwell district. The amount to be levied under
these orders is estimated at 66,6051. Os. 7d., and including
already due upon former rates, the amount to be
collected (tomtits parishes in question will be 67,5521. 6d.
A petition to the House of Commons was then adopted,
praying for leave to introduce a bill authorising the pur.
chase, compulsory or otherwise, of certain property near
Deptford Creek, which is necessary to enable the commis-
sioners to carry out their plea of draining the area on the
south of the Thames. _ _

Amongst the orders made for new works—which were
generally of au unimportant character—was one for 830 feet
of new sewer in Middlesex street, Somers Town, the esti-
mated expense of which was stated to be 7001.
A report from Mr. Rowe, the surveyor, was next taken
into consideration, detailing various defects in the sewerage
of the Finsbury district, and recommending the immediate
construction of a considerable extent of new works. Their
cast would be' 4.0001. Mr. Rows considered, however, that
they were all obsoletely necessary.
The CHAIRMEN desired him to prepare a list of the
works which he considered were the most urgent, to the
extent of 10,0001., and said the board would give an order
for carrying them out at onee.
The order was made theordingly.
Mr. Alexander Henry, the secretary of the Imperial Gas
Compeer; Mr. Ayres, a contractor for laying mains, and
two other persons employed by the company, attended to
answer a summons issued on the report of Mr. Rowe, for
having, without the consent of the commissioners, and with-
out notice, made an opening into a main sewer in Church-
street, Haekaey.
Mr. Rowe's report stated that the company, in driving
a 12-inch fits math along Church-street, had cut into the
sewer, which they had left open, and that they had also
reraoved the gratings from the gutter, and replaced them
without traps, and otherwise in an improper manner.
Mr. Hoary said the reason that the company had not
applied for leave to cut through the crown of the sewer, in
order to lay their mains, was, that the work had been re-
quired to be done with very great despatch, and in the
hurry, the necessity for making • formal application had
been overlooked. On the part of the company, he would
undertake to put the sewer ia a proper state of repair,
under the direction of the commissioner's surveyor. In
fact, orders had been already given for that purpose, and
the defects in the gratings and gullies had been remedied.
The CHAIRMAN said, that even when leave was granted
to cut through, or make any alteration in a sewer, the work
must be done by the servants of the commission, at the
expense of the party applying, and the making god must
now be done in the same way. But as in the present case
it appeared the act complained of was the result of an over-
sight, the court would allow the summons to stand over
until the nest court day, and in the meantime the surveyor
would be directed to report whether the sewer had been
made good.
Mr. WOOLRECH read a letter from a Mr. R. Clements in
reference to • demand of 20/, made by him fur damages
sustained by • gig accident, which he alleged was the result
of the carelessness of the servants of the commission in
leaving an open excavation in the thoroughfare of the
Westminster-road, near the Lambeth baths. The commis-
sioners had written to Mr. Clements, stating that the acci-
dent had been caused, not by their neglect, inasmuch as the
excavation had been made by the water company. The
present letter was a rejoinder to that communication, and
stated that the writer was convinced the fault lay with the
servants of the commission, and that unless his claim was
satisfied, he should take legal proceedings to enforce it.
A COMMISSIONER observed, as the question was one of
fact, the court could do nothing in it.
The letter was ordered to lie on the table.