The Express.
London, England, 1865-09-30 00:00:00

METROPOLITAN BOARD OP WORKS.

The weekly meeting of the board was held yester-
day, at their offices in Spring-gardens, Sir Jour Tnwarrse
in the their.—Mr. H. L. Taylor said be wished to ask the
engineer some questions which he considered of import-
mice, viz., what was the amount of the contract for the
Northero Embankment? When did the 000tractora corn-
mence the works, and by what time would they complete
them? What was the amount that had been greeted per
=oath for work done, and plant pat on the premises in
times pest, and what amount wee wanted per mouth for the
future to complete the work.? Mr. Miller, M.P., said the
isforreation had already bear furnished in the pipets that
had been sent round I. the members of the board.
The Chairmen said the questions were very itn-
nortvot, and it would be well that the engi-
neer should reply folly to them on Friday next.
Mr. Newton said be had read • report of the unmade' of the
Metropolitan District Railway Company, in which the
obsinnao oast basins on the beard for throwing difficulties
in their way of proceeding with the works. He wished to
know whether that was the fact? The Chairman said it
was perfectly clear that the board bad does everything
Feasible to facilitate the proceedings of the railway com-
pany, and had written letter after latter to them and their
engineer, urging them to get their plant on the premises,
and commence the details of the works. If any fault
existed it rested with the railway company. It might
have been convenient for the chairman of the company
to make that staterneot to the shareholders, but it wee
not consistent with the correspondence that bad taken
place between the board and the company, nor with
the facts counseled with their negotiations. The report of
the euromittee was then received by the board aid adopted.
A report was then brought up from the Maio Drainage
Committee, doting that having considered the e%gestioo
of the Metropolis Sewage Company, that the board should
bear • moiety of the expenses incurred in the eollectioa of
samples of sewage at Bow, for the purpose of making ex-
periments, they are sot prepared to recommend the board
to agree to the proposition. The report was received and
adopted. A report was presented from the Streets Coln.
mittee by Mr. Phillips, recommending that there should be
an inspection of railway bridges during construction and
after completion, with • view of ascertaining that the
works are executed le accordance with the resolutions of
the board, and recommending that such inspection form
part of the duty of the assistant engineers of the board.
Mr. H. L. Taylor opposed the recommendation, as it would
be putting too much responsibility on the board. If the
bridges were not built according to the specifies-
Hone the board could compel the railway companies
to pull them down and rebuild them properly.
Ifs would be glad if the solicitor to the board
would state his view of their powers ia Emit • ease,
Mr. Smith, the solicitor, said the Court of Queen's Bench
would compel parties to adhere to the provisions of an act
of parliament, but if the board ware to lie by nod suffer a
bridge to be mistreated without objection, that might ma.
racially affect any application that the board might after.
words make to that court, and so doubt they would be
reluctant to compel the railer., company to pull deep a
bridge and rebuild it. Some other membon having spoken
upon the question, the motion was put and agreed to.
Mr. Robert Taylor moved, "That it be referred to the
Main Drainage Committee to report generally os the pay-
ment of district surveyors by finer* the extent, value and
sonvenisoos of the present districts, and on the expediency
of their fusionjaud te-arrangement ; also as to the advi-
sability of direotiog the payment of the fees collected
under dui ant into • common fund, out of which to de-
fray the payment of a staff of salaried officers devoting
their whole time to the public service." He entered into a
number of statements, 'bowleg the very imperfect way in
which some of the district surveyed performed their
duties. After a long discussion the motion was put and
agreed to. The rested the business was disposed, of and the
board adjourned.

CONSERVATISM AT NOTlnsomAm.---The conserva-
tives of Nottingham oa Thursday evening entertained at
dinner Mr. A. G. Marten, the iesauccessful candidate is
their interest at the late general electioo. Advantage we.
also taken of the occasion to present Mr. Marten with a
service of plate, which his friends is the borough had sub-
scribed for, with a view of testifying their " admiration of
bis character ad their appreciation of the abilities be mani-
fested is the advocacy of °enervative principles." Mr. W.
Parsons presided. Is replying to the toast of his health,
Mr. Marten summed his high sense of the kiodsees he
had experienced since he bad come amongst them is Not-
tingham, both from friends and opponents. While flank-
ing them for the handsome testimonial that day
promoted to him he assured them that what be
valued more than anything Om was that they had shown so
completely as they had done their approbation of the Course
which he laid down to himself ; in the first place as to the
principles which he professed sod slimmed ; in the second
piece as to the modal is which he expressed them; and
thirdly, as to his conduct during the miner. He thought
they had every ream to be amousged with the result of
the costes!. On the day of the deelaratioe of the poll they
did not show bite a defeated party. He was the male use
of the candidates who Game down aid was present at the dem
aeration, mod was there to return hie thanks to the voters
who recorded their votes in hie favour. He rather thought
they were kit in pomemiou of the Bed upon that examicie.
More than that, they could Dot fail to recollect that upon
that occasion more votes had bees reseeded than were given
for any amervative candidate previously—dist roan yahoo
by 400 wall gives than had bees recorded ter the amperes.
give candidate in INC sad mare roes thee were recorded
for the seemed liberal candidate at the shelties is the mine
year. He &meat. thareAsea, they would epee that Use
result showed most favourably so far as the prospects of
their peirtim were anstaraed ; said he might spin express
W Wise that Is. aisle* be niaissil we Lag es amlast Err
Nelilebem