The Express.
London, England, 1862-10-23 00:00:00

METROPOLIS GAS ACTS.

In the report of the year 1861, it was stated that diffi-
culties had arisen as to the parties entitled to receive the
amount of the costa and chugs* incidental to the passing of
the Metropolis Gas Act, 1860. One of the accounts sent in
was by &parliamentary agent, for the sum of 3,6661. Os. 4d..
which was reduced on taxation to 3,0331. 18s. lad., and
for the payment of which amount he applied to the board.
It appeared, however, that in the course of the prossedings
a sum of 1,413/. had been paid by certain district
boards, and notices were given by some parties
that the board should not part with this sum, and under
the advice of counsel the board determined'to withhold
payment of the sum claimed by the agent, until he should
produce a proper authority. After some correspondence the
agent brought an action against the board to enforce the
payment of his claim. The board were advised to raise the
question by demurrer, and the Court of Common Pleas de-
cided that the agent was not the party who could enforx
the demand. The action has not further proceeded, but the
agent is, it is believed, taking steps to bring about some sa-
tisfactory adjustment of the claim. The royal assent having
been given on the 6th of August, 1861, to the bill for trans-
ferring to this board the powers, so far as regards the me-
tropolis, exclusive of the City of London, which the former
act conferred no justices of the peace, in relation to the
sale, &c., of gas, the board proceeded to put the act
into operation. This was found to involve many very
important considerations—such as the division of the area
of their jurisdiction into districts ; the selection of persons
practically as well as theoretically acquainted with the con-
struction of meters ; the selection of localities, adapted to
the wants of the metropolis, for the erection of permanent
gas meter testing houses, and other arrangements necessary
to the efficient working of the measure. As the matter ad-
mitted of no delay, it became necessary to erect a temporary
meter testing house on each aide of the river Thames, and
accordingly a galvanised iron building was construted on
ground in the possession of the board, which bad been
cleared for the Covent-garden approach, and another, on
ground similarly situated, with respect to the Southwark
and Westminster communication. For the eastern division
of the metropolis, a site has been purchased in White
Lion-street, Spitalfields, of the Commissioners of her
Majesty's Works, &e, for the sum of 1,1941. 134. 4d.,
and a contract has been entered into for a permanent
building at a cost of 1,3.371. The board have,
also entered into a contract for the erection of a
permanent testing house for the southern district of the
metropolis, on laud belonging to the board in Castle-street,
Southwark, at a cost of 1,598/. A third permanent site has
been decided upon for the western portion of the metropolis,
in Great Smith-street, Westminster, and the board are now
negotiating for a lease of the premises. From the com-
mencement of the operations of the board under the act in
question, on the 4th of November last, up to the
end of June in the present year, the total number
of meters tested by their officers was 17,135, and the amount
of fees received in respect of the tame 5631. 9s.
A bill was introduced into parliament during the present
session, for providing for the safe keeping of petroleum and
other products which give off inflammable vapour at a low
temperature, and the duty has been cast upon this board of
granting licenses, and carrying out the purposes of the act,
within their jurisdiction, exclusive of the City of London.
The bill received the royal assent on the 29th of July. The
report states, in conclusion, that with the funds at the dis-
posal of the beard derived from direct taxation, much has been
done durin4the past year to improve the drainage, to facili-
tate the traffic, and generally to effect improvements within
the limits of their jurisdiction ; but they feel that much still
remains to be done, such as the formation of parks, and new
lines of thoroughfare, and the purchase of the toll-paying
bridges. The board would refer to the passing of the Me-
tropolis Local Management Amendment Act, and to the
powers conferred upon them for carrying out the embank-
ment of the Thames. as proofs of increasing confidence, on
the pert of the legislature, and as justifying the expecta-
tion that the period is not distant when the board will be
supplied with funds for metropolitan improvements de-
rived from other sources than rates levied by them within
the limits of the Metropolis Load Management Act.

THE CONVICF ROilpell, who
was convicted on his own coofeesion at the List sitting
of the Central Criminal Court of forgery. and sentenced by
Mr. Justice Byles to penal servitude for hfe, is still in New-
gate, no order for his removal having been received by
the authorities from the Secretary of State for the Home
Department. Mr. Roopell, who is tainted in the prison
dress, and who has had his moustache and beard cut off,
and his hair considerably shortened, is subjected to the
strictest prison rules, to which he conforms with resigna-
tion. He is taciturn in his habits, and hes never said •
word to the officials who attend on him in reference to the
subject of his confinement. lie has written nothing in
prison since his conviction, the rules in such • case forbid-
ding communication with any person out of doors, and there
is reason to believe that he has left nothing in the shape of
documentary etatemeota which can tend to throw any light
upon the chequered history of his past life and 000 duct.
It is expected that he will be removed to the convict este.
blisbment at Portland in the course of a few &lye.
THE CASE OF MRS. WIACHLAN.—We (North
British Mail) understand that the report of Mr. Young, the
Crown Commissioner, In regard to the ceme of Mrs.
M'lnchlan, was sent off on Tuesday night to the Home
Secretary, so that, in • few (lays an answer may be ex-
pected. The convict continues to maintain a behaviour
altogether becoming see in her position. She gives com-
mendable heed to her spiritual advisers, the chaplain of the
prison (the Rev. Mr. Doran), and the Rev.
H. S. Paterson, who are unremitting in their daily
attentions to her beet interests. She speaks but little,
and occupies her time mostly in reading the Bible, and
other good books. Her husband has frequent inter-
views !with her, and we believe, with the exception of
Mr. J. A. Dixon, one of her ageota, no other person but
those already mentioned and the prison officials see her,
although'iipplications have been most numerous and influen-
tial. There is no "condemned" cell in the North Prison, so
that the prisoner has been confined all along in an ordinary
apartment. With the view, however, of shutting her off
completely from the outer world, since her conviction, two
c(-11.8 ab thb far end of the corridor of the top fiat of the
prison have been boarded op. Means have been employed
to keep threprisoner quiet and under strict surveillance con-
tinually. Female warden, accordiugly, are constantly with
her, and none but the two rev. gentlemen named, the en-
thuses husband, her agent, and the prison officials, are per-
mittedtosee her.

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