The Express.
London, England, 1849-11-22 00:00:00

CITY COURT OF SEWERS.

A court of sewers was held yesterday, at the oa
hall, to take into considerati on the report of Mr. Si;w
Mr. Deputy PEACOCK in the chair.
The CHAIRMAN said they were assembled to take ids
consideration one oi the most interesting reports eve- yee
sected to the court. It would have been of int at utility
the corpora, ion obtained last session some such powers a
those w ich were required to carry out the suggestioesti
this document ; but had a tithe of the report ban eabinsi
in the bill he believed parliament would not bare sanctusul
it. The times, however, were changed, and he hopoidut
the change would, in the end, Frays beneficial. The aside,
Lure could not allow the poor to continue to reside in dwelhole
which were fit only for the habitation of pig.. The comp
ration should seek to obtain riggers for the accomeligadst
of what was necessary. Every member of the camases
was, he felt assured, anxious to do all he could for the beseE
of his fellow cid:. ns. He hoped the report would be is.
cussed quietly and steadily, and he presumed that the beet
course to pursue afterwards would be to refer it to a mr
mittes to report to the Court of Common Council This
last duty mu,t be awork of censideralioe time, and berm*
therefore, that unnecessary delay would be avoided. Se
would now leave the matter in the hands of the court.
Mr. HALL—What would you suggest?
Tie CHAIRMAN would suggest that the members of tie
court should express their opinions with a view to die
guidance of the committee. Perhaps it would be well to
ascertain whether ntr. Simon had any explanatory °beam
liens to make before the report was discussed. (No, no.),
Mr. Deputy HARRISON then proposed the follow
resolution :
That it be referred to the committee of health to tale
into consideration the report of the medical officer of health,
presented to this court on the 6 h inst.. as to the coarse P
be adopted thereupon, and especially with reference to then
matters recommended therein, which do not come within tie
powers of this court to carry into execution, and generally
to report then upon to this court."
He fully concurred in the opinion of the Chairman sib
the importance of the report. He had never read a more it
portant document, or one which deserved a feat's
attentive consideration. (Hear, hear.) At the usis
time he oeuld not conceal from himself that this.
fourths of the matters introduced were matters our
which the court had not the slightest coots &
(A voice, "At present.") He had, indeed, no desire le
find fault with the report; he was prepared to advance with
the times; and he agreed with the chairman that, own; et
the change which had recently taken place in the putin
mind, they might now advance with more rapidity then thif
could have done previously. The comparioon helms
the mortodity of the City and that of Dulwich was certain'y
most interesting; and it was an important question boyar
the Limner could be reduced. The next point introduced by Mt.
Simon was house drainage. He (Mr. Deputy Halli 1011)
tad
no hesitation in saying that there was a greet deal of truth
in Mr. Simon's observations on that subject, but he MI
not aware of any suggestioa in the report in relstios to d
which the court had net been endeavouring to carry otitis
months. (Hear, hear.) The question involved a Oa
many difficulties. There were many parties whom Wogs
seemed opposed to the objects of the commission. 'Dr
were landlords who obtained • large rental from a rol., ,'ll*
ferior description of property, and it such parties were aped
upon to lay on water in the m suggested their ratans
would be considerably diminished. Men commonly alder
vented to obtain as much as they could from their proper%
without reference to the state of the occupants. No pail'
the report deserved to be more carefully considered. the
that which related to the supply of water. Mr.Siu.onobjedli
to cisterns, on the ground that under all circumstances thrl
must tend to mike water unwholesome, Ile would not nis'
gest to the court, but leave the committee to declare of
what materials cisterns should be made, so as to be of tb
least injurious character. The drainage of hones sad
, the supply of water wee!, in fact, questions whl
could not be separated ; and either by inducing the 001"
poration to erect water-works, or in some other sum
nee, it was their imperative duty, as opportunities tu t
vented themselves, to endeavour to secure for the oinee,„„!
Lo.don an abundant supply of water. (Hear, hear.) ITh•
cistern plan must, lis believed, be adopted; but at all eves%
they should take every means to °Duda an abundant
supply of water of good quality, and above all, id
a reasonable price. With respect to intramural bsiP
there was no difference of opinion as to the naps*
and of the object; and having been in communiMlMl
with one of the most influential clergymen of the City
London, who had taken • great interest in this question, he
was enabled to Mate that an arrangement which was likely le
be satisfactory to all parties would be submitted to perliamegt
at the beginning of the next session. The next quesuon
was
es to the houses permanently unfit for habitation. This, was
a matter over which they had no control, nor was it likely that
parliament would give them any. It affected private Fo'