The Express.
London, England, 1867-01-12 00:00:00

THE METROPOLITAN BOARD OF WORKS.

The weekly meeting of the members of this board
was held yesterday morning; Sir JOHN THWAITES in the
chair.

We have already reported that at • meeting of the Maryle-
bone vestry, held on Thursday, several members expressed
their indignation at what they alleged had been the con-
duct of Sir John Thwaites with respect to the negotiations
between the Metropolitan Board of Works and Sir Thomas
M. Wilson, Bart., about Hampstead-heath, and a resolu-
tion was passed to the effect that the vestry regretted that
the chairman of the Metropolitan Board of Works had not
carried out the resolution of that board, in seeking an in-
terview with Sir Thomas Wilson, who was willing to re-
ceive him, relative to the preservation of Hampstead-heath.
sirJ. THWAITLI yesterday said, in reference to the above
tamitioned proceedings, that he had been requested to com-
municate with Sir Thomas Wilson on the subject of his right
over Hani!ntead-heath. When the question was discussed he
suggested the propriety of adjourning it until the matter
beta* the Master of the Rolls had been determined. The
board, however, paned the resolution, and on Friday last
two or three members of tho board intimated that Sir
Thomas Wilson expected a communication from him, and
lie replied that he did not feel himself at liberty to open
the question until the matter before the court was decided ;
but se he warn willing to act courteously towards Sir Tho-
mas Wilson, he was willing at once to open a negotiation
if it were desired. On finding that Sir Thomas Wilson
had no town residence, he wrote to him asking him the
neat time that be was in London to call on him
' with reference to Hampstead-heath. He had re-
ceived • letter from Sir Thomas Wilson which con-
tained the following passage : " Hearing it is the wish
of the Metropolitan Board of Works that you should
have au interview with me, I remained at Charlton at con-
siderable inconvenience to myself to receive you. I am
willing to du so, but I must decline the privilege you have
accorded to we to wait upon you at your office." He (the
chairman) wrote • reply to Sir Thomas Wilson, stating that
he was not aware that he had been putting him to any in-
convenience, and that he had been induced to make the
request on learning that he had no London residence, and
added that he feared his arrangements would prevent his
meeting Sir Thomas Wilson before Monday, the litb, or
the following Saturday.

Mr. Stu; thought ;bat Sir Thomas Wilson had been
badly treated, but it was owing to a misunderstanding.
The chairman WKS not liable to any imputation.
Mr. NICHOLAY said that when the letter was read at the
vestry he had expressed his opinion that they should allow
the matter to stand over, in order that the chairman might
wake KU expluustion.
.liter some discussion, in the course of which several
members condemned the conduct of the Mary lebone ve.try
in framing the resolution, the matter dropped.
Mr. DOI' I.TI ."1, M.P. moved, according to notice, "That
• deputation be appointed to confer with her Majesty's
Firm, Commissioner of Works as to the preservation of
commons and open spaces ; that it is to be an instruction
to the deputation to represent the inefficiency of the act of
last sesaion to accomplish the object for which it was
framed. and to urge upon the First Commissioner the ad-
visability of introducing such amendments of that measure
as may startlement its deficiencies, and practically effect
ite objeota." . . _

Mr: t kL2MAN seconded the motion ; hut on the motion of
Mr. TURNER, an amendment was carried. referri% the
subject to the W. rks Committee, in order that they might
determine what amendments to the act were desirable.

Tender. were opened for the diversion of Limekiln Dock
and Blackwell Sewers, and it was decided that Mr. Web-
ster's(2o.oolM.) should be accepted. The highest tenderwas
that of Mr. Redden, which was 34,9trif., and the lowest,
Mr. Ritson'a, 1a,5001.
Mr. RWHY. brought forward a motion, pursuant to
noting, " That in granting permission to the engineer to be
ocustuted in cases of itiniculty by the engineer carrying
out certain sewerage works and street improvements at
Brussels, the board did not grant permission to the engi-
neer to become consulting engineer to a public company,
or authorise or sanction the publishing of the name of
the engineer in the prospectus of the Belgian Public Works
Company." la doing so he said that he did not believe
Mr. Beralgette knew that his name was to be placed to
the prospectus, and he was therefore free from blame. The
board, in framing that resolution, for a moment in-
tended that he should become consulting engineer to a
public company, for nothine could be more damaging to
the board and to the engineer himself in the eye of the
public than allowing his news to appear in the prospectus
of a speculative undertaking.
Mr. HOWel seconded the motion.

Mr. Tanks thought that if the board wished to mono-
polise the whole of the services of their engineer they
must lacrosse his salary. He objected to the resolution.
The subject gave rise to considerable discussion, and
ultimately an amendment, moved by Mr. Saunders, and
seconded by Mr. Savage, deprecated the me of Mr.
llazalgette's name in the prospectus of a public company.
There appeared 12 for it and 12 against it. The chairman
gave his casting vote in favour of the motion, which, being
carried,the board adjourned.

VICTORIA STATION AND PIMLICO RAILWAY.—
' The general meeting of the shareholders was held yester-
day at the offices ;of the company, No. 7, Westminster-
chambers, Victoria-street ; Mr. W. Lee, chairman of the
company, was in the chair. The following report was sub-
mitted :—" The revenue account for the six months eliding
December 31 admits of the payment of the same dividend
as that of last half-year, namely, 3/ per cent., or at the
' rate of 71 per cent. per annum. The very large outlay
recently incurred by the Brighton, Great Western, and
London, Chatham, and Dover Companies in making the
new approaches to the Victoria station, both north and
south of the Thames, and in widening the bridge, and the
approaching connexion of the Victoria station with a sta-
tion of the Metropolitan District Railway, are calculated
to place the maximum aggregate rental of 33,123 f. (which
commences on and from the let April next), in the
highest class of freehold ground rents. In view of
the present low rate of money the directors are taking
steps to place the remainder of the perpetual 1A per cent.
debenture stock, as intimated in the last report ; and they
have confidence that a security of so high a character will
be readily taken up. The directors congratulate the pro-
prietors that, during the period of unexampled commercial
distress and of especial distrust in all descriptions of rail-
way property, the position of their undertaking and the
price of its stock have remained unchanged." The report
was (on the motion of the Chairman, second. d by Mr.
Xlpr) unanimously adopted. A dividend at the rate of
7. per cent. per annum was then declared. The retiring
directors having been re-elected, Mr. Edward Brooks was
elected auditor in the room of Mr. G. F. Holroyd, who
retires. _ . .

ADMIRALTY, JAN. 11.—APPOINTMENTS.—Lien
tenants—F. Ds V. Sanders, to the Nettle H. T. Clanchy,
to the Octavio, additional, for disposal ; J. M. Morris, to
the Formidable.