The Express.
London, England, 1866-10-05 00:00:00

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL.

A Court of Common Council was holden yester-
day, at Guildhall, under the presidency of the LORD
Karon.
The LORD MAYOR announced that he had received a
communication from Alderman Gabriel, the Lord Mayor
Elect, expressing his readiness to accept the office for the
ensuing year. And upon the motion of Alderman Law-
rence, M.P., Mr. Sheriff Lycett, was invited to take his
seat upon the bench, although not a member of the court.
The motion was seconded by Mr. J. E. Saunders, and
carried unanimously.
Mr. E. DRIOSER Rooxas asked the chairman of the
Markets Committee whether his attention had been di-
rected to the statements in the newspaper+ relating to
gross acts of cruelty alleged to have been committed
upon cattle at the Metropolitan Cattle Market by the
drovers
Mr. T. BUDZIN, the chairman, said that the committee
did all in theirpower toprevent any inhumanity being exer-
cised towards the animals in the markets, and the moment
any case was brought to their notice they at once deprived
the drover of his license. (Hear, hear.) This was all that
it was In their power to do in such a matter.
Mr. Alderman LAWRENCE, M.P., said he should him to
ask a few questions of the representatives of the corpora-
tion at the Metropolitan Board of Works, with reference
to the proposed new street from Blackfriara-bridge to the
Mansion-house. The object was to relieve the traffic of
Ludgate-hill and Cheapaide, and was of great importance
to the public. The duty of making the street had been
taken out of the hands of the corporation by the Metro-
politan Board of Work., but although a considerable time
had elapsed since the act of parliament had been passed,
nothing appeared as yet to have been done in the matter.
(Hear, hear.) He should, therefore, be glad to be informed
in the first place when the operatic is for making the new
street were likely to commence ; secondly, whether it was
true that the Metropolitan Board of Works did not intend
to do anything in the shape of pulling down buildings for
the new street until they had obtained possession of the
whole of the property ; and thirdly, at what period the
work was likely to be completed?
Mr. H. Lomas TAYLOR, one of the representatives of
the City at the Metropolitan Board, said that it was much
easier to put a string of questions than to answer them.
(A laugh.) He should, however, endeavour to do so. In
the Ent place he could inform the court that 236 claims
for compensation for property that had been taken were
finally settled, and that 111 freehold and leasehold claims
were still under consideration. With regard to the ques-
tions that had been asked by Alderman Lawrence, he did
not believe that the board intended not to commence
pulling down any of the buildings until they were in pos-
session of the whole of the property, but he believed that
they had resolved not to pull down the property in small
patches, but would wait until they could clear a considera-
ble space of ground, and thus afford an opportunity for
erecting large buildings such as were intended to be
built in the street. With regard to the period when
the street was expected to he opened, all he could say was
that by the beginning of next year the works would be
commenced, and he had no doubt that by the end of the
year some very fine buildings would be erected upon the
new line of street. (Hear, bear.) He would not venture
to state the period when the street would be thrown
open. He could only say that, at all events, he hoped he
might enjoy health and strength, and be a member of that
court when the event referred to took place. (" Hear,
bear," and laughter.)
The testimonial agreed to be presented to Mr. De Jersey,
the chairman of the City Sewers Commission, at a recent
court, was placed upon the table at the commencement of
the sitting, and elicited general commendation from the
members of the court for the winner in which it was exe-
cuted. A description of it has already appeared.
The Loci) MAYOR made a formal presentation of the
testimonial to Mr. De Jersey in appropriate terms, and Mr.
Do Jersey having replied,
Mr. Deputy Ei.uorr gave notice of a motion at the next
court that, with the exception of the removal of the iron
work in front of the Mansion-house and the works con-
nected therewith, further alterations affecting the base-
ment of the building be not proceeded with until further
consideration.
The TOWN CLERIC read to the court a telegram that had

been published in one of the morning paper-a, announcing
that the King of the Belgians had been pleased to confer
upon the Lord Mayor the honour of creating him a Com-
mander of the Order of Leopold, as a mark of his Majesty's
satisfaction with the reception afforded to him by the
corporation.
The Lotto Mxroit, who appeared a good deal affected at
the spontaneous honour that had been conferred upon him,
said that in the course of the morning he had received an
intimation from the Belgian Minister that he was in-
structed by his Majesty to make the announcement that
the honour referred to had been conferred upon him, and
he hail informed him that it would he a great addition to
the gift if he would attend personally to present it. He
hail consented to do so. The Lord Mayor then pointed to
M. Van de Weyer, who was sitting by his side, and said
that, if he might use such an expression, he would ask
him to express to the King, his master, his grateful
thanks for the high honour that had been conferred neon
him. (Loud cheers.)
M. VAN DE WEYER rose, and said that in these days of
telegrams and extraordinary modes of communication,
diplomatists were frequently beaten by them. He expected
to have been the first to make the announcement to the Lord
Mayor, but the telegram had beaten him. He would,
however, state that he had lost no time, but the moment
lie received the insignia of the order he immediately mule
arrangements to hamd it over to the Lord Mayor, and he
might add that it would have been presented sooner, but
that his Majesty hoped that an opportunity would have
presented itself when he might have made the presentation
I personally to his lordship. (Cheers.)
I Mr. JOHN RreisaaPsoN moved that it be referred to the
police committee to consider as to the operation of the
rule now in force which compels a married constable of the
City police force to leave his home and go into the infir-
mary upon the slightest indisposition, thus separating
hint from his wife and family against his will; and after
a short discussion the motion was agreed to.
Mr. J. T. BEDFoRD moved that it be referred to the
city lauds committee to ascertain whether, by the expen-
i diture of a part of the corporation funds in the purchase of
sonic of the worst portions cf property in the city inha-
bited by the poorest classes of the community, some relief
cannot be afforded, without loss to the corporation, to
• a state of things that has been described as " shocking to
humanity, and as disgusting and horrifying beyond descrip-
tion." The mover, in support of his motion, cited at
some length the reports of flr.Letheby, Dr. Saunders, and
Dr. Fowler, which have already appeared before the
public.
Mr. Deputy CHAPLIN seconded the motion • and after
some consideration the debate was, on the motion of Dr.
I BAUM/F.I;A, adjourned to the next court.
Dr. SAVNDEIti moved, pursuant to his notice, "That
this court do give its sanction that the three volumes of
the copies of the charters possessed by the corporation be
transferred from the Town Clerk's office to the Guildhall
Library."
A short discussion ensued, which was terminated by the
adoption of the motion of Mr. Alderman J. C. Lawrence,
"That the court do now adjourn."
The court broke up shortly before 4 o'clock.