The Express.
London, England, 1861-12-18 00:00:00

THAMES EMBANZMENT COMMISSION.

Yesterday the commissioners appointed by the
crown to inquire into the question of embanking the Thames
on the Surrey side of the river within the metro.
polio, met at the offices of the commission, No. 2, Victoria-
street, Westminster. The commissioners present were—
The Right Hon. the Lord Idepr, iu the chair. ; Major.
Genera J. Jebb, K.C. B. ; Mr. John Thweitee, chairman of
the Metropolitan Board of Works; Captain Helton, R.E. ;
Commander Boatel, R.N., of the Thames Conservancy;
Mr. H. A. Hoot, surveyor of her Majesty's Works and
Public Buildings ; and Mr. J. R. M'Clean, C.E.
The Lord Mayor, in opening the procsiediop, explained
that the commission had been re-appointed by the crown
to inquire into the expediency of embanking the Surrey
side of the Thames, and into all plans that might be
submitted to them which would conduce with the greatest
efficiency and economy to the improvement, embellishment,
and convenience of that part of the metropolis, and cal-
culated at the same time to improve the navigation of the
river and provide a public thoroughfare without stopping
such trade as might be carried on upon the river aide. In
the 6rst instance the commissioners wished totake the views
of gentlemen connected with the river route and its locali-
ties, and would then, on the plans being deposited with
them, proceed with the consideration of the engineering
features.

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Mr. Robert Taylor, churchwarden of the parish of Lam-
bath, and one of the members of the Metropolitan Board
of Works, was the first witness examined, and deposed to
the very great inconvenience the inhabitants of Lambeth
were put to by the periodical overflow of the Thames in
that locality on the occasion of high tides, and for want of
seine adequate protection in the form of embarkment
along the river shore. As churchwarden he was frequently
sent for by the people who thus suffered for assistance,
and the parish engine was constantly being called into re-
quisition to pump out the water from the basement
of the houses of the poor people in the neighbour-
hood within half • mile radius of Lambeth Palace.
The water even flowed in at the gateway of the palace it-
self, and the porter had to pot up planking to oppose it.
There was • fund called the " flood fund " in the parish, for
the relief of the poorer classes. The raising of the frontage
line of the wharves and running up an embankment would
relieve and remedy these evils. After adverting to the
question of the sewerage in connexiou with the subject, the
witness deposed that in consequence of these floodings, the
lower portions of the dwelling, alongside the Thames were
never dry, even in summer, and the damp generated was
very detrimental to health.
Mr. F. Knyvett, secretary and solicitor to his Grace the
Archbishop of Canterbury, corroborated the facts stated by
the foregoing witness with reference to the nuisance and in-
convenience occasioned by these overflowings, which on an
average occurred some 20 times a rear, and the tenants of
houses in the York-road and by ilungerford Suepension-
=were compelled in COCIIINUOOOII to have water-tight
to the areas. The mud banks opposite Lambeth
Palace were perfectly pestilential, and although the
comervaton of the river Thames had thrown immense
quantities of materiel there, the mud, which was of the most
noxious and roalarious kind, still accumulated, sometimes
assuming a pink complexion at low water, and being full of
decomposing matter and worms. The smell, moreover, was
constant, and extremely offal:sive.
Mr. Snook., architect and surveyor, also gave evidence
of the desirableness of embanking the river along the line
of wharves. The new wharves to be built on the site of the
great fire at London-bridge would, in consequence of the
flooding of the river at spring tides, be carried a foot above
the silt of the river. He was of opinion that any arrange-
ment for carrying out embankment would be better in the
bands of the Thames Conservancy or the Metropolitan
Board of Works than in hands of the local hearth. The
construction of say roadway would involve • large amount
of compensation.
The commiseiemare after mine further examination in de-
tail then adjourned at 5 o'clock.