The Sun.
London, England, 1864-12-24 00:00:00

Metropolitan Board of Works.

The weekly meeting of the Board was held yesterday
at the new office in Spring-gardens, Mr John Thwaites in
the chair.

A report was brought up from the Thames EmbankmeLt
Committee, relative to the progress of the works for the
Thames Embankment, contract No. 1. The report stated
that the committee had conferred with the engineer, and
Mr Furness had also attended before them to explain the
course he proposed to take in future as to the execution of
the works, and had expressed his confident anticipation of
proceeding with much greater rapidity than hitherto. In
about a fortnight's time he would be in a position to con-
struct the requisite coffer dam at the rate of 100 feet per
week, and by other arrangements he was about to make he
would be enabled to complete the works within the time
limited by the contract. They had also instructed the
engineer to report at the expiration of a fortnight the pro-
gress which Mr Furness had made, and in the meanwhile
they considered it expedient to submit this statement of
facts to the Board, and requested authority from time to
time to report on the state of the works and the progress
made.

The recommendation of the eommitte9 was agreed to.
A. report was brought up from the finance committee,
submitting for approval the estimates of sums required for
the expenses of the Board for the year 1865. The amount
required was divided under the following heads :
Sewerage and Drainage .... . X 42,800 0 0

Metropolis Improvements.. lO,OOO 0 0
General Purposes
Expenses under Sale of Gas Aot 1,710 0 0
Sums required for Houseleas Poor
Repayment of Lolls and Interest on
Mortgage Debts
Compensation Allowances to late 0104

ears ........ 1,177 12 4
Mortgage Debts of Metropolitan Coma

missloners of Sewers ............. . 20,184 14 8

Total .......... 144,601 6 4
Deduct approximate surplus estimate
for 1864... •

130,601 6 4
These estimates gave rise to a desultory conversation, but
eventually the further consideration of them was deferred
until Friday next. _ _ _

Mr DOULTON, M.P., called the attention of the board to
the act of last session authorising the construction of the
Metropolitan Railway in the line of the Thames Embank-
ment, and moved that a letter be at once addressed to the
directors, urging them to take the necessary steps for so
carrying out their undertaking as to avoid interference with
the board's works after their completion." In support of his
motion the hon. member urged that as the streets were so
frequently broken up by gas and water companies, to pre
vent any delay the board ought to call upon the Metropoli-
tan Railway Company at onoe to proceed with their works
for their authorised line of railway under the Thames em-
bankment.

Mr CARPMAEL seconded the motion, and said unless the
Metropolitan Railway Company proceeded with their works,
the opening of the Thames Embankment-road might be de-
layed for two or three years, and it might be five years be-
fore they finally obtained possession of the roadway.
Mr D'IFFANGER abked the chief engineer if it was pos..
sible to carry or, the railway concurrently with the Thames
Embankment.

Mr BAZALGETTE replied ft the afarnaative.
Mr H, L. TAYLOR thought it was an act of negligence on
their part in not getting a clause inserted in the Thames
Embankment Act to compel the railway company to com-
mence their works.

The CHAIRMAS said they did seek the necessary powers,
but they were defeated.
Mr IL L, TAYLOR said if Parliament had made a mis.
take they ought to follow up the question and get compul-
sory powers as against the railway-company.
Mr MILLER, M.P., believed that the railway company
would be ready to commence their works as soon as they
were told that the caissons were put down to keep out the
water.

The motion was agreed to, and after some unimportant
business had boon disposed of tho board adjourned.