The Sun.
London, England, 1864-10-28 00:00:00

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL.

Yesterday afternoon a Court of Common Cou.acil was
held at the Council Chamber, Guildhall, the Lord Mayor in
the chair.

GENERAL GARIBALDI.

A report was brought up from the City Lands Commilen
for piyment of the expenses, amounting to £2OB 9s 6di in.,
eurrtd upon the presentation of the honorary freedom, of the
City, and unanimously agreed to.
STREET IMPROVEMENTS.

A report was brought up "on the reference of the 19th
May last, to c Dnsider the:r repor t relative to the expenditure
incurred by the Commissioners of Sewers dur:ng 1862
A -id 1863, in effecting certain street improvements, and re-
commending that £l,OOO be contribute t in respect of the
improvements in Bull-4 id- Moat h- street, Paternoster-row,
and Upper Thames-street."

The consideration of the report was deferred.
A report was brought up by the same committee " ot pro-
ceedings under the reference of May 21, 1863, on the peti-
tions of owners and others interested in proper-y in Few.
church street and Gracechurch street, relative to the forma.
tion of a new street from Gracechurch street to Rood lane,
and recommending that the reference be discharged."
In asking the Court to discharge this reference, Deputy
Fier said he did not doubt that if the improvements could
have been made as °rig:l:rely intended it wou'd be a way
good thing .or the City and the public at large, but the
finances of the corporation were not in such a floutisbing
condition as some people meght suppose ; at all events, they
were not prepared to lay cat the very large sum, estimated
at £BO,OOO, requited to carry out these worl-e. In the first
instance the promoters of the scheme had ag:ecd to deposit
£100,600 to carry out the works, but they had since altered
Cleir mind, and hod declined to deposit the money, and
the Corporation did not feel themselves justified in la)ing
out such a very large sum. Ile therefore asked that the
reference might be discharged.
Mr STEWART opposed the motion, s ry:ng t'ae City could
afforl to make the street themselves without my support;
and he argued that, if continued in a line with Cannon-
tweet, the new street would be of the g:eatest possible ser-
vice to the City.

Alderman HALE certa'rily hoped the street r 3 originally
projectei would be carried out.

Alderman Fluidal's agreed with Mr Deputy F.y that,
although it would be an undoubted improvement, the Cor-
poradon cou'd not of itself aTord to go to the expense
which it would necessarily entail.

Mr L. TAYLOR said there appeared to be a misunder-
standing on this subject by Alderman Hale, aq, although
Mr Mason had in the first instance agreed to deposit ZlOO,OOO
iu the b..nk on behalf of the City, he had since refused to
ratify his promise, so that if this stre3t was built it must
be wholly at the expanse of the Corporation.
Mr Deputy FRY said that while the Corporation of the
city of London had yearly to pay £17,000 for justice in the
shape of grqls and prisoners, they would be quite unable to
make any public improvements of any consequence; and it
was to be hoped that a rate would be levied on the. diCarent
citizens and on the large buildings, that a rate equal to the
county rate might be leviei to pay those expenses, in which
case the City would be able to make verygreat improvements.
Atter some dismsion the reference wes discharged, end
the subject dropped.

CITY FINANCES.
A report being brought up from the Coal e-rd Coin and
Fineries Committee, "on the reference of the 20th inst.,
recommending that the sum of £17,620, required for the
works, &e., at the City of London Lesaat:c Asylum, be pro-
vided out of this City's cash,"
Mr Deputy BONE asked the Cou-t to agree with the
motion. /Shay persons appeared to tbirk that the city of
London we a in a stale of insolvency, but he wr s very happy
to inform them that their finale- 3 were never in a better
cordition with regard to all legi'mate expenses. They had
plea.y of money for all proper expenses. At the present time
they hrd a belance of £2.5,766, which was ;ally sufficient to
defray all legitimate expenses; but they were like a private
individual who had a good income, but who overrun that
incline, and ko would tell the Court that they had been
guilty of several exravesonces lately.
Mr Iticueuresore believed the Corporation was never in
better condition then it was at the present time.
Ultimately the Court agreed with the report.
SOUTHWARK BRIDGE.
Mr THOMAS RUDKIN moved that it be referred to the
Bridge-house Estates Committee to take the necessary steps
for the introduction of a bill into Parliament during the next
session to empower the Corporation to purchase Southwark-
bridge, rad with authority to confer with her Majesty's
Government and the Metropolitan Board of Narks thereon.
In briegiog forward this motion, Mr Rudkin said it had
been dt 'ided to throw open Southwark-bridge for a short
time f -co of toll, and he apprehended that they would be
able b put clay 3e it altogether, so that it could be thrown
open to the public pek.nalently, as it was quite certain that
after it had once been open free, public opinion would never
allow it to be closed again. (Hear, hear.) With regard to
the Corporation buying it altogether out of their owa funds,
he thought that the Metropolitan Board of Works and the
Government ought to be applied to to assist them. He there-
fore moved his motion, that the Metropolitan Beard of
Works should be conferred with.
_ _ _

Mr PHILLIPS seconded tha motion.
Mr PEDLER thought they ought not to ask for compul-
sory powers from Parliament, as he thought it could
bs
better sdttled between themselves.

After a few words from Mr HarCs end Mr Lawley,
Mr Deputy JONES said he thought if the bridge wee
bought at all the Corporation ought to buy it in tcto, as if tho
Metropolitan Board of Works had any hand in paying for it
there would always be squabbles as to preredence. Re hoped
that Mr Rudkin would withdraw his motion.

After some further discussion MrRLDRIN agreed to with-
draw his motion.

The reference of the 20th instant, recommending; " that
the money required for the opening of Southwark-bridge
be provided from the City cash upon loan to the Bridge,
house Estates Fund," was agreed to.