The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-20 00:00:00

PROPOSED RAILWAYS IN THE METROPOLIS.

A deputation from the inhabitants of Euston-square and
neighbourhood attended Vie Board to present a memorial on
the subject of the various railways proposed to bo con-
struotid on the site of Euston-square.
The memorial stated that the inhabitants of Euston-
square and neighbourhood with the feelings of alarm the
notices which had been given for the construction of the
Tottenham and Hampstead Junction Railway,: and the
North-Western and Charing-cross Junction Railway,
which would materially interfere with the present open
spaces which were necessary for the health of the inhabi-
tants, end would also destroy a great deal of very valuable
be selected for these railways than were now proposed.
property. They also urged that much better routes might
Mr. SPENCER addresse I theßoard at considerable length
SILAS TAYLOR, was referred to the Streets Committee for
in support of the memorial, which, on the motion of Mr.
consideration and report.
SURVEYS TOR GAS AND WATER PIPES, TELEGRAPHS, &C.
A deputation from the different metropolitan gas com-
panies attended the Board to present a memorial on the
subject of laying gas mains in subways, &o.
were not suitable for
gas mains, for if gas was mixed with
The memorial stated that subways
common air it became
explosive, and inlconfined andlimited placeswas exceedingly
dangerous. It was impossible to prevent the escape of gas.
by reason of the rapid decay of pipes, and as all works in sub-
ways would have to be performed by artificial light, escapes
oTfhegasmwemouolrdialbe
wsuenbjtecttoto
say
ymost immediate explosion.
that
frequent connec-
tions with mains had to be made, but in a dark and confined
space that would be at all times difficult sad dangerous,
and in cases which large mane are to be connected quite
impracticable, as such work could not be performed by arti-
ficial light, and without more fresh air than could be ob-
tained in any confined space. Meta when working in an
atmosphere containing much gas, even in the open air, had
great difficulty in doing their work effectively, often fainting
away, and in a close subway their lives would be endangered.
It was also urged that escaped gas in subways might be
readily fired by the carelessness of workmen and even by a
lucifer match accidentally thrown down a ventilator, and
accidents of the kind occurred in sewers in Clerkenwell and
in the Strand, by which a number of houses were materially
injured, and by an explosion of gas in a subway at Green-
wich, by which one workman was killed and another was
seriously injured. Therefore, while admitting the useful
ness of subways, they hoped the Board would protect the
public and the gas companies from danger to life and pro-
perty by exempting gas mines from the Subways Bill.
Mr. RICHARDS addressed the Board iu support of the
memorial.
The et-tallow/tar said, at an early period in the existence
of the Board their attention had been called to the evil of
damage
emsatgreee
ttos
tbheeinrgoasdosf, but interruption
y broken
attention of the Board was also drawn to mother, but not
loss evil, which was the subsoil of London, which had been
frequently up,t causing not only
the traffic. The
referred to. The escaped gas became mixed with the sub-
soil, and it became dangerous to public health.i 4 The
Board had not rushed into this subject without the i'ullest
inquiry, for they offered premiums for the best designs for
a subway, and those designs were referred to a committee,
among whom were the late Mr. Robert Stephenson, Mr.
Hawksley, Mr. Wyatt, Mr. W. Cubitt, the late Mr. Alex-
ander Wright, 111 r. Bazalgotte, and Mr. Marrablo, and they
gave the fullest consideration to the subject. They believed
that they should be able to prevent the escape of gas, as the
pipes would be painted, and the, joints could be frequently
examined. Thoy also considered that there would be the
additional advantage, iu au economical point of view, by en-
abling gas companies to lay demon their pipes without dis-
turbing the roadway, and thus save the expense of relaying
_ the road, As theso subways were formed, at the expense or

Deputy BURNELL brought forward the first motion as an
amendment to the reception of the report, which was to the
effect that the committee be dissolved, end that the Court re-
gretted to find that several articles the property of the cor-
poration had been appropriated to certain members of the
committee, in contravention of the ett nding orders of the
Court, and impairing the digelly of its members. He said
that no doubt the entertainment committee had cet.ied out
in a very satisfactory manner the object for which it was
appointed, but it appeared to him that by their subsequent
proceedings a minority of the committee had entirely spoiled
the good effect.
.(Hear, hear.) He then eiluded to the
charge's that had been made of several members of the com-
mittee having taken costly articles to their Own use, that
were undoubtedly the property of the Corporation ; and said
that although possibly some members of the covet might
think it advisable that the matter should be passed over
without discussion, he was not one of those who entertained
that opinion, but felt on the contrary that the honour and
dignity of the court and the Corporation of London were
deeply involved in the matter, and with a N:OW to prevent
such a proceeding from ()conning egain, he hoped his pre-
sent motion would be agreed to. (Hear, hear.)
Deputy PERKIN 3 seconded the motion, and a long debate
ensued upon it.
Mr. IikRRIB said that although ho wee a member of the
committee, he did not approve of the proceedings they had
taken with regard to the presents that had bean made to
their chairman, Mr. Truscott. He suggested that the com-
mittee should apply to the court for its sanction for this
course, which he was sure would have been granted. If they
had done so, there would have boon no ground for the outcry
that had been made upon the subject, and the ridicule that
had been cast upon the Corporation in consequence. (H.,:ar.
hear.) After the long time that had elapsed, however, it
appeared to him that the best course was to let the matter
drop, as any further discussion must not only be unpleasant
to the Corporation, but also to the high and illustrious per-
sonages for whom the entertainment was proNided. (Hear.)
Deputy ELLIOTT complained that an amendment he had
placed upon the pap ,r for discussion had not been brought on
for discussion before the motion of Deputy Burnell. lie said
that he was not aatuatcd by any hostile feeling towards the
committee, and certainly not towards the chairman, Mr.
Trueoott, who he had no hesitation in saying was " a jolly
good fellow"—(hear, hear, and laughter)—aud he had only
taken the matter up out of respect to the Corporation, and
to endeavour to prevent the repetition of what he considered
to be a most improper proceeding on the part of the commit-
teo. Those who occupied the position they had done in
providing for the entertainment of Royalty were sometimes
supposed to be satisfied by the honour they acquired by their
position, but most undoubtedly the committee, besides
honour, had had a very good ahem of solid pudding. (Hear,
hear, and a laugh.) He found by their report that they had
spent £243 in luncheons,£277 in a breaking. up frolic on the
river, and £l7O for wine, end, in point of fact, out of the
total cost of the entertainment, which was £16,000, he cal-
culated that the committee had engrossed £2,300 for them-
selves. (Oh, oh, and hear, hear.) The cost of each person
invited was about £7 10s. per ticket, and, besides their own
ticket's, the committee appropriated 160 others for their own
use, which, at the sum stated, amounted to more than
£l,lOO. With reference to this subject, he might state that
upon the occasion when her Majesty attended a City ban-
quet he know that £lO was offered for a ticket, so that the
Court might judge the extent of patronage obtained by the
committee by having so many tickets. (Oh, oh.) Deputy
Elliott went on to express his opinion that the committee
had exceeded the powers vested in them by the Court, and
that the expenditure they incurred was very much larger
than it ought to have been, and he reminded the Court that
upon the occasion when King William visited the City the
cost of the entertainment was only £3,000, upon the visit
of her Majesty it was only £6,000 ; but upon the last occa-
sion £15,000 was expended through the unnecessary extra-
vagance of the committee.
Mr. BIJOU said, as one of the members of the Royal
Entertainment Committee, he had no hesitation in stating
in reference to the statements that had been made byDeputy
Elliott on the present and former occasion that they had
very little foundation of truth in them.
Mr. SLOWMAN, another member of the committee, made
a statement to the same effect, and said that so far as he
was concerned all the property that came to his share was a
wooden-backed hair brush, which he only prized as ame
mento of the interesting occasion.
Mr. WHEELER considered Deputy Elliott was quite jus-
tified in the course he had taken, and that the public would
not be satisfied unless the Corporation took some steps in
the matter.

Mr. ROWE said he could not agree with the opinion that
the Court was under obligation to Deputy Elliott for the
oourse•he had taken in this matter, as he considered that
nothing was more calculated to bring the Court into ridicule
and contempt. The statements that were made upon the
subject were only "nuts" to the public, and he hoped the
matter would be dropped.

Deputy DE JERSEY expressed his opinion that the state-
ments wade by the committee in their own report, and the
Omissions, were quite sufficient to justify farther inquiry,
and that when a committee was appointed by that Court for
any specific purpose, they ought to take care that all their
proceedings would bear the light of day, (Hear, hear.)
there was not a word in the report about the sum of £350
having been expended in luncheons, and although he, of
course, was aware the committee had a perfect right to have
refreshments, the amount so expended ought not to be kept
out of their report, (Hear, hear.)
Mr. COCKERELL said he hoped the matter would be al-
lowed to drop. Tho committee had no doubt transgressed
the standing orders of the Court, but he thought they had
suffered quite enough for what they had done.
Deputy FRY expressed the same view, and said that
what already taken place would completely answer the
object in view, and the Court might feel re-sured that no
similar committee would ever act in the same way again,
or dispose of any property without the sanction of the
Court.
The motion of Deputy Barnell, after some further discus-
sion, was put by the Recorder, and declared to be nQgatived.
1 Deputy ELLIOTT then proposed another amendment to the
effect that the subject should be referred to a special com •
naittee,lto consider and report hew far the committeein ques-
tion was justified by ancient usage and custom in appropriat-
ing to their own use various costly goods the property of
the Corporation, and also by what means the expenditure of
special committees may in future be under the same control
as that to which all other committees aro subject.

--
Mr. TRUSCOTT, the chairman of the Entertainment Com-
mittee, after some discussion had taken place upon this
amendment, briefly addressed the Court, and said he
eonsidorod ho had already fully answered all the chargca
that were made against the committee, and that on the
present oocasion he considered be sh=ld !,ft (1,-,T1,1U