The Sun.
London, England, 1863-08-11 00:00:00

The New City Traffic Regulation Act.

The forthcoming operation of the act at the in-
stance of the corporation of London towards the end
of last session of Parliament, for regulating the
traffic in the streets of the city and for preventing
obstractions, is looked to with some expectancy and
interest. As its provisions are comparatively little
known, and as it is a time-honoured legal maxim
that ignorance of the law excuses no one, we give a
summary of its enactments for the benefit of all con-
cerned. The preamble recites, what has been matter
of notoriety for years past, that it is expedient to
make better provision for the regulation of omni-
buses, cabs, carriages, carts, and other vehicles pass-
ing through the city or its liberties, so as to prevent
obstruction and enable the increasing traffic to be
conducted with less delay and in a safer manner.
With that view the Act empowers the Court of
Aldermen to make from time to time such by-laws
and regulations as they may think necessary, and
these are to apply to three principal subjects. First,
the Aldermen may prescribe the routes to be fol-
lowed and the particular street or parts of streets to
be used by omnibuses, cabs, and vans ; secondly,
the height and width to which the heavier vehicles,
such as carts, waggons, and drays, for the convey
ance of goods, wares, and merchandise, using the
streets of the city between nine in the morn-
ing and six in the evening, may be laden; and,
thirdly, they may determine the period of the
day or night during which carts, waggons,
or other vehicles wholly or partially laden with
timber, metal, or any other material exceeding 25
feet in length or 8 feet 6 inches in breadth, may be
allowed to pass or be prohibited from passing. The
Court of Aldermen is empowered to regulate the
mode of distinguishing hackney cabs when empty
and when actually plying
during which coals for hire; the time of day
may be shot into cellars through
openings in the streets ; and to appoint places at
which street shoeblacks may stand to exercise their
calling, and to determine the number of such shoe-
blacks at each place. The by-laws may at any
time be varied, altered, or repealed, but not in a
manner repugnant to the general laws of the king-
dom or to the provisions of this particular Act.
They are also to be enforced by penalties not
exceeding 40s. for each offence, with, the alter-
native of a term of imprisonment. For purposes
of the Act and the recovery of penalties certain pro-
visions of the City of London Police Act are incor-
porated, and are to be read as if re-enacted. A
right of appeal is given, or rather an existing one
in like cases continued, to a superior court. No by-
law or alteration in a by-law is to come into opera-
tion until one month after its approval under the
hand of one of her Majesty's principal Secretaries
of State ; nor shall any by-law or alteration be sub-
mitted for such approval until one month after the
intention to apply for the approval shall have been
publicly notified by advertisment. The by-laws,
when so settled and approved, are to be posted in a
conspicuous manner on the Mansion-house, the
Royal Exchange, Guildhall, Temple-bar, the Cus-
tom-house, and the General Post-office, St. Martin's-
le-Grand. The Act is to continue in force for
seven years after its passing, and thence to the end
of the then next Session of Parliament, and the
expenses of obtaining it are to be borne out of the
City police-rate. Much of the merit of its passing
is due to Mr. Deputy Lott, who has for years, in
season and out of season, urged the necessity of
some such measure on the Court of Common Coun-
cil. On the other hand, Alderman William Law-
rence has invariably deprecated any undue interfe-
rence with the conveyance of merchandise, or any
unnecessary restrictions on trade within the city,
such as were proposed, as unwise and vexatious.
The duty now devolves upon the Court of Alder-
men to devise a code of regulations in conformity
with the statute ; and as the Act has been pro-
cured at the express instance of the corporation it-
self, and through its own law officers, it may be
presumed they will set about the matter forthwith
and with an earnest desire to give it full effect.

WORCESTER HOP MARKET, AUGUST B.—We
have been blessed with a continuance of fine, warm weather
with some rain, which has been most favourable for the
growing hop plant, and it is now coming well into burr
with every proepect of an abundant crop. The fears enter-
tained a fortnight ago that after all the crop of 1863 would
be but a poor ono appear to have been banished by the
favourable turn in the weather, which has certainly im-
proved the healthy appearance of the crop. The bine is in
a forward state and early picking may be expected. There
is little or nothing doing in the market, the stock being
Pretty well sold out.