The Sun.
London, England, 1863-12-26 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 26, 1863,

civilised met, the uncivilised went to the wall. It
seemed to be the rule in such cases that might
made right. The strong race succeeded. They
saw in their own history the British yielding to
the Saxon, the Saxon to the Norman, and however
much they might regret the extinction of the
Maori rac , he was sorry to say that these people
appeared to bring this result upon themselves, and
like all other uncivilised nations, firing on their
own extermination. "1 have now," he said,
passed in brief review the principal events of last
session. I was going to say that I was alarmed at
the statement of the chairman at the opening of
the meeting, that this was to be an exception to all
others in respect to the harmony of our discussions,
but I have been accustomed to discussion, and I
believe that the reason that I stand well with the
electors is that I respect difference of opinion.
(Applause.) The hon. gentleman resumed his seat
after an address which had occupied nearly two
hours in delivery, and much applause.

After a few minutes,

Mr. JONES, of Thomas-town, rose and made some
observations in favour of Mr. Somes's Bill. He
was glad to hear Mr. Bruce make a few remarks
upon the desirability of the working-men making
the most of their money. He had often advo-
cated to them the desirability of their making
the most of their money. He was glad to
notice that Mr. Bruce had slightly changed in
his opinions in respect to the teetotallers. He called
them now excellent people, but formerly he called
them superficial observers. After a short time he
that
would be drawn still closer
to t
afterwards remarked that Mr. Bruce
had formerly stated that drunkenness was only
eperhapsf
ter
rational recreation. This was iollowed by strong
thoughth
m. He a w h
cries of "No, no." He considered the closing of
the publio-houses on Sundays would be the greatest
blessing that could fall upon the land.
Mr. W. GOULD advocated the ballot.
_ _

Mr. T. COOPER made a rather amusing address in
Welsh on the misappropriation of charity funds for
educational purposes.

Mr. W. DATfEs, a workman, from the body of
the meeting, spoke,very eloquently at times,against
the truck system which existed at Aberdare. He
said they had put the truck master into the County
Court, from that court the case had been removed to
a higher court, where they could not follow it. He
was glad that he worked for men that paid him in
the coin of the realm ; but there were many as good
workmen es he who had to submit to the truck,
who, when they received a £1 order would take it
to the cashier, but they could draw no money, they
must take it to the big store, where that was
reduced in value ss. There were instances of great
privation caused by this system, and he asked the
tradesmen to support such men as would seek to
abolish the obnoxious system.
The Rev. Taos. JENKINS also made some obser-
vations in favour of Mr. Somes' Bill, adducing the
success in Scotland of the Mackenzie Act, and its
effect in the diminution of crime.

Mr. BRUCE rose to reply. He stated first that
the success of the Mackenzie Act was not so great as
would appear, that though criminal cases o❑ the
Monday were reduced, the amount of crime in Scot-
land had not decreased. He also considered that it
was the custom to observe the Sabbath in Scotland
more strictly than in England ; that beer was not
drunk there so much as spirits were; that spirits
would keep but beer would not, which if purchased
on the Saturday would be flat on Sunday. There
was also a great deal of private drunkenness in Scot-
land on the Sabbath. Mr. Bruce alluded to the de-
crease of the amount of spirits used in this country.
He also noticed that there were petitions from New-
castle, Halifax and Sheffield, against the bill. One
was signed by 10,000, another by 20,000, and the
third by 24,000 people. He told Mr. Davis that
the remedy for the truck system was in the
hands of the workmen ; the system was illegal.
They could summon the master for wages, when
the order for goods would not be considered pay-
ment. In this opinion he was supported by
the opinion of a very eminent legal gentleman ;
but they must not go and fire a shot here and
there, they must go on with a systematic course ;
and only when the law was found to fail must they
appeal for stronger measures. With regard to the
charity question, he felt sure, after the able re-
marks made by Mr. Gladstone some time since
upon this question, it would not long remain in its
present position.

A vote of thanks and an expression of undimi-
nished confidence in their representative was
adopted.

Metropolitan Board of Works AnnuaL
Report

The following is an abstract of the report of the
Metropolitan Board of Wurks of its proceedings for
the yEar

The Northern High Level Main Drainage—The sewer,
commencing at the river Lea, Old Ford, extends to Hollo-
way, eight miles in length, and nearly 10It in diameter; is
completed, at a cost of £181,722.
Acton Branch—This sewer extends from Acton-bott®m
to Notting-dale, 1 mile and 2,070 ft in length, about 4ft in
diameter ; is completed, at a cost of £9,820.
Ranelagh Overflow Sower—This sewer commences in
Knightsbridge, passes under Hyde-park and Kensington-
gardens, 1 mile 4201 t in length, about 9ft in diameter; is
coin, leted at a cost of £31,580.

Southern Outfall Sewer—This main drainage extends
from Halfway reach at Crossness along the Erith 'Marshes,
through Woolwich and Greenwich to the Deptford pump
ing station, a length of nearly 7i miles, lift Gin in dia-
meter, is completed at a cost of £310,684 2s 6d.
Northern Out fallWorks—These works form the outlet for
the whole of the sewage north of the Thames. They extend
from Barking Creek to Old Ford, 14i miles in length. These
works are formed principally upon arching or solid embank-
ment passing over the Lea, six other streams, and over two
lines of railway. These works are nearly completed, the
contract being taken by 1%. Furness for £615,000.
Middle Level North Sewer—This work extends from Old
Ford to Kensal-green, passing for nearly two miles under
houses. It will ba nearly 121 miles in length, half of the
work being excavated by tunnelling. It varies from 4ft to
12ft. in diameter. The work is taken by Messrs. Brassey
and Co. for ;£329,800, and is rapidly progressing.
Western Area Sowers—These works are intended for
the interception of the drainage of Fulham and Hammer-
smith, about 41 miles in length, and the contract for them
hasleen taken by Moxon and Co., for £56,740.
Southern Outfall Works—These works comprise two
contracts—one for engines for lifting the sewage to heights
varying from 10ft to 34ft. This contract was taken up
Watt and Co. for £44,900. The other contract was for the
construction of engine and boiler houses, sheds, reservoirs,
&c., and was taken by Mr. Webster for £300,000. These
works are nearly completed.
Deptford Pumping Station—This work is also divided
into two contracts. The engines were taken Ly Messrs,
Slaughter for £22,300, and the boiler-houses, chimney-
shaft, coal-sheds, &e., were
-taken by Messrs. Aird and Sun
for £113,136.

High Level SJuth Sewer—This sewer extends from the
pumping station at Deptford Creek to High-street, Clap-
ham, with a branch to Dulwich. It is about 91 miles in
length, the sewer varying from 4ft to 10ft bin. The con-
tract was taken by Messrs. Lee and Boules for £217,000.
This work is completed.
Northern Outfall Reservoir-1 his contract comprises
the erection of penstock houses, cottage, culverts, reservoir,
and other works, extesding over nearly 11 acres, and the
reservoir will receive the whole of the sewage of the
northern area of the metropolis,where it will be stored until
the ebb of the tide, when it will be discharged at the bottom
of the river, about 300 ft distant from the river bank, so as
to be conveyed down the stream. The contract was taken
by Mr. George Furness for £164,000.
Southern Low Level Sewer—These works commence at
High-street, Deptford, passing through New Cross, Cam-
berwell, Kennington, Battersea, and Wandsworth, termi-
nating near Putney•bridge. The length will be about 91
miles, varying in diameter from 4ft to 7ft Sin. This con-
tract was taken by Mr. Webster for £214,000.
Bermondsey Branch Sewer—These works extend from
near Deptford Creek, and terminate near St. James's
Church, Bermondsey. This line is nearly 2i- miles, vary-
ing in capacity from a single sewer, sft 3in, to 7ft in dia-
meter. The contract for this work was taken by Aird and
Son for £107,000.
The Fleet ,-,ewer—A work of considerable difficulty has
been executed during the year, which was a reconstruction
of a portion of the Fleet sewer, arising from the damage
done to it by the Metropolitan Railway Company during
the formation of that part of their line near Victoria-street,
Clerkenwell. The cost of this work amounts to £24,928 16s
Bd, and application has been made to the company for
payment of the amount. _ _

Thames Embankment—The board has obtained powers
for making an embankment, to commence on the northern
side of the Middlesex end of Westminster-bridge, to termi-
nate near the eastern boundary of the Inner Temple, to be
continued thence by a viaduct to the western side of the
northern end of Blackfriars-bridge ; to make an approach
road from the embankment, C(>l4lllllll,lcAting with Surrey-