The Sun.
London, England, 1863-12-09 00:00:00

CITY SEWERS COMMISSION,

Yesterday a very numerously attended meeting of the
members of this commission was held at the Guildhall,
under the presidency of H. De Jersey, Esq., deputy.

THE METROPOLITAN BOARD AND THE CITY.

A considerable portion of the sitting was occupied in the
consideration of the question relative to carrying out a public
improvement in Mansion-house-street, by setting back the
premises of Messrs. Lubbock and Co., the bankers. An
offer of a contribution of £2,600 towards effecting the im-
provement had been made to the commission by the Metro-
politan Board of Works, but it was urged by several of the
members thht, as it would cost something like £17,0J0 odd
to carry it out, it was not right that the ratepayers of the
City should be taxed to pay the remainder. Ths matter was
referred to the Improvement Committee to consider the let-
ters which had been received from the Metropolitan Beard
respecting the proposed improvement, and to report their
opinion as to the best course to be pursued in the matter.
Yesterday Mr. Joseph Daw, the principal clerk to the com-
missioners, read the report of the committee, which stated,
that in obedience to the terms of the reference, they had
carefully and anxiously considered the question, and as they
were of opinion that if the present opportunity was lost for
effecting the improvement great public inconvenience would
hereafter be felt, they recommended, as the most judicious
course to be adopted under all the circumstances, that they
should be authorised to pursue the negotiations for pur-
chasing the piece of ground required to be laid into the
street, and, if it was thought advisable, to go to the arbi-
tration of a surveyor for a settlement of the value thereof,
as proposed by the owners of the property. A plan of the
improvement was laid on the table. The ground proposed
to be taken covers an area of 450 ft., the frontage being 36ft.
in length. Pis 15ft in depth at the end nearest St. Mil-
dred's-Court, and 10ft. 6 inches in depth at the other end.
Upon the report of the committee a rather animated dis-
cussion took place. Some of the members were of opinion
that the improvement was one that ought to be carried out
by the Metropolitan Board of Works, as it was part and
parcel of the scheme about to be effected by them respecting
the new street to be made from Blackfriars-bridge to the
Mansion-house. The majority of the members, however,
agreed that some portion of the expense should be borne by
the commission, but they thought that the Metropolitan
Board had acted very illiberally in the matter.
Upon the motion to agree with the committee in their re-
port, an amendment was moved by Deputy FARRAR. to the
effect, "That the improvement would be of great advantage
to the public, and that it should if possible be carried out ;
but, in the opinion of the commission, the expenses should
be borne by the Metropolitan Board of Works out of the
funds at their disposal contributed by the whole of the me-
tropolis, inclusive of the city cf London, the improvement
having been rendered necessary by reason of the contem-
plated new street ordered by Parliament to be made by the
Board of Works ; this commission being willing to aid the
improvement by a reasonable contribution of the rates en-
trusted to them for improvements, and by using its legisla-
tive powers."
The amendment, upon being put, was carried. Upon
being put as an original proposition, however,
Mr. LowmAx TAYLOR moved a further amendment, as
follows :—" That this Court is willing to carry into effect
the improvement in that portion of Mansion-house-street
referred to by the plan, provided the Metropolitan Board
will undertake to contribute one-half of the actual cost of
effecting the same."
In the course of a discussion that ensued upon this amen-
ment,

Mr. SAUNDERS, who, with Mr. H. L. Taylor, represents
the oily at the Metropolitan Board, strongly urged the com-
mission to carry out this most desirable improvement. He
expressed his opinion that if they purchased the whole site
of Messrs, Lubbocks' premises (for which it was said about
£50,000 was required), they would, after throwing the
amount of land required into the public way, be able to re-
imburse themselves to the whole extent of the money ex-
pended.
The amendment was ultimately adopted, and the clerk
was directed to communicate the decision ef the commission
to the Metropolitan Board, and request them to return an
answer forthwith.