The Sun.
London, England, 1865-10-07 00:00:00

Metropolitan Board of Works

The weekly meeting of the Board was held yesterday at
the office in Spring-gardens ; Sir J. THWAITES in the chair.
Major LYON asked the engineer in what state the expe-
riments were that were now being conducted to test the
ventilation of the various sewers. It was an important
subject now that the cholera was approaching.
The ENGINEER replied that the experiments going on had
attracted great attention and discussion, and everything
was done to bring them to a satisfactory state, but before
Christmas he should lee able to say whether they would be
successful or not.
The Clerk to the Board (Mr. Pollard) read a letter from
the City commissioners of Sewers, stating that some of the
houses were about to be removed at the corner of Grace-
church-street and Lombard. street, and that they had com-
municated with the Fishmongers' Company with the view
of widening those streets. That company bad offered to
sell the ground required for £B,OOO, and the commissioners
asked the board to contribute a portion towards that ex-
panse.
The CHAIRMAN inquired whether St. Benet's Church
was not coming down ?
Mr. H. L. TAYLOR said he hoped it was.
The letter was referred to the streets and improvements
committee.
The CHIEF ENGINEER presented a report on the progress
of the Thames Embankment and main drainage works. ,
A special boat d was held, in consequence of a requisition
signed by five members, for the purpose of rescinding exist-
ing orders fixing the salaries and allowances of the chief and
assistant engineers, so far as might be necessary to allow
such increase and to pass such orders thereon as may be
necessary;

r Mr. PECKETT, in a very few observations, urged that the
time had arrived when they should do justice to their
engineers, and moved that the existing orders on salaries
of engineers be rescinded, and that the salary of the chief
engineer be raisxl from £1,500 to £2,000 a year.
Mr. 'MILLER, M.P., seconded the motion.
Considerable discussion on this motion took place, which
resulted in the following amendment, which was moved by
Mr. H. L. TAYLOR, being carried :—" That the question as
to the salaries and remuneration to the chief engineer and
assistant engineer be referred to a committee of the whole
board, to inquire in respect to their salaries and all additions
made thereto, and that the committee do report their re-
commendations thereon."

The Engineer brought up his replies to the questions that
had been put to him by Mr. H. L. Taylor relative to the
Thames Embankment contracts on Friday last. They were
as follows :—The contract No. 1 amounted to £520,000 ;
for No. 2, £229,000. The date of the order to commence
No. 1 was the 10th of February, 1864, and the contractor
was bound to complete it within a period of two years and
six months. The order for commencing No. 2 was dated
19th of March, 1864, and the contractor was bound to com-
plete it in two years. The contractors did not obtain pos-
session of the wharves and ground necessary until some time
after the date Of the engineer's orders, and there were other
causes of delay for which the contractor was not responsible.
The penalty for non-completion of the work at the specified
time was 1 per cent on the amount of the tender for each
and every week that might elapse between the appointed
and the actual time of completion. That amounted to
£5,200 per week on contract No. 1, and £2,290 per week on
contract No. 2. The value of No. 1 contract, including
plant and materials on the ground, was £215,905, which
showed a monthly progress of £11,363. The amount re-
quired in future per month to complete the contract within
the time specified, extras included, was £27,645. The value
of the work done on contract No. 2, including plant and ma-
terials on the ground, amounted to £144,871, which showed
the amount required in future to complete the contract
within the time specified was £14,021. The engineer was
also asked to state whether, looking at the present state of
the works and the large sum advanced, there would be
sufficient funds left out of which the penalties could be
enforced. The engineer stated that he could not answer
the question because it involved a knowledge of the state
of the works at some future period, of which no possible
estimate could be formed. In reply to another question,.
the engineer stated that the amount of work done in .the
last few months was £45,000.
Mr. CAAPMAEL said that at the rate they had been going
on they would complete the works in the time specified.
Mr. TAYLOR said ho was credibly informed that it would
be years before the works would be finished.
Mr. BAZALGETTE said he did not anticipate any such
delay, clthough he did not think the works would bo com-
pleted in the time specified. The delay might be a few
months, but certainly not years.
The routine business was disposed of, and the board ad-
journed.