The Sun.
London, England, 1865-04-08 00:00:00

Metropolitan Board of Works.

Tho usual meeting of this Board was held yesterday, at
the offices in Spring-gardens. The president, J. Thwaites,
Esq., took the chair at 12 o'clock.

FINANCE.

The cash statement for the current week shows a total
general balance of £592,993 2s. Id.

GENERAL WORKS-WESTERN DISTRICT.

The Board received tenders for the execution of the
general works in the above district, and Mr. Thirst's, being
the lowest, was accepted, subject to the usual conditions.

The Great Oxford and Cambridge Eight-
oared Match,

(THIS DAY.)
Incidents have multiplied upon incidents during the last
few days to render the contest for the blue ribbon of the
Thames this year the most exciting race that has ever been
contested between the Universities of Oxford and Cam-
bridge.

Time was when the attractions of this race wore mainly
confined to members of their seats of learning, but, ere
many repetitions, it was soon found that the race in itself
possessed merits which must not only render it gratifying
to the public, but which must perpetuate its popularity,
and time has confirmed its reputation,while experience has
convinced us that in this race only is rowing practised with
the closest approximation to perfection. The following
are the crews, with their weights :

CAMBRIDGE. t lb
1. Mr. H. Watney, St. John's
2. Mr. M. H. Beebee, St. John's 0
3. Mr. E. V. Piggott, Corpus ... 11 12
4. Mr. R. A. Kinglake, Trinity ... ••• 12 7
5. Mr. D. F. Steavenson, Trinity Hall ••• 12 4
6. Mr. G. 11. Borthwick, Trinity ... ••• 12 0
7. Mr. W. R. Griffiths, Trinity ... 11 10
8. Mr. C. B. Lawes, Trinity ... 11 9
Mr. F. H. Archer, Corpus Christi (cox.) ... 7 3
OXFORD st lb
1. Mr. R. T. Raikes, Merton 11 1
2. Mr. P. Senhome, Christ Church ... 11 2
3. Mr. E. F. Henley, Oriel 12 13
4. Mr. G. G. Coventry, Pembroke... 11 12
5. Mr. A. Morrison, 8a11i01... ... 12 6
6. Mr. T. Wood, Pembroke 12 2
7. Mr. H. Schneider, Trinity ... 11 11
8. Mr. M. Brown, Trinity 11 4
C. E. W. Tottenham, Ch. Ch (cox.) 7 13
The race, although not an annual event at first, has now
been so for many years, and has invariably taken place on
the day before Palm Sunday, which now necessarily fell on
Saturday, April 8, above a fortnight later than last year.
The task of chronicling the excitement in the prepara-
tion for the enjoyment of the consummation of the event
is of a somewhat arduous character. Amongst all classes
bustle and excitement have been apparent in the metropolis
of aquatics, and the note of preparation has sounded
merrily amongst the various rowing clubs and all the boat-
yards of the Thames, above and below bridge.
Throughout the early time of training, which has been
in progress for nearly two months, the continued severity
of the weather excited doubts and apprehension in the
minds of the community respecting the condition of the
opposing crews, but within two or three days after the ap-
pearance of the Oxonians at Putney it became more genial,
and upon the whole was exceedingly favourable for practice.
The crowds that have thronged Putney for many days
have abundantly testified to the popularity and interest of
the event, and the ardent lover of rowing has been in some
sort rewarded for his patient toil upon the towing-path or
across the heath and common between Putney and Mort-
lake, by the gratifying exhibitions which he has witnessed
by the many hard, spirit-stirring trials and gallant races in
anticipation of the great contest which it is now our duty
to detail—of that all-engrossing event the issue of which
was to reward the self-denial and endurance to which the
competitors have cheerfully submitted themselves for the
last two months, with the laudable desire of sustaining the
acquatic honour of their respective institutions.