The Sun.
London, England, 1865-09-30 00:00:00

Metropolitan Board of Works.

The usual weekly meeting of this Board was held yes.-
terday at the offices in Spring-gardens. The president, Sir
John Thwaites, took the chair at 12 o'clock.

FINANCE.

The cash statement for the current week shows a total
general balance of £488,279 16s. 9d.
FINANCE COMMITTEE.

The report of the Finance Committee was laid on the
table. Among the several items recommended for payment
was one of £12,000 to Mr. G. Furness, the contractor for

No. 1 contract of the Thames. Embankment North.

Mr. IL L. TAYLOR said he wished to ask the engineer
some questions which ho considered of importance, and
which if answered would bo very satisfactory to the public.

He did not want them answered at once, but they might be
answered fully and satisfactorily on next Friday. What he

wanted to know was—What was the amount of the con-
tracts for the Northern Embankment? When did the con
tractors commence the works, and by what time would they
complete ? What is the amount that has been granted per
month for work done and plant put on the premises in
times past ? And what amount was wanted per month for
the future to complete the works ?

Mr. MILLER, M.P., said the information had already
been furnished to the members of the Board in the papers
that had already been sent round.

The CHAIRMAN said the questions were very important,
and it would be well to ask the engineer to rep!y fully to
them on Friday.

This suggestion was acceded to.

Mr. NEWTON said he had read a report of the meeting of
.the Metropolitan District Railway Company; in which the
chairman cast blame on the board for throwing difficulties
in their way of proceeding with their works. He wished to
know whether that was the fact.

The CHAIRMAN said it was perfectly clear that the board
had done everything possible to facilitate the proceedings
of the railway company, and had written letter after letter
to them and their engineer urging them to get their plant
on the premises and commence the details of the work. If
any fault existed it rested with the railway company. It
might have been convenient, for the chairman of the com-
pany to make that statement to the shareholders, but it
was not consistent with the correspondence that had taken
place between the board and the company, nor with the
facts connected with their negotiations.
The report of the committee was then received by the
board and adopted. .
MAIN DRAINAGE COMMITTEE AND MR. MOXOX.

Mr. FREEMAN brought up the report of the Main Drain-
age Committee, stating that they had made inquiries as to
the sureties proposed by Mr. Moxon for the due execution
of the contract for covering over the Heathwall sewer, &c.,
and his capability of carrying out the works, and having
regard to the pressing character of the works, they recom-
mended that the next lowest tender, viz., that of Mr. Pear-
son, for the sum of £45,600 be accepted.
Mr. POLLARD, the clerk to the board, read a letter from
Mr. Moxon, offering to procure other and unexceptionable
sureties for the due execution of the works. With regard
to the complaints that had been made against him for
delay in constructing the Deep Fall Sewer and other works
he had undertaken, he said he had been so ill that his life
had been despaired of, and that was the cause of the delay.
For the future there would be no probability of a similar
misfortune.

After some discussion the question was referred back to
the committee together with Mr. Moxon's letter.

THE LIVES SAVED IN THE BLACKMAN-STREET SEWER.

Mr. FREEMAN brought up the report of the same com-
mittee, recommending that a gratuity of £5 Ss. each be
given to Mr. Rutter and Mr. Evans for their praiseworthy
conduct in saving the lives of two flushing men who were
overcome by foul air while-working in the sewerin Black-
man-street, Borough. He considered that as those two men
had so gallantly risked their lives to save those of two of
the officers of the board, that the board ought to acknow-
ledge it, and therefore he hoped the report of the committee
would be adopted.
Mr. BENNETT thought the surgeon who gave his assist-
ance ought also to be paid.
Mr. NEWTON said that considering Evans and Taylor had
risked their lives so gallantly to save those of their officers,
the board aught to be ashamed to offer them only five
guineas.

The report was approved.
METROPOLITAN RAILWAY BRIDGES.

The report of the Streets Committee was brought up by
Mr. PHILLIPS, and recommended, " That, in the opinion of
the committee, it is desirable there should be an inspection
of railway bridges during Construction, and after comple-
tion, with a view of ascertaining that the works are exe-
cuted in accordance with the resolutions of the board, and
recommending that such inspection form part of the duty
of the assistant engineers of the board."
Mr. H. L. TA:moß.opposed the recommendation, because
it would be putting too much responsibility on the board.
If the bridges were not built according to the specifications,
the board cotfld compel the railway companies to pull them
down and rebuild them properly. He would be glad if the
solicitor to the board would state his view of their powers
in such a case.

Mr. SMITH said that in all bills a clause was inserted,
providing that the bridges shoidd be made to the satisfac.
Toil of the engineer of the-lkietrcipolitin Bard of "Works
and if they were not so constructed an application conk

be made to the Court of Queen's Bench, and a mandamus
would be granted.

Mr. Ir. L. TAYLOR considered there was no necessity to
inspect the construction as they went on.
Mr SMITH thought that if the board remained quiescent
while the railway company were going on constructing a
bridge in error, the Court of Queen's Bench would be very
reluctant to compel them to pull it down and rebuild it.
After an animated discussion the report was adopted
unanimously.