The Sun.
London, England, 1862-01-11 00:00:00

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_ )411/4 •kk ),>,4514 Uhl 9'l Ibi'l7' ,1 The usual meetiun- of the I\letropolitan Board of
r-1. - -.7- • / 0.-1,11,,. •
Works was held yesterday at the offices in Spring-
ce%4' 9? ct'4.;3
4111Pir• gardens—Mr. J. Thwaites in the chair.
• • ';'• - `;' •

PROPOSITION TO DISPOSE OF THE SEWAGE OF THE

METROPOLIS.

PRICE ..4d.
STAMPED ....sd.

The Board proceeded to consider the report of
the Main Drainage Committee, stating " that the
committee entertain very favourably the proposition
for dealing with the sewage of the northern area of
the metropolis, contained in the communications
from the Hon. Wm. Napier and Mr. Wm. Hope,
and recommend the Board to assent to the principle
of a concession of the sewage for a term of 50 years,
provided the requisite authority be granted by the
Legislature to the Board, and subject to the intro-
duction of all necessary clauses in the bill for the
protection of the Board and of the public interests
confided to them, and for insuring the fulfilment by
the company of the obligations undertaken by them."
Several communications were read strongly con-
demning the proposition of handing over to the
applicants the sewage of the metropolis, which
might impede the drainage, and was a valuable
commodity which ought to be applied in liquida-
tion of the rates of the metropolis.
_ _

us to suppose that the liberation of Messrs. Mason
and Slidell has. in reality caused disappointment
rather than pleasure.
The following is from the Siecle ;
" The despatches which announce the favourable
solution of the conflict between England and the
United States have produced general satisfaction
in Paris. The prospect of a war which would ne-
cessarily lead to the most serious complications,
would fill with mourning all those who, like us,
would wish to see all nations proceed regularly and
unshackled towards liberty and prosperity. In ac-
cepting the consequences of the act of captain
Wilkes, the Washington Cabinet would have com-
promised the future of the two hemispheres and the
cause of the American Union. To yieldunder such
circumstances is, on its part, a proof of strength
rather than of weakness. It renders homage to
the principles which it has itself defended for so
many years, and yields to the wishes expressed
so unanimously by the European Government. All
had adopted the arguments so clearly developed by
M. Thouvenel ; all condemned the conduct of the
Commandant of the San Jacinto as contrary to the
law of nations, but what is remarkable is that no
Power, in presenting considerations on an-isolated
fact, called in. question the good faith, the intelli-
gence, and the patriotism of the Government of the
American Republic. It has rallied round it sym-
pathies which were about departing ; and Messrs.
Mason and Slidell set at liberty by its orders, may,
without danger to it, resume their voyage ;to
Europe."

Mr. WILIUNSON, in moving the adoption of the
report, said a committee of 21 gentlemen had almost
unanimously recommended a concession of the
sewage of the metropolis to a private company, the
Board in no way being responsible for any of the
expenses that would be incurred in carrying on
these works. Their engineer had reported favour-
able on the plan as the only one that had been sub-
mitted which offered any prospect of reasonable
return for the outlay, and at the same time would
not be a nuisance to the metropolis. They had now
an opportunity of having a work done by a private
company, and at their own expense, which in a
few years might be required to be done by the
Metropolitan Board of Works, providing the new
outlets which would be formed for the discharge
of the sewage should not be unaccompanied by a
nuisance. He hoped the Board would not consent
to any further delay ; and as to the river schemes,
if they called before them the projectors of them,
they would be taking on themselves the functions
which properly belonged to the committee of the
House of Commons. On a comparison of the advan-
tages of the different schemes he believed these
men had presented the only practioal plan which
admitted the irrigation of the land by liquid ma-
nure without creating a nuisance, and in granting
the concession to them they would be running no
risk whatever. He concluded by moving, "That this
board assents to the proposal of the Hon. W. Napier
and Mr. Hope, representing the Metropolitan Sew-
age and Essex Reclamation Company, in the terms
of the communication to the board, providing the
grant from the Crown and the requisite authority
of Parliament be obtained in the ensuing session,
and that the solicitor of the board do see that all
the necessary clauses are inserted in the bill to con-
vey the necessary authority of the board."
Mr. CARPMAEL seconded the resolution, and said
the persons making the proposition proposed to use
the sewage in the irrigation of the land, provided
the assent of Parliament and this board was previ-
ously obtained. They believed that the sewage of
the metropolis was a valuable property, and if they
succeeded they would pay them a percentage for it;
but if they failed this board would not be called upon
to pay a single farthing towards the construction of
the works. Therefore he did hope the board would
at once give the company this concession, and so
enable them to go to Parliament and ask for powers
to carry their scheme into effect.
Mr. DOULTON said his opinion on the general
question would be in accordance with the mover and
seconder of the resolution, but, at the same time, he
thought it would at present be impolitic on their
part to take the course now proposed which might
bear the appearance of favoritism. Other parties had
applied to this board for similar powers to those
now sought to be given, and it was only on 16th
Nov. last that Mr. Pollard, the clerk of the board,
sent a letter to other parties requesting them to
be good enough to supply a map and sections, shew
ing the intended operations, the level of the sur-
face, and the lines, levels, and sizes of the intended
aqueducts, indicating the various kinds of surface
soil with which it is prepared to deal, and showing
in detail what mode of subsoil drainage it is in-
tended to adopt, with the size, depth, and incli-
nation of the several proposed lines of drainage,
together with the particulars of the pumping
power to be employed and the nature of the out-
fall ; also a statement of the manner in which it is
proposed to work the scheme, what kind of powers
will be taken for dealing with the land to be ope-
rated upon, how owners and occupiers are to be
treated with, what quantity of sewage will be taken
daily, over what area of land it will be distributed,
and many other particulars in reference thereto.
That letter was sent only two months ago, and all
he asked them to do was that, as persons were en-
gaged in preparing that information, they should
wait until that was laid before them, which they
themselves by their own officer had asked for. He
was not in favour of any particular scheme ; but he
was opposed to the board committing itself to any
particular plan until the fullest information as to
other plans was obtained. He moved as an amend-
ment that all the documents and report of the com-
mittee be printed and placed in the hands of mem-
bers, and that the subject be adjourned for a month.
Mr. Alderman LAWRENCE seconded the amend-
ment, believing that they would be doing wrong by
precipitately agreeing to tbe plan now before them.
Mr. FREEMAN supported the original motion, as
the company had come before the Board with all
calculations for carrying the works into effect, and
for a bona fide purpose. If the question was ad-
journed for a month the bill would be entirely
ignored for the present session.
Mr. NICIIOLAY believed the proposition of 1111.
Doulton was a most reasonable one, to give other
companies the power of sending in their plans, and
he hoped the board would not hesitate to grant the
delay of one month, to enable them to send in their
plans, and he should have been glad if the time had
been for a longer period than a month.
Mr. ROBINSON supported the amendment, believ-
ing that the irrigation of 20,000 acres of land with
sewage could not fail to create a nuisance; and he
hoped that they would confine themselves to so
much of the subject as referred to the metropolis,
with which alone they had to deal.
Mr. 13IDGooD said he did rot see what the board
had to do with the scheme at all, for if they were
to assent to it it would at once be put prominently
forward that the Metropolitan Board of Works had
agreed to it, and persons might be induced to part
with their money in consequence. He therefore
urged the board to be very cautious in giving their
assent to any scheme, but let the whole of them go
to Parliament and ask for compulsory powers on
the Metropolitan Board of Works to let them have
the sewage.
Mr. PECKETT supported the motion.
Mr. PHILLIPS said if the assent of the board was
obtained even then it would be required that the
company should make out their case before Parlia-
ment, or they would not get their Bill.
Mr, BENNETT said there was an opinion amen{;
the public that this sewage was valuable, and, if
that was so, it was impossible that they could give
away what was the property of the ratepayers and
could be used for their advantage.
Mr. liuctiEs gave it as his opinion that if ever
there was a scheme calculated to create a nuisance
more than another, this was one, as it was proposed
to spread over a sandy sail a thickness of sewage
which would pollute the 'air with malaria, and
would affect such towns as Maldon, and Chelms-
ford, Southend, Gravesend, Dartford, and many
other places until it finally reached the metropolis,
Sand could not imbibe ammonia, and indeed it sas
intended to form a soil on top of the sand of the
sewage of the metropolis, ;until it should reach a
depth of 10 inches, which must be most pernicious
to the surrounding neighbourhood. As to the
scheme he believed it was altogether impracticable.
It was an interference with nature and the boun-
dary of the coast, and if submitted to Parliament.
would be immediately rejected.
After a few observations from Mr. D'lffanger and
Mr. Deputy Harrison,
Mr. WILKINSON replied, and the amendment was
carried by 17 to 13,

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