The Sun.
London, England, 1865-07-29 00:00:00

OF TILE THAMES.

Mr. DOULTON, M.P., said there was a matter which was
only referred to for a few minutes at their last meeting,
which was the reception of tenders for the utilization
of the sewage on the south side of the Thames, and one
tender was received from a Mr. Shields, but not at the time
which the advertisement required. Tho advertisement
stated that no tender would be received after 4 o'clock in
the afternoon of July 6, but it appeared that the tender of
Mr. Shields was not sent in until July 17. Now, having
regard to those persons who complied with the terms of the
advertisement, he thought it would be impossible for the
Board to receive any tender that was sent in after that time.
If it should be found that none of the tenders sent in in
time met the object the Board had in view, then it would
be perfectly open to them to take any other tenders, or to
again invite further tenders to be sent in, but until that
was done it would be unfair to those who had complied
with the terms of the advertisement to admit others who
had not done so. It would not be right that persons should
be at liberty to send in tenders at the last moment, and thus
be enabled to avail themselves of information from the
plans which had been already sent in and submitted to the
Board. Another reason was that the matter ought not to be
further delayed, for there would be ample time for the en-
gineer to report upon the subject and get the work put in
hand before they adjourned for the recess. Ile therefore
moved, "That the plan of Mr. Shields not having been
submitted in the time named by the advertisement for the
ultilisation of the southern sewage, this Board is not in a
position to receive such plan, having regard to the terms
of the advertisement."
Mr. 11. L. TALYOR, in seconding the motion, said it would
be child's play if, when the time fixed had gone by, other
persons should be allowed to send in further tenders. The
advertisement stated that July 6 at 4 o'clock in the after-
noon was the last day and the last hour that they were pre-
pared to receive tenders, and it seemed that that of Mr.
Shields was not sent in until the 17th, or nearly a fortnight
afterwards. Under those circumstances the tender of Mr.
Shields could not be received.
Mr. NEWTON said he regretted to find that the Board was
not then disposed to adoptthe course which had been taken
upon the former occasion. Then they received a tender at
10 o'clock in the morning, which ought to have been sent
in the previous day, and from time to time they allowed
modifications to be made in the plans which had already
been sent in. In the case of Mr. Ladbrooke, a communica-
tion was sent in, stating that three or four gentlemen were
most anxious to contract for taking the sewage, but at pre-
sent they had been been unable to mature plans, and time
was allowed for that purpose. They also issued further ad-
vertisements, inviting other persons to send in other tenders,
and he saw no reason why the same course should not be
taken on this occasion. •

Mr. BRUMFIELD said, were they to concede this applica-
tion they would set a most mischievous precedent, and the
argument which Mr. Newton had used went to show how
wrong they had acted then. If they stated that they would
receive tenders up to a certain time, and not afterwards, it
would be most unfair to those who had complied with the
advertisement after that to accept any others.
Mr. SHORE and Mr. FREEMAN wore opposed to receiving
this tender.
Mr. MILLER, M.P., said nothing could be more dishonest
or more untruthful in the face of their own advertisement
to receive tenders sent in after the 6th of July. Mr. New-
ton had made a good speech to show how unfairly they had
acted on a former occasion, and the sum and substance of it
was that as they had acted unfairly then they should
do so again. He completely agreed with the remarks of
Mr. Doulton, but thought no motion was required, as the
tender of Mr. Shields was excluded under the terms of the
advertisement.
The CHAIRMAN then put the motion, which was carried
by a majority of 24 to 2.
The, tender of Mr. Shepherd for the same work was also
set aside for the same reason, not having been sent in time.
Mr. NEWTON gave notice that on Friday next he should
move That advertisements be issued, stating that the
Board will be prepared to receive suggestions and commu-
nications in reference to the utilisation of the sewage of the
metropolis on the south side on the 22d of September next.'