The Sun.
London, England, 1853-11-26 00:00:00

WANT OF ADDITIONAL BRIDGE ACCOMMODATION.

Deputy PEWTRESS moved— " That a reference having
been made to the Bridge House Estates Committee re-
specting Southwark-bridge, they be instructed further
to consider and report on the plans and estimates for the
erection of a new bridge between Southwark and Black-
friars bridges, and the approaches thereto, in order that
the court may be enabled to form a comparative esti-
mate between the erection of the new bridge and the
sum necessary for the purchase of Southwark-bridge,"
Deputy Pewtress said he was sure he need not impress
upon the minds of the members of the court the absolute
necessity of providing means for the increased and in-
creasing traffic over the Thames, the want of which was
universally acknowledged ; and in the event of his
motion being carried, much valuable information would
be procured from engineers and architects fully compe-
tent to form an opinion upon a subject which had so
frequently and so justly occupied the attention of the
court_ (Hear, hear.)

The motion was seconded by Mr. KEBBEL.
Deputy HARRISON was at all times as anxious as pos-
sible to save the public money, and as two references
upon the subject under consideration were already before
the committee, he felt it his duty to oppose the motion,
and to move that the court proceed to the business of the
day.

Deputy BENNOCH considered the question to be one of
the greatest importance that could be considered by the
court for the benefit of the citizens. The inquiry, if pro-
perly conducted, need not cost a very large sum of money,
while it would greatly strengthen the hand of the com-
mittee, and very much aid them in ascertaining the value
of such structures, which could not be arrived at without
proper and accurate reports of engineers capable of giving
an opinion. If such a sum were given for Southwark-
bridge as had been proposed on a former occasion, it would
be a grossly extravagant piece of expenditure. (" No,
no," from Mr. H. L. Taylor.) The whole of the oppo-
sition to the present inquiry had been of the discreditable
nature so frequently exhibited by members who denied
that any projected improvement could be effected of any
description unless they themselves were the origina-
tors of it. Unless Mr. H. L. Taylor, or Mr. F. H. Hall,
or Deputy Harrison, were at the head of a great hil-
-1 provement. _ _ _

The LORD MAYOR rose, and put it to the good sense
of Deputy Bennoch whether he thought any good
would arise from imputing personal motives. (Hear.)
He thought that debates should be conducted upon
public matters, as far as possible, without reference to
individual members. (Hear, hear.)

Deputy BENNOCH was very much obliged for the gen-
tle hint, and the kind terms in which it was conveyed ;
but when he saw a gentleman shaking his scanty lock of
hair, and saying, "I will take care you don't do that."
(Uproar, and loud cries of " order.")

Mr. BUCKNALL—A personal reference is very ungen-
tlemanly, and cannot be answered anywhere but out of
doors.

Deputy BENNOCH said he did not wish to be so per-
sonal ; but when he found a gentleman shaking his head
and stating explicitly that the motion never should be
carried, he (Deputy Benno* came to the conclusion
that that member had made up his mind, in conjunction
with a number of gentlemen who were always ready and
willing to vote with him, that any proposition coming
from an independent member of the court should not be
received.

Deputy Lorr—That is untrue. (Confusion, and cries
of " shame.")
_ _ _

Deputy BENNOCH-I know it is impossible that any-
thing I say will be received with ordinary patience at
present.

Mr. J. Woon—l rise to order. My friend says it is
impossible that anything he states will be attended to.
When any gentleman in this assembly addresses himself
orderly he will be heard with patience, whoever he may
be. It is painful to witness a scene like this. (Hear.)
The LORD MAYOR—I think Deputy Bennoch has
really no ground for his statement ; and I am sure, judg-
ing from the temper and the disposition of the court this
day, that they will patiently hear him or any other gen-
tleman. I shall claim for every member a right to be
heard ; and I mistake the court if I do not find a ready
response to that declaration. (Cheers.)
Mr. Under-sheriff ANDERTON thought Deputy Ben-
noch had as much ground for the statement he had just
made as he had for those that he had made in another
place.

Deputy BENNOCH said he had made no statement
that he was not prepared to prove if an opportunity
were afforded him. He then gave a statement of his
reasons for not thinking it desirable that Southwark
Bridge should be purchased by the corporation, chiefly
bedause of the small amount of additional accommoda-
tion it would afford.

M. H. L. TAYLOR having very humorously, and
amidst general cheering, replied to the speech of Deputy
Bennoch, said he should oppose the motion.

Alderman WIRE, after expressing the great pain with
which he had listened to a debate of so personal a cha-
racter, said he should vote for the motion.
Deputy PEWTRESS replied, and the amendment was
put and negatived.