The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-26 00:00:00

METROPOLITAN COMMISSION OF

SEWERS.

A special court of the Metropolitan Commissioners of
Sowers was held on Monday at the Greyhound Inn, Rich•
mond, to hear appeals, and to transact other business in
respect to the district —Mr. R. Jebb m the
.chair.
The SECRETARY reported that the balance in the halide
of the treasurer on the Ist of April was 35,1431. 113. ld.;
cheques drawn, but not presented, 5371. 8s 6d. ; leaving
an available balance of 34,6061.25. 7d.
Mr. GRANT, one of the engineers of the commission,
presented to the Court that on the 30th and 31st of
March last, Mr. James Long, builder, of Marsh-lane,
' Richmond, laid a drain from the Royal Naval School,
Richmond, and connected it with a pipe sewer of the
commissioners in Duke-street, without previously making
any application to the officers of the commissioners, or
paying the frontage rate. He further stated that this
was not the first instance in which Mr. Long had bee*
guilty of such an irregularity.
The Court thereupon ordered that he be summoned to
appear at the next court.
Thomas Bucknell, of Kew Foot-lane, was summoned
to show cause why he refused to pay lls. 6d. charges
upon him
Bucknellab se
ns efi benefit
rat.
oi rat thte
ehs'
e money refused to payhe w theas calledrat rate u
uponnl he
to
ha 1 somer.
pay. It was true that the commissioners had put down
some works, but they were so bad and so badly con-
structed, and had not sufficient fall, that himself and
family had walked with the water half-way: up their legs
to get into their own house. He had a drain in his yard
which on the least shower of rain blew ap, and so over-
flowed his neighbour's premises, that he was threatened.
with immediate proceedings if that drain was not
destroyed. He had, therefore, to do away with the
only drain lie had because there was no outfall, and for
the last two winters he had to carry away at least 100
pails of refuse every week. That was not the worst of the
state he was in. He had a shed near to his house, in
which he placed articles of furniture, and on going into
it a short time since he found a closet belonging to an-
other neighbour had overflowed the place, that it was
some inches deep in water, and that all the furniture had
the appearance of having been painted with blue paint
produced by the noxious exhalations. Afterwards he
was obliged to lay down planks to pass from his house
to his shop.
The CHAIRMAN, without entering into that question,
said the Commissioners Vie r o most anxious to afford to
the whole of Richmond better drainage, and with that
view they were endeavouriug to obtain from Parliament
additional powers to enable them to do so. Until they
got those powers they could not do so much as they
wished, but in the meantime all parties were bound by
law to pay the rates. He then ordered that the appel-
lant should pay the amount.
AN ABSCONDING COLLECTOR.
In the case of an absconding collector for th(. Spital-
fields district, it was stated to the Court that his surety
was bankrupt, and that his estate would yield but 3s. in
the pound, which was agreed to be received for his de-
falcation of 240/. It was stated that this was the total
loss in rates in 800,000/. collected for the last ten years.
After some other matters had been disposed of, the
Court adjourned.

BIRTHDAY OF THE DUCHESS OF GLOUCISTER.—YeS•
terday was the birthday of the Princess Mary, Duchess
of Gloucester, the only surviving child of the numerous
family of the late lung George the Third. Her Royal
Highness yesterday completed her 78th year, having
been born April the 24th, 1776. During the day the
members of the Royal family now in town, and a great
number of the nobility and gentry, made complimentary
calls at the Royal Duchess's residence, in Park-lane.