The Sun.
London, England, 1853-10-06 00:00:00

THE NEW METROPOLITAN CATTLE MARKET.

Yesterday, in the afternoon, the members of the
Markets Improvement Committee, appointed by the
Corporation of the City of London, to carry out the
details connected with the new Metropolitan Cattle
Market, in Copenhagen-fields, proceeded, in company
with the chairman, Henry L. Taylor, Esq., to the site,
near Holloway, for the purpose of inspecting the pro-
gress of the works, the whole of they ascertained to be
in a very promising state of forwardness, considering the
gigantic character of the undertaking. The levelling
and preparation of the ground, for the market itself, for
the several roads and approaches, for the cattle lairs,
the public and private slaughter-houses, and other
works, present to the public, now, something like a
rough outline of the vastness as well as the fit-
ness of the plan prepared for the purpose by Mr.
Bunning, the city architect. In order that visitors
may obtain a more complete bird's-eye view of
the whole of the arrangements proposed, the commit-
tee have caused a temporary but substantial platform
(approachable by several steps) to be erected ; the place
upon which it stands being the identical spot upon which
will be built the market banking-houses. This erection,
which will be surmounted by a clock-tower, will show
twelve frontages. Its situation will be exactly in the
centre of the great square, or market, enclosing 15 acres
and 4 perches of ground, intended solely for the penning
of sheep and the tying of bullocks brought for sale.
Within this area there will be ample room for the accom-
modation of 40,320 sheep ; and, allowing two feet of
rail for each bullock, 6,794 bullocks may be "tied" there.
The Corporation of the City of London having declared
their intention of carrying into execution the act
of Parliament (14th and 15th Viet., cap. 61, denomi-
nated the "Metropolitan Market Act, 1851,") out
of their own funds, the tolls, &c., will be received
by the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Commons for
their own use, and may be paid and applied as they
may direct." When the market-place, slaughter-houses,
and conveniences, now in the course of construction,
have been provided, and a table of tolls and payments pre-
pared, the days for holding the market will be ap-
pointed ; after which the committee will have to report
what they have done to one of her Majesty's principal
Secretaries of State, to which report a copy of the
table of tolls and payments, fixed as aforesaid, will have
to be annexed. Then it will be lawful for such Secre•
tary of State to fix a time for the opening of the mar-
ket and slaughter-houses, and, "by a notice under his
hand, to be published in the London Gazette, to notify
that such market-places and slaughter-houses have been
provided," also specifying " the time when the same
will be opened." From that time " Smithfield-market
will cease to be a market for the sale ofeattle and horses ;"
and from the time that it is officially notified that such is
the case, the markets for such purposes will be holden in
the respective places provided under the "Metropolitan
Market Acts," such markets to be deemed "public mar-
kets." No " new market for the sale of cattle or horses"
to be afterwards " opened in the City of London or
Westminster, or the liberties thereof, or the Borough of
Southwark, or at any place distant less than 7 miles in
a straight line from St. Paul's Cathedral, in the City of
London." It has been reported by some party, whose
statement is not to be relied upon, that "the new mar-
ket will be opened for the sale of cattle at the ensuing
Christmas Show."' The work which has to be accom-
plished before the opening can take place, and the stipu-
lations of the statute as to the official process which
must be gone through before the whole of the market
and the conveniences connected therewith can be de-
clared, in Parliamentary parlance, " provided and fixed,"
proves the rumour to be unfounded. The committee
themselves believe, that the Christmas of 1854 is the
most likely period for the opening of the new market.