The Sun.
London, England, 1846-06-08 00:00:00

MARY LEBONE VESTRY.

THE RECENT CHARGES OF JOBBING AND
MISMANAGEMENT AGAINST THE WEST-
MINSTER COMMISSIONERS OF SEWERS.

On Saturday, at the meeting of the Maryleboae
Vestry, the Rev. Dr. Spry in the chair, the principal
special business of the day was to consider the report of
a committee appointed to investigate the allegations
against the Court of Commissioners of Sewers for West-
minster, and part of Middlesex, made in a pamphlet
published by Mr. Leslie, a member of the Court, to-
gether with the reply of the Commissioners, by order of
the Secretary of State. The question appeared to excite
considerable interest, and nearly all the members of the
vestry, who happen also to belong to the Commission,
were present.
Mr. WATTS, the deputy vestry clerk, read the report,
which, after setting forth that the Committee had had
the co-operation of various other metropolitan parishes,
which had sent deputations to assist in the investigation,
proceeded to state " that the Committee, as well as such
deputations, were unanimously of opinion that great
abuses have existed in the management of the Commis-
sion of Sewers, the whole of which abuses they consider
to have arisen from the irresponsible constitution of the
Court. The Committee, therefore, recommend that
petitions be presented from the vestry to Parliament,
praying that the Sewer Commission may be based upon
the truly English principle of representative right, and
that the representatives at thatßoard be in future elected
by the ratepayers of the several parishes, in such a
moveW reportnths:. WILSON paid,
oa readdto n of given
ht
ehe r
allegationserpi oser toby the
othf ej
v
manner as the wisdom of the Legislature shall decide,
t
the Committee believing the present system
ut owfunhomeinl-
tion and irresponsibility.
sbt se
elective
popular,oa g
the
ratepayers, and uy
right. -
hehstihryg
againstt
ert
charges
t,aWnragpe
character,
ehsimaasra
enra Westminster
tnteet
osrrt,
es of representative.
d
pea contrary to 0
st
eod the
to beat
te
sacred,iat etnorde
a aswas chairman
agro ed of the
it
becameeo znmit committee,
dwuhtleyinr.tHothe.o
aTnhde appoint-
ment circumstances
mo t.s n the
an .
g.(. committee
e ut h
made
c hwa bad
deer e
Court of Sewers by Mr. Leslie, a member of the vestry
of the adjoining parish Of St. George, Hanover-square,
soat
wmwtr gavetaelsr.sinete ndot them,ndu dbti, Thee
s
cittahnhan
wouldlnedl t
tu al
tpl,
hes
ooeNn,
e(
nts shape commission
teauetc phrrceeee
court
uwais
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fytmr
assert
esoa(
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aitcthheaylalth:
sawdscudrffio
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see
it to say that they were convinced that it was the con-
stitution of the commission that had created the evil,
a:td they were desirous of such an alteration as would
prove a remedy. The time had arrived wh€n the com-
mission should be elected on the principles of repre-
sentation, and that those who paid the rates should have
a voice in the selection of those who were to disburse
them. Ile would now move the adoption of the report,
and would, if the motion was carried, move a subsequent
resolution, empowering the committee to draw up a
petition for presentation to Parliament.
If there Mr. SODEN seconded the resolution. attempte was
sno
other ground for making a determinedsent
unconstitutional
abo-
lish the sewer' commission, e_p
thor there court wassufficient.
Mr. irresponsible constitutionfrom .
Mr. Casnx.Es ELLIOTT differed entirely the views
and seconder of the report. H
taken by the mover He
con-
sidered,
with regard to the constitution of a body like
the Court of Sewers, a more mischievous system could
not be adopted than by making it a representative board.
He (Mr. Elliott) had been a number of the Sewer
Commission for a great many years ; ten years,
had, however, elapsed since he had set his foot
in the commissioners' board-room, and he would tell
them the reason—it was because he was disgusted with
their proceedings. (Hear, hear.) The board was always
attended by a parcel of builders and surveyors, who were
continually squabbling and jobbing to get sewers made,
which would be of advantage to themselves, and doing
other acts which were for their own profit, and their own
benefit. (Cries of "Hear, hear," and cheers.) The reason
he objected to the representative principle was because he
thought a court for such objects as the Court of Sewers
ought to be composed of scientific men, and that such
men ought to be paid for their services. It was
true that Mr. Saunders, the chairman of the court
for many years, was a scientific man, and so was
the late chairman, Mr. Donaldson ; but they could not
expect gentlemen to lose their time and trouble far no-
thing. He considered that all such commissions ought
to be in the hands of Government, and that the chair-
man, at least, should be a surveycr or a scientific man,
and receive a Government stipend.
Mr. Hope, :Mr. Joseph, Mr. Solomons, Mr. G. Daniell,
and several other gentlemen spoke upon the subject.
Mr. WILSON replied, and, on the question being put,
the report was adopted unanimously.
The matter was then referred back to the committee
to draw up a petition to Parliament, which was t o be
presented to the vestry on Saturday next.

A matrimonial alliance is on the Lapis between I ieut.
Colonel Greaves, military secretary to Lieut: Genera I Sir
Edward Blakeney, commander of the forces in Ireland, 1,23,4
the accomplished Miss Vandeleur, daughter of G e I sit
John Ormsby Yandeleur, G.C.B.

PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS.
(From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons.
FRIDAY, JUNE 5.
RAILWAYS.
Select Committee on Group No. 88.

Mr. Hastieaad Mr. Turner discharged, Mr. Smollett and
Mr. Rich selected, and added to the Committee.
Select Committee on Group No. 38.
Mr. Hoskins discharged, Mr. Duff selected, and added to
the Committee.
Select Committee on Group No. 46.
Hon. J. Westenra discharged, Lord A. Churchill selected,
and added to the Committee.

Select Committee on Group No. 57.
Mr. E. Roche and Mr. Power discharged, Mr. Stanton and
Hon. E. P. Bouverie selected, and added to the Committee.
select Committee on Group No. 64.
Sir John i4wther discharged, Mr. F. Mackenzie selected,
and added to the Committee.

The Committee of Selection have nominated the following
Select Committees on Railway Groups :
A Committee consisting of—Mr. Horsman (Chairman),
Mr. Hussey, Viscount Duncannon, Mr. Tomline, and Sir A.
Brooke, to whom they have referred the Bills comprised in
Group No. 42 of Railway Bills, viz :
Liverpool, Preston, Manchester, and Southport,
Liverpool, Ormskirk, and Preston,
West Lancashire,

Blackburn, Chorley, and Liverpool.
The Select Committee to meet on Tuesday, June 16, at one.
A Committee consisting of—Mr. W. Evans (Chairman),
Mr. Gibson, Lord C. Hamilton, Hon. C. W. Howard, and
Lord C. Fitzroy, to whom they have referred the Bills corn-
prised in Group No. 47 of Railway Bills, viz.
Swansea Vale,
Shrewsbury and Herefordshire,
Vale of Neath.

The Select Committee to meet on Tuesday, June 16, at one.
A Committee consisting of—Mr. Aldam (Chairman), Dr.
Bowring, Mr. Mitchell, Mr. J. H. Hamilton, and Mr. Thorn-
hill, to whom they have referred the Bills comprised in Group
No. 48 of Railway Bills, viz.:—
Monmouth and Hereford,
Newport, Abergavenny, and Hereford,
Cameron's Coalbrook Steam Coal and Swansea and Lotrghor,
Tenby, Saundersfoot, and South Wales,
Llynvi Valley and South Wales Junction,
Taff Vale,

Monmouthshire.
The Select Committee to meet on Thursday, June 18, atone.
A Committee consisting of—the Right Hon. E. Ellice
(Chairman), Mr. Disraeli, Mr. Moffatt, Sir J. Flower, and
Lord Rendiesharn, to whom they have referred the Bills
comprised in Group No. 58 of Railway Bills, viz.:—
Bristol and Birmingham and Midland Railways,
Bristol anti Gloucester and Birmingham and Gloucester,
Great North of England Purchase,
Newcastle and Darlington Junction Railway (Durham and
Sunderland Railway and Wearmouth Dock Purchase),
Hull and Selby Railway Purchase,
Midland (Leicester and Swannington Railway Vesting),
Midland Railway (Purchase of Oakham Canal).
The Select Committee to meet on Monday, June 15, at one.
A Committee consisting of—Mr. Parker (Chairman), Mr.
Gregory, Sir John Trollope, Colonel Pennant, and Mr. 0.
Morgan, to whom they have referred the Bills comprised in
Group No. GO of Railway Bills, viz.:—
Chichester, Portsmouth, and Fareham,
London and Brighton and London and Croydon Consolidation,
Gravesend and Rochester Railway and Canal Sale and
Purchase.

The Select Committee to meet on Thursday, June 18, at one.

A Committee consisting of—Sir J. Duckworth (Chairman),
Mr. Walker, Captain Boldero, Hon. T. Vesey, and Mr.
Phillpotts, to whom they have referred the Bills comprised
in Group No. 61 of Railway Bills, viz. :
Edinburgh and Glasgow Union Canal, sale to Forth and
Clyde Navigation and Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway,
Glasgow, Paisley, and Johnstone Canal, sale to Glasgow,
Paisley, Kilmarnock, and Ayr Railway,
Caledonian Railway (Polloc and Govan and Clydesdale Junc-
tion Amalgamation),
Edinburgh and Glasgow and Scottish Central Railways
Junction,
Edinburgh and Glasgow and Wishaw and Coltness Railways
Junction,
Edinburgh and Glasgow, Monklaed and Kirlcintilloch,
Bal-
loohney and Slamannan Railways,
Polloc and Govan and Clydesdale Junction Amalgamation,
Calcdonian Railway (Glasgow and Garnkirk, and Coatbridge
Purchase),
Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway and Forth and Clyde Na-
vigation Junction,
Monkland and Kirkintilloch,
The Select Committee to meet on Monday, June 15, at one.
A Committee consisting of—Mr. Roebuck (Chairman),
Mr. G. R. Philips, Mr. James, Mr. Philip H. Howard, and Mr.
Sanderson, to whom they have referred the Bills comprised
in Group No. 65 of Railway Bills, viz..—
Wexford, Carlow, and Dublin Junction,
Dublin, Dundrum, and Enniskillen,
Great Leinster and Munster No. 1 (Carlow to Kilkenny),
Great Leinster and Munster No. 2 (Kilkenny to Clonmel),
The Select Committee to meet on Monday, June 13, at one.