The Sun.
London, England, 1848-06-29 00:00:00

COMMISSIONERS OF SEWERS.

(THIS DAY.)
The Metropolitan Sanitary Commission held a Court
of Sewers this morning; Lord Morpeth in the chair.
Mr. Thaw, in reference to an erroneous statement
which hail gone abroad as to the expense of the Com-
mission, stated that such a reduction had been made in
the working staff of the Commission as to produce a
sating to the public of between 5,0001. and 6,0001. per
annum.

30%

The report of the Survey Committee represented the
ordnance survey of London to be going on in a most
_
satisfactory manner. There were two surveys going on,
_
one of the surface and the other of the subterranean
_ sewers.

2
4%

234

In answer to a question film Mr. LESLIE,
Sir lIENnY DE LA. BECHE stated that the plotted
sheets of the Westminster district might be delivered
within three weeks. lie had made inquiry at the Ord-
nance•office, and ascertained that the 19,0001. to be ex-
pended on the portion of the survey at present in hand
included every expense. It did not, however, include
the cost of the subterranean survey.
A lengthened discussion then arose as to the expe-
diency of proceeding with the subterranean survey be-
fore the Court was in possession of an estimate of the
cost.

Ultimately it was resolved that the reports contain-
ing these recommendations should be referred to the
consideration of the general purposes committee, and
authority was given to the Ordnance Survey Committee
to order the expenditure of the sums immediately re-
quisite for the purposes of the subterranean survey.
Some other routine business was gono through, and
the court adjourned for a fortnight.

- -
COLLEGE OF PRECEFTORS.—The seventh general
half-yearly meeting of the College of Preceptors, which
is situate in Bloomsbury-square, and instituted for the
purpose of placing the scholastic profession in its proper
position with the other liberal callings, was held to-day
at the Freemason's Tavern; H. S. Turrell, Esq., of
Brighton, president of the council, in the chair. The
report, after alluding to the steady progress of the in-
stitution, and the object for which it was founded, stated
that tests had been fixed upon to ascertain the fitness of
those who wish to become schoolmasters, for the duties
they were about to undertake. Boards of examiners
had been appointed, and four examinations had
already taken place, and diplomas had been granted to
numerous candidates. A charter of incorporation had
for some time been in preparation, and the draft for it
was now under the consideration of the Government
authorities. The report further stated that the subject
of female education had occupied the anxious considera-
tion of the council. After a brief but excellent speech
from the chairman, an elaborate address to the recipients
of the diplomas, by Mr. Eccleston, M.A., of Sutton
Colefield Grammar School, diplomas were awarded to
the several gentlemen who had been successful by Dr.
Wilson. The revised rules were adopted, and the meet-
ing, which was well attended, broke up.
FIRE AT Bow- commoN.—Yesterday afternoon,
shortly before five o'clock, a fire, attended with very
serious, if not fatal, consequences, broke out upon the
premises belonging to Messrs. Denton and Jutson, the
extensive oil merchants and varnish manufacturers,
situate on Bow-common, Bromley. The flames
originated in the following manner :—One of the work-
men, in attempting to extinguish the fire under one of
the stills, poured what he imagined to be a bucket of
water into the grate, instead of which it proved to be a
pail of spirit, and the instant the same came in contact
with the furnace an immense body of flame shot forth,
which completely enveloped the workman, and, rushing
out of the door of the still-house, fired upwards of 20
casks of oil standing in the open yard. Owing to the
exertions of the workmen and others, the fire was sub-
dued, the damage being confined to the destruction of a
portion of the still-house and an adjoining shed, with 20
casks of oil. The workman who was the innocent
cause of the disaster was so severely burned about the
body that he was obliged to be carried to his home.
Messrs. Denton and Jutson were uninsured.
EXTENSIVE RounzittEs.—lnformation has been
given to the police with the following description of a
man who, on Friday last, stole 1501. in gold and bank-
notes from the counting-house of Messrs. Whitbread
and Co., the brewers in Chiswell-street. He is a waiter
at taverns and tea gardens, is 45 years of age, 6 feet 4 or
5 inches high, of dark complexion, with black whiskers,
is round shouldered, and stoops a little in walking. He
was dressed in a black coat and trousers, a dark vest, and
an old silk hat. The shop of Mr. Webster, 120, Ber-
mondsey-street, was robbed of a glass case, containing
twenty-two gold seals, nine brequet keys, between
thirty and forty gold brooches, forty gold pins, two cards
containing miniatures and penknives, and various other
articles.

THE NEW HOUSES or PAELIAMENT.—The Select
Committee in their report on the new Houses of Parlia-
ment, just printed, give the result of their inquiries into
the duties of the Serjeant at-Arms of the House of
Commons, and make several recommendations with re-
spect to the office, with a view to the regulation of the
same before the occupation of the new Houses of Parlia-
ment. The Serjeant-at- Arms. it appears, has to attend
on the Speaker during the sitting of Parliament, and on
her Majesty at such times as Parliament is not sitting.
He is the housekeeper," and has the control of the
porters, and the salary is 1,5001., and a residence is pre-
pared for him. His patronage consists in various ap-
pointments to situations connected with the House. It is
recommended that the salary be 1,2001. a year with the
residence prepared for him in the new palace, his salary
continuing at the 1,5001. until such residence is prepared.
On vacancy, the deputy serjeant to receive his present
salary of 8031. without an allowance of 2001. for house
rent; that the deputy housekeeper's office, 500/. a year,
be abolished, and the duties transferred to the assistant
sergeant, who has 4251., whose salary be increased to
5001., with a residence in the new palace. Upon vacancy
it is recommended that the salaries of the first and
second doorlicepers be reduced from 8741. and 4001., to
300/. and 2001., and also upon vacancies 2001. to be the
maximum and 100/. the minimum of a messenger's salary,
and that not more than 101. a year be the increase, at the
discretion of the berjeaut-at-Arms. The four messen-
gers ,now appointed have each 300/, a year.