The Sun.
London, England, 1846-08-26 00:00:00

IMPROVI.D SYSTEM OF STREET

CLEANSING.

On Monday, in pursuance of—a
requisition to the
National Philanthropic Association, from the inhabitants
and ratepayers of the city of Westminster, a public
meeting was held at the Mechanics' Institution, Great
Smith• street, for the purpose of taking into consideration
the improvement of the sanitary condition of the city,
and more especially the dwellings of the poor, which, it
was asserted, could be in a ereat measure effected by the
adoption of means now at the command of the various
parochial authorities. At eight o'clock Charles Cochrane,
Esq., was called to the chair.

Air. .1. BROWN moved the following resolution :
" That the present sanitary condition of the poorer
localities of the city of Westminster is truly depl,..rable ;
that the dwellings of the poor are over crowded and ill
ventilated ; that the sewage and cleansing of the
streets is very defective ; th supply of water to the
houses imperf. ct and scanty, and the 'means for main-
taining cleanliness among the poor lamentably deficient
—evils which, unitedly, cannot tail to entail on the poor
not only many severe wants and privations, but expose
them at all times to much sickness and disease, especially
during hot and dry seasons."
The Rev. Mr. JAMES seconded the resolution.
Mr. Aloyes moved, and Mr. Barrett seconded. a reso.
lution respecting the parochial authorities, to remedy
the evils alluded to, at the expense of the respective
parishes, recommending the establishment of public
eabintts d'aisance, an improved system of street washing,
the appointment of a medical officer of inspection for the
preservation of health, &e. _

It having been unanimously adopted,
A vote of thanks was passed to Lord Morpeth, for his
conduct in Parliament, with reference to the sanitary
condition of towns, and thanks having been also voted
to the Chairman, the meeting separated.

THE EXCISE DUTIES ANOMALY.—The opening of
the North British Railway has brought to light a curious
instance of the clumsy practical working of the vexatious
i excise duties on spirits. Since the railway opened the car-
riers who formerly proceeded direct from Kelso, Coldstream,
and intermediate places, to Edinburgh, have, either through
arrangements with the company or sheer want of business,
discontinued their journeys, and goods ordered by traders in
these towns from Edinburgh are carried by railway to Ber-
wick, and thence carted to their destination. Berwick and
its liberties, however, arc in all respects governed by Eng-
lish laws, and spirits entering its bounds are consequently
liable to pay the additional duty of 4s. 2d. per gallon, and if
addressed to any part of Scotland are liable to seizure. An
instance of 10 gallons of whisky, innocently ordered from
Edinburgh by a person in Coldstream, and sent b 3 railway,
having been seized in this way, has come to our knowledge.
The loss and annoyance arising from such a state of thing'
may be conceived. The parties might, indeed, pay the
additional duty, and have it returned to them in the shape
of drawback; but the trouble and procrastination of such ti
course would be endless, and the evil wants an immediate
remedy.
THE LATE RAINS.—THE POTATO DISEASE.—The
newspapers from every district in Ireland are filled with
gloomy statements regarding the late rains, and their effect
in further deteriorating the condition of the potatoes. At
Ennis this is attributed to the fields having been laid under
water; at Cootehill to the lightning having blasted the
haulms and stalks. But to whatever cause attributed, from
Abbeyloix, hells, Dundalk, Louth, Derry, Kern-, and Shin-
rune, from newspaper editors, parish priests, and poor law
guardians, there is but one story, that the potatoes are ut-
terly destroyed. There can be no doubt that the failure of
the potato crop is extensive, and the panic engendered by
this second year's blight still greater, and daily waxing
wilder. The standing crops of grain are in general stated
not to have suffered much ; but the cut grabs has in many
places been carried off and destroyed by the floods. About
Abbeyloix labourers were getting harvest wages of ls. 4d. to
Is. Bd. per diem, and sometimes their diet with those wages;
but in many parts of the country the floods have stopped
draining and other work, and thrown the people out of ems
ployment.
RAbISGATE, AUG. 23.—Earl Bathurst and family and
numerous passengers left this harbour this morning, at five
minutes after 8 o'clock, for Ostend per Princess Maud steamer,
belonging to the South-Eastern and Continental Steam Com-
pany ;_ and at 20 minutes past :3 the Princess Mary arrived
from Ostend, with 40 passengers and 1 carriage.
DUNDEE TRADE.—Our flax market remains in a quiet
state, the demand for the article being far from lively, yet
holders keep very firm in their demands, and the prices of
good flax, and that possessed of colour, are rather moving
up, and sales have been made this week at our highest
quotations'. The Archangel letters of the Ist inst. state that
market for flax goods to be quiet, and no transactions taking
place. The St. I'etersburgh letters of the Bth inst. state that
a purchase having again been made at 80. 130, 115, and
105 for the three sorts, had made the dealers very firm ia
their demands, and that for the present there was no appear-
ance of lower prices being taken. The Riga market waa
without much alteration. Some R. T. flax had been taken
by itself at Ro. 23i. Shipping continues to be :very scarce.
Our yarn market is much the same as it has been for some
time past. The stocks of good yarn are not large, but there
is but a slack demand for them, and prices for these are not
in unison with the rates demanded and paid for the raw
material. Linens are in steady request, stocks much reduced,
and prices a shade higher for most kinds.—Dundee paper.
The Duke and Duchess de Coligliano, Count Melfort,
Sir John Thorold, Captain Ilankey, and 69 passengers,
arrived at this port from Boulogne this morning, at 50
minutes past 11 o'clock, by the South-Eastern and Conti-
nental Steam Company's packet the Prince Ernest; and at
40 minutes past 12 the same steamer left for Boulogne with
123 passengers and 2 carriages. Aug. 24.—The Prince
Ernest returned to this port this afternoon at 22 minutes
after 12, from Boulogne, with 136 passengers; and at 5
minutes past 1 the Queen of the French left this harbour with.
102 passengers, 1 carriage, and 3 horses.
A TRILATERAL RAlL.—Since the first introduction of
wrought-iron rails for railways, by Birkenshaw, much inge-
nuity has been exerted ton discover a form which, with a
minimum of metal, should give a maximum of stability and
strength. Considerable difference of opinion exists as to the
best form of rail in use at the present day, each particular
rail having its advocate. A rail has been patented by Mr.
Wheeler, which bids fair to dispose of this question, its ad-
vantages being of so positive a character as to establish its
superiority in all those points so essential to the perfection of
railways. The following substantial advantages are claimed
for this form of rail over those heretofore employed :—Great
strength and impossibility of the rail springing or curling at
the end. Greater steadiness from the character and position
of its bearing upon the continuous sleeper. Increased safety,
inasmuch as wheels with deeper flanges can advantageously
be used on this rail. Greater durability, arising firstly from
the form of the rail itself, secondly from its having three
bearing surfaces available in succession. While the alarmists
are so loudly predicting a probable deficiency and greatly
enhanced cost of iron, it is of no small importance to minis
pulate that material into the most advantageous form. Rail-
' way companies are also well aware that everything tending
to increase durability of their permanent way is of the utmost
importance to their interests, and may. in the long run, prove
a remedy for the depreciative consequences of rivalry and
competition.—Mechanics' Magazine.
THE MENAI STRAITS TUNNEL. Workmen iare
now preparing the ground on the Britannia Rock
.:„,a the
shores of the Menai for the foundation of the piers to sup-
L port the projected Wipe', and the first stone will very shortly
be laid. During thelast week contracts were taken for 8,000
• tons of plates of the best description, for the construction of
the iron tunnel, by which it is proposed to pass the Menai
Straits for the passage trains. Of these 8,000 tons 2,000
I tons have been taken by Mr: Walt& Williams, 1,500 by
Messrs. Brabmar, Burrows, and Hall, 1,000 by Messrs
Thorneycroft and Co., 1,500 by liosrs. James Foster and C 0...
• 1,000 by the Coalbrook Dale Company, and 1,000
Butterley Company.—The Cambrian.
' e a swarm of
• A NovEL BEE-lIIVE.—Some time by the
Shane'sa Castle. Theybees alighted on the head of one of theosrift
I front of Viscount O'Neill's residence, since
lions in
andenacree at present strong snit
I proceeded down his throat,
every ,_
_.....Thenan.
I
healthy, and seem wore from aasu4