The Sun.
London, England, 1856-01-01 00:00:00

METROPOLITAN SEWERS COMMISSION.

Yesterday the members of the court assembled for
the last time at Greek•street. There were present Mr.
Jebb (the chairman), Mr. Hawes, Dr. Waller Lewis,
Dr. Sayer, Mr. Thwaites (chairman of the Metropolitan
Board of Works), Mr. Johnson, Mr. Smith, Mr.Pascall,
Mr. Offor, and Mr. Chalmers.

THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE LOCAL BOARDS OP SEWERS.
A most respectable deputation from the Marylebone
vestry, headed by Mr. Freeth and Messrs. Nicholay and
D'lffanger, jun., the representatives of the vestry at the
Metropolitan Board of Works, waited on the Commis-
sioners in order to receive such information and advice
as the Court might afford regarding the new duties
which have now devolved upon the vestry with respect
to sewase matters.
Mr. FREETM said that he had been selected as spokes.
man because he happened to fill the office of chairman
of the committee on sewers sitting in the parish of Mary.
lehone, and the first question which that committee had
to decide was, whether the vestry should undertake the
management of the local sewers, or throw it on the Me-
tropolitan Board of Works. They had determined to
take the sewers under their own control, and that they
(the vestry) should do their best to maintain them in the
way the Act of Perliameat pointed out. The object of
this deputation was to elicit from the Court such infor-
mation as would guide the vestry in these matters.
The CHAIRMAN observed that upon entering on their
new and comprehensive duties a number of doubtful
questions would naturally arise, and he was convinced
that he expressed the aentirnents of his colleagues when
he assured the deputation that the Court felt it their
duty to smooth in every way the path of the local boards.
(Hear.) At the same time he should claim the indul-
gence of the deputation if his answers did not perfectly
enlighten them on every point.
Mr. FREETH remarked that the questions he bad been
instructed to put were general, and involved no techni-
calities ; and the first was whether any of the sewers in
the parish of Marylebone were in a dangerous condition,
such as to require immediate attention ; also, when the
sewers of the parish had been last surveyed ?
The CHAIRMAN would refer the deputation to Mr.
Cooper, the surveyor of the district, for an answer.
Mr. COOPER was not aware of any of these sewers
being in a very bad or dangerous state at the present
time. There were certainly some ancient sewers there,
which might fall in within a week, or last for years, the
one in Baker.street, for instance.
The CHAIRMAN said that as the chief engineer was pre-
sent, the deputation might wish to hear his opinion. 18
17i
Mr. BAZALGETTX 20
the chief engineer, remembered that
there had been a number of these sewers surveyed three 20
or four years ago, and that they were then reported to 20
he in a dangerous condition, inasmuch as the bottom of 20
some of them had been washed away, and so on ; never- 20
theless, many of these sewers had remained Intact up to 100
the present tieie. He referred now to sewers which 44
would devolve upon the local, and not upon the central
board.
Mr. FEEETH would then proceed with his interroga-
100
tories, and the next was as to the contracts—when they too
terminated, and if they did not terminate on the Ist of 20
January, whether the Commissioners would deem it ad. 5
visable for the vestry to maintain them till the date of
their termination ? 5
The SECRETARY (Mr. Woolrych) explained there were
~,„5
two species of contracts—special and jobbing ; the spit- '
6,1 contracts were those entered into in regard to par- ticular Sewers, and these would, according to the act, de- 420 i
vo:ve upon the Metropolitan Board of Works, and the
contractors would have the right to go on. The next were 20,i
what were called " jobbing," or general contracts, and 100
such would devolve upon the parish. Under these the
contractors undertook all works under 2061. in a district. 100
and for the space of twelve months. Mr. Edward Thirst 100
was the contractor for Marylebone. It would be for ICO
the vestry to say whether they would adopt that con- 20!
tract er not ?
Mr. FREETX reminded the Court that, in answering his
20100
queries, they were very probab'y answering 10 or 12 other '2O
parishes. It appeared from the secretary's statement that 20
they must renew these contract, with the jobbing con• 20
tractor,.
20
The SECRETARY. in reply to an inquiry, stated that 20
cleansing and repairing were included in these general 31!
contracts. 10
Mr. FREETH would put a case ; supposing one of the le
sewers devolving upon the parish waejust now to tumble
down, were the vestry, unprovided as they were with a
single hod of mortar, to undertake its repair or reams-
struction
The SECRETARY replied in the affirmative.
Mr. FREETH, on behalf of the vestry, asked that the
plans, section:, &c., referring to the sewage of Maryle•
bone might be handed over to the parish.
The CHAIRMAN did not think that this could be done
in accordance with the act, which directed the Commis-
sioners of Sewers to transfer all its effects to the Central
Board of Works.
Mr. FURTH said that before the answer of the chair-
man lie had intended to ask the Court to make a sub-
stantive order to the effect that these plane, itc., should
be handed ever to the parish authorities. But as ea
niltilo niliil fit, he would not press such a motion now.
(Laughter.) He would now put the question as to
whether there was any balance coming to the parish,
and as to the debt likewise

The CHAIRMAN informed Mr. Freeth that the balance
would be handed over to the central board, and it would
be for them to make an equitable adjustment of the debt
among the various parishes.
Mr. OFFOX said that the Court might state very
plainly that there was a very considerable debt.
The SECRETARY believed that ♦ery little of the re•
payment of the money borrowed would fall upon Mary-
lebone.

Mr. DIFFANGER was very much rejoiced to learn
,his.

Mr. TIIWAITES informed the deputation that be had
made arrangements to place a person officially in charge
of these premises at 12 o'clock to-sight, who would give
the parish authorities such information as they might
require. Of course the whole of the present staff would
be defunct to-morrow, but he trusteal that they (the
central beard) would soon have a sufficient staff to afford
the parish boards every information.
Mr. OFTOR suggested to the deputation, and through
them to others, the propriety of having something like
a central museum of sewerage plans, &c., and that it
might be better not to distribute far and wide the plans,
sections, &c., now in the office, but keep them there, as
at a central repository, for reference.
Mr. NICTIOLAY quite concurred in Mr. Offor's sug-
gestions.

Mr. D'lrrAscEn inquired if copies of these plans,
&c., would not be given'
Mr. OFFOR—Certainly.
Some discussion ensued among the members of the
deputation, from Mr. Freeth declaring that his opinion
was, "as a practical man," that the vestries were
"about to embark in a sea of troubles," a sentiment
which both Mr. Nicholay and Mr. D'lffanger thought
it their duty to tepudiato.
The remaining business, which possessed no general
interest, was then transacted, and the Court finally
broke up.

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