The Sun.
London, England, 1851-01-11 00:00:00

METROPOLITAN SEWERS REFORM.
Last night a public meeting was held at the
Court-house, St. Marylebone, for the purpose of re-
ceiving and determining on the report of the com-
mittee for preparing the heads of a Bill to be sub-
mitted to Government, and urged or. their considera-
tion through the medium of a deputation; Mr. Ni-
cholas occupied the chair.
Lord D. Stuart, M.P., Mr. Hertslet, late secretary
to the Metropolitan Commission, Mr. Toulmin Smith,
Sec., were among the gentlemen present ; and the
parishes represented were—St. Martin's-in-the-
Fields ; St. James, Westminster; St. Marylebone;
St. Pancras ; St. Mary, Islington ; St. Luke's,
Middlesex ; St. Leonard's, Shoreditch ; St. Giles-in-
the-Fields • St. Anne's, Soho ; Clerkenwell ; Hornsey ;
Camberwell, &c.
Mr. TOULMIN SMITH proceeded to detail what the
committee had done. The short points which bad
been approved in committee, and which he begged to
submit for discussion, were as below
SEWERS AND DRAINAGE OF THE METROPOLITAN
DISTRICTS—HEADS OF BILL FUR CARRYI; G OUT AD-
MINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS.
" 1. Making Districts—A representative body--elec-
ted by the householders of parishes within a given
range—to have the special duty of making districts.
"2. Essentials of Districts—No district to contain
less than 100,000, nor more than 150,000 inhabitants.
E,ch district to be divided into wards, each containing
not less than 500, and not more than 1,000 male adults.
Those who have occupied in the ward for a year and a
day shall be electors for the ward. Each ward to have
two or more representatives annually chosen—but re-
eligible—to a district council, for carrying out all local
purposes. That it be an cxpress duty of one or mote of
the representatives of each ward to meet in open meeting
the inhabitants of their ward once every month at least
—to lay before them the proceedings of the district
council, and to receive any complaints or suggestions.
" 3. Combinations of Districts—A general council for
all purposes where combination is needed, to be formed
of two persona elected out of its own body by each dis-
trict council."
Lord D. STUART was sure it was of the greatest
possible importance that a new Act should be intro-
duced, and one founded upon constitutional principles.
The present Act in respect to sewage was most un-
constitutional in its character, because it gave to
Crown-appointed commissioners the power of taxing
the people.—(Cheers.) The Metropolitan Commission
of Sewers at present gave no satisfaction ; putting
the inhabitants of the metropolis to a vast deal of
expense, while it was utterly inoperative, permitting
some of the most crying nuisances to continue after
they had been pointed out again and again. He had no
doubt that every one of them could mention instances.
He knew that he could many. So long ago as
July, 1849, he presented to the Court of Sewers a
memorial from a district in St. Pancras, complaining
of two mews being in a most filthy state. Every
inhabitant of the mews signed it, and they complained
that in not one house was there such a thing as a
privy or a watercloset, and that there was no drainage
or sewage of any kind whatever, but that the filth
was thrown every day into the middle of the mews ;
that horses had died there of farcy glanders, and that
human beings were sick, and bad, no doubt, died
since in consequence. The surveyor visited the spot,
mapped it out, and made his report ; nevertheless,
nothing was done ; and in August, 1850, a year after,
he presented another memorial from the same persons.
He took it himself to. Lord Ebringten and pressed it
upon his attention, and he was really ashamed to say
that up to this hour nothing had been done.—
(Shame.) Cholera.' existed at the time—it was
allowed to come, to sweep away the victims, and to
go—all the same to the Metropolitan Commissioners,
who did nothing to prevent its inroads.—(Cheers.)
The Government ought certainly early in the session
to bring forward a measure in reference to this whole
subject. There was an admirable Act passed last
session, giving householders in towns in Scotland the
regulation of the police, paving, draining, lighting, &c.
Mr. SAUNDERS, of St. Martin's briefly reviewed the
principles of the Bill proposed by Mr. Smith, and ex-
pressed his unqualified approbation of them. He
concluded by moving—
" That the statement included in the paper laid before
this meetinf, by the committee be accepted, as embody-
ing the only principles on which a measure relating
to the sewage of the metropolis could be received."
Mr. L. C. HERTSLET seconded the resolution. He
had strong grounds for expressing his opinion that
the Government were with them in this matter.—
(Hear, hear.) The Government was the head of the
people, and they were only waiting for the people to
move on the subject. There was no real opposition
except from certain expectant placemen and hangers-
on of the Government, half-pay officers, and others,
who had for a long time fancied they knew a great
deal about sewers, but the fact was they knew nothing
about sewers yet.—(Hear.)
Mr. FOWLER (St. Pancras) differed from the re-
solution in reference to the possibility of subdividing
the metropolis into wards, and obtaining monthly
meetings. With this exception he thought the reso-
lution excellent.
Mr. HORNE (St. Luke's) observed, in reference to
the wards being divided into districts, that 500 adult
male persons would give a population of 2,500 per-
sons, and in such a population he thought that cir-
cumstances sufficient would arise in reference to sew-
age to justify meetings of representatives to bear local
grievances once a month. He hoped that their present
move merit would not end with the sewers alone, but
that police, water supply, lighting and paving, would
soon come under their control with the sewage.
Mr. HEALEY (St. Pancras) said, although he agreed
that the public had a right to control over every one
of the matters mentioned by the last speaker, still he
thought it advisable rather that they should go step
by step.—(Hear.) He thought at present they had
better confine themselves to the sewers.—(Hear.)
Mr. HALL, of Islington, was quite certain that so
far as Islington was concerned local management, as
well as local knowledge, was necessary.—(Hear,
hear.) Under the present system thefirreatest nui-
sances were inflicted on the inhabitants ficom the want
of knowledge among the parties employed in either
improving or making the drainage.
Mr. GARRETT (churchwarden of St. James's)
mentioned, as a proof of the evils of paving and sew-
age not being under one control, that the Paving
Board of St. James's bad kept that great thorough-
fare, Pall-mall, without being repaired for two years,
under the promise that a new sewer was to be laid
down ; but it was likely to be two years longer under
existing circumstances before it was done.
Mr. TOULMIN SMITH observed that the practical
effect of the proceedings would no doubt be that the
Government would introduce some measure. He
then proceeded to argue in favour of monthly meet-
ings of the board representatives. As a Saxon, he
was an opponent of the centralizing principle. He
hoped ere long to see even the police again under the
control of the people.—(Hear, hear.)
The CHAIRMAN alluded to the treatment he had re-
ceived at the Sewers'-office, on making an application
to see the minutes, as a proof that even a straw would
show how the wind blew. The Commissioners of
the forthcoming National Exhibition would require
2,000 additional men for their especial use, but the
charge by the Metropolitan Commissioners of Police
was so enormous that they had determined on organ-
izing a protective force of their own at a trifling ex-
pense. If the Commissioners could do this, did it not
speak volumes, and show that the parishes could also
do it ?
Mr. HERTSLET begged to state that the reason he
resigned his office as secretary was that the present
Sewers' Commission would pass orders that could not
be carried out, and he would state that he did not be-
lieve a single rate made by the Commission for the
last twelve months could be enforced, as it was not a
legal rate.—(Hear, hear.)
The CHAIRMAN also stated that be bad been in-
formed the Commission could not raise the money to
carry out their projected works.—(Hear, hear.)
Even assurance offices
The resolution was carried unanimously, and a
committee appointed to
dtake steps for arranging
for an interview with communicate with all the
metropolitan members, anthweouilidonott, lend
Secretary.
Mr. r .one
of Islington, moved, and IS
Cdr. ' riAB
of sLE Ails'artin's, seconded the following :
.......
Secretary of State for the Home Depart-
-1,2„g be requested to instruct the Government auditor
carefully to see that the rates and other moneys levied,
received, and recovered by the Metropolitan Commis-
sioners of Sewers have been properly applied (so as not
to extend the liability of any person in respect of any
rate or payment), and that he distinguish in his report
Ts' hat the
the times and purposes when and for which moneys
were received and paid, and the respective districts or
places in and for which moneys have been collected and
expended."
At the request of Mr. TOULMIN SMITH it was ulti-
mately agreel that this motion should be given as a
notice for the next meeting, and, after a vote of thanks
to the chairman, the meeting separated.

DESTRUCTION OF A COTTON MILL AT MAN
CllESTER.—Yesterday morning, about five o'clock, a dreadful
fire broke out in a mill belonging to Messrs. Wallace. Water-
house, and Thompson, Chepstow-street, Oxford-street, Man-
cheater. The fire was first discovered in the eigth story of
the building, but in what way in originated cannot yet be
ascertained. Notwithstanding- the immediate arrival of the
fire brigade and their utmost exertions, the various upper
floors of the building rapidly gave way until the entire place
was destroyed. Upwards of 300 hands will be thrown'• out
of employment by this sad event. The building is insuTed
in the Phoenix-otlice for 6,0001., and the machinery and st. )ck
in the West of England for 4,0101., Alliance 4,0001., I the
Manchester Assurance Company 4,0001., which, it is sa id,
will be far from covering the loss.
FOREIGN CATTLE.—The steam-ship Giraffe, ju s 4
arrived at 13Iackwall from Rotterdam, has brought an enti
cargo of live cattle, comprising 278 head of oxen and cow
67 calves, and 500 sheep, the produce of Holland. This i
an extraordinary large importation of horned stock from I
Holland, and, possibly, the largest individual supply of tiv
kind that has taken place from that country.
ILLNESS OF TUE PORTUGUESE MINISTER.—We are
sorry to learn that his Excellency Viscount de Mono qv°,
Portuguese Minister at this Court, is suffering fron L the
effects of a long and severe malady, and that but faint I Lopes
• are entertained of his ultimate recovery.