The Sun.
London, England, 1856-03-20 00:00:00

METROPOLITAN IMPROVEMENiCS.

Mr. WILKINSON moved " That it be referred to the
committee of works and improvements to take into
consideration and report upon a comprehensive plan for
making, 'widening, and improving, streets, roads, and
ways for facilitating the passage and traffic between dif-
ferent parts of the metropolis." He said that, although
the first object for which the board was established was
the clean•ing and purification of the metropolis, yet is
his opinion other great works of metropolitan improve-
ment ought to be carried on pail passi. It was therefore
with no desire to interfere with the great sewerage ques-
tions that he had brought forward the present motion.
The board had already referred it to the engineer to pre-
pare a plan in regard to intercepting sewerage, and until
that report was before the board he was not aware that
they would take any other proceeding in regard to the
main drainage. (Rear.) With respect to the question
of improvements, he apprehended that the board had
already made a practical commencement in the appoint-
ment of a committee of works, but unless this committee
received some instructions from the board, it would be
placed in a position of considerable difficulty. It was
partly to avoid such an inconvenience that he proposed
the above resolution. As to thinner in which the va-
rious suggestions and improvements would come before
the committee, it might be by the board handing to the
committee a memorial, or in some other manner. His
desire was, that there should be first a general scheme,
and then ilt all local improvements, in whatever part
of the town proposed, should be made more or less de-
pendent on such general scheme. (Hear.) With regard
to the term. of the motion, they had been copied from
an act of Parliament in reference to metropolitan im-
provements ; and he now proposed his motion with the
concurrence of Mr. Wright toad Mr.. Carpmael..
Mr. WRIGHT seconded the motion. He thought a com-
mittee of this kind was the proper precursor of a general
scheme of metropolitan imprevements.
Mr. TURNER coincided with the motion, but moved as
an addition the words, " And also for providing or se-
curing open spaces for the health and recreation, or other-
wise, of the inhabitants thereof."
117 r. DIFFINGER seconded the amendment.

Mr. BURSLEM said that although he had opposed the
reference of particular plans hitherto to the committee,
he was quite willing to support such a motion a 3 the
present.
1-awKEs was of opinion that the motion should
be adjourned -until the Court had considered and decided
where the funds necessary to effectuate such extensive
improvements could be obtained.

Mr. NICHOLIY observed, that the improvements con-
emplated would confer a great boon upon posterity as

well as on the present generation ; and on this ground
he believed that the beard might fairly go before Par-
liament and seek.for taxing powers by which the board
might be enabled to apportion the rates over a number
of years. .
Deputy HARRISON' reminded the board that these im-
provements, if general, would involve the expenditure,
not of hundreds of Ihomnuda but of millions ; still he
thought the properTme to discuss, the question of funds
would be when the estimateior sbme particular improve-
ment was before the board: -He did not apprehend that
any plan would be reported on by the committee before
next session.

Mr. NV/4113 would cordially-vote for the motion, but
was decidedly aver .e 'to the amendment, which he
loolidd upon. to; contraienitig,the terms of the Act of
P.a.' a mut, Mr the lattisi did, ;as he read it, give the
11
board any powor to pr ' 'de', • .*:.:4 spaces for the rectea-
. ,i, ..
tior, &c.. of the people., •• . • ~....P ..t.
Mr. Howe would vO ',-fo -,•
,tkititiori and amendment,
deeming that the means . i -,'.. pjacesof recreation
for the people ought to .- 1,.. - ...`,' Ime duties of the
board.
r— - ,

Mr. Caitrsia.EL and Mr. DOULTOM, agreeing in the
motion, strenuously opposed the amendment ; whilst
Mr. LESLIE objected to both. The board had had 60
months riven them to cleanse the Thames from all the
sewage. Nearly 5 per cent. of that time had now elapsed,
and the board had not yet got a plan. He had seen how
previo!;s bolrds bad been diverted from this important
matter by the sewage manure question, and he predicted
ittvould b; so with this board, if they allowed their at-
tention to be distracted by other affairs. Moreover, these
improvements-did not press. Hie ackieelvaselltitt they
should put down on the business paper, as the first mat-
ter to be taken up, their intention to inquire how Mr.
Bazalgete was proceeding with his plan. It was their
fault if that officer did not inform them every time they
met what progress he was making. (Oh.)
Mr. H. L. TAYLOR cautioned the board against adopt-
ing the amendment, which, if agreed to, would throw
two much work on the committee. Unless the board
guarded itself, he was fearful le4t, sooner or later, this
committee might dominate over the board ; and the way
to prevent this was to pass a regulation by which every
document laid before the committee should first receive
the sanction of the board. In fact, all proposals for im-
provements should come before that board in the first
instance, and then, if the board saw fit, they would refer
the prof ositions to the committee. (Hear, hear.) As
regarded Hampstead-l&eath, to which he supposed Mr.
Turner's amendment more particularly referred, he
begged to remind that gentleman that the hoard had at
the last sitting decided against adopting his (\fr. Tur-
ner's) motion on that subject, and therefore this matter
could not he referred to the committee.
Mr. SEELEY and kr. BEVAN having expressed their
concurrence in this original motion,
The PRESIDENT put the amendment of Mr. Turner,
which was lost, an the motion of Mr. Wilkinson,
which was adopted.
. .

A brief discussion ensued between the President and
Mr. Leslie in respect to the conformity of the resolution
with the Act of Parliament, after which the subjoined
adlition was made, "That instructions be given to the
committee that no plans or schemes whatever be enter•
tained by the committee from individuals unless referred
by this board."
0:1 the motion of Mr. DOULTON, the undermentioned
resolution was l used, " That the state of the Effra, one
of the main lines of sewer tender the jurisdiction of this
board, be referred to the works committee for immediate
inquiry, and to report as to the best means of remedying
its present very dangeeons and defective condition."
The other business transacted possessed no general
terest.