The Sun.
London, England, 1856-08-15 00:00:00

TEST rfiv,S I'p, B 9E.

At the Lambeth Vestry, last everuirg, Mr. C. It
Teague in the chair,
Bar. F. DOULToN called attention to the recent report
of Mars. Bendel and Simpsr.n. He considered that
the proposal of thee° gentlemen to strip entirely the
thoroughfare over Westminster-bridge during a period
of about five years, while the new bridge was construct•
jug, and to provide for the traffic by diverting it over
a new bridge, to be erected bsterean the Horseferry-road and Church street, Lambeth, was ono calculated to hi-
filet enormous injury upon the inhabitants of Lambeth,
and to cause very great inconvenience to the public ge-
nerally. The rentarof the .property that would be di-
rectly affected by the arrangement was estimated at
30,000/. ; hut there was a large amount of property
which would be ind;reet'y interfered with, and wbio
would be seriously injured, if not destroyed. The con-
tract, which bad been suspended by the bankruptcy of
Messrs. Mare, was for a bridge double the width of the
old one, and it was stipulated that half of it should be
finished and opened for traffic before the other half
was commenced. -The principle was thus recognised
that there should be no interference with the existing
thoreuglifare ; but the.plan now proposed would leave
Westiniester-read for four or five years without au out.
ht. He need rot point out the inevitable result, for
the vestry would see that the traffic, if diverted for ea
long a period, would never return to the old route. The
present condition of the bridge was dangerous in the ex-
treme, several of the principal supports having been cut
away in the construction of the new bridge ; and there
was great risk that the bridge would give way. If that
were to happen, a total stoppage of the thoroughfare
would occur, without any provision whatever for tempo-
rary accommodation to the truffle ; and the occurrence
might possibly be accompanied with a great loss of life.
The navigation of the river was almost prejudicially
affected by the present state of the bridge, the greater
number of the arches of which were entirely or partially
stopped-up, and rendered nearly,or altogether impassa-
ble. The trading interests of Lambeth (especially of the
district adjoining the existing thoroughfare over the
bridge) had suffered grievously for many years. owing
to the sate in which the bridge had been suffered to
remain, and the apprehensions entertained for its
safety ; but the injury they bad sueained would be
greatly increased if the proposal now made were adopted.
The result of various committees, and of a commission
specially appointed, had been to decide that the existing
site was the best for the new bridge ; that decision had
been affirmed by Parliament, the works bad actually
been commenced, and persons had therefore bought the
Westmitester-bridge property, relying upon the good
faith of the Government. •He (Mr. Doulton) considered
that those persons bad serious grounds for complaint.
Of cohere he did not oppose the erection of the Horse,,
ferry -bridge ; on the contrary, he was convinced boeja
that such a bridge was necessary, and that it could r zot
be erected too soon. What he protested against was tb.e
diversion of the traffic from its present line, and. be
begged therefore to move the appointment of a co/unlit.
tee to consider and report on the best course to be
adopted under the circumstances. (Hear.)
Mr. PLEWS said this was a subject on which he was
not altogether without experience, for he had been con-
cerned in the erection of four bridges over the Thames,
and he considered that the proposal of Sir B. Hall would
cause a monstrous waste of public money. The plan of
Mr. Page was an admirable one. His proposal, by which.
cofferdams would be dispensed with, was one that would ..
ere long be universally adopted, for it gave a perfectly
safe foundation, and effected a large saving. Yet this
able engineer was to be sacrificed to Messrs. Rendel and
Simpson! He (Mr. Plews) should second the motion
with a great dealef pleasure.
Mr. lira TAYLOR protested-against the interests of the
public being sacrificed to a fancy of Sir B. Hall. Sir Ben-
jamin had lately indulged in many strange whims ; and
be was afraid that they would have to animadvert upon,
many more.

kir. Pow= regretted the opposition which had been
offered to the excellent plan of Mr. Page, but they all
knew with what difficulties every improvement had to
contend. Tne plan of forming foundations of concrete
was at first the subject of a great outcry ; people would
not believe that any extensive building could be erected
upon a foundation of that kind. The prejudice had, bow-.
ever, long since passed away. With regard to Mr. Page' a
proposed foundation for Westminster-bridge, not one y
did be (Mr. Fowler) believe that it would be perfect ly
sound, but ho thought that it would require a very al-de
engineer indeed to destroy it when once made.
The committee was then appointed nem. con.

NORTH OF EUROPE STEAM COMPANY.

At the half-yearly meeting of this company, held yes-
terday, Sir S. M. Peto in the chair, the dividend de-
clared was at the rate of 8 per cent, per annum. It was
announced that the Earl of Yarborough has been corn-,
pelled to retire from the direction in consequence of ill,
health. The progress of operations was stated to be of
the most satisfactory character, the opening of the
Baltic trade having been attended with very adv
tageous' results. An increase of dividend, it is inti-
mated, cannot, however, be expected this year, itince
the.outlay to secure the traffic has been on a large nate.
The company have now five vessels on charter to main-
tain their trade, and it is considered that it will be essen-
tial to augment the fleet to that extent at least, to pre-
vent other parties from entering the field. The routes
now occupied, with the exception of that from Grimsby
to Hamburg, have all been profitable, and :the directors,
following out a policy which they have adoi 'tea from the
first, have discontinued the vessels between those ports.
During the last six months there has bee a a total ex-
emption from loss, or any casualty which it I's necessary
to detail, and the steady development of freig ht and pa--
senger traffic shows the solid and remunerattv e nature of
the relations es•ablished. In ar ewer to questLsns it was
mentioned that the vessels engaged in the Illack Eea
had been insured in the ordinary manner, but that
those employed in the service of the company had been
placed at average rates upon the general insurance
fund, which amounted last Christmas to 4,7001., but
is now upwards of 10,2001. As it is contemplated im-
mediately tr) take the necessary measures for placing
the affairs of the company under the operation of the
Limited Liability Act, the directors intend calling up
the remainder of the capital to provide additional 'Ves-
sels of a class which shall ho able fully to carry out the
requirements of the Baltic tradr, Reference was made
to the employment of two of the boats of the company
in the competitive route of Ramsgate and Margiste ;
but it was explained that the directors are guaran ieed
against loss, the charters being based on au arra age-
merit which insures a remunerative return. At the
close of the proceedings a special resolution was passed
authorising the directors to place the company under
limited liability, and it was announced that two calls of
21. 10s. each will be shortly made. Capt. Andrews, the
managing director, in acknowledging a vote of thanks,
stated a belief that the trade with St. Petersburg may
he rapidly extended. With a class of steam ars
built on the principle already adopted in the service,
the cotnpany will be able to reach the quays of that
city and take freight without the intervention of
lighters or the other means adopted in the channel
passe •• ge front Cronstadt. Through the arrangements
in progress the trtde between Flensburg and St.
Petersburg will be greatly accelerated, and relatiOns
with the Danish Initmay enabling the establishment
of an expeditiens communication. With vessels of the
character proposed the company will eventually compete
with ordinary sailing craft, the difference in time allow-
ing them to work fir as low a rate of freight. Between
London and St. Petersburg the _interval may be reduced
to five days ; and, as France is expected to open a route
(ruin Dunkirk in the same direction at no distant date,
the wittee:tra-le of the Baltic and the Meci:terranean
will, accordine to the views of Captain Andrews, be
hereafter ConduCted by steamers, instead of sailing yes-
eels. As practically i lustrating the possibility of taking
steamer up to St.. Pettraburg, Captain Andrews men-
tioned that curing his recent visit to the Baltic he pro-
ceeded with a vessel of the company t:, that destination.