The Sun.
London, England, 1856-10-18 00:00:00

The ordinary weekly meeting of the Metropolitan
Board cf Works vas held yeaeitday in the Council
Chamber, Guildhall ; Mr. J. Thwaites in the chair.
The financial statement laid before the board showed
a total general balance of 114,0241. 13s. 3d.
The superintending architect presented reports on ap-
plications under the Metropolitan Buildings Act.
Mr. Joseph Kerschner made application for permission
to extend the shop front of the Surrey Coal Hole Tavern
next the Surrey Theatre, in the Blackfriars-road.
Upon this the superintending architect reported as
follows :—" Mr. Kerschrer, the landlord of the Surrey
Coal Hole Tavern, adjoining the Surrey Theatre, in the
Blackfriars-road, wishes to enlarge the bar, &e., of the
tavern, and preposes to enclose the portico in front and
at tte sides with sashesfaud walls, and seeks the consent
of the Metropolitan Board of Works to this alteration.
The colonnade of the theatre and the portico of the
tavern are almost the only projecting buildings, and
if the applicant's request is granted it will he the
only encloied projection throughout the whole line.
The thoroughfare is extremely open, the pavement
alone being about 20 feet wide, except in front of the
theatre and tavern, where it is 12 feet. Seeing that there
is no other enclosed bu lding throughout the great ex-
tent of the Blackfriars-road, and nothing but the colon-
nade of the theatre to give a pretext for this application,
I cannot recommend the board to grant consult to en-
close the portico as proposed.—F. MARRABLE, superin-
tending architect.
It was proposed that the architect's recommendation
be adopted, which was put and agreed to.
The application was consequently rejected.
The CHAIRMAN drew the attention of the board to the
position in which they were now placed in reference to
the payment of the solicitors to the board, with a view
of making an alteration, if such a course was considered
desirable.

Mr. Deputy HARRISON hoped that they would pursue
the course that was now generally adopted by the Go-
vernment i.nd large establishments by paying their soli-
tors by a fixed salary instead of by fees for each particu-
lar duty. fie concluded by moving "That it be referred
to the Works Committee to consider and report to this
board, having regard to the original appointment of the
solicit )r, what alterations, if any, they would recom-
mend, as.to the remuneration to be made to the solici•
tors of the hoard, particularly in reference to the metro.
politan improvements or works of an extensive charac-
ter."

Mr. WILKINSON seconded the motion, which was pill
and carried unanimously.

NEW MEMBER FOR THE CITY OF LONDON.

Mr. Alderman Cubitt, elected to represect the City
of London, in the room of T!H. Hal!, Lq., was intro-
duced by Mr. Deputy Harrison, and took his seat. He
was received with general cheering.
A letter was read from Mr. Wicksteed, of Leicester,
inviting a deputation of the board to visit his works in
that town, for the disinfection of sewage, when the
company would be most happy to give them every in-
formation.

METROPOLITAN IMPROVEMENTS.

Mr. IRVINE ruse to move the resolution, of which he
had given notice :—" That the resolution of the board
of the 15th Aug., 1356 (No. 51), respecting the applica-
tion of the Hon. Col. Upton, for the sanction of the
board to the erection of a veranda of fire-proof reateria;s
sver an existing veranda or bow-window, at 27,
George•street, Hanover-square, be rescinded. He re-
gretted to find that the vestry of St. George, Hanover•
square, was opposed to any architectural improvement.
It was a common remark with foreigners that London
was the largest and ugliest city in the world. He did
not believe that the inhabitants of St. George's, Hanover
square, were, it left to themselves, opposed to any me-
tropolitan improvement=, but that some evil beast had
got possession of and devoured them.
Mr. LESLIE said the inhabitants of St. George's were
not opposed to improvements, but they did oppose Col.
Upton in his desire to put up a verandah in front of his
premises. It was a bow-window, covered with a veranda,
which Col. Upton wished to carry to the top of his
house, and that was called a metropolitan improvement.
He denied that a bow-window in any street was an
architectural improvement, and especially in this case,
which would prevent his next neighbour having a view
into Hanover-square. He hoped the board would support
their own officer, the unanimcus decision of the vestry
upon it, and their own character and respectability as a
board.
Mr. Tumli?. believed that the work now proposed in
George-street, Hanover-square, would be no nuisance,
and therefore he did hope that the motion of Mr. Irvine
would be carried by a large majority. They had no right
to consider whether the verandah would be ugly or orna-
mental, but whether it would be an injury to the other
inhabitants of that locality by interfering with light and
air.

Mr. DENNIS thought before they rescinded the resolu-
tion notice ought to be given to the vestry of the notice
that had been given to do so.
Mr. COLLINSON believed that, before they rescinded
the resolution, they ought to have a stropg case made out
to justify them in doing so. The builder had received inti-
mation 111 the first instance from the proper officer that
what he was doing was contrary to the terms of the act
of Parliament, but nevertheless he had gone on with the
work, and having completed it contrary to the law, he
now wished the board to whitewash him by rescinding
their own resolution. He was opposed to any such con-
duct, and should therefore oppose the resolution.
Mr. liriusx having replied,
The CHAIRMAN put the motion, when there appeared—
For rescinding the resolution
Against it
The members who voted for the rescinding of the resolu-
tion were—Alderman Cubitt, and Messrs. Disci], Wilkin-
son, Atkins, Stevens, Crellio, Nicholay, Bevan, Ware,
Seeley, Savage, D'lffanger, Wright, Bristow, Dennis,
Irvine, Doulton, Turner, ‘Vallis, Offor, Moreland, and
Miskin. Against it—Messrs. Collinson, H. L. Taylor,
Leslie, Harrison, Hawke, and Pascal'.
SITE OF OFFICES.
Mr. LESLIE rose to more the resolutions of which be
had given notice :—" Seeing that the Site of Offices Com-
mittee and the advertisements for 10,000 feet of ground
for offices have failed to produce a site, and that there are
9,940 feet of freehold property in Greek-street, Soho-
square, paid for by the ratepayers, be moved that all
previous orders on the whole subject be rescinded, so as
to enable the board to decide that the 9,940 feet of the
ratepayers' freehold property in Greek-street be adapted
for the permanent use of the board ; that a premium of
100 guineas be offered by public competition for plans,
which shall include a board-room equal in dimensions,
but better lighted and ventilated, than the Council
Coamber of the City of London."
He went on to argue the desirability of having the
offices permanently established at this place, when he
was interrupted by
The CHAIRMAN, who ruled that the resolution was not
in a proper form, as it ought to set forth the particular
resolution which was sought to be rescinded. To bring
the subject properly forward Mr. Leslie must give a fresh
notice.

The subject was then dropped.
WOJIIES COMMITTEE.
Mr. SEELEY moved that Mr. H. L. Taylor be ap-
pointed a member of the committee on the site of officer,
in the room of Mr. T. H. Hall, deceased.
Mr. LESLIE believed that there was a desire to pack
the members of the committee, so that a particular re-
port might be I,rought up, which would only Aritter
away the public money. He (Mr. Leslie) had been
burked to-day.

The CHAIII3fAN complained of the language that was
used by Mr. Le-lie, and called upon the members of the
board to assist him in preventing its repetition.
The motion was then put and agreed to.
Mr. SEELEY then proposed that Mr. Miskin and Mr.
Offor he also added to that committee, who should re-
present the east end of the metropolis. The committee
was originally nominated by a person who was in favour
of retaining Greek-street for the permanent site of the
offices of the board, and it was with a view of balancing
the committee, which was chiefly composed of gentlemen
from the West-end, for he did not believe that Greek-
street was a proper or central situation for the transac-
tion of the business of the board. He mentioned a case
that had recently occurred, when 15 members were
required to attend at Greek-street for the transaction
of some very ir..portaiit business, but how many at-
tended ? Why, only one. The central position of the
jurisdiction was somewhere about St. Paul's, but a very
shot t distance frau the place in which they were now
assembled, an I of the entire representatives of the board
only Bof them lived west of Temple-bar, whilst a large
majority lived east of it. What would be said if it was
imposed to have their meetings near Whitechapel
Church ? Why the members would say at once, how can
you expect us to go to Whitechapel to transact the
Less of the boa-d ?an I et Whitechapel Church was
nearer to tl o amtre of their jurisdiction than Greek-
street, and a larger number of m,irobers resided east of
Whitechapel than lived west of Temple-bar. He con-
cluded by moving his res dution.
Mr. CRELLIN seconded the motion.
Mr. LESLIE was in favour of retaining the premises in
Greek-street, as an enormous maj ,rity of house 2, popu-
lation, and ftcreae were within a radius of two miles from
it- He objected to the adding of Messrs. Miskin and
Offor to the committee, as they would go with their
minds already made up on this question.
Mr. DENNIS said if members were t > be added to the
committee merely because they had expressed strong
opinions there woull be an end to !the usefulness of all
committees, and, if permitted, he would resign his seat
as a memo er of it. If they wanted to enlarge the com-
mittee. he would propose as an amendement that Mr.
Ald. Cubitt and Mr. D'lffanor, whose views upon this
qeestion he did not know, be added to the committee.
Mr. HawKEs seconded the amendment, arid said there
was a desire to make the City interest predominant.
Mr. COLLINSON .uppoi tt,l the motion, and thought a
lit .le new blood should he infused into the committee,
which was now su nJarly bzi.lanct-d as to b.: inoperative,
with a view of qu.ckening their motions.
Mr. DOULTON opposed the princille that was now at-
tempted to be set up in sending two persons to carry a
particular object.
Mr. H. L. TAYLOR said there was at present on the
conanWtee a grei. tp; e,.ionderatice of West-end members.
After observations from Mr. Dixon, Mr. Deputy Har-
rison, and Mr. Creelin,

The CHAIRMAN put the question, when there appeared
For tt“. amendment 3
t it lO-7
The original irotion was then put and agreed to, and
Messrs. Miskin and Offor were added to the committee.
Mr. DOULTON then called the attention of the board
to the following notice which he had Oven :—" To vary
the resolution of the board of May 23, 1856 (N). 13),
•rdering `that George Donaldson, heretofore employed
as an engineer under the Metropolitan Commissioners of
Sewers, do receive as compensation for the loss of his
office, by reason of the passing of the Metropolis Local
lianageineat Act, a retiring allowance or annuity,