The Sun.
London, England, 1856-07-25 00:00:00

METROPOLITAN BOARD OF WORKS.

A special adjourned meeting of the Metropolitan Board
of Works was held on Tuesday in the Council-chamber,
Guildhall. Mr. J. Thwaites in the chair.
THE MAIN SOUTHERN DRLINAGE AND OUTFALL.

Mr. BRISTOW, pursuant to notice, on the further consi-
deration of the report from the engineer on the outfall of
main drainage on the south side of the Thames, and the
letter of the First Commissioner of her Majesty's Works,
asked the clerk of the board whether the proposed outfall
in Erith marshes, inasmuch as the sewage would flow into
the Thames in or near the metropolis, was not open to the
same objections as those stated in the First Commission-
er's letter of the 2d day of July, 1856, or some of them?
gr. WOOLRYCH said that under the 39th section of the
Metropolis Local Management Act, he considered that the
amended outfall in the Erith marshes was not affected by
that section • but the next question was, would the sewage
flow into the Thames in or near the metropolis ? That
was a question of fact ' • and must depend on an examina-
tion of all the circumstances. Now, as to the words, "in
or near the metropolis," he conceived that it would be im-
possible to give any fixed definition to the word " near."
To say that a person lived near Manchester migh mean that
he lived three or four miles off,while to say a person lived
near Manchester-square, might mean only a few yards from
it; but as the act required that the sewage should not be
discharged within or near the metropolis, he did not con-
sider, looking at the spirit of the act of Parliament, that
it would be sufficient to discharge it bat a short distance
from it, and that they should carry the whole of it to
such a distance and to such a point that it should never
again return within the metropolitan area.
A letter was read from Capt. Burstal, stating that the
engineer had made a mistake as to the tide at which the
sewage was to bo discharged, and also that he was under
the impression when he made his former report that the
sewage was to be discharged invariably two hours before
high water.
The engineer admitted there was a mistake, but that
was in his favour; and as to the discharge two hours be-
fore high water, that was only to take place under extra-
ordinary circumstances.
The following notice on the paper was then. considered :
" Further to consider report from the engineer on the
outfalls of tho main drainage and intercepting sewers below
the boundary of the metropolitan area, the letter from the
First Commissioner of her Majesty's Works, Sic., on the
scheme of intercepting drainage south of the Thames, and
the report of Captain Burstal with reference to the tidal
stream in that river ; and toconsider the f )Ilowingmotion,
proposed by Major Lyon and seconded by Mr. Dixon :
" 'That the outfall in Erith marshes, as proposed by the
engineer in his report of the 7th of July, be adopted, and
that the discharge take place only at or after high water."
Mr. DOULTON believed that if they wont to Government
with a plan for the discharge of the sewage of the metro-
polis at the point now proposed, it would be sent back to
them in the same way as the preceding one; and as they
were called upon to provide an outfall that should be un•
objectionable, he thought they should at once apply them.
selves to its consideration. He concluded by moving, as an
amendment, "That the engineer be directed to prepare a
plan, with sections and estimates, for extending the main
sewer to Lang Reach, and that the sewage be discharged
there only at or after high water."
' Mr. Howe seconded the amendment, and believed that
it would be true economy to do the work properly in the
first instance. _ _ _

Mr. DENNIS supported the amendment, and contended
that they ought to carry the sewage to a distant point
from the metropolis, even though it might be at a cost of
10,000,000/.
Mr. WARE justified the course that had been pursued
by the majority in sending the former plan to Sir B. Hall,
as he believed that the discharge in Plumstead marshes
would have prevented the sewage coming back to the
metropolis ; but as they were now driven to incur a great
additional expense, he should support the amendment.
Mr. DIXON ridiculed the idea of going to such a distance
down the river ; for he had taken quantities of water from
the foulest sewers discharging into the Thames, and he
found that it did not contain one-hundredth part of sewage
matter; and if that wero to run down for five hours he
believed that it would then be so mixed with many thou-
sand parts of water that it would be altogether free from
sewage matter. Therefore, he was opposed to putting the
ratepayers to such a large additional expense.
Mr. SAVAGE believed they would never make a good job
of the matter until they went below Gravesend; but at
present he should support the amendment.
Mr. HALL said there was a cemplote disunion amongst
the gentlemen who opposed the scheme of the engineer;
for while ono wanted to send the sewage into the Thames
in Long Reach, anotherthought it should go to Sea Reach,
and another would go to the sea shore ; but there were
those who thought that it should not go to either of those
places, but the sewage should be deodorised whore it was,
instead of such an enormous expense being incurred in car-
rying it to such a distance from 'the metropolis. Those
gentlemen who wero not agreed upon any plan of their own
were banded together for the purpose of defeating the very
reasonable plan of their engineer.
Mr. WRIGHT had no fear that the present scheme would
be rejected, although the First Commissioner had the power
to do so, even without assigning any reason for doing so.
He might of his own accord return any plan sent to him—
ho might even if they went to Long Reach or Sea Reach
return their plans, and tell them that if they went there
they would be spending too much of the ratepayers' money.
Ile hoped the beard would be careful how they passed the
amendment now before them.
The CHAIRBIAN said there was a disposition on the part
of Sir Benjamin Hall to receive a plan from this board that
should carry out the work in a way that should be within.
the terms of the act of Parliament.
Mr. LEstre believed that the best course for them to
adopt would be to make a clean slate and begin again. It
had been urged that if they went further down the river
they would incur great additional expense, but he was of
opinion that if they did so they would save money, for
then the work would be properly done. If he had been
allowed to bring forward his scheme he would lava irot
them out of their difficulty, and instead of forminifr
cesspool at Barking Creek of 30 acres in extent, he woula
set Mr. Bazalgette, their engineer, free, and allow him to
bring forward something that was practicable and reasog-
able,

Mr. H. L. TAYLOR opposed the amendment.
Mr. WILKINSON was of opinion that they ought to apply
to Government for this work to:be executedat the, national
expense. As a step to a practical movement in this matter
he should support the amendment.
Mr. HAWSES objected to the work being done in - the
"-ramping" way now proposed.
After some observations from Mr. D'lffangor,• Mr. Bid
good, and Mr. Deputy Harrison,
Mr. SEELEY said he was surprised at the spending ideas
of some gentlemen on this matter, who were usually on the
side of economy ; and he could not agree to spend a quarter
of a million of;money for this work more than was neces-
sary. The excess of the sum beyond what was required
would furnish parks for the metropolis, and secure Hamp-
stead Heath for the benefit of the public. He was satisfied
that the discharge at Erith marshes would be quite sum-
clout and he was not content to spend one farthing for
going beyond it.
The Chairman then put the question, When there ap-
peared—
For the amendment l4 .
Against it
- -

The Cbairn?" thin gave his casting vote in favour of the
amendment.
gr. Warctrk then moved as another amendment, "That
the engineer be instructed to report on the desirability of
carrying the entire sewage of the metropolis, by maxim of
one largo tunnel, to Sea Reach."
An adjournment was move,i, which was put and agreed
to, and the board adjourned at five o'clock.

ERECTION OF A NEW CHURCH NEAR THE METRO.
POLITAN CATTLE MARKET.—Yesterday, 'at a Court of
Common Council, Mr. G. Seamen, in the absence of
Mr. Murrell, moved "That the stim of 1051. be granted
by this court towards the erection of a new church on
the north-east side of the Metropolitan Cattle Market,
between the Caledonian-road and the City Prison." The
motion was supported by Deputy Lott, and opposed by
Mr. De Jersey, who, in moving the previouaquestion,
said that the court had already negatived a motion of a
similar character made some time since. .I.Vderman
Laurance trusttd that the motion would be rejected, on
the ground that voting a sum of money towards the
erection of the ohurch would be a very bad precedent.
Mr. T. H. Fry earnestly protested. against the motion,
which was lost by a large majority,