The Sun.
London, England, 1856-09-13 00:00:00

METROPOLITAN BOARD OF WORKS.

Yesterday, a meeting for the despatch of a very full
general paper of ordinary business was held in the Coun-
cil•chamber, Guildhall ; Mr. Thwaites, the president, in
the chair.

The chief-engineer, Mr. Bazalgette, presented about
five-and twenty reports in reference to complaints,
memorials, and applications on the subject of sewerage.
The majority of these reports presented no features of
general interest, and were disposed of without much
discussion. The engineer reported, inter alia, that he
had received a letter from the clerk to the vestry of Ber
mondsey, calling attention to the foul condition of St.
Saviour's Dock and the discharge of sewerage into it.
In reference to this, Mr. Bazalgette stated that the
sewer which had formerly discharged its contents into
the dock had recently been diverted, and that the only
remedy that would now thoroughly free the dock would
be either main drainage or the construction of tile
Thames embankment.

Mr. DREW remarked that if the vestry of Bermondsey
had to wait for effectual relief until either of the works
specified were carried out, he feared that they would
have to wait until they—the members of the board—
were all dead. (Hear, hear, and laughter.)
Oa the recommendation of the engineer, the board
agreed to pay over 4001. to Mr. G. Axton upon his
covering over a portion of the Stamford brook sewer,
which work, it properly executed, would amount, in
the opinion of the officer, to 1,0001.
I❑ reference to a complaint from the Seaman's Hos-
pital Society of the discharge of offensive matter in the
river at Deptford Creek, near the Dreadnought Ship, a
report was read from the Engineer, from which it ap-
peared that the nuisance most probably arose from the
sewer of the adjoining gas works.
. .

A memorial was some time since received from the
inhabitants of Elanover-square, Clapham•road, request-
ing the board to arch over a portion of the Effra sewer,
in that locality. Upon this
Mr. TURNER said he thought an answer ought to be
returned to the memorialists, stating that their applica-
tion could not be granted, and informing them, at the
same time, that the board had acceded to a similar peti
tion from another quarter only on the parties themselves
undertaking to pay the cost.
A long discussion took place upon the proposition of
the chief engineer, to construct 2,600 feet of main brick
sewer in Kensington, at a cost of 3,5001. The recom-
mendation was based upon the complaint of Mr. Dolman
and others, of the flooding of houses by the insufficiency
of the sewer in Pembroke-road, Kensington.
Several members thought that the board ought not to
decide upon sanctioning so large an expenditure, when
an understar.ding had been come to among the members
that no large work should be undertaken before Octo-
ber.
Mr. LESLIE more especially opposed any immediate
action, on the ground that the great question of pipe
and brick sewers was involved in this matter, and that
the board ought not to proceed to construct so costly a
brick sewer without a full inquiry into the cause of the
failure of the old main pipe sewer. _ _

Eventually the further consideration of the report was
p istponed for a fortnight.
------

THE REPORT ON THE MAIN DRAINAGE.

The PRESIDENT stated that the engineer hoped to be
able to bring up his report on the main drainage on the
26th inst., and thus enable members to have the report
in their possession a fortnight before the day appointed
for its discussion. (Hear, hear.)
The board then adjourned.

Advices from Valparaiso mention the failur3 of the
firm of Mickle and Co. ; liabilities 400,000 dols. The
partner of Mr. Mickle was so distressed that he com-
mitted suicide in prison.
BANK OF FRANCE.—The returns of the Bank of
France for the past month are discouraging. Noiwith-
stsnding tho extraordinary expenditure of 60,0001. for
premiums on bullion, the total stock has experienced a
alminuti in of 460.0001., and now stands at 9,400,0001.
The recovery of 620,0001. shown in the last retuin from
the loss in the previous, month of 2,000,000/., and which
wss obtained at a cost of 46,0001. for premiums, is there-
fore rapidly disappearing, although the efforts to Fuoply
the drain have been greater than ever. The only favour•
able feature of the present return is that, instead of
showing, as has sometimes been the case, an increaae of
circulation in the face of declining means, it exhibits a
large contraction under that head, as well as in dis-
counts and loans. Thus there is a diminution of
757,0001. in the notes issued, 910,0001. in the discounts,
456,000/, in the advance on stocks, and 70,0001. in the
advances on railway shares. This withdrawal of ac-
commodation has, of course, affected the deposits, which
show a reduction of 1,860,000/. In till Treasury ba.
lances there is an increase of 667,0001.