The Sun.
London, England, 1856-07-24 00:00:00

METROPOLITAN BOARD OF WORKS.

A special adjourned meeting of the Metropolitan Board
of Works was held yesterday in the Council-chamber,
Guildhall. Mr. J. Thwaites in the chair.

iTHE MAIN SOUTHERN DRAINAGE 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 objetions as those stated in the First Commission-
er's...letter of the 2d day of July, 1856, or some of them?

Mr. WOOLRYCII said that niider 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 mwit.depend on an examin-
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-
aider, looking at the spirit of the act of Parliament. that
it would be sufficient to discharge it but 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 are 4;::;
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 be 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 fel!owing notice on the paper was then considered :
" Farther to consider report from the engineer on the
outfalis of the main drainage and intercepting sewers below
the boundary of the metropolitan area, the letter trom the
First Commi.sioeer of her Majesty's Works, &c , ou the
scheme of intercepting drainage south of the Thames, and
the report of Captain Bursted with reference to the tidal
stream in that river ; and toconsider the f dlowingmotion,
pr• posed 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 went to Government
with a plan for the discharge of the sewage of the metro-
pelts 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 provid•e-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. flows 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 tho 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 foreuer plan to Sir B. Hall,
as h.) believed that the discharge in Plurnstead 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 cue-hundredth part of sewage
matter ; and if that wore to run down for fivo hours he
believed that it would then be so mixed with many thou-
sand parts of water that it woul.l 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, complete disunion amongst
the gentleman who opposed the scheme of the engineer;
for while one wanted to send the sewage into the Thames
in Long Reach, another thou,glit 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 where it was,
instead of such an enormous expense being incurred in car-
rying it to such a distance from the metropolis. Those
gentlemen wbo were not agreed upon apy plan of their own
were landed 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—
he 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.
He hoped the board would be careful how they passed the
amendment now before them.

The CHAIRMAN 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. LESLIE believed that the best course for them io
adopt would be to make a clean slate end 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 a ork would be properly done. If he bad been
allowed to bring forward his scheme he would have got
them out of their difficulty, and in tead of forming a
a cesspool at Barking Criek of 30 acres in extent, he would
set Mi. B-,zalgette, their engineer, free, arni allow him to
bring forward something that was practicable and reason-
able.

Mr. 11. L. TAYLOR opposed the amendment.
Mr. WILKINSON was of opinion that they ought to apply
to Government tor this work to bo executed at the national
expense. As a step to a practical movement in this matter
he should support the amendment.
Mr. 11AwKEs objected to the work being done in the
" stamping" way now proposed.
After some observations from Mr. IYlffanger, Mr. Bid-
good, and Mr. Deputy Ifirrisou,
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 agreetospend 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 suffi-
cient, 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 Chairman then gave hie casting vote in favour of the
amendment. ,

Mr. WRIGHT then moved as another amendment, "That
the engineer be instructed to report on the desirability of
carrying the entire sewage of the metropolis, by means of
one large tunnel, to Sea Reach."
Au adjournment was move 1, which was put and agreed
to, and the board adjourned at five o'clock.