The Sun.
London, England, 1867-01-04 00:00:00

WELSII LINES.

A report has been issued by the committee of de-
brnture and shareholders formed to promote the
amalgamation of Welsh railways, from which it
appears that the scheme is not so well supported as
anticipated. Of the 19 lines of railway included in
the original project, two (the Pembroke and Tenby,
and Manchester and Milford) have ben wlthdrawn
at the request of the contractors. The Swansea
Vale, Llanelly, and Ncath and Brecon are promot-
ing separate themes of amalgamation, and the same
objection applies to the Nantile, Carnarvonshire,
Denbigh, Ruthin, and Corwer,, and the Mold and
Denbigh, situate in the northern portion of the
Principality. The consequence is that by these and
other defectionS there only remain the Cambrian,
the Brocon and Merthyr, the Mid-Wales, and the
Potteries, Shrewsbuey and North Wales Railways,
which can under the existing standing orders of Par-
liament be amalgamated. The directors of the Cam-
brian, in reply to the application sent to them by
the Amalgamation Committee, stated that the time
has not yet arrived for them to enter upon the consi-
deration of the question of an union with other
companies, and the Brecon and Merthyr Board stated
that they were unable to give a reply until they
were better acquainted with the terms upon which
it was proposed to include their line in the
union. Notwithstanding these objections the pro-
moters of the amalgamation have lodged a bill for
the union of the four companies last named ; but the
committee state in their report that they consider
their duties will, for the present at all events, end
with the deposit of the bill, and it will remain for
the directors and shareholders of the Companies
named to consider the propriety of proceeding with
it or not in the face of hostile movements iu a like
direction on the part of other companies.

SANITARY ACT OF 1866.—The regulations under
this act relating to lodging-houses are now coining into
operation. Rules approved by the Home Secretary have
been issued by several of the districts in the metropolis.
Those issued by the Board of Works for the St. Giles's dis-
trict aro very stringent. Among the most important it is
specified that no person shall let any house, or part of a
house, in lodgings, or to be occupied in lodgings by mem-
bers of more than one family, and in which more than two
persons shall sleep in one room, until such house, and the
person proposing to let the same, are registered in the office
of the Board of Works. In no case will an accommodation
of loss than four hundred cubic feet of space bo allowed
to each person. Persons letting such house, or part of a
house, must have the walls and ceilings of every room,
&c., thoroughly cleansed and limewashed at least four
times every year. Cellars are to be cleaned out once a
week, and limewashed as often as needed. The rooms aro
to be ventilated, &c., -to the satisfaction of the medical
health officer. Proper accommodation must also be pro-
vided for washing, and such a supply of water for the use
of lodgers, with proper covered cisterns, as shall be satis-
factory to the health officer. Tho cistern to afford at least
fifteen gallons a day to each inmate. The dustbin must
be emptied once a week, and for every twenty persons a
separate water-closet is to be provided. Every house
not resident in or near the registered house must
appoint, as agent, some person who is resident in or
near to the house to see that the regulations are carried
out. Every house and room shall be open to the medical
health officer for inspection between the hours of 8 o'clock
a.m. and 10 p.m. Any persons violating the regulations will
be liable to a penalty not exceeding 40s. for any one offence,
with an additional penalty
not exceeding 20s. for every day
during a default in obeying such regulations shall continue.
The regulations issued by the Poplar district, also approved
by the Home Secretary, are of a somewhat similar descrip-
tion ; but there are additional clauses to the effect that no
room the ceiling of which is on a level with or below the
level of the footpath or roadwayadjoining, and no room used
as a kitchen or scullery, and no room not lighted and venti-
lated directly from the exterior, and no room on the roof of
the house not furnished with an open fireplace or flue shall
be permitted to be occupied as a sleeping-room, nor shall
any undergound room be permitted to be occupied unless
specially certified by the medical health officer as fit to bo
so occupied. The number of persons in each sleeping room
is to bo determined by the cubical contents of the room ;
for instance, if the room is used only as a bedroom there is
not to be more than one person to every 300 cubic feet of
air ; if used as a sleeping room and also as a day room,
then there is not to be more than one person to every 400
cubic feet of air. Persons of different sexes are not to oc-
cupy the same sleeping room, except ono married couple,
or parents with children under 10 years of age. When a
person is attacked with fever, smallpox, or other infectious
disease, immediate notice must be given to the medical
health officer.

MORE FENIAN SEIZURES AND ARRESTS IN IRE-
LAND.-WO learn by telegraph that seventeen stands of
now arms and a lot of bayonets and swords have been
found in a barn belonging to Mr. John Scanlon, near
Bridgetown, county Clare. Scanlon, who disclaims all
knowledge of the matter, and two of his sons, have been
committed fcr trial.