The Sun.
London, England, 1858-05-19 00:00:00

contained in existing Acts of Parliament have been
fund to be practically insufficient to enablo the
Manchester and Sheffield and Great Northern
Railway Companies to open up this route to the
public. The committee have inserted a clause in
the bill for the purpose of insuring to the public
this right.

PORTSMOUTH.
Sir E. PERRY reported from the Committee on
Group_2 of Railway Bills that the new works,
power to construct which is sought by the bill, are
;c. be executed by an existing company out of the
funds which they are at present authorised to raise.
The lengths of the proposed lines of railway are as
follows :—No. 1, 4 miles 31i chains, and No. 29
5 furlongs. The steepest gradient is lin 132. It
is intended that the railway should cross on a
level one turnpike road. The estimated cost of
the railway is 70,0001., and the quantity of land
required 54/ acres. Mr. Locke was the engineer
examined in support of the bill, and the committee
were satisfied of the fitness, in an engineering
point of view, of the proposed railway. The com-
mittee have required a clause to be inserted for the
laying down of a double line of rails on the Ports-
mouth line between Godalming and Havant, if the
traffic at a future period should amount to a certain
sum specified in the bill.
ULVERSTONE AND LANCASTER.
_ _

Mr. PHILIPPS reported from the Committee on
Group 6 of Railway Bills that the principal objects
of the bill are to enable the compkny.
1"1"..ig a sin-
gle line of railway open ff.: -•
public-t.raffic, to raise
further capital; and to sell or lease their under-
taking to the Furness Railway Company. Such
additional capital is sought to be raised for enabling
the company to lay, down a second line of rails on
land already in their possession, and for providing
for the payment of existing debts and liabilities,
and for the general purposes of the undertaking.
WEST-END OF LONDON AND CRYSTAL PALAOR.
Mr. PHILIPPS reported from the Committee that
the objects of the bill are to give power to the Bat-
tersea-park Commissioners to sell and the West-
end of London and Crystal Palace Railway Com:-
pany to purchase certain lands at Battersea and to
confirm agreements thereto ; to enable the com-
pany to raise further capital for the purpose ;:t1)
extend the time for completing the extension rail,
way to Farnborough ; to lease the undertaking of
the company to the London, Brighton, and South
Coast Railway, and to enable the-latter company
to raise money for the purpose ; also to enable the
West-end and Crystal Palace Company to make
traffic arrangements with the South-Eastern, Mid-
Kent (Bromley to St. Mary Cray), and East Kent
Railway Companies, or either of them. Clauses
were inserted in the bill saving the rights of the
conservators of the river Thames, and requiring
the company to submit a plan to the said conser-
vators of any works proposed to be made by then
in any part of the said river. The Committee, in
execution of the powers given to them by the reso-
lution of the house of the 11th May inst., have
retained in the bill the power of leasing the under-
taking of the company to the London, Brighton,
and South Coast Railway Company. TheCommittea
had amended the preamble of the bill by altering
the dates of the agreements therein mentioned and
reciting an additional agreement entered into be-
tween the company and the Battersea-park Com-
missioners, and found the same as amended to be
true.

HEALTH OF LONDON DURING TSB
WEEK.

(From the Report of the Registrar General.)
The number of deaths registered in London
in
the week ending Saturday, May 15, was 1,0571
which is almost the same as that of the previous
week, which was 1,056. In the ten years 1848-57
the average number of deaths in the weeks corre-
sponding with the last week was 1,050, but as the
deaths of last week occurred in an increased popil.
lation' they can only be compared with the average,
when the latter is raised in a degree proportionate
to the increase, a correction which will make 1,155.
The comparison indicates a favourable state of the
public health, as showing that the deaths now re-
turned are less by about 100 than the number esti-
mated from former experience at this season.
. As the total numbers of the last two weeks very
closely agree, so the numbers assigned to the
five general heads under which all the causes of
death are classed exhibit no important difference.
Zymotic diseases caused in the two weeks 242 and
254 deaths respectively, the corrected average for
last week being 259 ; constitutional diseases 251
and 246, the average being 266 ; local diseases 401
and 394, the average being 449 ; developmental
126 and 130, the average being 139 ; and the num-
ber of violent deaths was 25 both weeks, the ave-
rage being 22. The slight increase under the first
head arises in part from diarrhoea, the fatal eases
of which increased from 9to 17. Hooping-cough
was also more fatal last week, this complaint hav-
ing carded off 81 children, a large proportion of
whom were under two years of age. Six deaths
occurred from it in the sub-district of St. Peter,
Walworth, and 4 in that of St. John, Westminster-
Of 47 deaths from measles, 6 occurred in the sub-
district of Greenwich West. Scarlatina was
fatal in 36 cases, and 4 of these occurred,
in Sexton Old-town. Six cases of diphtheria
are returned. A death from this disease having
occurred in the Hackney-road sub-district, Mr.
Todd, the medical attendant of the case, states
that " the effluvium from the gas-water of
the adjoining gasworks, which is carried off
through the sewers, has been represented to hint
as at times very offensive, and in his opinion it is
very likely to deteriorate the health of persons ex-
posed
to it." Two girls, aged respectively 10 and
14 years, died of tonsillitis (quinsy) in the same
family at 3, Norfolk-place, Islington. Three chil-
dren of the same parents have died, within 18 drAyst
of scarlatina in. the Hyde-park barracks. The
deaths of two very old persons are reported in the
returns a fish porter died in Great Trinity-lane
at the age of 97 years, and the widow of a stone
sawyer at 60, Pleasant-place, Lambeth, whose age
is stated to have been 102 years.
Last week the births of 798 boys and 752 girls,
in all 1,550 children, were registered in London.
In the ten corresponding weeks of the yews 1848*
57, the average number was 1,577.

THE MAIN DRAINAGE OF LONDON• •

A public meeting was held in reference to thill
subject at the Freemasons' Tavern, Great Queen'
street, but which, although it had been publicly
announced by advertisements, was thinly attended.
The chair was taken by Mr. W. Crawford, M.P.
for the city of London, who was supported by Mr.
W. Cox, M.P. for Finsbury ; Mr. Ayrton, M.P.
for the Tower Hamlets, and several other gentle,
men interested in this question. After the hon.
secretary had read from several gentlemen apolo-
gies for their non-attendance, a series of resolutions
was proposed and adopted. The object of the
meeting was—
" To consider the present position of the question of
the main drainage of the metropolis, and to take the
necessary steps for protecting the interests of the metro'
politan ratepayers in Parliament."
Mr. JOHN WACE a member of the Shoreditch
vestry, proposed, and Mr. PREECE, member of th•
Mile-end vestry, seconded—
" That the plans hitherto proposed for the mai",
drainage of the metropolis are incomplete, conflicting,
and unsatisfactory, certain to entail a heavy burden oa,
tht ratepayers, and of problematical utility to the publiir
health. That while it has' not been proved that 'Ogg,
Thames exerts a prejudicial influence on the health of
the metropolis, it is still desirable to improve the drain
ing and self-cleansing powers of the river, and to pro-
vent
the deposit of mud in its channel and on its banks.
This resolution, although it encountered some
little opposition, especially in reference to the now
prejudicial influemce of the Thames in its present condition, Was declared by the chairman to he
carried. Mr. Frederick Doulton, a member of the
Lambeth vestry, then proposed, and Mr. G. A.
Youngman, a member of the St. Pancras vestry,
seconded, a further resolution—.
" That the utmost uncertainty appears to prevail its
the minds of the framers of the reports and estimate.
hitherto prepared as to the extent and cost of the wor"
required, ranging from upwards of 2,000,000/. to need,'
11,001,0001., demonstrating that this important Vl—
tion is not yet ripe for solution, and that a hasty
sion will impose a frightfully enormous taxation upon
the already heavily burdened ratepayers, and that their
fore, before any final course be adopted, there should b•
a complete and comprehensive report upon the whrl'
question, and ample opportunity should be given to O.
ratepayers to examine and consider the same."
This resolution, like its predecessor, proved also g!
subject of some little difference of opinion, but all
appeared unanimous on the unsatisfactory repro'
sentation of expense, varying as it did with so vridf
a margin in the estimate of cost to effect the object
contemplated by the advoc Aes for cleansing the
Thames. It wa', however, conclusively agreed to*
It was then moved by Mr. Farrar, of St. Pant:rags •
and seconded by Mr. Elr, of Islington—
" That the me; ropoiitan delegates be requested tOiga;
press upon the Metropolitan Board of Works the vieW,.
'xpressed in the foregoing resolutions, and to take snob
i,t,pB as they may see fit for the proper represents.tiou
t.f the same in Parliament."
After this resolution had been approved and car."
red by the melting, a vote of thanks was ulinel;
mously given to the chairman, and the busineso of
the evening brought to a close.

Thee pecie by the Parana, 300,000/., will be deliveret
on Thursday. It consists of 91 il
,500/. in gold ap
108,5001. in sliver. The gold by the Roxburgh Castle,
201,068/., bee mine to hand, but has not yet been dig'
posed of.