The Sun.
London, England, 1867-02-16 00:00:00

Metropolitan Board of Works.

The usual meeting of the Metropolitan Board o,
Works was held yesterday at the office, in Spring.
gardens ; Sir John Thwaites in the chair.
FINANCE.

The financial statement was presented, which
showed that the cash balances in the hands of the
treasurer amounted to £548,971 16s. Bd. ; cheques
not presented, £46,382 19s. 2d. Payments were
ordered to the amount of £19,745 7s. Bd.
NEW IMPROVEMENT BILL OF THE CITY OF LONDON.
A report was brought up from the Works and
Improvement Committee recommending that a peti-
tion be presented against the preamble of the Lon-
don City Improvement Rates Bill, promoted by the
Corporation of the City of London.
Mr. S. TAYLOR moved the adoption of the report,
which was seconded.
Mr. 11. L. TAYLOR opposed the motion, contend-
ing that as the bill sought to raise a rate of 6d. in
the pound from the inhabitants exclusively of the
city of London for improvements within the city
this board ought not to interfere. He moved as an
amendment to the report of the committee—" That
it is both inexpedient and
improper on the part of
this board to oppose by petition the bill introduced
into Parliament by the city of London for improve-
ments intended to be effected exclusively within
the city of London."
Mr. Alderman STONE seconded the amendment.
Mr. NEWTON said he could see no reason what-
ever why the city of London should be excepted
from the general rating which was levied over the
other parts of the metropolis, for if it were to be
adopted he could not see any valid reason why the
parish he represented should not enjoy the same
privilege. In his opinion they were approaching the
period when the city of London should become an
integral portion of the metropolis, and the argument
that Mr. Taylor had used as to granting the city of
London powers to raise rates for their own improve-
ments would be equally good for a separation from
this Board altogether.
Mr. CoLuNsoN said it the city of London were to
be allowed the powers they sought there would be
it
to
opposen i„t N remarkththe
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pd r thatoventhe t c ißt o
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nothing but discord throughout the other parishes of
the metropolis.
intended
CHAIRMAN
by this Board, and therefore they were almost com-
pelled to oppose that of the city of London. He
trusted there would be no disturbance of the arrange-
ment come to in 1856, and that the bill would not be
sanctioned, by which the city of London sought to
exempt themselves from charges which all other parts
of the metropolis were liable.
Mr. DIXON supported the amendment.
Mr. ELT said he believed the city of London had
such (power in the House of Commons as would
secure the passing of their bill, and if this Board
did not oppose it that course would smooth the way
similarandf oacibli
jtltt.
e the passing of their own bill for a
Mr. EVANS said he looked upon the application
of the city of London in reality as one for separation
from the rest of the metropolis. On this question the
arguments of the hon. member for the city of London
(Mr. H. L. Taylor) were, as usual, very cogent, and
he limited himself to the question of improvements
within the city of London, but he never hinted at
what would be the real effect, and that was its sepa-
ration from the rest of the metropolis. The hon.
member for the city of London might feel confident
that the House of Commons would favour his views,
but he (Mr. Evans) thought he was too sanguine in
his expectations. The question was not as he had
put it, but it was whether this should, be the first
step towards the separation of the city of London
from the rest of the metropolis.

Mr. SAVAGE said that this first step for dissolving
the union was so manifest that he should vote against
the amendment.

Mr. CARPMAEL said they had, then, a new case of
the North against the South, and with respectto the
union which had existed since 18G6, it was proposed
that the city of London should be separated, and no

longer form a part of it. Now he (Mr. Carpmael)
had invariably supported the city of London in
their applications for money for improvements, as
being a most important part of the metropolis, to
which everybody necessarily went to do their busi-
ness in it. It was then proposed to sever that
portion, which he (Mr. Carpmael) looked upon as
the commencement of the destruction of the whole
union, and that the present united states should no
longer exist in the metropolis. Happily they did not

entertain any warlike feelings towards each other,
as had unfortunately been the case with their friends
over the water ; but this was a question that ought
to be dealt with at an early period, as bills were
about to be brought into Parliament for the purpose
of defining municipal boundaries ; but at the same
time lie should vote against the city of Londoll being
separated from them until the other bill had been
discussed and settled by Parliament.
The CHAIRMAN put the question, and the amend-
ment was negatived by a majority of 24 to 4.
BARRIERS IN PUBLIC THOROUGHFARES.

A report was brought up from the Works and
Improvements Committee, recommending that a
petition be presented by the Board to Parliament to
repeal any authority given to private persons to

erect gates or barriers across streets or thoroughfares

so as to obstruct the traffic therein, in cases where

the lighting, cleansing, and paving of such streets or
thoroughfares is paid for out of the public rates.
Mr. SHAW said the same question was brought to
the notice of the Metropolitan Board three weeks
ago. He could understand where a private person

paid the expense of keeping a street in order, he
should be allowed to exercise his own discretion in

making it private, but when they saw the numerous
accidents caused by obstructions in the streets coin-

pelling traffic to take only particular grooves, and
other nuisances which those barriers promoted, he
could not readily apprehend why the public should
be subjected to those serious inconveniences. There

were Meets wholly occupied by persons of doubtful

character, because the privacy those barriers created
invited persons of a certain class into those locali-
ties, which were a positive nuisance ; and only last
year upwards of 2,000 persons were killed and
maimed in the overcrowded streets by vehicles and
horses, and it was too much to expect that these bar-
rier nuisances would be retained at the expense of
the ratepayers, to the danger of the life and limb of
the public.

The motion was then agreed to.
FINSBURY AND SOUTHWARK PARKS.

A report was brought up from the Works and
Improvements Committee, submitting estimate for
lodges, entrance-gates, fencing, roadways, and
drainage of Finsbury and Southwark Parks, and re-
commending that the officers be directed to prepare
the necessary plans and specifications, with a view
to advertisements being issued for tenders for the
execution of the wor4s, such tenders to be received
on the 18th March next.

After a short discussion this subject was referred
back to the committee for further consideration.

IMPROVEMENTS NEAR THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT.

Mr. WHITE moved : --" That it be referred to the
Works and General Purposes Committee to consider
the propriety of obtaining the surface of the strip
of land lately forming a portion of St. Margaret's
Churchyard, and purchased by the Metropolitan
District Railway Company for constructing their
line, with a view to the improvement of the line
of thoroughfare from Victoria-street to Palace-
yard and Westminster-bridge."
The motion was put and agreed to, and the rest
of the business being disposed of, the Board ad-
journed.