The Sun.
London, England, 1867-11-02 00:00:00

THE METROPOLITAN MAFIA: ACT

This Act, which, though it contains some very
vague and indefinite clauses, is calculated to con-
duce largely to the convenience and advantage of
the public, came into operation yesterday. We must
observe, however, that there is ono clause in the
measure which for some unintelligible reason is not
.to have any force until the Ist Jan., 1863. It may
be advi;;Abl, to state, by wey of preface, that in the
meaning of the Act the metropolis comprises the city
of London an 1 all parishes and places for the time
being within the jar;sliction of the Motropolitan
ira trd of Work s. The " limits" cotitem-
plated by the Act co:n)rise all distances within four
miles of Charing-cos. The " speci.:l limits" are
such streets and portion.; of streets as- may be (le-
clare:l special by the proper authorities. The first
general regulation is the one which will not come
into operation till January, 18'33. It provides that
" no person shall, between 1') o'clock in the morn-
ing and 7 in the evening, in any such streets as may
be named by the C.mimissioner of Poliee, remove
any dust, ashes, .or refuse from any house." It will
be seen from the enstruction of this chine that it
is both exceptional and special. Section No. 6 pro-
vides " that no goods or other articles shall be
allowed to rest on any footway or other part of a
street within general limits (as explained above) for
a longer time than may be absolutely necessary for
loading or unloading such goods or other articles.'
It also contains the important provision " that, for
the purposes of this Act, the surface of any space
over Which the public have the right of way that
intervenes in any street within the general limits
of this Act between the footway and the carriage
way shall, notwithstanding claims by prescription
or otherwise to the deposit or exposure for sale of
any goods or other articles on such surface, be
deemed to be part of the footway." This sec-
tion, -though certainly rather complicated in
grammatical structure, is one,of the most important
clauses of the measure. The penalties under this
and thepreceding sections are not to exceed 40s. Sec-
tion 7 prohibits the driving of cattle through streets
within the general limits between 10 in the morn-
ing and 7 in the evening, except with the permis-
sion of the Commissioners of Police. Section 8 in-
cludes a provision which, we believe, will conduce
largely to the convenience and, consequently, to
the comfort of the public. It provides "that within
general limits the driver of any metropolitan stage
carriage shall not stop such carriage for the purpose
of taking up or setting down passengers at any part
of a street except as near as may be to the left or
near side of the roadway. Section 9 sets forth
" that no picture, print, board, placard, or notice,
except in such form and manner as may be ap-
proved by the Commissioner of Police, shall by
way of advertisement be carried or distrbuted
in any street within the general limits of the act,
by any person riding in any vehicle or on horseback,
or being on foot." This section, it may be ob-
served, does not apply to the sale of newspapers.
It may be asked by some exacting critic, " Would
the Act be violated if the advertisements, &c., enu-
merated in this section were exhibited on the back of
a donkey ?" We are afraid that a magistrate would
find considerable difficulty in deciding the question
under the terms of the Act of Parliament. How-
ever, we must leave the arrangement of the matter
to the prudence of our magistrates and the wisdom
of our legislators. Section 15 provides, "That be-
tween 10 o'clock in the morning and 6 in the
evening no coal shall be loaded or unloaded on or
across any footway within the special limits of this
Act, and between the same hours, and within the
same limits, no casks, whether empty or full
(wine or spirits in casks excepted) shall be lowered
or drawn up by means of ropes, chains, or other
machinery passing across the footways or any
part thereof." Why wine or spirits should
have special privileges is rather unintelligible, while
the clause certainly does not prohibit the raising and
lowering of casks, &c., on men's shoulders, which
may be easily done. Section 16 prohibits " the
obstruction by unwieldy burdens of special'
thoroughfares between the hours of 10 a.m. and 7
p.m.," and to this the curious .annotation is appended,
" Any will, or order, or regulation made, or
to be made within the city of London and the liberties
thereof that is inconsistent with this section shall
be void." Section 17 provides that every cab shall
carry a lighted lamp after nightfall, and at all times
any mark or plate the Commissioner of Police may
require. No fare is to be less than ls. for any hack-
ney cartiage hired while "standing on any stand.'
With regard to straying dogs, the police may take
possession of any dog found in the streets within the
metropolis, not under control of any person, and may
detain such dog till the owner has claimed the same
and paid all expenses by reason of such detention.
Ferocious and dangerous dogs may be killed by the
order of ain igistrate. By section 18 it is stipulated
that certain shoeblacks and commissionaires shall.
have authorisation from the police, while protection
will be afforded to them against those who are un-
authorised. Section 23 gives power to arrest bet-
ting men without warrant who assemble to the
number of three or more. Yesterday costerinongers
and betting men seemed to be greatly disconcerted
by the operation of the act, but there is no doubt
that when " the special limits" are more accurately
defined the enforcement of the measure will con.
duce to the advantage and, at the same time, to the
safety of the community ; for it must be remem-
bered that some 200 persons are annually killed in
the thoroughfares of London.

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.—This Day.

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LONDON, Nov. 2.--Wind this day at noon—North-
Westerly; moderate breeze and live weather, but rather
cloudy.

BRISTOL, Nov. 1. —Wind N.W.—Arrived--Venus, from
Domerara.

CARDIFF, Oct. 31.—Rind N. W.—Arrived —Jan° Wil-
liams, from Newport for St. John's, N. 8., with cargo
shifted.

Fo.i.xounr, Nov. 2.—Wind S.W.—Arrived—Blukan,
from Rio Janeiro.

LIVERPOOL, Nov. 2. —Wind .N.W,—Arrived—Confl-
dance, from Glasgow for New York.
QUEENSTOWN, Nov. I.—Wind S.W.—Arrived—Samuel
Muir, from Demerara.

(By Telegraph.)
GRATESEND, Friday Morning.

Arrived, Nov. I—Aurora, from Port Alford.
Arrived, Nov. 2—Taurus, steamer, from Tootling;
Forth, steamer, from Hamburg ; Moselle, steamer, from
Antwerp ;'Ttiton, steamer, from Ostend; Trident, steamer,
and Eider,. steamer, from Tonning.'
Sail.xl—Cologoo, steamer, for Boulogne ; Beatrice, for
Cadiz.

DEAL, Saturday Morning.
Passed Folkestone, Nov. I—Charmain, f►•oni Sunder-
land, for Shanghai.

M. Decorby, riding-master of the Hippodrome,
has just been tried before the Correctional Police
on a charge of assaulting Mile, Laureutine Favel,
an ecuore at that establishment. The defendant
appears to have attempted to employ, in the main.:
tenance of discipline amongst the arti.sts, the same
means as he is accustomed to use to preserve order
in the stable. A dispute having arisen between
himself and Mdlle. Favel, he considered that the
lady did not reply in terms sufficiently respectful,
and as a means of correction struck her in the face
with both his fist and riling whip. lie was now
condemned to 10 days' imprisonment and 16f. fine.
ROYAL THAMES YACHT CLUB.—Circulars have
been issued apprising the members of the Royal Thames
Yacht Club that the numerously-attended meeting
specially convened to consider the financial position of the
club, and held at the Club-house, Albemarle-street, Picca-
dilly, on Thursday, the 17th ult., Lnrd Alfred Fagot, the
commodore, in the chair, a statement prepared t,y profes-
sional accountants was read to the meeting, showing that
with a subscription of five guineas per annum, from 801
members, the club could be maintained upon its present
footing, both es regards the amount expended in prizes and
the accommodation afforded to members, without exceeding

its income, and without applying the entrance fees to curreui
expenses. The circular informs the members of the almost
unanimous resolution passed at the above meeting, viz.,
" That the recommendation of the general committee to in-
crease the annual subscription from three guineas to five
guineas, on and from the Ist Jan., 1868, be adopted ;" and
of the consequent rescinding of the resolution to call a
general meeting in November ; and concludes by announc-
ing that in addition to the above strong demonstration-of
opinion, a largo majority of absent members (including
many residing at a distance in the country) have written
to the secretary giving their assent to the proposed in-
crease.

SPORTING INTELLIGENO.E—Thia Day.

vlcromA CLUB BETTING—Tins DAY.
Some animated speculation took Place on the
Liverpool Cup, for which The Peer remained-in good
request, 1,000 to 100 being in one quarter alone
accepted. Mandrake retrograded, and was almost
friendless at the close, consequent -on his stable
companion, The Corporal, meeting with support,
which accorded in one quarter to win £5,000.:
l'erbaps tile chief feature was the rapid advanc,: of_
of the Garter, who, after al thy; thousands
to thirty had been secured, was baek..;.l-by one coot--
misioner at lessening pric,t3 down to 100 to 8.-
ckworth way backed, but not to large sums ; nor
either of the other, though I lonesi y was oectsion
ally invested on. A sensational bet came under
notic„,, [0,009 to £l,0)) being by a well -knowri
corm ti accepte,l about Caithic 7s, With certain.
We append
LIVEIZPO97,I, CUP.
11 to 1 Agit Thu Peer (taken)
109 to 8 agst K.,ight of the Garter (taken)
led to 7 agst Mandrake (taken)
15 to 1 agst Honesty (taken) •
100 to 6 agst Ackworth (taken and offered)
20 to 1 agst Regalia (taken)
25 to 1 agst Bracken (taken)
25 to 1 agst Conundrum (taken)
25 to 1 agst Scipio (taken)
23 to 1 agst Montgonbort (taken)
23 to 1 agst Caithness (taken)
33 to 1 agst Moulsoy (taken)
33 to 1. agst Excitement (taken)
33 to 1 agst Corporal (taken freely)
33 to 1 agst Zenobia (taken and offered)
33 to 1 agst Dalby (offered)
33 to 1 agst Actasa (offered)
1000 to 10 agst Beenving (offered)

stipt!atio:v3.

JOHN STIRK,
2:5, WELLINGTON-STREET, STRAND,
Esocutes Oommiosions on all the racoA to any amount.

The full ivarkot odds laid.
Price list daily.

C LIARLES OSBORNE.

7, ORDNANCE -nOAD, REGENT'S PA.RX, LONDON, N. W.
. .

Commissions executed on all races throughout the season
front 2s. ad. upwards. Full market prices returned, and
I% innings immediately remitted upon receipt of Youcher.

SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT.

To obviate the difficulties that the clause in the Metro-
politan Traffic) Act must cause to many gentlemen who are
in the habit of investing upon the chances of horses, all
town commissions reeeived on the day of a raoo will bo
executed, and voucher immediately forwarded.