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

:11ET1:OPOT, LTA .V TRAFFIC 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,llle into operation yesterday. We must
observe, however, that there is one clause in the
measure which for some unintelligible reason is not
to have any force until the Ist Jan., 18J8. It may
be advistble to stat.•, by way of preface, that in the
'waning of the Act the inetrop.)lis c'.nnpriscs the city
of London an l all p triihes and places for the time
being within the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan
Board of Works. The " general limits" contem-
plated by the Act comprise all distances within four
miles of Charing-cross. The "special limits" arc
such streets and portions of streets as may be de-
clared special by the proper authorities. The first
general regulation is the one which will not come
into operation till January, 1868. It provides that
"no person shall, between 10 o'clock in the morn•
ing and 7 in the evening, in any such streets as may
be named by the Commissioner of Police, remove
any dust, ashes, or refuse from any house." It will
be seen from the construction of this clause 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, fur
the purposes of this Act, the surface of any space
over which the public have the right of way that
intervenes iu 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 iu 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 f,;rth
" that no picture, print, board, placard, or notice,
except in such form and manner as may be ap-
proved by the Commis,ioner of Police, shall by

way of advertisement be carried or distrbuted
in any street within the general limits of the stet,
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 ly 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 khould
have special privileges is rather unintelligible, while
the clause certainly does not prohibit the raising and
lowering of casks, &c., on teen's shoulders, which
may be easily done. Section 16 prohibits " the
obstruction by unwieldy burdens of ' special'
thurough!ares between the hours of 10 a.mn. and 7

p.m.," and to this the curious annotation is appended,
" Any by-law, will, or order, or regulation made or
to be made within the city of Loudon 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 carriage hired while "standing o n 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 a magistrate. By section 18 it is stipulated
that certain shoeblacks and commissionaires shall

have authorisation from the police, while protection
will he afforded to them against those who aro un-

authorised. Section 23 gives power to arrest bet-
ting men without warrant who assemble to the
number of three or more. Yesterday costermongers
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 mast be remem-
bered that some 200 persons aro annually killed in

the thoroughfares of Loudon.

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE—This Day,

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

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

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

FALMOUTH, Nev. 2.—Wind S.W.—Arrived—Blukan,
r.orn Rio Janeiro.

lavEurooL, Nov. 2. —Wind N.W.—Arrived—Oonfi
donee, from Glasgow for New York.
QUEENSTOWN, Nov. I.—Wind S.W.—Arrived—Samuel
Muir, from Demerara.

(By Telegraph.)
GRITESEND, Friday Morning.

Arrival, Nov. I—Aurora, from Port Alford.

• •
Arrived, Nov. 2—Taurus, steamer, from Tonning;
Forth, steamer, from Hamburg ; Moselle, steamer, from
Antwerp ; Triton, steamer, from Ostend ; Trident, steamer,
and Eider, steamer, from Tonning.
Sailed—Cologne, steamer, for Boulogne; Beatrice, for
Cadiz.

DEAL, Saturday Morning.
Passed Polkestono, Nov. I—Charmain, from Sunder-
[and, for Shanghai.

M. Decarby, riding-master of the Hippodrome,
has just been tried before the Correctional Police
on a charge of assaulting Mlle. Laureutine Favel,
an ecuyere at that establishment. The defendant
appears to have attempted to employ, in the main-
tenance of discipline amongst the artists, 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 riding whip. He was now
condemned to 10 days' imprisonment and 16f. fine.
ROYAL THAMES YACHT CLUB.—Circulars have
boon issued apprising tho members of the Royal Thames
Yacht Club that the numerously-attended meeting
specially convened to consider thu financial position of thu
club. and held at the Club-house, Albernsrle-street, Picca-
dilly, on Thursday, the 17th ult., Lord Alfred Paget, the
commodore, in the chair, a state►nent prepared by profes-
sional accountants was read to the meeting, showing that
with a subscription of live guineas per auuum, from 801
members, the club could bo maintained upon its present
footing, both as regards the amount expended in prizes and
the accommodation afforded to members, without exceeding
its income, and without applying the entrance foes to current
expenses. The circular informs the members of the ahnost
unanimous resolution passed at tho 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 large 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.