The Sun.
London, England, 1867-07-26 00:00:00

Cl 7 Y SEWERS COMMISSION.

The Commissioners of Sewers of the City of Lon-
don held a meeting at Guildhall on Tuesday last for
the despatch of public business. Mr. Deputy and
Under-Sheriff De Jersey presided, and the meeting
was very numerously attended.

Mr. J. E. SAUNDERS, one of the representatives of
the City at thc. Metropolitan Board of Works,
attended in his place and explained that that board
had decided not to contribute towards the cost of
the improvement contemplated by the commission at
the bottom of Ludgate-hill. It may be remembered
that at a previous meeting Mr. Haywood, the engi-
neer to the commission, brought up a plan and sug-
gested the formation of a circus at the junction of
Ludgate-hill and Fleet-street, and the proposal was
very generally approved of by the members. It was,
however, decided before taking any steps in the
matter that the Board of Works should be communi-
cated with and asked to contribute to the improve-
ment, which it was first intended to carry out on
the eastern or Ludgate-hill side. Mr. Saunders
stated that that board had decided at its last meeting
not to make any contribution to this or to similar
large improvements carried out by the Commissioners
of Sewers, but rather to limit their assistance to
smaller improvements. Looking to the large improve-
ments required, and to the limited resources of the
City, the question became one which the Court
ought to take into its serious consideration, as a
future course of action in all these matters would
have to be decided upon.
The matter then dropped.
TIIE GAS QUESTION.

Mr. J. F. BONTEMS, the chairman of the Special
Gas Committee appointed by the Court of Common
Council, informed the Court that the select com-
mittee of the House of Commons had decided not
to proceed further with the Metropolis Gas Bill.
The reason which had induced them to come to this
decision was that the gas companies had declined
to agree to the bill unless they were permitted by
its provisions to continue the making up of back
dividends to 10 per cent. Mr. Bontehas observed
that he was glad to say the chairman of the select
committee (the Right lion. E. Cardwell) had stated
that the committee would make a special report to
Parliament in conformity with their own resolutions,
one of them being that if the companies did not
agree to the bill, they would recommend to Parlia-
ment to sanction the supply of gas to the public by
the local authorities. (Hear, hear.)
A report was brought up from the Streets Com-

mittee detailing at great length the steps they ha
taken in respect of the cleansing of the streets of
the City and the removal of dust, which matters the
commission has decided to take into its own hands.

A superintendent of the wharves at the City-road
Basin will be elected at the next meeting.
SANATORY CONDITION OF TIIE CITY.
The medical officer of health (Dr. Letheby) pre-
sented reports of the sanatory condition of the City
during the past fortnight. lle submitted a list of
houses, amounting in number to 1,179, requiring
san atory improvements, and recommended that steps
should be taken to enforce them. He added that
the inspectors of markets, &c., had condemned dur-
ing the past fortnight 5,0651 b. of meat as unfit for
human food, of which 2,7101b5. were diseased,
1,7501b5. were putrid, and the rest was from animals
that had died either from accident or disease. The
report further set forth that during the past fort-
night 90 births and 73 deaths had been registered
in the city of London, and that the mortality was
much below the average of the corresponding period
for the last ten years. The chief causes of death
were as follow :—From phthisis 9, mesenteric dis-
ease 5, pneumonia 5, bronchitis 6, continued fever
1, scarlet fever 3, whooping cough 2, diphtheria 1,
and from diarrhoea, 6 ; making together 11 deaths
from tubercal diseases, 7 from inflammatory affec-
tions of the lung, and 6 from diseases of a zymotic
character. These returns indicated a satisfactory
condition of the public health.
A report was presented from the Finance and
Improvement Committee, recommending that
.ail
improved line should be adopted at the corner of
St. Paul's-churchyard, whereby an increased width
should be laid into the public way, and that the re-
mainder of the land should be let on building lease.
Several of the commissioners suggested that nothing
should be done until some arrangement should be
made with the dean and chapter of St. Paul's to
move back the iron railings at the western end.
Mr. F. Cox said that, as there was no probability
of continuing the improvement westward on account
of the large outlay, it would be prudent to pass the
report of the committee, it being quite independent
of any alteration that might be carried out by the
dean and chapter. As the commission would have
to pay for every foot of ground they required from
the clerical authorities, there was the more reason
they should immediately utilise this corner, which
was already so costly, and which would receive no
vote in aid from the Metropolitan Board of Works.
Ultimately the question was adjourned to await
the result of the application to the dean and chapter.
The commissioners subsequently adjourned.

COUNTRY MARKETS.

BRISTOL-THURSDAY.

Scarcely any English wheat offering to-day, which met
with a fair sale, and commanded fully 2s over late prices.
The best descriptions of foreign met a good inquiry, and
quotations advanced 2s ; inferior sorts, is higher. Barley
largely inquired for, and 6d dearer. Oats in small supply,
at fully previous currencies. Indian corn in moderato
supply, and rather lower.