The Sun.
London, England, 1858-11-06 00:00:00

METROPOLITAN BOARD OF WORKS.

_A_-general meeting-of the-Metropolitan Board of
Works was held yesterday in the Court of Common
Pleas, Guildhall, Mr. J. Thwaites in the chair.
The financial statement was presented; and shows
a total general balance of £139,933 ss. ld.
THE MAIN DRAINAGE OF THE METROPOLIS.
A letter was received from Mr. Roffey, vestry.
clerk of the parish of Lambeth, enclosing resolu-
tions passed at a meeting of the vestrymen of that
parish, setting forth their great disappointment at
the proposition recently made to commence the
main drainage works of the metropolis on the north
side, in opposition to a former recommendation of
their own engineer, that any works for this object
should be commenced on the south side on account
of the vast amount of disease which prevailed
in the low-lying districts on that side of the river.
Mr. TAYLOR then moved that the resolutions be
received, and gave notice that on Friday next he
should call the attention of the board to them.
The motion was then put and agreed to.
DEODORIZATION OF SEWAGE MANURE.
A report was received from the Committee of
Works and Improvements, reporting
" That in the opinion of the committee, it is expedient
that chemical assistance should be placed at their disposal,
to enable them to report on the several schemes for the
deodorization and the application of sewage submitted to
the board."
Mr. WRIGHT moved that this recommendation
be agreed to, which was seconded by Mr. DIXON.
Mr. CRELLIN thought that this was a matter
requiring further consideration, and moved as an
amendment that the report be referred back to the
committee.
Mr. ECKETT seconded the amendment.
After observations from Mr. CARPMAEL and Mr.
WRIGHT,
The CHAIRMAN put the question, and the
amendment was negatived.
A second amendment was then moved by Mr.
CARPMAEL, that the subject be postponed for one
month.
Mr. PEW opposed the amendment, and said he
did not see that they would be in a better condi-
tion to consider the question a month hence than
they were then.
Mr. H. L. TAYLOR believed the best way to deal
with the matter would be to leave it entirely in the
hands of the committee, at the same time restrict-
ing the cost of chemical assistance to £lOO.
This suggestion was agreed to, and the original
motion was put and agreed to.
THE PROPOSED WIDENING OF NEWGATE-STREET.
A report was received from the Works Com-
mittee stating that they had considered the memo-
rial from the Commissioners of Sewers for the City
of London, stating that they had had under their
consideration the improvement of a portion of New-
gate-street, by setting back the houses numbered
78, 79, 80, 81, and 82, as shown upon the plan ac-
companying the memorial, that the cost would be
£3,232 10s.. and requesting the Board to effect the
improvement in question, and that the committee
are not prepared to recommend the Board to effect
such improvement.
Mr. WRIGHT said, as the Board were not called
upon to contribute towards the proposed improve-
ment, but to take it entirely upon themselves, he
should move that the recommendation of the com-
mittee be adopted.
Mr. H. L. TAYLOR said it was the duty of the
Board to make improvements in the metropolis, and
that this would be a great improvement no one
could deny ; and if the whole expense of it were
cast upon the Board, it would only be meting out
to the city of London -what had already been done
for other parts of the metropolis.
Mr. BURSLEM seconded the amendment, believ-
ing that this was not a local but a metropolitan
improvement.'
Mr. FREEMAN was opposed to effecting these
great improvements out of the sewer rates.
Mr. CRELLIN was in favour of the subject being
referred back to the committee.
After some further discussion,
The CHAIRMAN put the motion, and the amend-
ment was unanimously adopted.
RATING THE METROPOLIS TO THE MAIN DRAINAGE.
A report was received from the Finance Com-
mittee submitting the basis upon which the assess-
ments for the Metropolitan Drainage Rate shall be
made.
Mr. Deputy HARRISON, in moving the adoption
of the basis of this rate, said it had been calculated
that the rateable value of the property of the me-
tropolis was £11,000,000, which being rated at 3d.
in the pound would produce a gross aunt of
£153,359, and that would enable the Board to meet
their engagements, and, indeed, to pay off the sum
of £3,000,000 which they were authorised to
raise, under the act of last session, within the time
allowed for that purpose. A period of 40 years was
allowed, but it would all be paid long before that.
He concluded by moving that the precepts should
be made returnable on the 12th of March, 1859.
Mr. SNOW seconded the motion.
Mr. TURNER moved, and Mr. EcKETT seconded
an amendment that the subject stand over for
further consideration.
Mr. NICHOLAY supported the amendment ; but
he hoped the ratepayers of the metropolis would
not imagine that 3d. in the pound would be all
that would be required from them, and, although
3d. had been mentioned, that was only an estimate,
and he should Rot be surprised if that amount were
Idoubled, or even trebled, before the work was
finally disposed of.
The CHAIRMAN put the question, and the original
motion was agreed to by a large majority.
It was then agreed that precepts should be issued,
signed by and sealed with the common seal of the
Board to be returßable on the 24th of June.
THE PROPOSED PURCHASE OF BERKELEY-HOUSE,
SPRING-GARDENS.

A report was brought up from the Committee
under the Building Act and for General Purposes,
which was as follows :

" Greek-street, Soho•square, Nov. 4.
" Your committee have now to report, that in further
pursuance of the resolution of the Board of the 9th of July
last, to the effect that the Board do enter into an agreement i
for taking the premises, Berkeley-house, Spring-gardens,
mentioned in the report of this committee, and that the
subject be referred back to the committee to take the neces-
sary
steps for purchasing the present lease, and obtaining a
new one oft the terms and conditions mentioned in such re-,
port, they instructed the solicitors of the Board (Messrs.
Smith and Son) to place themselves in communication with
the solicitors of the Treasury, with a view to the prepara-
tion of the requisite agreement for the surrendering of the
present lease, and obtaining a new one on the terms and
conditions approved by the Board. The agreement has been
prepared, and has been approved by the solicitors of the
Treasury, and your committee now submit the same, in
order that it may be sealed with the seal of the Board, and
they recommend that the sum of £4,000 be deposited by the
Board, in accordance with the terms of the agreement. All
which your committee have to submit,
" J. THWAITES.
" GEORGE °FIT%
" ROBERT TAYLOR."

Mr. OFFOR moved the adoption of the report, and
at some length dwelt on the advantages which
would be derived by all persons employed by re-
moving to premises where they would have ample
room, pure air, and ,plenty of light.
Mr. DIXON seconded the motion.
The motion was opposed by Messrs. BURSLEM,
ECKETT, and CRELLIN ; and supported by Mr,
Deputy HARRISON and Mr. PEw.
The CHAIRMAN then put the question, when the
numbers were—Ayes, 22 ; Noes, 8.