The Sun.
London, England, 1858-06-26 00:00:00

able suggestion—t.) this effect ; that if the shores of the
river, which were dry at low water, were arranged so as
to prevent an even surface of gravel a' an inclination of
one in 12, that mud would not deposit on a slope so
arranged. To that he added dredging two trenches in
the middle of the Thames, on which there might be dif-
ferent opinions. He would urge the Government to call
on the Metropolitan Board of Works to take up this
question. They were now justified in thinking upon the
opinion of two most eminent men that the extensive
scheme of sewerage was impracticable, and if ttat were
so they ought at once to return to the schetne which
was practicable. With regard to the present mischief,
it was due to atmospheric causes which they could not
control. It was a great blessing that there was not now
any epidemic, and he prayed God in His mercy would
not vimit us with one, As to the house, there wal one
thing hoc, members might do, and that was by shorten.
ing their speeches, so as to bring their labours soontr to
a close.

Sir J. PAXTON said the hon. member bad 'very
much anticipated what ho had wished to skate to the
house. He was not prepared to recommend to the
house any particular scheme for the purpose of curing
this great nuisance. All the schemes for the purification
of the Thames had nearly one common plan, as far as
Barking-creek ; and the question was as to taking the
sewers beyond that point. If they referred to the plan cf
Mr. Bazalgette, to that recommended by the Board of
Works, or if they went back as far as that recommended
by Mr. F. Forster, who originated this scheme of drain-
age, they would find tbat they came to almost one com-
mon terminus below London. What we wanted was that
they should immediately set about carrying the sewage
to that point, and whether it should be afterwards car-
ried further was a matter that might be discussed in the
meantime. There was one plan which he telieved had
never had proper attention paid to it—that suggested by
Mr. MJ,ean in Ha Mr. M`Lean was an eminent
engineer, and was the first person who suggested inter-
mediate intercepting sewers ; and he, after making out
his soberly, got Sir M. Peto and other eminent contrac-
tors to offer to carry the sewage down to Sea Reach. It
could be done, according to Mr. Pete's estimate, for
1,600,0001., and Mr. Balder, Mr. Hawkshaw, and Mr.
BezAeette reported that the previous part of the sewer
could be constructed for 2,300,0001. ; so that the sewage
could be taken to the German Ocean for 5,000,0001. or
6,000,0001. He thought they ought at once to embark
in the work of constructing the intercepting sewer down
to Barking. He d.d not see the use of the commission
which was in existence, but he thought that the G ivern-
ment might look into the matter, and that it could be
safely trusted in their hands.
Mr. ROUPELL said he intended to proceed with the
motion of which he had given notice on going into com-
ruitt,:e of supply, as he was averse to discussions with-
out practical results, as discussions on the adjournment
of the house generally were. As to the Victoria sewer,
Ix, understood that the original contract was under
12,0001., that the expense exceeded 73,0001., and that
there were claims which would swell the amount to
nearly 200,000/. It appeared that in this enlightened
age we must have everything of great magnitude—great
ships, a great Crystal Palace, and great sewers. No
doubt the evil of the V.ctoria sewer arose from its situa-
tion, and with the two enormous sewers proposed they
would be subject to the swampy c nditi 'n of the soil,
and the filtration of the water into them the same as the
Victoria sewer. They should cone ider these things before
they embarked in any colossal scheme. He would only
add a remark ae to the effects on the health of those living
on the borders of the river. The teeming thousands
on the borders of the river were in a state of
chronic cholera, and if we had a warm rain or the con•
tinuance of warm weather, we might fully expect some
visitation of Providence, without which he feared the
evil never would be arrrested.
Mr. KENDALL, as chairman of the Thames Com-
mittee, wished to say a few words. He wanted to im-
press upon the house that if the report of the committee
had been ready long since, nothing could be done as the
law now stood. There were the Board of Works, the
Firot Commissioner, and the Conservancy to deal with.
He thought that nothing would be done unless the Go-
vernment took it into their own hands. If they ap-
pointed three men competent, and above suspicion, the
work would be done. It would be useless for the com-
mittee to propose anything unless the Government took
means to carry it into effect. This was shown by the
fate of the plan proposed by the Meq•opulitan Board of
Works, and submitted to the First Commissioner. It
was quite clear from the evidence which had been laid
before the committee that no hon. member had exag-
gerated the evil.
Mr. MANGLES thought that after all it was a money
question ; it was a question whether the expenses should
be wholly thrown on the metropolis or should be in
part borne by the Imperial Government. He thought
it very foolish to hand over such a work as this to such
a body as the Board of Works without means and ap-
pliances. He thought it was not the business of the
metropolis alone to execute this great work. (Hear.)
It was not only the people of London who were con-
es ;add, but the sovereign and the legislature, and the
law courts of the kingdom which were located in the
neighbou hood. It was a shufle to try to put the whole
expense upon the parishes of L radon. It was said that
it would take a long time, but they would never finish
it if they did not begin it. Let the Government take
the matter up this session, and he was sure that under
the influence of the nuisance the house would rapidly
pass any necessary biil, and if they succeeded they
would perform a work which would exceed that per-
formed by Hercule?.
Lord J. MANNERS wished to observe firs', that he
had ass col nection with the management of the Victoria
sewer, or any c sswer, and Our f oset he bail been
obliged to apply to the Chairman of the Metropolitan
B card of Works f.e• information on the subject. He
had received the following answer :—" Sir,—Adverting
to the con'ents of your letter of the 24th iust., I am
directed by the Cuairman of the Metropolitan Board of
Works to appriie you, for the information of the First
Commissioner of her Majesty's Works, that the answers
to the questions referred to in that communication are
as follew :-1 The out'et of the Victoria street sewer
has for some years past been fr.: quently, and now is,
uneer repair, and during the present and all periods of
repair it has not hail a proper outlet for the discharge of
its sewage. The sewer has been under repair for the
last three months. 2. An outlet has not Leen recently
made for all the accumulated contents of the -Victoria-
street sewer ie close pre ximity to IVestrainster-hridge.
All the sewage flowing into that portion of the Vic oria-
street sewer which is above Westminster-bridge has for
the la t three menthe been dir,ctel into that old sewer
as on all previous occasions of repair to the Victeria-
e'rett outlet. The Westminster bridge sewer outlet is
extended to low water, and trapped at its mouth, and it
is believed to be connected wi•h Mr. Gurney's system of
sewer ventilation. 3. The area drained into the Vic-
toria-street sewer is about one-third cf a square mile.
4. The amount expended on the same s.,wer up to May
last was 73,321/. 16.. 61. I beg to add, by three lee of
tee chairman a quantity of lime will be immediately ap-
plied at the cutlet of the Bridge-street sewer, for the
purpose of decdor iting the sewage." He might, there-
for., ray, that all steps that c 'old immediately be t eh en
were now being token in reerence to this sewer, As to
the many qu !pions which had been raised, it was im-
possible fear him to deal with them at once, is anything
like a wisfext ,ry mariner. They were of •courim all
agreed ai to the evil anti its sources, and every
hon. gentleman expressed his earnest de,ire that
somethieg el.oulil ho done. But beyond these two
elementary positions, he believed they had not al-
vanced :o as to thro.v any great light on what
Wrl4 to I e dune immediately. (Ideate hear.) The
eon. member who c moneueed this discussion seemed
anxious to for iw the whole responsibility on the Go-
vern atent—(hear)--.vhich the Government entirely re-
pudiated, for the law gave them no power over the
matter. The house NY; u'd allow him to refer to bow the
present law originated. It was thought that the various
communities of the metropolis should be placed in a po-
sition in which it might satisfacterily deal with all mu-
nicipal and local questions. An act was passed to give
effect to this oeinion about three years ago, and in that
act direct reference was made to the question of the
sewage of London. The house roust recollect that the
Metropolitan Board cf Works was established to carry
out the decision of the Legislature. He wished to t
blame on no one, for he believed that all parties had
acted to the best of their judgment, and that they- had
net been able to arrive at a conclusion in cen!equence
of the difficulties of the question. Tae Metropolitan
B ird had not refused to consider any plan submitted to
them by the late or the present Government. Quits the
rover-e, fit this very day the Metropolitan Board of
Wsrks had been sitting fur the express purpose of seeing
whether they could nit devise some plan for arresting
these evils. N 4 plan could be submitted by the Govern.
ment to the Metropolitan Board of Works. The hon.
member for Bath (Mr. Tar) bad gone into a clear 611111)086
of his views. The chairman of the committee on which
he had the honour to sit had alluded to the work of the
committee and the duty of the Government.; but be
must be allowed to iay that while he found authorities
differing so widely as to the Sources of the evil, and still
more widely as to the remedy, and when he found that
those reinediee
involved such enormous expenditure that
the metropolitan districts endeavour to repudiate being
responsible for the expenditure—(hear)—Governments,
past or present, na tiredly showed no_desire to take on
themselves an expenditure the extent of which no one
knew, and the results of which were very dubious. It
did not become him hastily to say that the Government
would take on themselves the responeibility of "vending
millions of money, and of settling this urea; queetion.
Whet he could tell hon. gentlemen was this, that the
question was occupying the Must serious attentian of
the Goternment, and that they would do their best be-
fore the session closed to introduce, if they find it to
be necessary, a measure which would confer euffieieut
power on the Metropolitan Board of Works, or on any
other department existing or to be created, fur the satis-
factory conclusion of this question. (Cheers) lie would

not on into details on OA great question haw far the

1-etva-ge shouli be carried, Jr inothe question of the

onabAnkwent of the Thames. On the one hand there wan

tho M. trop,litan Bard of Works, ailed by the experi

ence they had i.cquirei, steadily endeavouring to find
proper remedy ; on the other hand, the Govern rent was
prepared to act cordially with them, and to submit to
the consideration of Parliarner.t some 7 chtme ;for the
amendment of the exAing la lie knew be ha ex-
pressed very insufficiently the views which he should be
prepared to explain at greater length on a future ccca-
ion. He would content himself with saying that so far
az h:s knowledge went the statement which he had heard
from the hon. member Lr Bath (Mr. Tite) of the perf et
u cce ,a of the deodorising system at 1.-ficester was per
f,ctly borne out. He hill a letier from a leading phy-
sician that nothing could be more successful than the
der;dori,sinz, system so far as sanitary matters were con-
cerned. He hoped that the house would not think that
the Government were ceghetiog their duty if they did
t;tls.outehe matter cut of the bands of the proper conati-
-d authorities, and he assured them that the CAO-