The Sun.
London, England, 1866-10-19 00:00:00

Court of Common Council.

Yesterday a meeting of the Court of Common Council
was held at Guildhall—Alderman Finnis in the chair.

IMPROVEMENTS NEAR THE HOLBORN VALLEY VIADUCT.

The TOWN-CLERK read a report from the Improvement
Committee, in which they stated that they had lately taken
into consideration the subject of further Parliamentary
legislation, with the view of affording means to meet the
necessities of the public traffic in the city. They had par-
ticularly directed their attention to the proposed approaches
to the Holborn-valley Viaduct. They found that a power
had been given by Parliament to open up Shoe-lane, and
to carry that lane on at right angles with the viaduct, but
they were of opinion that that plan of extending the lane
ought to be abandoned. Mr. Heywood, the architect, had
laid down a plan of a new street in continuation of Shoe-
lane, which would run across part of the churchyard of St.
Andrew's,Holborn, and there join the viaduct. Immediately
opposite that junction there would be another new street,
leading from Hatton-garden to Farringdon-road. It was
further proposed to continue a lino of road or street from
Shoe-lane under the viaduct. These modifications in the
original plan would, it was believed, effect great improve-
ments, and the committee now asked for powers to prose-
cute a bill in the ensuing session of Parliament to effect
these alterations. The next improvement they suggested
was the widening of the western end of Nowgate-street,
and they also asked for powers to embrace this improvement
in their notices to Parliament. With respect to the eastern
entrance, from Farringdon-street to the viaduct, the requi-
site notices had been served on the London, Chatham, and
Dover Railway Company; but, owing to the present posi-
tion of that company's affairs, it was thought advisable to
leave the consideration of improvements there for some
future period, and to abandon that portion of the project
for the present. The committee wished it particularly to
be borne in mind that the making of the improvements they
now suggested was contingent upon the fourpenuy coal
duty being continued for another period of ten years, be-
cause the cost of the works must out of that duty be de-
frayed. There were, in their opinion, other city improve-
ments imperatively required by public necessity, but they
declined to particularise them in detail because of the ab-
sence of the necessary funds for carrying them out. They
ventured, however, to suggest that Fleet-lane, Walbrook,
and the Poultry required immediate improvement, if only
the funds were forthcoming.
Mr. Deputy FRY, the Chairman of the Improvement Com-
mittee, explained at some length, by referring to lithograph
plans upon the table, the nature of the alterations and im-
provements proposed to be effected in Shoe-lane and the
western end of Newgate-street. He stated that these im-
provements would be found to be of great public benefit,
and that they would have the effect of increasing the value
of Farringdon-market, because the north-west angle of Shoe-
lane, extending from the market, would be brought down to
Farringdon-street in a direction leading towards Fleet-street.
Ho was happy to say that the present Government were ex-
ceedingly friendly, and anxious that the Committee should
carry out those measures of improvement, and he believed
ho might add that they (the Government) would bring in
a bill for the continuance of the coal duties. Ho concluded
by moving for authority to the Committee to give the
necessary notices, and generally to take such steps as may
be expedient for procuring a bill in the ensuing Session of
Parliament in reference to street improvements connected
with the Holborn Valley Viaduct, and also for authority to
take steps for obtaining Parliamentary powers for making
other street improvements within the city.
Mr. IsAAcs moved, as an amendment, that the first part
of this resolution be agreed to, but that the consideration
of the latter art of it be postponed.
In reply t 6 a question,
The CITY CHAMBERLAIN stated that there was a mort-
gage upon the coal duty until the year 1882. Ho thought
the coal duty might be estimated for five years at £247,000,
and for 10 years it would rather exceed £400,000.
Mr. RICHARDSON opposed the motion. He understood
that the report of the Committee was now drawn in a
much milder form than it was originally intended to have
been ; for originally, if he was informed aright, it was in-
tended to introduce a report which would have involved an
expenditure of a couple of millions. But even now, when
the expenditure was cut down, where was the money to
come from ? He did not want the Corporation to fall into
the position of the London, Chatham,,and Dover Railway
Company, but they were fast falling into it. (A laugh.)
Ho complained that there was too much of moonshine
talked in the Common Council. (Laughter.) He believed
that the fourpenny coal duty would not be granted, be-
cause he was given to understand that both the political
sections in the House of Commons were opposed to it, and,
besides, the present Government would not very long have
the power to grant what was wanted. (Laughter.) Ho
complained of Mr. Deputy Fry for not having told the
Council that what he really required was an improvement
rate, because it must come to that, inasmuch as the Corpo-
ration could not borrow much more, as they were mort-
gaged up to the hilt. -(Laughter.)
Afer some remarks from Mr. Glover and Mr. Philipps,
Mr. LAWLEY said that if the proposed improvements
were not carried out by the Corporation, they might rely
upoc;it the Metropolitan Board of Works would be em-
powered by Parliament to carry out the works
Mr. Alderman J. C. LAWRENCE called upon the Corpora-
tion, so far as they had the means, to carry out all neces-
sary improvements within the boundaries of the city, and
in this most essential matter to act ac men of business and
common sense.
Mr. BEDFORD opposed the motion, and deprecated the
construction of any further tunnels in the city.
Mr. RuDKIN hoped that the plans now on the table
would bo the' prelude to the making of further improve-
ments in the city ; perhaps not immediately, but certainly
at some not very distant date. He called upon the Corpo-
ration not to be led astrayby the claptrap used by the mem-
bers for Bishopsgate and Farringdon Without. (Laughter)
Mr. Deputy DE JERSEY strongly supported the motion,
and, in doing so, caused a continuance of laughter b y pre-
suming that Mr. Richardson, from the confident tone in
which he had spoken respecting the intention of past and
present Governments, must bo going to be either Chancellor
of the Exchequer or First Lord of the Admiralty.
Mr. RICHARDSON rose to order. He had never received a
farthing of the public money, but ho should like to know
how much Mr. Do Jersey was paid during his lifetime for
his connection with the public departments. (Laughter.)
' Mr. Fry replied.
After some observations from Mr. Pedler, Mr. Alderman
R
opmem uißurnelltttyeo b eve
printed
and taken into further
c;neMrstsridoef andr Mr.e BEDFORDatthion
committee
then moved
d s an amendment that the re-
p an adjourned meeting.

Upon a division there appeared—
For the original motion 89
Against it
Tho motion was accordingly carried, and the committee
wore authorised to take the necessary steps for carrying the
report into effect. The report, accompanied by the litho-