The Sun.
London, England, 1859-01-22 00:00:00

METOPOLITAN BOARD OF WORKS.

The weekly meeting of the Metropolitan Board
of Works was held yesterday, at Guildhall ; Mr.
J. Thwaites in the chair.
Tho financial statement was presented, which
showed a total balance of /277,181 4s. ld.
METROPOLITAN IMPROVEMENTS.
A report was received from the Works and
General Purposes Committee referring to a memo-
rial from the Commissioners of the Sewers of the
City of London, requesting the board to contribute
to the cost of a proposed improvement in King
Edward-street, City, by the purchase of certain
houses there, at a cost of £1,579 17s. The com•
mittee reported that they were not prepared to
recommend the board to contribute to the cost of
such improvement.
After a long discussion, the recommendation of
the committee was agreed to, as was also another
to the same effect in reference to the purchase of
houses in Fetter-lane.
WIDENING OF NEW GAPE.
The Conunmittee of Works and General Purposes
recommend :—" That the board do contribute one-
third of the cot of effecting a public improvement
in Newgate-streot, by setting back the houses
numbered 78, 79, to, 81, and 82, to be carried out
by the Commissioners of Sewers of the City of
London, estimated at £3,232 10s., such contribution
not to exceed £1,077 10s.; and that such amount
be paid to the Commissioners of Sewers in the City
of London, on a certificate from the architect of
this board of the completion of the work and the
cost of the same."
Mr. H. L. TAYLOR said that this was a metropo-
litan improvement, and the whole instead of a third
of the expense should be borne by the board. He
moved an amendment that the improvement be
effected at the cost of the metropolitan ratepayers.
Mr. ECKETT opposed both the original motion
and the amendment. .

.......
After some discussion the amendment was nega-
tived, and the original recommendation of the com-
mittee was adopted.

METROPOLITAN SUBWAYS.
A report was received from the Works Committee,
stating that they had considered the proposed plan
for the construction of an omnibus subway from St.
Margaret's Church, Westminster, to the Royal
Exchange, and they recommended that the pro-
jectors should be informed that the board would not
be justified in expressing any opinion upon the
scheme in question at this stage of the proceedings ;
and that in case the measure should be brought
before Parliament it would become the duty of the
board to take proper steps for guarding the sewers,
and other subjects of their jurisdiction against in-
jurious interference.

The report was adopted. .
THE MAIN DRAINAGE-COMMENCEMENT OF THE

WORKS.

A report was received from the Main Drainage
Committee, recommending that the contractor be
instructed to commence the main drainage works
on Monday week next, the 31st inst., the contract
and bond being previously completed.
The motion was agreed to, and after some other
business had been disposed of the board adjourned.

REFUSAL OF RELIEF AT ST. PANCRAS

WORKHOUSE.

Yesterday a special investigation was instituted
by the directors of the poor of St. Pancras as to the
recent charge made against the master of St. Pan-
cras workhouse in reference to the refusal to admit
a young girl, named Mary Anne Hodge, into the
workhouse, and Mr. Tyrwhitt's (the police magis-
trate) remarks thereon.
Mr. Churchwarden Attenborough was in the
chair, and Mary Anne Hodge, who was accompa-
nied by the matron of the Servarits' Home, in which
institution she has now an asylum, attended to
make her statement.

The gate porter admitted himself in error in not
sending up to the master word that the girl was
brought to the workhouse gate by the police ; and
that he omitted to mention that they said she was
destitute.
Mary Anne Hodge was examined. She said,she
was 16 years of age, and had neither father nor
mother. She was born in and brought up in Clerk-
enwell Workhouse and at the -Norwood School.
Since she left she had been in service over two
years. After leavinc, her place she went to live at
lodgings in Ferdinand-street, Camden-town. Mrs.
Cassell, the landlady, charged her at Marylebone
police court with stealing sheets, and she was re-
manded to the House of Detention for a week.
She was brought up at Marylebone on Thursday
week, and as Mrs. Cassell could.not prove she had
stolen the sheets she was discharged. It was about
halfpast 12 in the day, and she went direct from
Marylebone police-court to Clerkenwell workhouse.
She made application to the Master of Clerkenwell
workhouse to admit her. He said he would not
take her in, and she was to try and do for herself.
She was quito sure the master knew her, and also
knew that she was destitute. She came away from
Clerkenwell workhouse a little after one o'clock,
and walked about Camden-town. She first went to
St. Pancras workhouse about seven o'clock, but the
two men at the gate said they could not give her
lodgings there. She went away and sat on a step
in Oakley-square, where the policeman found her.
He took her to the workhOuse about half :past 10,
and the men at the gate said they could not take
her in. She remained at the station about two
hours and a half, when the policeman and his ser-
geant again took her about half-past one. The
master was then told, and she was informed as she
belonged to Clerkenwell, she must go there. She
was then taken by the police a second time to
Clerkenwell, and the porter refused her, saying
they had no room for her there.

In answer to questions the girl stated that she
had had no food from the time of her discharge
the House of Detention at half-past eight the
hefrom
n
morning till four the next day. She had a married
sister named Finch living in Doctors'-commons, but
she did not go there, because when she did so once
before she was told by her sister she would not
keep her. She had part of two pints of beer at two
public-houses, and a biscuit, with the policeman on
her way from the police-court to the workhouse.
She did not ask the police to bring her to the work-
house, but said she would rather go in than walk
about the streets all night.
Sergeant Edwards denied the girl's statement of
being about two hours and a half in the station
before bcing brought the second time to the work-
house, and Mr. Winlo, the master, complained of
his treatment by the magistrate, who refused to
hear his explanation. Ile had been master twelve
months, and never had such a complaint before.
The inquiry was ultimately adjourned.

TILE ULSTER RAILWAY COMPANY.—The direc-
tors, at their meeting on Thursday, resolved to recommend
to the proprietors a dividend of five and,a half per cent. per
annum, less income tax, amounting to £19,387; and to carry
£3,555 to the credit of the reserved fund. The following is
the statement for the half-year ending Dec. 31, 1858 .—Re-
ceipts, £42,804 ; working expenses, £14,821; interest,
£s,o4l.—.iceman's Journal.