The Sun.
London, England, 1861-12-07 00:00:00

METROPOLITAN BOARD OF IVORKS.

The usual meeting of the Metropolitan Board 01
Works was held yesterday, at the office in Spring.

gardens ; Mr. J. Thwaites in the chair.
The financial statement was presented, which
gave the following cash balances in the hands of
the treasurer :—Current accounts, £66,311195. ld.;

deposit accounts, £108,500 ; total, £174,811 19s
ld. Government securities, £51,257 ss. ld. Par

ments were ordered to be made for works in pro-

gress and tradesmen's bills to the amount o

£31,002 3s. 2d.

THE PROGRESS OF THE MAIN DRAINAGE WORKS,
CHIEF ENGINEER'S REPORT.

Mr. BAZALGETTE, the chief engineer, brought up
the following report on the progress of the main
drainage works :

" Spring-gardens, Dec. 5, 1861.
" The main drainage works have, with some
minor exceptions, progressed satisfactorily during
the past month. On the northern outfall sewer
Mr. Furness has completed the brick piers and
abutments of five of the aqueducts over the rivers
between the River Lea and the Channelsea River
at West Ham; and they are now ready to receive
the stonework and iron girders. The coffer-dams
and foundations of the two remaining bridges be-
tween those points are completed, and the brick-
work is in a forward state. The brick culverts
which convey the marsh drainage underneath the
outfall works, between the Lea and West Ham, are
also completed.
" Between the Channelsea River and Plaistow the
North Woolwich Railway has been lowered so far
as was necessary to carry the sewers over it ; and
the piers, abutments, and wing walls of the aque-
ducts over it and the Bow and Barking Railways
are now ready to receive the stonework and the
iron superstructure. Between Plaistow and East
Ham sections of the three lines of outfall sewers are
completed.
" From East Ham to the outlet at Barking only
145 of the cross trenches (which have been excavated

to depths of from 12ft. to 14ft. through the peat,
and filled with concrete piers, so as to form a solid
foundation for the works) remain to be completed ;
and, upon the concrete piers, the brick arches upon
which the three lines of intercepting sewers are in-
tended to be carried are rapidly progressing.
;The value of the work executed under this con-
tract up to the present time is about £130,000.
" On the middle level sewer Messrs. Brassey have
completed about 18,550 ft. of sewer, varying in size
from 4ft. bin. by 3ft. to 12ft. by Oft. bin, in dia-
meter, at a cost of about £79,000.
" A large portion of this work is in tunnel under
Oxford-street and the Uxbridge-road ; and the
tunnel is now being constructed under the Regent's
Canal, near Old Ford-lane,
" The Ranelagh storm overflow across Hyde-
park is drawing towards completion ; a length of
about 5,650 ft., Bft. Gin. in diameter, having been
finished, at an expenditure of about £25,000. The
Commissioners of Metropolitan Roads have at last,
through their surveyor, consented to the stoppage
of the thoroughfare and the diversion of the traffic
at this point for one month ; and the bell mouth
overflow and junction, with the middle level inter-
cepting sewer will be rapidly pushed forward.
" On the south side of the river, Mr. Webster's
works at the southern outfall sewer are progressing
at various points between Greenwich and Wool-
wich. The main difficulties in this work have
been surmounted, and it is rapidly drawing to-
wards completion. About 51 miles have been com-
pleted, and the value of the work done is about
£240,000.
" The southern high-level sewer contract does not
progress so satisfactorily as the others. The total
value of the work done is about £135,000.
" At Deptford pumping station Messrs. Aird are
making good progress. The brickwork forming the
foundations of the two engine-houses is raised to a
considerable height ; about 3,000 ft. of iron pipe,
3ft. bin. in diameter, has been laid under the creek,
to form a connection between the highlevel and out-
fall sewers; and the coffer-dam hasbeen constructed
about half-way across the creek for the formation of
.he low-level sewer underneath it. The iron roofing

of the coal-sheds is in a forward state, and the
wharf wall is also being formed. The value of the
work done is about £44,000.
" Messrs. Slaughter's engines are about three-
fourthsThe orreeopmptleted, and ready for delivery.
" J. W. BAZALGETTE, Engineer.
"
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TIID MAIN DRAINAGE WORKS AND THE INTERNATIONAL
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Committee, which stated that
carrying
the subject of the arrangement for
main drainage works during the periol:flgthouetEx-
the
Ex-
hibition of 1862, and, having communicated with
Messrs. Brassey, they had received a letter from
them stating that they were unable to estimate the
additional expense which might be caused by the
suspension of the works in Oxford-street during the
months of April, May, June, and July. Having
given the matter a full consideration, the committee
were of opinion that it would not be desirable for
the Board to interfere in any way, but that it should
be left to tide discretion of the engineer, who would
no doubt under the provisions of the contract make
such arrangements for the convenience of the public