The Sun.
London, England, 1868-03-27 00:00:00

THE SUN, LO \ DON, FRIDAY EVENING, MARCH 27, 1868.

EXPEREVIEWTS A 7 SHOEBURYNESS.

Experiments were carried on at Shoeburyness
yesterday and the previous day by the Ordnance
Select Committee. The finit series was with diaphragm
Shrapnel shells and fuzes, in continuation of the
trials recorded by us on the 15th of January last.
The objects were twofold—To ascertain the cause
of the premature bursting of shells as noted in late
experiments, and to test the accuracy of burning of
the 1-inch wood fuzes for diaphragm Shrapnel
shells versus 9-seconds wood time fuzes, for muzzle-
loading gun. The guns used were the 8-inch 60
cwt., and 32-pounder of 58 cwt.
For the purpose of ascertaining whether the
premature bursting of the shell is traceable to some
action of the bursting charge, 20 rounds were fired
from each gun, the shells being loaded with powder
and plugged ; charges, 101 b. common large-grained
powder ; elevation, 5 degrees. Result :--None of
the shells burst. Nineteen of eael nature were re-
covered and carefully examined; none of the load-
ing or fuze-hole plugs were found to have become
loosened.

To ascertain whether the premature bursting of
the shells is traceable to any action of the fuze, 20
rounds were fired from a 32-pounder gun, the shells
being loaded and fazed with 1-inch wood diaphragm
Shrapnel fuzes, all bored to 2-10ths. Elevation of
gun, 1 degree. Result :—Five blind, 2 burst in
the gun, 13 burst at various distances. The times
of flight to
,burst varied from 9-10ths of a second
to 1.7 seconds, so that is at a distance from about
360 yards the minimum, to 750 yards the maximum.
Twenty rounds were then fired with similar
shells, charges and elevation, but with the 9-seconds
wood time fuzes for muzzle-loading guns bored to
2-10ths. Result :-1 blind, nine burst in gun, 19
burst at various distances. The time of flight to
burst, noted by instruments, varied from 6-10ths
to 1.4 seconds, that is, at a distance of from 275 yards
minimum to 700 yards maximum.
Twenty rounds were fired from an 8-inch 60-cwt.
gun, with 10lb. charges, the shells, charges, and
fuzes being as in the first series with 32-pounder.
Result :-1 blind, 1 burst in gun, 18 burst at
various distances—the times of flight to burst being
from 7-10ths second to 2.4 seconds, that is, at dis-
tances from 360 yards minimum to 750 yards maxi-
mum.

Twenty rounds followed, shells and charges simi-
lar to the third series above, the fuzes as in the
second series. Result :—None blind, none burst
in gun, 20 burst at various distances ; the times of
flight to burst being from 6-10ths to 1.3 second,that
is at a distance from about 255 yards minimum to
470 yards maximum. The time of flight was taken
throughout by an officer with a clock at the bat-
tery, and the estimated distance of burst ascertained
also by observers placed at right angles to the
picketed line of fire.
The second experiment of the programme was to
test case-shot, designed for use with 32-pounder
breech-loading guns, for defence of flanks and
caponnieres. The cases were of common tin, with
iron ends ; weight, 491 b. ; length, 10.94 in. ; diame-
ter, 6.14 in. Contents, a segmented iron lining and
80 eight-ounce sand shot. Ten rounds were fired,
with 31b. charges of L. G. R. powder—gun at about
three-quarters of a degree elevation. Results : all
broke up, some near and some 50 yards from the
muzzle. The time occupied in firing the last four
rounds (the gun being loaded for the first round)
was noted as 53 seconds. The gun used in this ex-
periment is a service cast-iron smooth-bore 32-
pounder of 46 cwt., converted to a breech-loader on
Krupp's plan, and was mounted on a wrought-iron
carriage and platform so arranged that the gun
should not recoil. The weight of the carriage and
platform being 22 cwt. 3 qrs. 111 b.
The third experiment was to test a trough de-
signed at Shoeburyness from which to fire rockets
of Hale's pattern. Five 24 pounder rockets were
fired at nine degrees of elevation. They were placed
at various distances in the trough, and grazed some
at about 150 yards. others at 400 and 600 yards'
distance. It was ascertained that the rockets made
one whole turn in 5} feet, as shown on the trough
by the gas marks from the vents.
The experiments were conducted by the com-
mandant, Colonel Eardley-Wilmot, R.A., assisted
by Captain Alderson, R.A., and Lieutenant Ellis,
per.eßs
—General R.A. The following officers of the committee were
RCoAlo"nelFiVß;aBy",
i-
dp
er enste;n tc:
R.A., Colonel Freeling, R.E., Colonel Mayne (un-
attached), Colonel Shaw, R.A., Colonel
Heyman,
8.A., Secretary, and Quartermaster B h e enna,
R.A., Commissary of Stores.

than they used to ; and when a branch of the Pacific
Road touches Virginia City they hope to be able to
bring down their expense for fuel (now $l5 a cord)
and for lumber (now $45 per thousand) at least one-
half. My guide—a very intelligent leaseman who
has risen from the workmen—says that the miners
are constantly investing their savings in one, two,
or three of the shares of these companies, and know-
ing the precise condition of their own mines they
often make large sums.
The cost of reducing the ore in the Savage was
about $l6 per ton, and the yield averages about
$44.
In 1866 this mine alone, produced 30,653 tons of
ore, and reduced 20,535—valued at $1,303,852.
During the 26 months after they began their works
(April, 1863) they produced bullion valued at
$3,600,709, and paid out in dividends over $BOO,OOO.
During the first six months of 1867 the mine pro-
duced $1,815,000 of bullion against $711,553 in
1866, and divided $750 per share in the same
period, or $600,000 against no dividend in 1866.
Its shares were worth this summer about $4,700
per foot.

- The general opinion in the other mines seemed
to be that this company had ore enough in sight to
pay large dividends till August, 1868. Yet, that
no sane mortal on the eastern coast should think
of investing in this or any other Californian
or Nevada line on the strength of such statement.
Indeed, the more I see of mines and mining opera-
tors on this coast the more I wonder that Eastern
capital can be directed to them with any confidence
or reasonable hope. When a given mining stock
is presented to investors in New York or New Eng-
land no one can possibly say how much real value
it represents. It may all exist in imagination, or it
may represent a bona fide mining claim ; but what
its value will be a month or a year hence no mortal
can predict. It may be even the best existing
silver mining stock on the Pacific Coast, and
yet in three months not be worth one half its pre-
sent price. The superintendent to whom I spoke
in the Comstock mines said to me that he could not
possibly predict what their product would be after
a twelvemonth ; it might be tenfold their present ;
it might be nothing. The business is the most un-
certain imaginable. It is said that the hills about
Virginia City could be covered with the silver dol-
lars uselessly wasted by Eastern investors and specu-
lators in these mines.

Then mining stocks on this coast have fallen to a
large degree into the hands of the most unscrupu-
lous gamblers. No such sharpers exist in the world
as deal in mining stock speculations in California
and Nevada. Beside them Wall-street itself is rural
and moral. Many of them have now large indivi-
dual and banking capital to back them. They can
falsely reduce values, and purposely diminish pro-
duction, till they can lay assessments and " freeze
out" the unhappy stockholders, and then buy in
themselves ; or they can produce extravagantly
a short time and " corral" a stock till it rises
to fabulous prices and then sell out, leaving
the unfortunate public the owner of a worthless
property. The general rumour in California ac-
cuses the Bank of California, or its managers, of
furnishing these unprincipled speculations. But
while even the occasional prizes of silver mining
remain as they do on this coast there will al-
ways be investors and speculators. Thus, take
such fortune as this :—The Empire Mining Com-
pany was organized in Virginia City on March 7,
1863. On November 30, 1864, they had crushed
about 25,000 tons of ore, and had received from it
in bullion $1,043,720. No capital stock was ever
paid in, though it was valued (in 1864) at a million ;
no assessment had ever been laid, and the mine has
paid all expenses, beside paying the owners
$308,000 above all costs and charges. Its divi-
dends in 1865 amounted to $120,000. The pro-
perty, which had cost its owners nothing, was at one
time worth $lO,OOO a foot. In 1866 it had fallen
to $l,OOO ; it is now $lBO a share, or $l,BOO a foot.
The fluctuations in some of these mining stocks
have been marvellous ; thus Gould and Curry was
worth in 1859 $3 a foot ; in eight months it ros e
to $6OO ; in less than two years it rose to $5,000,
and reached once, we think, $7,000. It is now
worth about $7OO. This company alone has taken
out $14,000,000 worth of bullion, and has paid
over $1,000,000 in dividends. There seemed to be
very little doing in its works during my visit. The
mine may, however, yet strike some deposit, and
its value rise again. Hale and Norcross again has
risen in a single year (1865-66) from $l5O to
$1,275 per foot; it is now $3,250. This mine
worked four years without discovering any ore
of value, and expended $350,000 without ap-
parent result. In 1866 it struck pay-ore, and
produced $736,394 in bullion in eight months.
During the first six months of 1867 it divided
$290,000 to its stockholders, and is now one of the
most profitable mines on the Comstock Lode.
There was a great increase in the product of many
of these Comstock mines during 1867. Thus twelve
of the most important produced, in the first half of
1866, an aggregate value of bullion of $1,926,707 ;
in 1867, in a similar period, their product was
$7,043,343. Their market value has increased also
in a striking manner. The stocks of fifteen leading
companies were worth, on July 1, 1866, $6,739,780 ;
on July 1, 1867, they were worth $13,683,640.
This increase of value is partly due to good luck,
but partly to greater economy of working. It is
said that nearly one-fourth of all the bullion received
from Nevada during the past six months has been
collected from the mills. The entire canyon through
which the tailings and waste from the mills about
Virginia City and Gold Hill flow to Carson River
has been flumed for several miles. The bottom of
the flume is covered with blankets, which are changed
every four or eight hours to collect the material
collected on them. This refuse and waste is said to
be worked at a higher profit than some of the original
ores. The whole yield of the mines on the Comstock
Lode from 1859 to 1867 is estimated at $66,000,000,
or about $44 to the ton of ore. The whole yield
for Nevada for 1867 is estimated at $19,000,000,
or say $17,500,000 for these mines. The ores of
the Comstock mines are generally black and grey
sulphurets of silver ; occasionally native silver is
found. Combined with the ore are sulphurets in
small quantities of iron, lead, antimony, copper,
So. The silver has gold also associated with it.
The ores are treated by simple crushing and
amalgamating. The great instrument for amalga-
mating is the pan, of which there are several kinds
in use. It is generally a cast iron vessel two feet
deep and from two to seven feet in diameter. A
shaft rises through it, turned by steam or water,
and to it are fastened pieces of iron, which are made
to run over the movable iron bottom and grind the
pulp. Some have chambers at the bottom for
steam, to keep the pulp at a temperature of 200
degrees. Into the pan is put a quantity of ore with
salt, iron pyrites, quicksilver, and enough water to
make mud. The great object of the " muller," or
grinder, is to grind thoroughly the material and to
bring all the particles in contact with the quicksilver.
The pan is worked about three hours and a half, and
then water is run into the pulp to render it liquid
enough to flow off through a valve in the bottom,
into the " agitator" or " separator ;" as it flows off
or runs over, it forms a genuine silver mud, in
which the traveller has the satisfaction of wading for
the first time in his life. In the separator pulp is
mixed with a large quantity of water, and by an
arrangement of discharging openings is gradually
strained and relieved of its earthly particles, until
nothing but pyrites and liquid amalgam are left.
The amalgam is drawn off from the bottom, and
is washed in clear water and dried with flannel. It
is finally strained through thick conical bags of
canvas, which are beaten with sticks to drain them
thoroughly. The hard dry amalgam is finally carried
to the assay office, where the mercury is separated by
exposing it to red heat in a eAst iron cylindrical re-
tort. The mercury is vaporized, and then con-
densed by a stream of cold water in a " Liebig
Condenser." The silver remaining is broken up
and melted in plumbago crucibles, and cast into
" bricks" or ingots of silver, which are assayed,
valued, and marked accordingly. C. L. B.

The prices of Horniman's Teas are greatly reduced ; their
well-known superiority has attracted a host of spurious
imitations; therefore notico all Genuine Packets are signed,
" Horniman ¢ Co," London. 300 Coufoctioners are Agents
in lipudga gnsl 2120 Q Ghtgni§tg in t 1 Qvuntry.,

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL.

A special meeting of the Court of Common
Council was held at the Guildhall yesterday, the
LORD MAYOR (Mr. W. F. Allen) presiding.

THE SHERIFFS' COURT.

Mr. C. ROBINSON brought up a report from the
Officers and Clerks' Committee in reference to the
seal of the Sheriffs' Court, stating that Air. Justice
Wiles had rescinded the order of Mr. Commissioner
Kerr, requiring the substitution of the royal arms
for those of the City. The learned judge, however,
was of opinion that the words " Sheriffs' Court"
should be altered to " City of London Court," in
order to make the style of the court conformable to
the act of last session of Parliament. The Regis-
trar pro tern. had accordingly laid before the com-
mittee a new seal containing this alteration, and
the committee now recommended it to the approval
of the Court of Common Council.
The report was adopted unanimously.

TIIE LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF TIIE METROPOLIS.

The debate on this subject was resumed by Mr.
Horner. It will be recollected that at the meeting
of the court last week, Mr. Deputy Fry moved a
series of resolutions, which were in effect that. in
order to secure to the ratepayers of the metropolis
the right of self-government, recognising direct
representation, and consequently direct responsi-
bility, it was desirable that municipalities should be
established in the several metropolitan parliamen-
tary boroughs ; that inasmuch as the corporation
of London had existed for many centuries as a
distinct and independent municipality, its connec-
tion with the Metropolitan Board of Works was
unnecessary and inexpedient, and that it be referred
to the Local Government and Taxation Committee
to consider and report what steps should be taken,
with a view to assist in the introduction of munici-
palities in the metropolitan boroughs, and to relieve
the corporation from its connection with the Board
of Works. To these propositions Mr. Richardson
moved as an amendment, that it was unadvisable
to declare in favour of any plan of municipal go-
vernment until the co-operation of the corporation
shall have been sought by that portion of the me-
tropolis which may desire to change its present form
of local government. A long discussion ensued,
and the debate was eventually adjourned.
Mr. HORNER, in resuming the debate, expressed
his opposition to a measure which, if supported,,
must be attended with considerable expense.
(Hear, hear.) Unless that court was prepared to
furnish the money he believed the establishment of
municipalities would not be desired by the already
heavily-taxed ratepayers of the metropolis. He was
not inimical to the extension of municipalities, but
what he wanted was, those who desired them should
take the initiative. Having called attention to a
circular in favour of Mr. Mill's two bills, which had
been distributed among some of the members of the
court, he expressed a hope that it would not in-
fluence their opinions, for if these bills were passed
into law it would be at the expense of the corpo-
ration. At present their revenues were in their
own hands, but how long they would remain so de-
pended upon themselves, and he therefore urged the
court not to do anything prejudicial to their own
interests.

Mr. Deputy DE JERSEY remarked that no one
would doubt the ability with which Mr. Deputy
Fry had brought this question before them, and
with many things he stated he (Mr. De Jersey)
cordially agreed ; but in the main—the result at
which he aimed—he most respectfully differed. He
could not help saying with regard to this motion
that it appeared to emanate from the Local Go-
vernment and Taxation Committee. (No, no, and
hear, hear.) He was very much struck with some
observations made by Deputy Fry as to the con-
nection of the Corporation with the Board of Works.
Deputy Fry condemned those who permitted that
connection, but on making inquiries he found that
Deputy Fry was a member of the court when that
connection took place. He• objected to the court
accepting a proposition which simply enunciated a
principle, but did not comprehend a plan ; and the
reason why no plan was submitted was that the
subject might be referred to a committee of "educa-
tion." (Laughter.) He did not believe the me-
tropolitan boroughs would agree to the establish-
ment of municipalities, believing that the Corpora-
tion wanted them merely as a lever to get rid of its
connection with the Board of Works ; and it ap-
peared to him, therefore, that the simplest course
would be to pass a resolution affirming that it was
desirable that the advantages of municipal govern-
ment should be extended to the several districts of
the metropolis, but without taking any further
action in the matter.

Mr. FRICKER supported the resolution, and hoped
they would not wait for the metropolis to goad
them on to come to a determination. Knowing
the advantages of local government themselves,
they should at once take speedy action to secure it
for others.

Mr. H. GOVER said he could not support the
proposal to refer the matter to the local govern-
ment committee, because those gentlemen were
already pledged to a certain course. His opinion
was that they should not deal with the question
at. all. They would doubtless require the co-ope-
ration of the metropolis in the future, as they had
done in the past, on matters of great importance ;
and they should not, therefore, place themselves in
opposition to the expressed views of the vestries,
who had declared themselves against the establish-
ment of municipalities.

Mr. Deputy ELLIOTT declared that people out-
side the city were scared at the bare thought of
municipalities ; and that if they did want them they
would have taken action themselves.

Mr. D. ROGBRS said the question was whether
the corporation, possessing the advantages of local
government itself, should not step forward and en-
deavour to get those advantages for other people.
At the present time the metropolis was nothing
more than a chaos, there being so many divisions
and subdivisions with regard to the management of
its local affairs. As to the statement that the
vestries did not desire the establishment of muni-
cipalities, he believed that was not so ; but that,
on the contrary, they did desire them. (Hear,
hear.)
Mr. JESSE TURNER contended that there was
nothing inimical to the privileges enjoyed by the
corporation in the resolution of Deputy Fry. As to
the Board of Works, there could be no doubt that if
it continued for any length of time it- must have
increased power given to it, which would either be
for good or evil, And he believed it would be for the
latter. In concluding his observations, the hon.
member alluded to the chairman of the Board of
Works, and thought a person of more eminence
ought to have been elected to fill so important a
position, to which was attached a salary of £2,000
a year. (Oh, oh.)

Mr. LOWMAN TAYLOR was satisfied the court did
not agree with the disparaging remarks—(loud cries
of " Hear, hear")--that had been made in refe-
rence to a man who had been appointed to one of
the most important :positions to which any man
ceuld be elected, who was so able and so well
calculated to carry out everything which was
entrusted to his care, and who had raised himself
by his own ability to the office which he now occu-
pied. (Hear, hear.) The Corporation of London
could refer to many of its chief magistrates who
had risen in the same manner from very humble
means to the very high and dignified position of
Lord Mayor of London. (Cheers.) He had heard
some remarks made against the Board of Works
with considerable pain. That board was originally
established to carry out the main drainage
scheme, and he might say that there had been
no additional duties cast upon it which he had
not always opposed, believing that with the main
drainage and the Thames Embankment they had
enough to do. The honourable member then en-
tered into a lengthened defence of the Board of
Works, and affirmed that the corporation had
received from 18b7 up to the present time £63,827
19s. 11d. for City improvements, as against £59,025
which they had contributed as their share of the
Finsbury-park, Middle-row, Holborn, Southwark-
park, and other metropolitan improvements. He
would be quite willing to see the Corporation dis-
connected from the Board of Works, but he did not
see how it could bo due, The proper course to

adopt was to do nothing at all. The subject had
been ventilated, and that was quite sufficient ; and
if the people of the metropolis were in favour of
establishing municipalities, there was nothing to
hinder them availing themselves of the privileges of
the Municipal Corporations Act if they so desired.
The Court was subsequently addressed by Mr.
Medwin, Mr. Bedford, Mr. Bonneville, and others ;
and Mr. Deputy Fry having been heard in reply, a
division was taken, and the amendment was carried
by a majority of ten.
The amendment having thus become the substan-
tive motion, Mr. BEDFORD moved, as an amend-
ment., " That it be referred to a special committee
of twenty members, to be appointed at next Court,
to consider the whole question of the future govern-
ment of the metropolis, and to report thereon to
this Court."

Mr. Bedford's proposition was carried by a majo-
rity of 17, and the previous question, which was
next moved, having been negatived, the Court ad-
journed.

RAIL IVAY AND OTHER COMPANIES.

METROPOLITAN DISTRICT.

The half-yearly general meeting of this company
was held yesterday at the Westminster Palace
Hotel, Victoria-street ; the Earl of Devon in the
chair.

The report, an abstract of which appeared in The
Sun, was taken as read,
The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the
report, said he met the shareholders with more
satisfaction than on some former occasions, when
they had to regret the public distrust regarding
railway undertakings. He was sorry to say that
the general distrust did not exist without affecting
their undertaking. Some time ago the directors
had looked forward to an early opening of the line
for remunerative traffic, but during the past half-
year, and close up to a recent period, the directors
had felt very serious anxiety for the progress of
the works, which could only be mitigated by the
unaltered confidence in the soundness of the un-
dertaking, a reliance on the good feeling of the
shareholders, and their continued support. The
progress of the undertaking had been materially im-
peded until recently, when the proprietors and the
public had shown their confidence in the concern by
taking up all the debenture stock the directors were
able to issue. (Hear, hear.) They were now en-
deavouring to remove the difficulties in the way of
purchasing land, and they were actively engaged in
getting possession of all the land they wanted up to
Westminster-bridge. It was quite true they had
to issue the debenture stock at a higher rate of in-
terest than they could have wished, but the ques-
tion of proceeding with the works became a serious
one, and under all the circumstances the directors
felt bound to issue the stock at such a rate as would
insure their being taken up, so as to enable them to
complete the important undertaking in which they
were engaged. They also felt that the line should
be opened at the earliest possible period. The di-
rectors had been in treaty with the Government
for the purpose of land for the station at West-
minster-bridge, and of the sum to be paid by the
company he believed there would be no rea-
son to complain. That and other purchases would
put the company into.possession of the land required
for the portion of their line up to Westminster-
bridge ; this brought them to the Thames Embank-
ment, and he might mention that the company had
been charged with causing unnecessary and avoid-
able delays in proceeding with the works, and with
depriving the public of the advantages and accom-
modation those great works would afford. There
was no ground for those allegations against the
company, as they were ready to assist in construct-
ing and opening those works as soon as possible,
and they were now preparing to do so. Of course
the shareholders would recognise the advantages
that would arise to their property by carrying on
the railway to Blackfriars-bridge. The contrac-
tors for the railway felt confident that a little more
than six months after the Embankment works were
in a sufficiently forward state to allow them to en-
ter upon the construction of the railway they could
make and open the whole line between Westmins-
ter-bridge and Blackfriars-bridge. He believed the
Metropolitan Board had not let the works from
Temple-gardens to Blackfriars, and they pro-
posed to allow the contractor two years to complete
that portion of the embankment, so that the rail-
way company m ould have to wait 18 months be-
fore they could commence operations. He hoped
that a much shorter time would finish those works,
and that the railway company would be enabled to
work harmoniously with the Board of Works for
the public interests. (Hear, hear.) The directors
were doing their best to complete the portion of the
line between Kensington and Westminster-bridge,
and he ventured to hope that before the next half-
yearly meeting the line between those points would
be opened for traffic. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. SHERRIFF, M.P., deputy-chairman, seconded
the motion for the adoption of the report.
In reply to a question, it was stated that the di-
rectors saw no necessity for applying to Parliament
for power to raise further capital, and that much
more than the whole of the debenture stock had
been applied for, and none of it was issued at less
than par.
My. BEST said he was not satisfied with the re-
port ; he had endeavoured to trace the progress of
the works on the map, but was unable to do so, as
the places on the map and those mentioned in the
report did not agree. The stock was very low in
price, and he thought if more information had been
given in the report as to the progress of the works,
it would have given the shareholders and public
more confidence in the undertaking. They should
have said something about completing the line to
Westminster-bridge and when it would be ready
for traffic. They should also have stated in the
report the amount raised by the issue of the 6 per
cent. debenture stock. It would be a most serious
matter for the company if the line should be de-
layed for two years before they could get to Black-
friars-bridge. He hoped that before half that time
expired it would be completed.
Mr. CULLUM thought the directors should have
given the shareholders more information in the re-
port as to the works and the financial position of
the company.

The CHAIRMAN said the directors had given all
the information they could up to the time the report
was issued ; the accounts were made out on the
same plan as those of the Metropolitan Railway,
and the books of the company were open to the
shareholders for inspection. The directors had
stated facts, and the truth as matters stood. They
had offered to co-operate with the Board of Works,
so as to shorten the time for the completion of
those important works. (Hear, hear.) It would
have been a waste of funds to commence works on
the Embankment two years before the line could be
opened for traffic. He trusted that a much shorter
time than two years would be sufficient to enable
them to complete the railway.
Mr. SIIERRIFF, M.P., explained that before they
could commence the works on the Embankment an
arrangement should be made as to the payment of
£200,000 to the Metropolitan Board of Works for
the privilege of carrying the railway through it.
This sum was to be paid in such manner as Lord
Stanley might decide. Then there was the cost
of theiworks. It was quite possible to carry o❑ the
railway works cotemporaneously with the works of
the Embankment, and to finish up as they pro-
ceeded with the works. He thought if the Board of
Works would forego the receipt of the £200,000
until the works were executed, that it would be for
the benefit of the shareholders and the public. The
company were not in a position to pay the money
immediately, but if that part of the contract could
be arranged so as to enable the railway company to
delay the payment till the works were remunera ive
all difficulty in that respect would be removed.

Mr. I'VrLD called the attention of the chairman
to statements by Mr. Fairlie, at the meeting of the
Society of Arts, and Mr. J. Samuel in the news-
papers, on the subject of rolling stock being gene-
rally construcied very much heavier than was neces-
sary ; as he was anxious that their rolling stock
should be made on the best principle with a view
to economy and efficiency.

Mr. FOWLER, the engineer in chief, explained
that he had givell hie Attellti9ll to the peculiar re.