The Sun.
London, England, 1850-09-07 00:00:00

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METROPOLITAN COMMISSION
OF SEWERS.

Yesterday morning a monthly general Court of
Commissioners was held at the offices, Greek-street,
Soho ; Viscount Ehrington in the chair. Pr( sent—
Mr. Hawes, Mr. Lawes, Captain Dawson, Captain
Harness, and Mr. Hardwick.

The time of meeting was announced for twelve
o'clock, but at that time a sufficient number of com-
missioners not being present, the Court adjourned.
After a second adjournment, and a delay of an hour
and three •quarters, the arrival of Captain Harness,
who was sent for, completed the quorum. There are
only twelve Commissioners, and as the Act requires
the presence of six of them, much difficulty is occa-
sionally experienced in getting a ceurt.
Lord EBRINGTON, in expressing his regret at the
delay occasioned, remarked that at this time of the
year it was difficult to secure the attendaLce of gen-
tlemen members of the commission.

A part of the time consumed was occupied in read-
ing the reports recommending works, thus avoiding
increased delay.
After ordering the usual payments, the following
works were then ordered by the Court :-340ft. of
12-inch pipe sewer at Shepherd's-bush, estimate 701.;
ventilator in Little Wild-street, 4/. ; ditto, in Mary-.
lebone-street and Rupert-street, 71.; 120 ft. of 12-
inch pipe sewer in Pomeroy-terrace, Kent-road, 221.;
550 ft. of 15-inch pipe in Hanway-street, 1751 t. of
12-inch pipe in John-court, and 220 ft. of 12-inch
pipe in Petty's- court, 3201. ; 2,2401 r. of sewer in
Gloucester-place, Kentish-town, 1,676/. ; 133 fr. of
9-inch pipe sewer in Union-place, Lis►on-grove, 251.;
50ft. of 9-inch and 40ft. of 6-inch pipe sewer in
Carlisle- place, Portman market, 20/. ; 670 ft. of sewer
in Lower-street, Islington, 4841 ; 300 ft. of sewer in
Pratt- street, Camden town, 1601 ; 500 ft. of 9-inch
pipe on the east side of Portland-street, Walworth,
50/. ; 450 ft. of 2-feet brick culvert in line of Falcon-
brook, 1201.; 360 ft. of 12-inch pipe sewer in Brick-
street, Park-lane, 901.; 350 ft. of 12-inch pipe sewer
in Crown-court, Temple-bar, 871. 10s ; 145 ft. of 15-
inch, and 200 ft. of 12-inch pipe sewer in Moor-street,
Marylebone, 951. 14s. ; 400 ft. of sewer in Ashley-
, terrace, Wharf-road, 182/. Os. 4d. ; 75ft. of 12-inch
pipe sewer in Lamb-court, Clerkenwell, 191. 10s.;
12,630 ft. of pipe sewer in Bermondsey, &c.,
cast 1,8451.; 6261 t. ,of 12-inch pipe sewer in the
Fulham-road, 1061. ; 50ft. of 9-inch pipe
sewer on the west side of Ebury-square,
Pimlico, 101. ; 800 ft. of 18-inch, 940 ft. of
15-inch, 1,140 fr. of 12-inch, and 420 ft. of 9-inch
pipe sewer in Camberwell-grove, 4501. Various
gullies were also ordered to be constructed and re-
paired in different localities, at a total cost of 1771.
7s. It was also determined to repay to the East and
West Indi'i Dock and Birmingham Junction Rail-
way the sum of 2,0001. The whole of the works re-
commended by the committee for the sanction of the
general court amounted to 6,000/. and upwards.

clination to supply them with. He then pulled away
altogether, which was the last we saw of him. The
ship by this time vies breaking up fast ; the stern
frame burst out, and was thrown up on the starboard
quarter, and in a few minutes afterwards she parted
amidships, leaving thirteen persons exposed to the
fury of the surf on the fore part of the starboard
side, where we remained till the morning broke.
The tide turned about this time from ebb to flood,
when the rollers came in with redoubled violence
and dashed the remainder of the wreck to pieces.
All were immediately buffetting with the waves,
and sharks innumerable surrounded us on all sides,
which very much increased the terrors of our situation.
Owing to my being hurled on the rocks by the surf
two or three times I lost my senses, and was per
fectly unconscious as to what bad occurred till I found
myself resting on a spar with a sailor. I found the
ship had gone to piece and flee of our comrades had
perished. Water surrounded us in every direction,
with nothing in view but one or two small sand
banks, and those a long distance off. By night we
had constructed a rude kind of raft, on which we
slept, hut as the tide ebbed we grounded, and with
the exception of our heads we were literally sleeping
in the wat.r., cold and wretched, but still (compara-
tively speaking) safe. We remained on the raft in
this bEtaLe two days and nights, the sun scorching us
by day, and the wind, owing to our being wet
making us dreadfully cold at night. On Sunday, the
third day, having found a small quantity of oatmeal,
we determined to start for the nearest sandbank. A.
60 gallon cask of beer, two six-dozen cases of wine, a
piece of bad pork, and the oatmeal, were the only
things saved from the wreck. We turned the raft,
and after a severe day's work reached the bank about
sunset, and once more put our feet upon dry
land. We bad only eaten once, and that but spar-
ingly. here we lived fourteen days and nights, sub-
sisting on sharks' flesh and the wine and beer we
saved. Not a drop of water was to be had. On the
20th of April we saw a vessel to the leeward of us,
and endeavoured to attract her attention by means of
a boat-hook and a shirt attached, but she did not, or
would not, see us. The next day, about one hour
before sun-set, another vessel hove in sight, and in
about the same spot as the ship of the previous even-
ing was seen. We again hoisted our signal, and
walked about the bank to show there were living
creatures on it. We thought she did not see us, and
after taking our allowance of oatmeal and sharks'
flesh, we laid down for the night's rest. In a short
time, however, we were alarmed by the barking of
our dog, and on getting on our legs, discovered, to
our delight, a boat close in fur the sands. She be-'
longed to the vessel we had seen in the evening.
The mate and one of the passengers went on board
that night, and the rest of the survivors were taken cff
the next morning, when we were conveyed safely to
the Mauritius." The ship and cargo were insured
for 25,000/.

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