The Sun.
London, England, 1844-10-14 00:00:00

THE OXFORD-STREET WOOD
PAVING.

On Saturday the question of wood paving became
again the subject of discussion at the .Marylebone
Vestry, and the vestry was very fully attended.
Mr. W. Low having been called to the chair,
A numerous deputation of the inhabitants of Ox-
ford-street waited on the vestry to present a memorial,
praying that body, as it was understood to be their
intention to take up and repair that portion of Oxford-
street between Tottenham-court-road and Charles-
street, to have it paved with wood.
The memorial urged that the inhabitants of that
portion of Oxford -street above specified had submitted
to all the inconvenience and nuisance arising from
the laying down of bitumen and other specimens of
paving from time to time, and that now they were
entitled to that consideration which had been afforded
by the vestry to their neighbours in the same street,
by having wood, instead of granite, placed before their
doors.

In answer to questions put by various members of
the vestry, the deputation said, that they did not be-
lieve the wood paving to be a bit more dangerous for
travelling than stone.
In answer to Mr. Nicholay, Mr. PACKER said that
he had paid great attention to wood paving in various
parts of the metropolis, and had never seen any wood
paving in so disgraceful a state as it was in 9xfbrd-
street from filth.

Mr. JOHN WILLIAMS had no doubt that Oxford-
street was kept in this filthy state purposely to lend
Sir Peter Laurie and the opponents of wood paying a
handle against it. _

Mr. HiRBUI denied that the vestry had anything
to do with the dirty state of the wood paving. He
concluded by moving that the deputation should have
the minute of the vestry read to them, which declared
that they would not entertain the question of wood
paving for a period of three years from that date.
After some observations from other gentlemen, the
motion was put and carried by a large majority ; and
on the deputation being recalled,
The Vestry Clerk read the minute of the vestry of
the 4th of March, 1843.
The deputation then withdrew.
Mr. SCAICE, the parish surveyor, brought up a re-
port which he had been directed to furnish by the
vestry, as to the state of the 4,000 yards of wood
paving laid down by the Metropolitan Company be-
tween Wells-street and Rathbone-place.
The report set forth that, pursuant to the orders of
the vestry, the surveyor had minutely examined the
state of the wood paving in question. The surface of
the said paving was rather rough and uneven, and
there were many short holes in it. The workmen of
the Wood Company had, at his request, opened the
paving across the street in three places in Oxford-
street. Opposite No. 51, the blocks which are of fir
were worn from their general thickness of six inches
to four and a quarter inches. The paving facing No.
50 is of elm, and was found worn generally from six
inches to three inches ; and opposite 31, also of fir, it
was found under the coach stand worn from six inches
to three inches. This portion of the street, although
in moderate condition on the surface, is so much worn
that it was found difficult to raise a whole block. To
put it into good condition, he considered the whole
ought to be relaid, bottom upwards, about one-half
or two-thirds of the old blocks being drawn out and
new ones substituted.

Mr. HARBUT moved that the report of the sur-
veyor he advted by the vestry, and that it be for-
warded to the Metropolitan Company, together with
an official notice that the vestry, in accordance with
the terms of their contract, required them to put the
4.000 yards of wood paving between Wells-street and
Rathhone-place in a state of efficient repair, to the
satisfaction of the parish surveyor, forthwith.
Mr. CLAPP seconded the resolution.

After a few words from one or two other vestrymen,
the resolution was then put, and carried by a large
majority, and the vestry shortly after separated.

, .
THE CORPORATION OF LONDON
AND WHOLESALE DEALERS.

Some excitement has been occasioned by the order
just issued to the City Solicitor relative to the whole-
sale dealers in the City. The Committee appointed
by the Common Council on the eve of St. Thomas's-
day in the last year, have at length produced their
report, which has been confirmed by the Court. It
is very voluminous, and contains many curious ex-
tracts from the City records, from the Saxon era to
the present time. It is recommended in these sug-
gestions that the Corporation shall immediately com-
mence proceedings to compel all wholesale dealers to
take up their freedom, and, for the purpose of more
effectually accomplishing this object, that the ancient
practices and proceedings of the wardmotes should be
revived, and then due observance should by degrees
be more rigidly enforced. Upon these suggestions
the Committee have reported as follows :
" The sub,ect-matter is not only of the greatest im-
portance to this City, but also involves weighty con-
siderations—having on the one side deep-rooted pre-
judices, long practice, and continued neglect to over-
come; and on the other the necessity of extensive and
effective correction of existing evils, and the securing
the restoration of the ancient, just, and reasonable
rights of the City.
" We have weighed and considered the conclusions
which are printed, and the proceedings which are
suggested, and though we are not at present prepared
to give our final report on all the matters referred to
us, or to recommend at once all the proceedings which
may hereafter be requisite, yet there are some points
upon which we are prepared to report our recom-
mendations to this Court, and to press their immediate
ad 3ption, as required by the existing evils, and the
necessity of a speedy correction.
" The pressure on the retail dealers, and the immu-
nity of others, who dwell within this city, and par-
take of all its advantages, have weighed much with
your Committee, and we have unanimously resolved
that the acts of Common Council imposing penalties
on persons residing in the City, and not enrolled, using
arts, trades, occupations, and mysteries within this
City, should be recommended for immediate en-
forcement.

" We have been the more inclined to recommend
to this Court the adoption of proceedings for the
penalties under the Acts of Common Council, as we
have the satisfaction of knowing that the Court -of
Aldermen have likewise had laid before them,
by the Remembrancer, extracts and docu-
ments relative to the wholesale dealers, co-
pies of which have been communicated to us by the
Court of Aldermen ; and from which we find that the
same view we have taken of the liability of the whole-
sale dealers, who are not freemen, to proceedings for
penalties under the laws and customs of the corpora-
tion, is adopted by the Remembrancer."
It is stated in the corporation circles that there are
some thousands of opulent merchants and wholesale
dealers carrying on business in the City without being
free. The publicity which the report has received
has caused a very extraordinary sensation amongst
this class of persons, but it is understood not to be the
intention of the corporation to commence an indis-
criminate crusade against the whole body, but to
select from each ward one or more offenders, with
whom the question will be tried. It is stated that all
the great wholesale dealers are determined to resist
what they consider to be an usurped power, and next
term is spoken of as likely to bear the decision.