Star.
London, England, 1824-12-17 00:00:00

..COURT OF COMA ON COUNCIL.

Yesterday a Court of Common COuncil r~vas held;
which was extremely full',

The Chairman of the gridge•fionse Committee, to
whom it had been referred to inquire into the circum-
stance of the want of water at the hue fires within the

City, brought up the report which was read by the
clerk. The following are extracts :
" We shall now state the principal causes of the want of water at
the late fires. together with the regulations we propose, in order to
prevent a recurrence of tln.m.
" Ist. The want of a sufficient number of fire-cockg and plugs, and
their being injudiciously placed.—The fire.plugs are frequently
paved over, and otherwise concealed ; which was the case in the
Old Bailey, when the fire on Ludgate Hill took place, where the
plug had been covered over by the pavement on the new system,
which has recently been laid down there; and it was proved, that
but for that circumstance, an abundant and immediate supply would
have been obtained ; to re.redy which, we recommend the strict
observance by the Churchwardens of the several Parishes of the
74th and 75th clauses of the Act of the fourteenth George 111. cap.
.33, commonly called the Building Act (which has been too much
disregarded), whereby the Churchwardens of every parish are
directed to fix plugs and fire-cocks in the mains and pipes—to
cause marks to be set against the nearest houses, to such plugs
and fire-cocks, directing where they are placed—and to keep a
key in every house where such mark shall be, under a pe-
nalty of tot. one halt to be paid to the informer, and the other
half to the surveyor of the district; and we recommend that it
should be considered the duty of the latter to enforce the strict ob-
servance of those clauses. With respect to the judicious placing of
the fire-cocks and plug 3, we are of opinion it should be done by the
Churchwardens, in conjunction with the surveyors of the Water
Companies—for neither party can, in our opinion, without the aid
of the other, make selection. of the fittest places; and the Deputa-
tion of the New River Company have assured us, that their officers
have directions to give to the different parishes all the assistance
and advice in their power. We think it right to state the very
decided advantage that fire-cocks have over plugs; and we strongly
recommend the general adoption of them ; which, though attended
with some additional expense at first, we are convinced will prove
the best economy in the end.
" 2d. The very large quantity of water which frequently escape's
through the grating of the sewers.—This circumstance occasioned,
in a great measure, an insufficient supply at the fire in-fleet-street.
The defect will be easily and effectually remedied, by one. or more
tarpaulins, with weights attached, being kept in every watch-house,
and attached to every parish-engine ; these being placed over the
sewer-gratings will fully answer the purpose. The public engines
have tarpaulins, but they are not adapted to this particular service.
" 3d. The want of a sure and prompt means of finding the turns
cock.—To effect which, we recommend that the Companies should,
at the expense of the several Fire Insurance Offices, appoint a sue.
cient number of night turncocks, who should be on duty at as many
fixed and known stations as may be thought nepessary, for procuring
on the instant an adequate supply of water ; and that the Hato( such
stations be painted on a board to be fixed in every watch-house.
" 4th. The general confusion which prevails, and the want ofpro-
per authority to keep off the crowd, to prevent a mischievous com-
petition between the firemen, and to allow full opportunity for ap-
plying the water to the best effect.—This evil was much experienced
at the late fires. To remedy this is a point of difficulty of no small
importance, both as it regards the preservation of property, and the
extinguishing of the fires • hut it is a subject more fitting the consi-
deration of the Magisterial Authorities than of your Committee; if,
however, the Ward Beadie, or some other experienced and judicious
individual were, in the absence of the City Marshals, to be invested
with a controul over all parties, the evil would, in our opinion, be
materially diminished."
It was moved that the report be confirmed.
Mr. TAYLOR and Mr. BUTTERWORTH objected to the
confirmation of the repent p. eviously to its being printed.
The question was then put on the amendment, which was new
tived, and the original motion was agreed to.
A Report was presented from •the Coal and Corn
Committee, recommendirg the reduction of the rates
of paynaentfor the labour of the Fellowship-porters in
unloading corn.ships. This report was made in conse-
quence of a petition to the Court from a number of
corn-dealers, agriculturists, and others, connected with
the corn trade, praying that the charges might be re-
duced, and alleging that they were higher than the
charges made in the port of Liverpool for similar labour,
and that they were exceedingly burdensome and in-
jurious to agriculture.
Alderman InomPsom opposed the recommendation
contained in the Report.
Alderman WAITLIMAN watmly opposed the recom-
mendation of the Committee, and said they had shewn
no grouirds for it.—The amendment was then carried
by a great majority. ••
A Report was brought up, recommending that the
Canal across the Isle of Dogs, belonging to the City,
should be put up fur public sale, instead of being sold
by private contract to the West India Dock Company,
s's recommended at a former Court.

At a former Court a Petition was presented from a
number of persons connected with the horse-mat ket at
Smithfield, stating, that in consequence. of the late hour
at which they were obliged to hold it, they were often
compelled to buy arid sell their horses in the dark, and
praying, that to prevent the fraud which is thereby pro-
tected, the market might in future be held on Wednes-
day mornings, as there was at present no mat ket held
on that day, and no one could be inconvenienced by
the change.
Mr. BLACKET now presented a Petition, signed by
one hundred inhabitants of the Market, opposing the
Petition, and praying that, if the Corporation inter tered
at all with respect to *the horse-market, they would
abolish it altogether, as all
-the inhabitants considered

it a great nuisance.
Mr. BLact.irr stated, that tl:e men who carried on
the business of the market were of such an offensive
character, and conducted it in such a manner, that it
ought to be kept out of sight as much as possible, and
was properly veiled by darkness.
The Report of the Bridge-house Committee was then
brought up and Lead.
The Court proceeded to the election, by ballot, of a
Bailiff of the Borough of Southwark, in the room of
John Pi insep, Esq. who resigned his situation on the 3d
December inst. and the ballot being cast up, the number
of votes appealed, for John Holmes, Esq. 156, for Mr.
Alderman Ansley, 68; whereupon the Lord Mayor de-
clared the said John Holmes, Esq. to be duly elected to
the said office.
J. Holmes, .Esq. tendered in his resignation of the
office cf Principal Clet k of the Court of Requests,
.which was accepted; and the Court requested him to
continue to do the duties of the office until the vacancy
shall be filled up.

Last night, between the hours of ten and eleven
o'clock, a fire broke out in an oil-shop in Duke-street,
Waterloo•road, which threatened destruction to the
adjoining buildings, but from the timcly arrival of the
engines, the flames were subdued, with the extinction
of the interior of the oil-shop, and trifling damage to
the adjacent premises. An unfortunate inmate, a Jour-
neyman mechanic, has Jost the fruits of several years'
hard work; he wa; not insured.
When the present Archbishop of CANTERBURY was
first made a ►iishop, it was of course supposed, to be through the
interest of the Noble family to whom he is related, and particularly
at the request of the beautiful Duchess. The following lines were
written on the occasion :
" Old poets tell, how could it be?
Pat Veaws rose front out the sea ;
But modern times more wonders chew--
The ase from VENUS rises now !"