The Metropolitan Board of Works held a special meeting in
the Coun- cil Chamber, Guildhall, on Monday, to consider certain proposals for street improvements. The first proposal was, that anew street should he made commencing near the Southwark Town-hall, and extending to the point of intersection of Vine Street with the York Road. This met with 'vehement opposition ; and it was finally decided, by 16 votes to 6, that the Committee of Works should "be instructed to prepare plans and es- timates of a new line of street, commencing as nearly as practicable opposite to the entrance to the South-Eastern Railway, and terminating in Blackfriars Road in a line with Stamford Street.' The second pro- posal was that a plan of the Committee "for the formation of a new street between Cranbourn Street and Leicester Square and Ring Street, Covent Garden, be approved by the Board." The Duke of Bedford has offered 15,0004, one-third of the expense ; and the First Commissioner of Works, it was said, will supply the remainder from funds in his pos- session. The objection to this proposal was, that the improvement would only benefit the Duke of Bedford. But the resolution was carried by 11 to 3. It was ordered that steps should forthwith be taken for applying to Parliament for the necessary powers to make the improvement.
The Board of Works met again on Wednesday. Mr. Bristow moved, that before deciding on any plans, the Board should request Sir Benja- min Hall to grant an interview to the engineer and a deputation : but the proposal was scouted as "humiliating." Mr. Turner moved, that the Board should adopt the engineer's plan for discharging the sewage into the Thames, at long Reach ; a proposal that would involve the transit of the sewage across the river. Mr. Donnell moved as an amend- ment, that there should be two outlets into the river, one on each bank, at Sea Reach. Upon this ensued a long and animated discussion on the merits of the many plans before the Board. Ultimately, the amendment was negatived, by 23 to 10; while the original resolution was negatived -without a division. So that, for the present, the Board cannot agree upon any plan.
Various proceedings in connexion with the affairs of the Royal British Bank are reported this week. On Monday, Mr. Edwards, the Chief Clerk of Vice-Chancellor Kindersley, sat in the Court of the Lords-Justices to appoint an official manager for the winding-up. The Chief Clerk, when addressed by Mr. Wyld on the part of the depositors, said he could not hear depositors—they must first apply to the Vice-Chancellor for leave to appear. He declined to defer the appoint- ment of manager when appealed to by Mr. Linklater, from the Bankruptcy Court, and by Mr. Wyld. Mr. Burton, who represented the holders of 906 shares, supported the appointment of Alr. Harding ; Mr. Coleman, Mr. Tur- quand, and Mr. Weight, were severally proposed for the office of manager. The Chief Clerk appointed Mr. Harding, the interim manager, to be the official manager.
In the Bankruptcy Court, on Monday, Mr. Commissioner Goulburn said— "1 understand that in the case of the Royal British Bank, an official manager has been appointed ? " Mr. Linklater—"Yes." The Commis- sioner—" But you think Bankruptcy and Chancery can go on together ? " Mr. Linklater—" Quite so." The Commissioner—" That may be, but I think they will jostle against one another." His Honour's opinion was to some extent confirmed at a later hour of the day by a petition to set aside that adjudication being filled. Mr. Bagley appeared in support of the peti- tion, which was from the Directors of the Company. It was asked that the application might be heard on Thimsdav, or that the Court would grant an exteneiva of time for disputing the adjudication. The Commissioner extended the time to Mond iey next.
On Tuesday, Mr. Goulbursi again adverted to the subject. He had ex- amined the law on the matter, and had hecorae convinced that Chancery and Bankruptcy proceedings would not "jostle" against one another ; and that they might be carried on simultaneously with great advantage to all parties concerned.
On the same day, Vice-Chancellor Bindereley, while at Langham Hall
Bury St. Edmunds, granted an injunction to restrain the official assignee of the Court of Bankruptcy, Mr. Lee, and his solicitors Messrs. Tinklater, from in any way prosecuting or interfering in the affairs in which the official manager of the Court of Chancery is acting ; and upon the summens issued by the Court of Bankruptcy, calling on Mr. Harding to attend Wore that court, and from disturbing him in possession of the estates, effects, and assets of the bank ; and also granting an order Nisi for the official assignee of the Court of Bankruptcy to show cause why they should not be committed for contempt of the Court of Chancery in their having disturbed him in pos- session. A. bill has already been filed by the official manager against the official assignee, his solicitors, and others. [To facilitate an amicable arrangement, the Bankruptcy messenger has been withdrawn from the bank premises.] The committee of depositors advise that the creditors should supports winding-up under Bankruptcy; and they suggest that Mr. James Wyld,
Mr. James T. Burke, and Mr. John Maxwell., should be appointed trade as- signees. Mr. Burke is the petitioning creditor, and Mr. Maxwell is the largest depositor.
According to the stria construction of the covenants, the leases of the mineral property in Wales held by the bank, and valued at 40,0001., would be forfeited on the bankruptcy or insolvency of the bank, or by the leases passing by operation of law or otherwise to any one without the written consent of the lessor : but the solioitor for the original lessees has stated to Messrs. Linklater and Hackwood, that it is not probable Mr. Talbot, the lessor, will insist on his strict rights, but will accept a desirable tenant in substitution of the bank.
Robson, the Crystal Palace transfer-clerk, was reexamined at Lambeth Police Office on Monday. More evidence was given respecting the eight Preference Shares whieh B.obson fraudulently sold. A second charge was then entered upon—the fraudulent transfer of five B Shares, belonging to Messrs. Bond and Dunn of Lancaster. It was shown that Robson had sold these among other shares-139 in ail—without any authority. When Ser- geant Coppin's evidence was read over, he made an addition to it, respecting a conversation with the prisoner. "I told him on my way home I had been informed he was deficient 20,000/. He said it was not so much as that ; it was somewhere about 10,000/. ; but if he had his books and papers he should be able to tell me. I said, ' You know where your books and papers are ' ; and he said he did not, because he had gone away, and he did not know what had become of anything. I said, I understood Mr. Smith had taken them all, and no doubt he would find them whem he got to Lcrndon ; suid he said that was an inquiry he would make." When asked by Mr. Elhett if he had any defence to make to the two charges, the prisoner, in a faint voice, said he had nothing to offer. He was committed.
The Guardians of St. Pancras have engaged in. a contest with the Poor- law Board. Mr. Hall, Poor-law Inspector, has required the Master and the Surgeons of the parish to furnish him with certain books and forms. The Guardians have directed their servants to pay no attention to the orders of the Inspector. A Committee was appointed to obtain the opinion of counsel on the question, Can the Guardians relieve the officers from all responsibi- lity? The Poor-law Inspector states that a refusal to obey the Poor-law Board is a misdemeanour.
Previous page
