The Metropolitan Board of Works - sat yesterday to elect officers
and transact other business. But the time was chiefly occupied in choosing an Engineer. There were nine candidates for the office' but these were B
speedily reduced to four—Mr. azalgette, Mr. Rawlinson, Mr. Henry, and Mr. Booth. Having proceeded so far, each candidate was heard in his own behalf, and then the final votes were taken. Mr. Bazalgette obtained 32, Mr. Henry 12, Mr. Rawlinson .10, Mr. Booth I. Mr. Booth's name was struck off; Mr. Rawlinson withdrew ; and Mr. Bazal- gate was elected by 37 to none, Mr. Henry's friends abstaining. For the office of Accountant there were forty-four applicants : the choice of the Board fell upon Mr. G. S. Hatton.
The London Tavern was yesterday the scene of another angry meet- ing of the shareholders of the Eastern Counties Railway Company. They had been specially convened to consider their affairs although the annual meeting will take place on Tuesday. Mr. Waddington, whose reception was less hostile than heretofore, took the chair. Mr. Sergeant Gaselee recommended Mr. Waddington to permit some other person to preside ; but he steadily kept his place. The speechmaking part of the bu- siness was vigorously carried out on both sides, under an almost continuous fire of interruption, sometimes arising into clamour that entirely drowned the voice of the speaker, and sometimes presenting the spectacle of twenty or thirty proprietors exerting their lungs at once. The actual business done is soon stated. Mr. Henry Bruce moved and Dr. Reilly seconded a resolution to the effect that the Committee of Investigation should pursue its inquiries until Tuesday next. Mr. Goodson, announcing that he held proxies representing 1,400,000/. of stock, moved, and Mr. T. Tegg seconded, a long resolution read amid shouts of laughter, dissolv- ing the Committee of Investigation, and declaring that Mr. Waddington had fairly answered the charges preferred against him, and justified his policy of management ; and that he be requested to resume his functions as chairman. Mr. Helps and Mr. Norris were heard against the chair- man ; and, greatly interrupted, Mr. Waddington spoke in his own defence. The upshot was, that the original motion was carried on a show of hands ; and the movers of the amendment demanded. ad obtained a poll.
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