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groundless. This weighed with the Committee of the House, who
also seemed to be impressed with the idea that the neighbourhood
was of such a character as would be benefited, and not injured,
by the railway works, notwithstanding the stoppage of ways and
the inadequate height of the arches; and the Committee reported
in favour of the bill, with the modifications proposed by the
Company.
The member of the Metropolitan Board of Works for the Parish
brought before the Board the subject of the withdrawal of the
opposition by the officers of the Board, and the Board resolved to
oppose the bill in the House of Lords. The Vestry also determined
to oppose in the House of Lords. A petition was accordingly
presented, but it ultimately appeared that the course taken in the
Commons by the Metropolitan Board of Works precluded their
opposing in the House of Lords. Under these circumstances
Counsel advised it was futile for the Vestry to oppose, and instructed
the Clerk, with the Surveyor, to arrange the best terms possible
with the Company, and then to withdraw the petition. The Company
agreed, if the petition was withdrawn, to consent to protective
clauses, which had been asked for, but refused when the bill was
before the Committee of the House of Commons, and, in addition,
to make the bridge over Essex-street correspond with the intended
New bridge of the Great Eastern Railway over that street. The
petition was thereupon withdrawn.
GREAT EASTERN RAILWAY BILL.
After the determination of the Committee of the House of Commons,
mentioned in the last report, the Railway Company offered to
make the arch now crossing Essex-street into a girder bridge, with
the same headway as the proposed girder bridge of the intended new
line, provided the petition to the House of Lords against the East
London Railway Bill were withdrawn, and on the understanding that
the Vestry would not further oppose the Great Eastern Railway Bill in
the House of Lords. A clause was accordingly inserted in the bill
providing that, when the Company carry out their intended new
works, they shall convert the existing inconvenient, dangerous arch
into a girder bridge on the existing abutments, with a headway of
the same height as the bridge by which the intended new line will be
carried over the street.