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to call upon parishes or districts to execute such works as
they might order; and, in the absence of any provision or
protection in the Bill, this might have entailed upon the district
a charge of such enormous amount as would have
crippled its resources for many years to come.
Although the Board most fully realised the absolute and
pressing necessity for some legislative action, they felt compelled,
in the interest of the ratepayers, to enter into opposition
to the Bill; and so strong was the feeling against the injustice
of the Metropolitan Board's proposal, that most of the riparian
districts petitioned against the measure, and active steps were
taken by all parties to raise an earnest opposition to the
scheme, with a view of obtaining a more equitable adjustment
of the necessary burden than that provided by the Bill.
Upon the Bill being read a second time in the House of
Commons, it was ordered that it be committed to a select
committee of eleven members—six to be nominated by the
House, and five by the committee of selection.
It was also made an instruction to the committee — that
they have powers "to enquire into and report upon the most
"equitable mode of charging and meeting the expenses to be
"incurred under the Bill."
And it was subsequently ordered that Petitioners be entitled
to be heard by Counsel, Agent, or Witnesses, upon their
petitions against the Bill.
The select committee are expected to meet early in May,
when the Board trust that the result of the energetic action
that has been taken will be shewn in equitable terms being
arranged, so that the great work of protecting the low-lying
portions of the metropolis may be shortly commenced.
The Mall (obstructions).
The Board having had occasion to remove building materials
and other matters and things placed upon the public highway
known as the Middle Mall, Hammersmith, adjoining the old
Red Lion public-house, the owner of the materials summoned
the Board for removing the said materials, claiming a right to
the land upon which they were placed as his private property.
The obstruction still being continued, it is feared that, in
their endeavour to preserve the public rights, the Board may
be forced into litigation in this matter.