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matters were satisfactorily arranged between the Promoters, the
Vestry, and the Metropolitan Board, without the expense of an
appearance by Counsel before the Committee. As to the Market
Clauses, the Vestry finding that as the price of the privilege of
opening and continuing these markets a toll was to be levied upon
all produce brought into either market for the benefit of the owner
of Spitalfieds Market, considered this arrangement as contrary to
public policy, and injurious to the inhabitants of Shoreditch and
its vicinity, and therefore determined to petition against this part
of the Bill. The Vestry's petition in this respect was objected to,
and as the Vestry was not an authority possessed of market rights,
it was not pressed. The Market Clauses were however vigorously
opposed by the Corporations of London and West Ham, and by
the owners and salesmen of Columbia Market. The result was
that the Committee of the House of Commons struck out all clauses
relating to the compensation to the owner of Spitalfields Market,
and so conferring independent market rights upon the Great
Eastern Railway Company; but the opposition by the above
named parties being continued in the House of Lords, the Committee
of that House struck out the Market Clauses altogether,
leaving the Company (so far as the legal judgements obtained by
the owners and lessee of Spitalfields Market and the Great Eastern
Railway go) at the mercy of the owners of Spitalfields market.
COLUMBIA MARKET RAILWAY EXTENSION.
The North London Railway Company have made some progress
towards this undertaking by clearing the ground for the extension,
but the Columbia Market owners have as yet done nothing in the
way of actual works. How far they may have proceeded in the
aquisition of the property requisite I am unable to say. I have
reason to believe that the decision of the House of Lords in the
matter of the Great Eastern Railway Market may facilitate the
progress of this undertaking.
REGENTS CANAL RAILWAY.
This Company has obtained during the present Session an
extension of time of three years for acquisition of property and five
years for completion.