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45
Hiscox, and G. J. Lough), who subsequently reported their
opinion that a remedy for the local floodings might be
provided by the establishment of a pumping station in the
vicinity of Millbank Street. This opinion was duly communicated
to the Council in accordance with the suggestion
of Sir Walter de Souza, but three months passed without a
sign or sound of any intention to apply a remedy, albeit
the signs and sounds resulting from continued overflows
were not wanting.
At last, on the 20th February. 1890, the Council wrote
regretting that "recent" circumstances relating to their
Engineer's Department had caused some delay in the consideration
of the best means for the prevention of the
floodings, and stating that the matter had been referred to
the newly appointed engineer, who would enter upon his
duties on the 3rd March, as one of great urgency, adding
that Mr. (now Sir) Benjamin Baker had been specially
instructed to join him in reporting upon the general
capacity and requirements of the main line sewers. Recent
circumstances were advanced as reasons for delay in the
consideration of a matter which had been pressed upon the
central authority since 1885, or, if the London County
Council be held irresponsible so far as their predecessors
were concerned, upon that body itself, in a very strenuous
manner, for nearly twelve months.
On the 5th March the surveyor reported to the Works
Committee another request for suggestions or information
which the Vestry acceded to. The last step taken by the
Vestry before the close of the official year was to request
the member for the borough, Mr. Burdett-Coutts, to submit
an enquiry in the House of Commons to the President of
the Local Government Board, "with reference to the delay
" on the part of the London County Council in providing
"relief from the flooding of basements in this parish."