CHAPTER XXI.

Leading Events (_continued_).

ABOUT this time the two parties in the council became nearly equal in numbers, and the Liberals found a difficulty in selecting a mayor and sheriff every year from their own party. They accordingly proposed that each party should nominate a mayor and sheriff alternately. In 1848 S. Bignold, Esq., was nominated a second time, and elected unanimously to serve the office of mayor. From that time to the present the chief magistrate and the sheriff have been selected from each party alternately. This has also led to the members of the various committees being selected so as to represent all parties fairly, and the former exclusive system has been discontinued.

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1850. In 1850, in consequence of a memorial to the General Board of Health, established under the (1848) Public Health Act, Mr. Lee, a civil engineer and government inspector, came to Norwich and commenced an inquiry respecting the sanitary state of the city. The inquiry lasted a fortnight, and Mr. Lee heard evidence given by all the officials and other parties. He afterwards prepared a very elaborate report, showing that the supply of water was insufficient, that the drainage was defective, and that many causes of preventible disease existed. He advised the application of the Public Health Act, which was ultimately done. A company had been previously formed with a large capital, and had constructed works for the supply of water from the river Wensum to all parts of the city. The abundant supply of pure water proved very beneficial to the health of the inhabitants, and entirely relieved the Local Board of Health from all trouble on that point, and they had only to contract for the supply of water to water the roads and streets during the summer months.

In January of this year Jenny Lind gave two concerts in St. Andrew’s Hall, which was quite filled, at high prices, by fashionable audiences, more than 2000 being present at each concert. The proceeds, amounting to £1253, were generously given by the celebrated songstress for the foundation of the Jenny Lind Infirmary for Children in Pottergate Street. It was established in 1853, and visited by the Queen of Song in 1856, when she was so much pleased with the management that she added £50 to her former gifts.

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1851. The Great Exhibition of 1851, which was opened in May, attracted thousands of the citizens to London, where many of them spent weeks in viewing the wonders at the Crystal Palace. Norwich manufacturers sent many specimens of their shawls and textile fabrics. Amongst the exhibitors were Messrs C. and F. Bolingbroke and Jones; Messrs. Middleton and Answorth; Messrs. Towler, Rowling, and Allen; Messrs. Willett and Nephew; Messrs. Clabburn, Sons, and Crisp; and Messrs. Grout and Co.; all of whose productions were much admired and commended. A very large number of our operatives were conveyed by special train free to London to see the Exhibition, where they had an opportunity of inspecting the best productions of art of the whole world. This wonderful exhibition was supposed to be the harbinger of universal peace, but it was soon followed by the Russian war, which greatly depressed the trade of the city and of the whole country. It cost about a hundred millions of money, destroyed thousands of brave soldiers, and spread a general gloom over the minds of men. It ended in the fall of Sebastopol, and the triumph of the allied armies. Russian aggression was stopped for a time; but was the rotten Turkish empire worth the waste of men and money?

The census, which was taken in this year, showed that the population of Norwich had increased to 68,713 persons who were in a comparatively prosperous condition, for trade was good and provisions were cheap.

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1853. On November 1st, S. Bignold, Esq., was elected mayor of Norwich for the third time, and he filled the office with great approbation throughout the year. He lent the money required in the first instance for the new building erected for the Free Library and the School of Art, and which afforded additional accommodation for the Museum and Literary Institution.

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1854. At a meeting of the corporation held on May 4th, the mayor, S. Bignold, Esq., in the chair, he announced that Her Majesty had been graciously pleased on the previous day to confer the honour of knighthood upon him, on the occasion of his presenting the addresses, voted by the council on the 20th of April last, pledging their loyalty to the Queen when Her Majesty declared war against Russia. It was thereupon resolved unanimously, on the motion of A. A. H. Beckwith, Esq.

“That this council beg to offer their hearty congratulations to Sir S. Bignold, the mayor of Norwich, on his accession to the dignity which Her Majesty has graciously bestowed upon him, and wish him many years to enjoy the honour so worthily conferred.”

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1856. The New Cemetery was opened by the Board of Health, and the east side of it was consecrated by the bishop. The other side was assigned to the Nonconformists. Since then about 20,000 bodies have been interred in the spacious area of thirty-five acres next the Earlham Road. The grounds have been well laid out and planted with trees and shrubs.

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1857. The Yare Preservation and Anglers’ Society was founded, for the improvement of the angling in the rivers Wensum and Yare. This society has done good service for the lovers of angling on the two rivers, which formerly abounded with fish near Norwich. But on account of the pollution of the stream, anglers are obliged to go down as far as Coldham Hall or Cantley to fish with any prospect of success.

The Russian war having been brought to a close, peace was celebrated here with great rejoicings and illuminations. Major General Windham, “the hero of the Redan,” visited the city, and a grand banquet was given to him in St. Andrew’s Hall, where he delivered an eloquent address on the events of the war and its successful termination.

In August the annual congress of the British Archæological Association met in Norwich. Meetings were held in the Guildhall, St. Andrew’s Hall, the Public Library, and other buildings. Addresses were delivered by Professor Willis, Mr. Britton, and many other gentlemen. The members and friends visited the Cathedral, where Professor Willis gave a description of the edifice. They also made excursions to Ely, Dereham, Binham, Walsingham, and other places of interest. On their return to Norwich they dined together at the Swan Inn.

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1858. The Local Government Act came into operation, and gave the corporation full power to carry out all necessary improvements.

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1859. On November 19th, the Norwich Battalion of Volunteers was formally enrolled, 300 strong, in three companies, under the command of Colonel Brett, a highly-esteemed officer. The other officers were, Capt. Middleton of the first company, Capt. H. S. Patteson of the second company, and Captain Hay Gurney of the third company. The force gradually increased in number till the battalion became 530 strong, in six companies. Colonel Brett resigned on account of ill health, and Colonel Black was appointed to the chief command; next to him Major Patteson; Capt. Henry Morgan first company, Capt. John Steward second, Capt. Peter Hansell third, Capt. Charles Foster fourth, Capt. J. B. Morgan fifth, Capt. E. Field sixth; Lieut. H. Pulley, Quarter Master; John Friar Clarke, Quarter Master Sergeant; T. W. Crosse, Surgeon; Rev. F. Meyrick, Chaplain. The corporation subsequently granted a piece of land at the north-west corner of Chapel Field, and a company of shareholders built the Drill Hall for the use of the members of the corps, which has the reputation of being very efficient.

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1861. A meeting was held on January 10th to consider the best means of relieving the distress which had for some time prevailed, owing to the depression of trade; and within a month, more than £4,000 were raised for the relief of the poor. Since then the weavers have gradually found employment in some other branches of industry, especially the boot and shoe manufacture, which has greatly increased. Hundreds of operatives are also employed in iron manufactures, and in making machines for agricultural and horticultural purposes.

This year a census of the population was taken, showing a great increase, the total number being 74,891 persons, viz., males, 33,863; females, 41,028. Inhabited houses, 17,112; uninhabited houses, 739; building, 103.

The parishes within the city, together with their respective population in 1861 and their real property in 1860, were as follows:—

All Saints 667 £2,280 St. Andrew 978 7,828 St. Augustine 1,890 4,281 St. Benedict 1,381 1,869 St. Clement 3,961 7,554 Earlham 195 1,845 Eaton St. Andrew 930 8,759 St. Edmund 753 1,706 St. Etheldred 614 1,559 St. George Colegate 1,607 4,983 St. George Tombland 687 4,865 St. Giles 1,586 6,391 St. Gregory 934 4,936 Heigham 13,894 36,799 St. Helen 507 901 St. James 3,408 5,384 St. John’s Maddermarket 537 4,959 St. John Sepulchre 2,219 4,452 St. John Timberhill 1,302 2,496 St. Julian 1,361 3,142 Lakenham 4,866 15,745 St. Lawrence 877 2,421 St. Margaret 664 1,608 St. Martin at Oak 2,546 3,789 St. Martin at Palace 1,085 3,267 St. Mary Coslany 1,498 3,081 St. Mary in the Marsh 451 4,289 St. Michael Coslany 1,365 3,052 St. Michael at Plea 379 3,504 St. Michael at Thorn 2,121 4,617 St. Paul 2,907 4,391 St. Peter Hungate 399 1,105 St. Peter Mancroft 2,575 22,615 St. Peter Mountergate 2,868 7,567 St. Peter Southgate 457 3,337 St. Saviour 1,532 3,805 St. Simon and St. Jude 283 1,221 St. Stephen 4,191 15,321 St. Swithin 699 2,174

There are also within the city jurisdiction the hamlet of Hellesdon, population 393, belonging to Hellesdon parish; Thorpe hamlet, population 2,388, belonging to the parish of Thorpe St. Andrew; Trowse Millgate, Carrow, and Bracondale, population 687, belonging to Trowse parish; population 249, extra parochial. The population in 1861 and the real property in 1860 of all Hellesdon were 496, £3,376; of all Thorpe St. Andrew 3,841, £9,003; of all Trowse, 1,404, £3,534.

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1862. In 1862 the Great Exhibition in London afforded some of our city manufacturers another opportunity of exhibiting their productions, and making known the skill of our artisans. Messrs. Clabburn, Son, and Crisp won the gold medal for their superfine fillover shawls, which are made by a patented process, so as to display a perfect design on each side. Messrs. C. and F. Bolingbroke and Jones gained a medal for their poplins and poplinettes. The shawls of Messrs. Towler, Rowling, and Allen obtained honourable mention. So much for what are usually regarded as the staple products of Norwich. But Norwich won for itself the admiration of the world in some other matters. Messrs. Barnard and Bishop, for instance, were spoken of far and wide for their splendid park gates in ornamental wrought iron, which were subsequently purchased and presented to the Prince of Wales, and now adorn one of the entrances to His Royal Highness’s park at Sandringham. Of course also Messrs. Colman took high prizes for their world-renowned mustard and starch—the medal given them for mustard being the only medal granted in the United Kingdom for this article of commerce. As publishers, Messrs. Jarrold and Sons received honourable mention for their educational works, and publications of high moral excellence.

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1863. H. S. Patteson, Esq., was mayor in 1863, when on March 10th the citizens again displayed their enthusiastic loyalty by processions, illuminations, balls, &c., on the occasion of the marriage of the Prince and Princess of Wales. Their Royal Highnesses have made themselves very popular in this county, by living part of the year at Sandringham, and participating in all the festivities and amusements of the gentry and inhabitants. On the occasion of the marriage of their Royal Highnesses, seven of the principal manufacturing firms presented, through the corporation to the Princess Alexandra, specimens of the elegant fabrics for which Norwich has so long been famous.

NORWICH UNION.

In this year the Court of Guardians of this city obtained a new act of parliament for an improved management of the poor, and repealing all former acts. Under the new act the present Board of Guardians is constituted with a reduced number of guardians, and the whole management is more in accordance with the New Poor Law system. Norwich is now a union of parishes, divided into districts, each having medical attendants. By this new act all former acts, including the Norwich Small Tenements Act of 1847, were repealed, and the city was brought under the operation of the General Poor Law, and all other statute and laws from time to time in force with respect to the poor in England. The union is now divided into sixteen districts, viz.:—

1. St. Peter Mountergate, St. George of Tombland.

2. St. Mary in the Marsh, St. Martin at Palace, St. Helen, St. Michael at Plea.

3. St. Peter Hungate, St. Simon and Jude, St. Andrew.

4. St. John Maddermarket, St. Gregory, St. Lawrence.

5. St. Margaret, St. Swithin, St. Benedict, St. Giles.

6. South Heigham. 7. North Heigham.

8. St. Peter Mancroft.

9. St. Stephen and the Town Close.

10. Eaton, Earlham, and Hellesdon.

11. St. John Sepulchre, St. Michael at Thorn, St. John Timberhill, and All Saints.

12. Trowse, Carrow, Bracondale, St. Peter Southgate, St. Julian, and St. Etheldred.

13. Lakenham.

14. Thorpe, Pockthorpe, St. Paul, and St. James.

15. St. Saviour, St. Clement, St. Edmund, St. George.

16. St. Michael at Coslany, St. Mary at Coslany, St. Martin at Oak, St. Augustine.

The board consists of forty-two guardians, elected for the sixteen districts as follows:—

For each of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, eleventh, and twelfth districts, two guardians; for each of the sixth, seventh, ninth, thirteenth, fourteenth, and sixteenth districts, three guardians; for the eighth district five guardians. For the purpose of this act with respect to the limits of the palace of the bishop of Norwich, the same are deemed to be locally situated within the parish of St. Mary in the Marsh.

The following are the qualifications for voting in the election of guardians:—

A. Occupiers of rateable property who respectively are rated in respect thereof on a gross assessment of ten pounds and upwards.

B. Owners of rateable property, who respectively are rated in respect thereof on a net assessment of ten pounds or upwards. Provided, that where two or more persons are jointly rated, one only of them shall be entitled to vote, and in every case the rating shall have been in the last two rates, each made at least two months before the day of election, and in respect of property in the district in which the person votes, and the rates shall have been paid at least fourteen days before the day of election.

At every election of guardians the rate-payers voting have votes in accordance with the following scale:—

A. If rated at £10 and under £25, one vote.

B. If rated at £25 and under £50, two votes.

C. If rated at £50 and under £75, three votes.

D. If rated at £75 and under £100, four votes.

E. If rated at £100 and under £150, five votes.

F. If rated at £150 or upwards, six votes.

And no rate-payer at any election of guardians for any one and the same district have more than six votes.

All the compounding provisions of the act were abolished by the Reform Act of 1867.

The old court of guardians had the management of lunatic paupers, who were maintained in an asylum in St. Augustine’s. Great care appears to have been taken of them, and many of them were cured, more in proportion than in any other town. Nevertheless, the lunacy commissioners who visited the asylum reported that the place was unhealthy and unfit for lunatics, and recommended, or rather demanded that a new asylum should be built in a more healthy situation. This the old court of guardians considered to be quite unnecessary, and the whole matter was transferred to the council under the Lunatic Asylums Act of 1853, that body having the option of taking the matter in hand. The council, already over-loaded with municipal business, Board of Health business, drainage, paving, lighting, watering the roads, &c., actually undertook the management of the lunatic paupers, in 1863. After many discussions a majority of the members decided that a new asylum was unnecessary, and refused to build one. The Lunacy Commissioners, however, made a strong report to the Secretary of State on the subject, who sent down an order to the council to build an asylum. Since then land has been purchased for its site, which is likely to cost from £30,000 to £40,000!

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1864. In 1864 the operatives made a very laudable effort to improve their depressed condition by establishing an “Industrial Weavers’ Co-operative Society,” and held many meetings to promote that object. The Rev. C. Caldwell, and other gentlemen, advocated their cause. The society was supported by donations, and J. H. Gurney, Esq., advanced a sum which had been left by his father for the benefit of the weavers, the principal with interest amounting to £1100.

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1865. The Norfolk Chamber of Agriculture was instituted, and frequent meetings of the members have been held at the Norfolk Hotel, Norwich. The objects of the chamber are to watch over all measures affecting agriculture both in and out of parliament, to co-operate with the General Chamber thereon, and to take such action as may be for the benefit of agriculturists. At the meetings of the members interesting questions have been discussed, and C. S. Read, Esq., M.P. for East Norfolk, has generally presided, and given much valuable information.

The most important event in this diocese of late years was the holding of a Church Congress in Norwich. A preliminary meeting to consider the proposal was held in the Clerical Rooms on Saturday, December 10th, 1864. When this was announced there was no little apprehension in Low Church circles, but the proposal was approved by most of the clergy, and they requested the Lord Bishop to preside over the Congress, which was held in October, 1865. After some delay his lordship reluctantly consented, and never before was there such a gathering of clergy in the city. St. Andrew’s Hall was filled every day for a week in October, 1865. High churchmen throughout the country made it a point of duty to attend the congress; and the proceedings at the daily meetings were of a very interesting character to churchmen generally. Addresses were delivered every day on very important subjects; and the bible history was ably vindicated against the objections of geologists and freethinkers. The church as an establishment was well defended by her champions. Three local newspapers were published daily, containing full reports of the proceedings. Dr. Pusey read a discourse of great interest in defence of the Old Testament narratives.

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1866. THE ROYAL VISIT TO NORWICH.

In November the Prince and Princess of Wales travelled from their seat at Sandringham to Cossey on a visit to Lord and Lady Stafford, who entertained their Royal Highnesses in a princely style. Their Royal Highnesses, during their sojourn at Cossey, visited this city, entering by way of the Dereham Road and St. Giles’ Road, and passing under triumphal arches amid the acclamations of thousands of the citizens, it being a general holiday. They stopped at the Guildhall and received an address from the corporation. Then they proceeded to St. Andrew’s Hall and attended a morning concert of the musical festival. Their Royal Highnesses, on leaving the hall, rode along the principal streets, through the Market Place, and up St. Stephen’s to the Chapel Field, where they were joyously received by the Manchester Unity of Odd Fellows, and where they planted two trees in memory of their visit. Their Royal Highnesses thence proceeded to the new Drill Hall, which the Prince of Wales formally opened. After this ceremony their Royal Highnesses returned to Cossey Hall. They were accompanied by the Queen of Denmark (mother of the Princess of Wales), and by Prince Alfred (the Duke of Edinburgh). In the evening the city was brilliantly illuminated.

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1867. The Norwich Industrial Exhibition was held for six weeks, from August 15th till October 20th, 1867, in St. Andrew’s Hall. About 1000 exhibitors sent specimens of works of art and useful articles, which quite filled the hall. Hundreds of splendid paintings were lent for the occasion, and the show attracted many thousands of visitors. The industrial part of the exhibition was most creditable to the working men of Norwich, many of whom gained medals and money prizes for the best specimens of useful and ornamental articles. The mayor, F. E. Watson, Esq., distributed the prizes on November 5th.

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1868. The great event of the year 1868 was the meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science in the city. It commenced on August 19th and continued till the 26th. The old city was filled with distinguished visitors from all parts of Europe; and the hotels, inns, and lodging houses were crowded with strangers. Norwich gave a hospitable welcome to the Society. Dr. Hooker, who by association and descent is a Norfolk man, delivered the inaugural address. The various scientific sections held daily meetings at different public places. The proceedings were reported in daily issues of the _Norfolk News_ and the _Norfolk Chronicle_, and also in the regular issues of the _Norwich Mercury_.

On November the 9th, J. J. Colman, Esq., retired from the office of mayor, and E. K. Harvey, Esq., was elected as his successor; John Robison, Esq., was at the same time chosen as sheriff, as successor to Robert Fitch, Esq. As this is the last act of the council which we shall have to chronicle, we take the opportunity of adding a few words on the present state of the corporation. By the Municipal Reform Act all previous charters remain in force, except so far as they are rendered inconsistent with the provisions of that act, and the city is now divided into eight wards, and incorporated under the style or title of the “Mayor, Aldermen, and Burgesses of the city and borough of Norwich.” The corporate body consists of sixteen aldermen and forty-eight councillors. The mayor is chosen annually on the 9th of November from the members of the council, who also on the same day choose the sheriff from the same body, or from persons qualified to vote for councillors, and who are eligible to the office of councillor. The members of the council are chosen annually on November 1st by the inhabitant householders of three years’ successive occupation, the freemen having been disfranchised for municipal purposes. The aldermen are elected by the council, and go out of office every three years. Committees of the council are appointed for conducting the business of the corporate body. The corporation is possessed of various estates, tolls, and dues, the profits and proceeds of which are placed to the Borough Fund, under the act, and are applied towards the reduction of the rates levied on the citizens. Several large estates which were in the hands of the corporation for charitable purposes are now vested in charity trustees. The corporation still pay fee farm rents to the crown, over £100 yearly. There is in trust of the corporation an estate of 112 acres, situated outside of St. Stephen’s Gate, called the “Town Close,” on which the burgesses had the right of commonage formerly, but in lieu of which right the freemen receive a few shillings yearly. The meetings of the corporation are held in the Council Chamber in the Guildhall almost every fortnight for the despatch of business, and meetings of the committees are held almost daily. The body corporate, as a Council and Board of Health, levies rates as we have already said to the amount of £45,000 yearly. The Board of Guardians sits in the same room, and raises by poor rates about £30,000 yearly, making the local taxation amount to £75,000 per annum. The City Police and Fire Brigade, under direction of Mr. R. Hitchman, the chief constable, occupy the basement of the Guildhall. The force, comprising nearly a hundred men, is considered to be very efficient.

This year an extensive scheme was begun for an effective drainage of the city. We subjoin a brief history of the proceedings which led to this movement, and take the opportunity at the same time of giving some details as to the general operations of the Local Board of Health.

THE NEW DRAINAGE SCHEME.

So long ago as 1862, complaints were made of the impurity of the river in consequence of all the sewage of the city and of all the water closets being poured into the stream. In 1863, many inhabitants of Thorpe became urgent in their demands that some immediate steps should be taken to divert the sewage from the river, but this was more easily asked than done. The Board of Health, however, requested their then surveyor (Mr. Barry) to report on the subject; and subsequently Mr. Bazalgette visited Norwich and surveyed the stream.

In the autumn of 1865 Mr. Bazalgette’s report was received. It recommended a plan of conveying the sewage through main drains to Crown Point to irrigate the land there. The board discussed the report and appointed a sewerage committee, who entered into negotiations with R. J. H. Harvey, Esq., M.P., for irrigating part of his estate at Crown Point. Mr. Harvey was to pay the cost of preparing the land for irrigation, and the annual cost of pumping; but after a preliminary notice had been given of the intention of the board to apply for an act of parliament, the board determined not to proceed at that time with the application for the act.

The board subsequently entered into contract with Mr. Hope, of London, to sell him the sewage for thirty years; and the necessary works were ordered to be commenced on March 20th, 1866. The board, however, being pressed by a strong opposition to the scheme, in a few days afterwards rescinded the contract. In consequence of this, proceedings in chancery were commenced, and an injunction was ultimately obtained.

On May 31st, 1866, the board resolved, “That it is absolutely needful at once to take measures to divert the sewage from the river.” Negotiations were entered into for the hire of part of the Crown Point estate, the agreement for which was confirmed by the board on July 10th, 1866. By this agreement the board took on lease 1290 acres of land at Crown Point, at £3 5s. per acre, for thirty years—the whole sewage of the city to be conveyed to Trowse and pumped over the land. Many objections were made to this measure, that the rent was too high, and that the experiment would prove a failure. Pursuant, however, to a resolution of the board, passed on October 9th, in the same year, the committee took the necessary steps to obtain an act of parliament, and did obtain it in June, 1867.

After the act was obtained, Mr. Morant, the city engineer, by direction of the committee, proceeded with the preparation of the necessary drawings and specifications for the drainage works, and by order of the board the following contracts were entered into, namely:—

£ 1. For the steam engines (with Mr. John Clayton of 6435 Preston) 2. For iron pipes (the Staveley Coal and Iron 3500 Company) 3. For laying such pipes (Mr. John Downing of 549 Norwich) 4. For the erection of engine houses (Mr. Daniel 6988 Balls of Norwich) 5. For the construction of the main intercepting 28,830 sewers (Mr. Thomas Wainwright of London) 6. The ground for the pumping works was purchased for 2000 £48,302

Other sums are required for constructing drains, sewers, penstock chamber, and other subsidiary works, and the entire scheme is proposed to be carried out under the sanction of the act of Parliament, at the estimated cost of £60,000.

A very powerful opposition was raised against the scheme. A memorial, very numerously signed, was presented to the board of health against it. Public meetings were held at which the whole thing was condemned as unnecessary, expensive, and likely to be a failure. Eventually, after much discussion, with a large minority against it, and in opposition to the opinions of the citizens expressed in common hall, the board resolved to carry out the scheme, and the works are now in progress. The general plan is to construct two main drains, one on each side of the river Wensum, to intercept the sewage and to carry it to Trowse, where a pumping station has been erected, and engines will be set to work to pump all the sewage over the land hired at Crown Point estate.

The drainage expenditure, though so enormous, has been only a part of the expenditure of the board, upon which the duty falls of repairing all the streets and roads, lighting, watering, &c. In the first half year of 1867, the estimated expenditure was as follows:—

£ _s._ _d._ Repairs to streets and roads 2008 7 0 Lighting the same 1776 11 9 Salaries 442 1 5 Sundries 475 5 6 Interest on loans 1336 16 0 Interest on bonds 372 0 0 £6411 1 8

Twice that sum would be £12,822 3s. 4d. for the year, quite irrespective of the drainage works.

The annual abstract of the accounts of the board issued in 1867, shows the receipts and payments from September 1st, 1866, to September 1st, 1867. The receipts amounted to £15,873 3s. 6d., the payments to £15,323 18s. 2d., which sum included £1204 16s. 7d. sewage expenses, (chiefly law charges). Of course the receipts were derived almost entirely from the half-yearly rates. The expenditure included £3314 9s. 8d. for interest, the rest being for repairs to streets and roads, paving, lighting, sewerage works, salaries, &c.

Mr. Morant, the present able engineer to the Board of Health, made his first annual report in May, 1867, and showed the expenditure in his department for the year preceding April 5th, 1867, to be as follows:—

£ _s._ _d._ Repairs to roads 2192 4 11 Paving 870 0 0 Sewers 576 2 2 Urinals 86 13 0 £3725 0 1

The engineer’s next report was for the year ending April 5th, 1868, and was divided into three heads. Repairs to roads; repairs to paving; and repairs to sewers. First with respect to roads. The cost of the macadamised roads had been £2329 12s. 7d., being an increase of £137 7s. 8d. Some new roads had been taken by the board, and were repaired and cleansed, and all the roads were stated to be in good order. Second, with respect to paving. The expenditure had been £1088 8s. 10d., being an increase of £218 13s., but a part of the Market Place had been newly paved with granite at a cost of £216. Third, with respect to the sewers. The cost of repairs, &c., had been £546 5s. 5d., being a decrease of £29 16s. 9d.

Since 1850 the annals of the city consist chiefly of proceedings of the corporation as a council or Board of Health. Meetings have been held almost every fortnight for the transaction of public business, which has been largely increased. The proceedings of one single year, even if summarised, would fill a volume. The corporation has levied rates to the amount of £45,000 yearly! and the expenditure has been of equal amount. This has been caused by many public improvements, by widening old streets and opening new ones, and by the extension of the area of the Cattle Market.

Mr. Morant gives the following account of the drainage works:

“The drainage of the city of Norwich flows into the river at numerous places, as is commonly the case; it is the object of the new works now in progress to intercept all the old sewers, to prevent the sewage flowing into the river, and to convey it to one point. For this purpose several deep sewers are being constructed, varying in size from 18 inches in diameter to 6 feet high by 4 feet wide, of oval shape.

“The point selected for the pumping station is between the railway at Trowse Station and the river Yare; and a large piece of garden ground has been purchased, and engine and boilerhouses, workshops, &c., have been erected. Adjoining the engine-well are the grating tank and penstock chamber, and with these the principal main sewer communicates. This sewer, which is 6 ft by 4 ft., is intended to be carried under the bottom of Bracondale, Carrow Hill, and along King Street to near Messrs. Morgan’s brewery, where it will receive the high-level sewer. This sewer will be from 30 ft. to 80 ft. below the surface of the ground. From this point it will be 5 ft. 3 in. by 3 ft. 6 in., and will be continued along King Street to the top of Rose Lane; here one branch will turn off to the right under Rose Lane, beneath the bottom of the river near Foundry Bridge, under the towing path, to beyond Bishopgate Bridge, where it will unite with the present outfall sewer, and receive the whole of the drainage of the northern portion of the city. From Rose Lane the main will continue to Tombland, where a branch will extend to Bishopgate Bridge, with subsidiary branches to Quay Side, &c.; it will then turn to the left under Prince’s Street, St. Andrews Broad Street, Charing Cross, and Lower Westwick Street, and will unite with the present sewer emptying itself at the New Mills.

“From the end of the principal main near Messrs. Morgan’s in King Street the high-level sewer will commence with a flight of granite steps, about 30 feet in height, and continue 4 ft. 6 in. by 3 ft., gradually reducing, and carried under King Street to Rose Lane, across the Bull Ring, where it will be about 44 feet below the surface, under Opie Street, Bedford Street, Pottergate Street, West Pottergate Street, Mill Hill, Rose Valley, Mount Pleasant, Town Close Road to Ipswich Road, and will provide for the sewage of a very large district hitherto entirely undrained.

“Self-acting Storm Overflows are provided at several convenient points, and also numerous shafts for access to, and ventilation of, the sewers. At the pumping station at Trowse the sewage, after passing through gratings to prevent sticks and other substances from choking the pump valves, will pass into the engine-well, from whence it will be pumped through cast-iron pipes 20 inches in diameter, laid under the Kirby Road to near the cross road leading to the Bungay Road, and then be led in a main conduit across the centre of the land hired by the Board, and by means of small feeders to every part of the farm.

“The steam engines will be three in number, and of the kind known as condensing rotative beam engines, with steam cylinders of 35 in. diameter and 6 ft. stroke. Each engine will be provided with a high lift pump connected with the pumping main, and also with a low lift pump; the object of the low lift pumps is to enable the rain water to be pumped into the overflow sewer in time of heavy storms, when the sewage is so greatly diluted as to be little more than soiled water; the first scouring of the sewers will be pumped by the high lift pumps on to the land.

“Four boilers, each 27 ft. 6 in. long and 7 ft. diameter, with two flues, are provided to produce the steam necessary for working the engines, and the chimney shaft to remove the smoke is 140 feet in height.

“The foundation of the engine had to be carried down 29 feet below the surface, and much difficulty was found in getting in the walls on account of the force of the springs, the bottom being 22 feet below the water level in the adjoining river, and from the same cause considerable difficulty is met with in driving the tunnels for the sewers. In Trowse for example, the soil proved to be running sand and mud, which was very troublesome to overcome; the same soil exists under Rose Lane, Foundry Bridge, and Bishopgate Street, but nearly everywhere else the tunnels will be in the chalk.

“Irrigation by sewage is no doubt quite in its infancy, but from the very satisfactory results arrived at at Barking, Croydon, Norwood, Edinburgh, Banbury, Rugby, and other places, there is good reason to hope that eventually the Board’s Sewage Farm at Crown Point will prove a success.”