1843.] 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



325 



piles driven down into the clay, metallic concrete, 10 feet 7 inches thick, 

 was thrown in, and a good firm bottom obtained. 



In addition and adjoining to this arc the Guard-rooms and Sub-hall under 

 the Royal gallery, which are about eight feet above the ground level. 



The Sub-hall under the House of Peers is carried up nearly to the prin- 

 cipal floor level, as arc the central tower and adjoining buildings. 



The Sub-hall under the House of Commons is about six feet above the 

 ground level, as are the Commons' residencies, comprising those for the 

 chief cleric of the House and the librarian. 



The clock tower at the north-west angle of the building has the founda- 

 tion and groining to the vaults completed. 



As regards the internal decoration of those parts already finished, it will be 

 remarked that the only parts completed are — the Public Hall, with its 

 chimney-piece, with bold jambs enriched with the several orders of knight- 

 hood, with their appropriate mottoes, foliage, &c, and having over the chim- 

 ney-piece niches containing the lion and the unicorn separately holding 

 sbielns. Over each entrance are the present Royal 'arms, the supporters 

 holding banners with their respective cognizances. The spandrils and en- 

 riched mouldings are filled in with national devices, mottoes, and foliage. 



In the Central Lobby attached to the Public Hall over the side entrances, 

 are the Royal arms, with helmet and crest. On the sides of the doors are 

 badges of the three kingdoms in high relief, surmounted with crowns, whilst 

 underneath the windows are panels with sceptres, swords of state, and 

 ribands, forming a proper device, and filled in with the national foliage. 

 On the staircase, leading out of the Public Hall are windows with elaborate 

 tracery, with a border of quarter foils, filled in with patera;, continued down 

 with a series of shields. 



These, it would appear, are the only parts which are finished in the in- 

 terior up to the present time, but still even in this short summary enough is 

 shown to display the magnificent style and character in which it is intended 

 to carry out the plan of the New Houses of Parliament. 



In addition to those parts of the building which came under the observa- 

 tion of our correspondent, the most striking object was a pattern of the 

 ceiling, which it is proposed to place in the two halls, which Peers and Com- 

 mons are actually to occupy. These ceiliugs are to be of wood, and are to 

 be formed in 18 compartments, divided by spandrils springing from corbels ; 

 each of these compartments are about seven feet square, aud have upon their 

 face a plain, but exquisitely beautiful, raised pattern, traced from the design 

 of Mr. T. Dighton, the artist. It is understood, also, that these ceilings are 

 to be in colours, and when completed, we have no doubt, they will he magni- 

 ficent. Taken altogether, the works would appear to be proceeding satisfac- 

 torily. Our correspondent states that about 600 persons are employed 

 actively upon them ; aud it is hoped that the part intended for the House of 

 Lords will be ready for use in about a couple of years. 



When finished, there can be no question that there will be nothing in 

 Europe superior to them, either as regards the taste and magnificence ex- 

 hibited in the design, the magnitude of the building itself, or the exquisite 

 workmanship apparent in every part of it. 



RAILWAY CHRONICLE OF THE MONTH. 



Greenwich Railway. — The half-yearly meeting of the Greenwich company 

 was held on Tuesday the 1st. The report showed a falling off in the traffic, 

 as compared with the corresponding period of 1842, of 119,000 passengers 

 and £2327. There was no dividend for the original shareholders, who 

 feeling that the course which had been pursued under their sanction, had 

 been wholly unsuccessful, carried the appointment of a committee of inquiry 

 to consider what means there were of arranging with the other companies as 

 to the toll to be paid over the Greenwich line, what alterations were neces- 

 sary in the fares, and to investigate into the whole management of the con- 

 cern ab initio. It is to be observed, that the existing board came in under 

 a committee of inquiry some years ago. On the 15th, the meeting was again 

 held by adjournment, when a report only as to the fares was given, recom- 

 mending reduced fares of 6d., fid., and id., return tickets of Is. and lOrf. for 

 the 1st and 2nd classes, and annual subscriptions of 12 guineas and 10 gui- 

 neas for the first and second classes. Another adjourned meeting was held 

 on the 24th, when it was resolved to accept the mileage principle, but with a 

 guarantee that it should not fall below a certain amount, £13,000 being the 

 amount contended for by the Greenwich. 



Grand Junction Railway.— The meeting of the company was on the 3rd; 

 the chief features of interest are a decrease on the receipts of £22,542 lis. lie/., 

 and in the expenditure of £13,653, on the corresponding half year of 1842. 

 Dividend at the rate of 10 per cent per annum. No allowance made this 

 half year for the depreciation fund. 

 The Manchester and Boltm Railway Company report that they bay* agreed 



conjointly with the Lancaster Railway proprietors to supply locomotive 

 power to the Bolton and Preston Railway company. They have also com- 

 menced an improvement of the canal navigation, which will render it capable 

 of admitting vessels of 68 feet in length, 14 feet 2 inches in width, and 

 drawing 4 feet 6 inches water, boats hitherto being restricted to about 3 feet 

 draught of water. This is to improve the coal traffic. They state that the 

 colonnade, forming part of the connecting line with the Liverpool and Man- 

 chester and Manchester and Leeds at Manchester, is nearly completed, little 

 remaining to be done but to lay the rails. The dividend was 1/. 7s. 9d. per 

 share. 



The North Union Ruihcay Company recommends a decrease of dividend, 

 and state the diminution of passenger receipts at £2000. 



The Chester and Birkenhead Railway Company mention a decrease of 3970 

 passengers and 5521. and in the expenditure of £3240. The arrangements 

 for the tunnel from the Birkenhead station to Monk's Ferry are mentioned 

 as in progress. The dividenil was 7s. Zd. on the original shares of 50Z. A 

 resolution was carried in favour of low fares. 



The York and North Midland Railway meeting was held on the 4th, and a 

 decrease was staled in the passenger receipts of £2200, an increase in goods 

 of £2682, and a reduction in the expenses of £1000. The dividend recom- 

 mended was 21. 10s. per share, taking a small sum from the reserved 

 fund. The Directors recommend the prosecution of a branch from York to 

 Scarborough to join the Whitby and Pickering Railway. 



The Leeds and Selby Railway is leased to the York and North Midland. 

 The dividend declared was 21. 10s. per share. 



The Brighton Railway meeting was held on the 8th. A new board having 

 been appointed, the report was principally directed to the arrangement of 

 the accounts, which were in a defective state. It stated that eight contracts 

 remained unsettled. A new wharf is mentioned as having been completed at 

 Shoreham, for the reception of steam vessels of the largest class, which 

 cross the channel from England to France ; and also for the loading and 

 unloading of trading vessels of greater burden, three of which can be ac- 

 commodated at one time. An opinion was expressed favourable to an amal- 

 gamation of the locomotive power with the South Eastern and Croydon 

 Companies. No dividend was declared, as the Directors had charged the 

 interest account up to the date of making up the books, which had not pre- 

 viously been done. 



The North Midland Railway meeting was on the 9th. A diminution had 

 been effected in the working expenses of £11,530. A branch to Bradford was 

 recommended to be prosecuted, and resolutions in favour of an amalgamation 

 with the Midland Counties and Birmingham and Derby Companies. A di- 

 vidend was recommended of 11. 10s. per share. 



We must observe that with nearly every Company a reduction or prospective 

 reduction of the rate of interest on loans was reported. 



The Northern and Eastern Railway meeting was on the 10th. The report 

 states that Mr. Robert Stephenson has been engaged as engineer to the com- 

 pany ; that a contract had been made with Messrs. Grissell and Peto for the 

 entire construction of the Hertford and Ware branch, for £67,000, half to bo 

 taken in shares at par ; and that the opening was expected in October. The 

 Newport extension was to be begun on the removal of the crops. An exten- 

 sion to Cambridge was urged as necessary, and steps will be taken. The 

 dividend was 12s. Gd. per share. A proposal from the Eastern Counties 

 Railway Company tor an amalgamation, not being adequate, had not been 

 accepted. 



Tli£ London and Birmingham Railway Company's meeting was on the 11 til 

 at Birmingham. It was stated that the decrease in the passenger receipts 

 had been £13,113, increase on goods £10,019, and reduction in charges o 

 £20,430. Dividend recommended at the rate of 10 per cent per annum. The 

 works of the Warwick and Leamington Railway arc stated to be let on satis- 

 factory conditions. 



The Midland Counties Railway meeting was held on the 10th. The Direc- 

 tors report the continuance of a contest with the Birmingham and Derby 

 company about the traffic. The dividend recommended was 1/. 4s. per share. 

 A resolution was passed appointing a deputation to confer with the Midland 

 and Birmingham and Derby Railway Companies, as to the Chester amalga- 

 mation. 



The Great North of England Railway meeting was held on the 8lh, There 



