The Star And Newfoundland Advocate, 1846-07-23, vol. 06

              '-"~\     •   .' '
Vol.. Nh
And   JYewfimn0and ^tdvocatm
THURSDAY, JULY 23,  1846.        \
ST.   JOHN'S:   Printed and Published hfSQ&N THOMAS BURTON, at his Office, Meeting- House HiH.
'   - .   ■■*•--  *..., - iK^rJJ'K i      ; -   '•-,, ,V
-*. . .   RE PO R.•f
'Ofthe'C6ramTstfoher3appoiht'^d  by  His Extel-
lency the Governor to survey and lay  out  the
Town of St,  John'* preparatory to its being
Rebuilt. '   ** V   . V
Immediately after receiving their appointnteut,
♦lie Commissioners proceeded to the discharge 'of
ihe important duties required by the Resolutions
cf the House of Assembly, and in the Instructions
received from Yfoir Excellency *, and tl*£y have,
r/mce then, plseaT their unremitting attention to
the accomplishment of them ; and in ordet* that
.their Report may be coirrpleted'witli as little delay
is possible, the Commissioners have, wiriiout preparing any extensive section, so far satisfied them-
selves°of the different levels in various parts of the
Town as'to enable them to proceed with their
work.     4 . I
Surreys have been "unnecessary, as the pknj
prepared by the Suiteyor-General has afforded
them.nearly all the data of^hj^t description which
they hajrc found requisite. ~
Tho Commissioners entirely concur in the sug-
j-estlon ofsYour Excellency as to the advantages
which would be the result " of throwing the now
oien space North of Church-hill which surrounded the late Protestant Church and its burial ground,
into a square -*" and *-**f*f have accordingly marked
ofthe.grour.d, and shown ih the plan, an improvement of that description, which the Cbmmis-
lionere are satisfied will at once be an ornament
«ad**meajhs of safety to the Town. The oilier
subjects adverted to by Your Excellency have not j
been lost sight ofby the Commissioners, ancLthey|
kve accordingIy_,J-».id out such new streets,, and ,
luggestelthe closingot* others, as in their opinion j
the cobve'nienee of>'the p'ubl'r? required. The'
*hole of the alterations submitted by the Co;n-
, Tnissioners thfey have accurately laid down on the
1 plan' to which they have before adverted, and
»bich is herewith forwarded to Y^oor/Excellency.
The details connected with sut~-" alterations
tie Commissioners willp now- proceed more
Jihiculariy -.to describe under their various
leads, V    Vi-.-i
WATER STREET.
Tha following description and distances will
pre the South tide line of Water Street,
Commencing at station No. 1, at Maggot, y
Coje, at the North-Eastern corner of Brine's
far-dat'ion wall, and running in a line of said wall
lb siatton No. 2, a distance of about 215 feet;—
tbenco to station No. 3, a point opposite*, the East
end of Mrs. Woodley's house, and 80 feet East-
vard of the lane leading from Water to Duckworth
Street, near Fort William, distance about 840
fat;-—thence to 'station No. 4, a point opposito
Id Messrs. Robinson & Brooking's premi-es^distance
id pjoiii 440 feet ;—thence to station No. r>,-a point
Ehat cuts off liJ feet bf the Eastern gable ofthe
ftaeen's store, Ordnance Wharf, nnd runs Ira-ouch
> the North front of said store 30, feet from the
'tsfend,distance about 8ti0 feet;—thence to
itation No. J3-, a point that intersects a line parallel
rith, snd 12 feet north of; the line of the Hon. P.
•".orris's property,' arid directly opposite the East-
ini side of Gambicr Street, distance about 130
it; thence following the aforesaid line parallel
the said Mr. Morris's property, distance about
-,'r- 1J0 feet to station No. 7, which point intersects a
at,. foe drawn/iti the direction of the North front of
&W3, Hunters & Co.'s premises and opposite
ie Eastern side of Holloway street;—thence in
1 direction and along the said front of. Messrs.
-.miters 81 Co.'s premises about 336 feet 16 station
fc 8, which is at the North-West angle of Messrs.
Hunters iSc Co 's premises and nearly opposite the
Eastern side of M'Larty's Lane;—thence to sta-
kn No. 9, a point that takes off about 15 feet of
Wangle hearty opposite Messrs. W. 8* H. Tho-
Hu & Co.'s tmop, and 70 feet fro-rn the North-side
••the street at this point, distance about 500 feet;
-*taenee to station No.'10, being the North-east-
bangle of tho situation of the wooden building
"Wy standing to ihfrjeastw^trd of Messrs. Baine,
°Wton & Qo'i Stone -premises, distance about
*5 feet {-—thence to station No. tT*jin the dire->
(■***of the North front llni^bf Messrs.'Baine,
ohnston & Co.'s buildings to the centre of the
•****"*ge leading to Flannery's W{tarf, distance
lbo,-rt IDO feet; thence in a straight line cutting
N&t the middle, of the Eastern end of McBride
k.aWVfofldTrig, and 70 feet from the buildings
* *Ee North sidd, and running out at the angle
ft^'ift'tW Mock of stone and brick buildings
Pterin McBride & Kerr's and Grace's corners,
'lUtioa No, It. at a point near Matthew Stew
art's, distance a*bout 446 feet;—thence along said
block of stone and brick buildings to Grace's corner, and, across fie Cove to station ****lo. 13", being
a point at the North-Eastern boundary of»,tl*e
premises lately occupied by Messrs. E. & N. Stabb
& Co., end 70 feet south of thevNorth side ol
Water street at this point, distance abou>257 feet;
—thence to station No. H, in a linb-nearly paralr
lei with the North side of Water-street, and 70
feet to the Sou.th, distance about 43S feet, to a
point opposite the SouUi-West angle of Ad-doidr-
Street, and opposite Mrs. Ash's corner ;—thence
to station No. 15, being the Nonh-west angle of
Messrs. J. & W. Stewart's stone buildings, distance about 448 feet 5 thence to station No. M6,
being the Nortk-Eastern-angle of Messrs. Stuart
& Rennle's .**tone premises, distance about 228
feet.;—ihence -in the direction of ihe line of the
said Stuart & Rennie's sione premises until it
intersects a line drawn in the direction of a new
sione foundation wall lately erected by Messrs.
Newman & Co., distance about 610 feet, to station
No. 17 ;—thence in a line with the said foundatioi
wall of Messrs. Newman & Co. to.yieNorih-Ea«-
ern'comer ofa block of buildings belorfgii,,-* tr* !Xi
heirs of Dameral, distance about 360 feet, to station No. 18 5—thence along the line of saW build-
ingsto station No. 19, being a poipt^t the Northern opening of Job's Bridge, and 70 feel South of
the buildings opposite tLereto, distance, aboittp52
feet;—thence to station No. 20. near the lane
leading to the Gas-works, and 70 feet fro/n the
line of the "
heing continued;to the ex'ent of the biirnl district
West, they have also shewn by lines, dotted in
lake and tihted yellow^the direction which they are
of opinion■ ihai street may take after crossing the
bridge Isferth. of Beckss Covei' The Adoption of
this, h'ne wouldihav)| the effect of reducing the
area'iri which parrt«i«iay be compelled to build
witli uninflamablexmatertalsr Avhile at the. same
time tne desired distance sbetween the Streets
ould be maintained. Should the suggestion
het 5 proposed be adopted, that part of the existing
Street leading Vvestwnrdly from the site of the la'e
•Theatre may be termed a continuation of Gower
Si reel, instead of Duckwonh Street as at present,
and its direction and Avitlth remain unaltered.—
Between the space imjed yellow and the **>Quth
side of the old line ot Duckworth Street vTr^ild
be a width in its narrowest part, of about 60 reet
,and extending from its commencement to Walde-
grave Street, while from the latter* place West
the width is so much increased os to admit of the
introduction ofa lane 18 feet wide', which would
be in accordance with the Resolutions of the Assembly. The lane to which they thus advert is.
also tinted yeilowMn the plan.
Before closing this part of their report the Commissioners wouid observe to your Excellency that
although it has been th**ir endeavour to confine
vthem6elves strictly to the distances as laid down
for their guidance in the Resolutions pf the
tHbuse, they have not been able, from the character ofthe ground, in all places to preserve the 138
North fide of the stcect at this.poMitpr-tixeet between Water and Duckworth  Street.
and
ove
Mllil
and
nee.
I »
,-on-
ic'.rd
-yrps
gs  to
thence tostaiio.i No. 21, to the,fence near the
rear ofthe property belonging to the Misses Ke«
tings, and 70 feet from the North Un*tnr*f the
street,'distance about 663 feet.
A parallel line djpwn 70'ifef>vi!
described line w'i'l consequently "gtve the
line of the 6treet. . ■« .
DUCKWOliTH  STREEt. |
The following description and distaftcee will,
givo the North side line of Duckworth street ■:—  |
Commencing at station No. 1, at the "Western
side of the "^ire-break at Maggotty Cove Bridge,,
and keeping the parallel of Mrs. Hill's hous«J 70|
feet to the Northward, distance about 240 feet, IO
station No. 2, being a point epposiie Brine's Lane,;
and 70 feet from the North-west angle of Brine's
house.; thence lo station No. 3, a point nearly opposite to Reed's house, distance 245 feet; thence
to station No. 4. being the south-eastern corner Of;
the Ordnance Yard, distance about 379 feet;
thence 10 a point on the Eastern boundary of St.'
John's Church-yard, ^ard 70 feet North of the j
foundation walls of thfe Court-house, distance 2422;
feet; thence to station No. 6, being a poffit70'
feet North of the Western end of the remaining j
waj.1 at McBride's Hill, distince about 795 feet;
thence to station No. 7, a point in the lanq leading]
to the Roman Catholic-Chapel, and 70feet to the
Northward of the South side of Duckworth Street
at this p6tnt, distance about 215 feet; thence to
station No 8,-a point near the"Norih-eist angle of
the fo-dndation ofthe Theatre, and 70 feet North
of Mahon's Lane, and the South side ofthe Street
at this point, distance 363 feet; thence to ^he
South-eastern fcornet of Branscomb's House lo
station No. 9, distance about 122 feet; thence to
station No. 10, nearly in a line of the^ fronts ofthe
houses on the old line, North side, to a point opposite the cenire and 15 feet from the end df n lane
leading to Flower Hill, distance aboni 1215 &et;
thence to station No. II, a lane opposite Prince's
Street, distance 226 feet, and 70 feet to the Northward of the North west angle of Barter's house,
lately occupied by Bates'; tlrence about 320 feet
to station No. 12, at the angle in the western
boundary of Fire-break No. 7, "nd 24 feet North
of the Soiith-east angle of the late Patrick Braail's
house, adjoining the bridge.
A parallel line drawn 70 feet South of the above I
described line will give the South side line of
Duckworth Street. •*v**
In the foregoing statement the Commi.«sioiiers
have regarded the Street inst named as extending
throughout the burnt district, and on the plan it is
shaded to'the widih of 70 fejttt the whole Of that
distance. They have, however, supposed the
general desire may be that, where the twov main
streets diverge from each other to a much greater
eTxtent than 7d8 feet, it may then be deemed ne-
cessary tha?the space in which it should be compulsory to erect stone or brick buildings may be
kept nearly within-the limits prescribed In the
Resolutions of the Gcheral Assembly. In addition
therefore to having shewn tlie spaced/ ground
which would be occupied by  DuckvVortb.  Street
k P \
lb
some places, as will be seen on the plan, this distance has been unavoMebl} deduced, but the Com-
q-ui^ioners would hope, without materially affect'
their general arrangement, as in no instance has
■j^jthat reduction exceeded 12 feet-. The lane of 18
rrfeet wTde.'as'r-^filred by the Resolutions, is laid
down in the plan mid-way between ihe two streets
before named.
FIRE-BREAKS.
The'folldwing is the number, order, appellation
and-position of the different  Fire-breaks^ as laid
down snd recommended by the Commissioners.
NO. l—Quiddy Viddy Firebrick
Takes its course from the Eastward of Brine's
premises, over Dnnscomb's bridge, and following
the line of watercourse between said": bridge an I
Qniddy Viddy. It is -proposed that a road*
shown in the plan, in this fire-break, should uti
Duckworth and Water streets, r.t the junction of
the roads leading to Quiddy Viddy, Signal Hill,
and Chain Rock.
No 2—Forf William Fire-break
Runs tip from the Cove to the Eastward of
Messrs'. Robinson & BroOkiii-^'s and the Hill ol
Chips, passes between the Ordnance Yard nnd
Fort William, and runs along the King's Bridge
road, terminating nt the bridge.
No. 3—King's Beach Fire-bteak,
Runs up the King's Road, partly in the direction Of the Native Hall, to a point above Gower
Sircet, where it branches off to the right in the
direction of Government-11 ouse ; thcnCe to the
left jn a line nearly at right angles with the front
of the proposed Colonial Building, continuing its
course to the Eastward thereof, and terminating
on the Circular Road.
N^4— Chivch Hill Fire-break
Passes ove^ Church Hill, through St. John's
Burial Ground and up Garrison Hill, and along
the road to Long Pond to the Northern boundary
of the town. N. B.—In laying out this fire-bicak,
the line'diverges to the Eastward from the Cove,
so as to give the same front us rear to the intendjv
site of the Market-House.
No. 5—Beck's Cove Fire-b.reak
Commences at Beck's Cove and runs in.a Northerly direction, passing to the Eastward of tlie
residence of P. W. Carter, Esq , nnd 10 ihe Westward of the Convent, and running thence in a
s-raigh' line to ihe Newtown road, and following
ihe course of ihe same to the Northern boundary
ofthe town.
No. 6—Queen Street Fire-break.
•The Easterhlineof this fire-break commences on
tlieWeste.-n side of the premises of Messrs. J. & W.
Siewart,nnd*thence proceeds up the Eas'ern side of
Queen Street and Barter's hill, 1.0 the turning to
I Flower hill * ihence in astraighi line to iheSouthern
j corner of the fence between Messrs. Uyan and
Barnard, and continues'in ihe same direction to
ihe North>rn boundary of the town.
■  No. 7—Flower Hill Fire-break
. Commences near lhe Western side  of MeB*-rs-
Newmnn's prop»-rty, thence passing immedilatcy
to the Westward of Jonas  Barter's honate,  and
m
ihencft  rJassi/ig over Flower hill in a Northerly
[direction Ib'rough ihe point of'junction of three
road* leading lo tjie Frcslnfaier, aud thence to the
NonheVn.boundary of the town.
No. 8'—Gas- f'/orks Fire-break,
The Eastern 4de of..Uiis. fire-break commences
at a point 100 fc-*» East of the Gate at ihe Gasworks, and runs in a northerly direction to tha
houtidHry of the town, where it crosses the South
ideof Pennywell road.
No. 9—River-head Firebreak,
The western side of this Fire-break commences
at a lane obposi'e Mr, Sieven'-, t-.i'e, runs northerly tangent to Uie.western angle of ihe Misses Kea-
ling's property to a pbint on the Soiirh side of ihe
road opposite Wm. LeMessurier's properly, and "
463 feet westward of the Bridge over Monday's
Pond Brook.
No. IS-r-Vouxhnll Fire-break.   *
The wes'ern, side bf this Flrc-break commences
at the River falling jn'.o the harbor of St. John's,
at the*west Bide of 'hs lane-r-J the extreme bounda*
ry of Vattihall property, .and run3 to the nonncrn
boundaryifcF ihe Town in a parallel direction to
River-hofiFirebreak.
The **J^mis3ioher3 would here observe lhat
they have fouad it impossible, from the nature ot
}he grtrundr 'o lay out the F:re-brea!<s so as to
make lhe whole useful as rWs 0,1 which vehicles
may easily travel; but as far ns thai object could
be ttttainedj, the CorJtalssioncrs have endeavoured
0 effect P.
_J-0^the foregoing the Commissioners would
vent-are ib offer the suggestion as 10 whether it
•nay not be generally eotlsidered more desirable
.hit instead of cori'inuin j the whole of theBreaks
of the full width of 100 feet from the South side
of Waier-street to the Wa'erside. such Breaks-nay
not, with one exception, bo -reduced to 60 feely
provided that parties occupying the ground on
each of ibe Breaks respectively should Support the
roofs of their buildings with iron ra.'lers.* The
Commissioners offer this sugges'idnIn consequence
of lhe great value of wa<er-side pretnlses, and bf
the extent of lhat description of pioperty which so '
many Breaks of the full width would materially
-educe The. exception the Commissioners ad vert
o is the Chui*eh-hiHvFire'-b*-eak.
Square neat Cleurch-hill.
To this Squnre the Comrr/issioners have before
adverted, and they would now proceed to describe
to Ybur Excellency the manner in which it may
be formed. On the North it would be bounded
by Gower Street—on the K"ust by a j;oad 40 lee
wide, extending from the street last named to the
new line of Duckworth Street, which would form,
its Southern boundary ; it's "Western would be t\
road of 50 feet wide, reaching from Duckworth
to Gower Street The road on this side the
square would form part ofa line of easy cammu*
mention, which, .commencing in Water .sireet,
may proceed ftp McBride's Bill, and pass along
it to the Queen's Roird.
Erom this de.-cription, and on rr>fr*rer.oe to the
pli;n, it will be seen that tlie existing road running
West of St. John's Church will be closed.
This square may be readily, et.tereti from Water
Street through Mrs. M'Caiman's lane, which Uie
Commissioners would recommend should be widened to 25 feet on its Btis'era side. The square
.tiovo described the Commissioners would, with
Your, Excellency's permission, name '* Harvey
Square."
Levelling.
I
The Commissioners are- not prepared at
present to suggest any great alieratiop in the
surface of the streets ; the only place where
ihey would-now recommend a culling of any
extent is onthe rising ground 'tj^Duck worth
sireet Soulh of the Roman Catlit>lic Churph.
The crest of this hill, they are of 'ppiuipn,
may, with advantage, be lowered 10 feet, and
sloped off to nothing on either side ; but
the levelling generally, tlie Commissioners
think, is a subject wnirh head, better be considered after the direction ofthe diffjraiu*-Streets
shall have been determined.
Tiie Cow Water Mars Like
The Oomrnissiotier9 have laid down m the Lest
manner they Conlil, but it was noi easy i 1 all
points to determiiif i,s course tvitl.--U.at accuracy they could h .ve desrVcd. A* slfown
.nii'ilie plan, however, ihis line w.ll be found of
great service in finally deciding oii Che scutfl
side line of YYa.ur Street,
VI