condition. There were at that time only 262 lamps in the borough, but these have since been increased, and they now amount to about 500. Twenty-four new streets, extending to between two and three miles, have also been formed and paved, under the direction of the corporation surveyor, including Union street, Horsedge street, Radcliffe street, Rock street, &c.; many others have been commenced; and the inequalities and irregularities which distinguished the town are gradually giving way before the energy and attention of the Surveyors' Committee. Union ground, which, within a recent period was almost impassable, has now been converted into the best thoroughfare in the town, affording a more direct and easier route for vehicles of all descriptions from Bottom of moor to Manchester street than the old route by Yorkshire and High streets. Public buildings, shops, and dwelling houses are rapidly springing up along the whole of its extent, and it bids fair to be, at no distant day, not only the principal street in the town, but in point of architectural adornment to surpass places of more pretension than Oldham has been hitherto considered in that respect. An arrangement has recently been made to open another street, or rather to make a continuation of Union street to the Werneth estate, from the Bowling green at the Roebuck Inn in King street.

A matter which at an early period engaged the attention of the Town Council was the absolute necessity of obtaining for the town an abundant supply of water, in order to keep pace with the increase of its commerce and the growing wants of its daily augmenting population. Its elevated situation and the absence of any rivers in the neighbourhood, rendered it dependant upon distant places for its supply, and in June, 1825, a private company obtained an Act of Parliament for lighting with gas the town and neighbourhood, and "for the better supplying of the inhabitants with water." Waterworks were accordingly formed, and in 1838 the

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