View report page

14
notice was taken by Mr. Devon of the application. The Vestry
did not consider it prudent to incur the expense of legal proceedings.
The Committee of the whole Vestry directed the Surveyor
to invite tenders for the execution of the works for the two districts
from Messrs. Parsons, Mansfield, Lansbury, Crane, Irons, Abbott,
and Rollinson. Tenders were received from those Contractors (with
the exception of Messrs. Abbott and Rollinson). Before opening the
tenders the Committee considered fully the advisability of executing
the work otherwise than by contract, but ultimately resolved to
recommend the acceptance of the tender of Mr. Crane for District
No. 1 at £1,520, and of Mr. Parsons for District No. 2 at £1,650.
This recommendation was adopted by the Vestry, and Contracts were
entered into with Mr. Crane and Mr. Parsons accordingly.
Mr. Holloway, one of the Contractors for the last year, appealed to
the Vestry to return the fines, amounting to £29 10s., and to remit
the fines of £144, respectively mentioned in the last Report. The
Vestry refused to return the fines paid, but remitted the fines of
£144, which had been imposed in February, the deduction of
which from the instalments payable to Mr. Holloway had been
deferred, with a view of considering whether such fines should be remitted
if the remainder of the work under the Contract was well done.
Complaints are frequently made of refusal by the Contractors to
remove ashes and rubbish, on the ground that it contains "Trade
Refuse." The Metropolis Local Management Act specifically provides
that such disputes shall be determined by a police magistrate. The
decisions of the magistrates as to what is or is not Trade Refuse
are conflicting. Messrs. Hanbury & Co. having determined to obtain
the judgment of a superior court on the question, whether the ashes
or "clinkers" from their furnaces are "Trade Refuse," suggested that
the Vestry should bear part of the costs of the proceedings, on the
ground that it would be a public benefit to obtain such a decision.
The Vestry did not accede to the application, because it was felt the
decision could not be one of general application, but would only be a
guide in cases like or nearly like that of Messrs. Hanbury.
The Contractor of No. 3 District has been fined £2 for neglecting to
remove dust from houses in Chester Street, after being required to do
so by the Sanitary Inspector.