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Communications were had with one of the trustees, who expressed his
willingness to sell ; but delay was caused by the illness of the other
trustee. On his recovery the Committee were informed that any arrangement
must be made with the trustees' solicitors, who, by direction of the
Committee, were seen by the Clerk. It was pointed out that the formation
of the thoroughfare would greatly improve the estate of the testator; but
it was intimated that the trustees would require a full price. The special
committee recommended that the further consideration of the subject
should be adjourned, and the recommendation was adopted at the Vestry
meeting of the 3rd March.
The Metropolitan Board of Works have acceded to the application, made
last year by the Vestry, to give the forty-four feet space at the south end of
Gibraltar walk with a view to the walk being widened. The ground has
been gravelled and enclosed with iron posts.
The Vestry decided not to oppose the closing of the east side of
Wilmot square, on condition of the south end of Blythe street being
widened a little on both sides. Negotiations are pending for a similar
improvement at the north end of Blythe street, and for setting back the
line of buildings in Old Bethnal Green road at the north-west corner of
Blythe street.
BOUNDARY SEWER (MILE END).
The old sewer, or culvert, in the ditch forming the boundary between
Bethnal Green and Mile End, and running from Bethnall House
Asylum to the Great Eastern Railway, required to be reconstructed. It
was, in fact, a mere brick arch, without an invert. A yard belonging to
Bethnall House drained into the culvert, but no other property in Bethnal
Green ; and of that yard a small piece only is in this parish, nearly the
whole being in Mile End. But a great number of houses in Mile End
were drained into the culvert. It had become very foul, and wanted to be
reconstructed as well as cleansed. The Mile End Vestry claimed that half
the cost of constructing the new sewer, and the incidental work, and of the
future maintenance should be borne by this parish, alleging that the old
culvert was a sewer jointly used, and that this parish and the Hamlet of
Mile End were bound to contribute equally to cleanse and repair it. What
tho obligations of this parish were is not clear. After some negotiations it