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53
Carriageway of Rosebery Avenue.—It was
stated in the last annual report that the Vestrywere
in correspondence with the County Council
with the view to the Council repairing the road
or re-imbursing the Vestry the cost of doing so,
having regard to the comparatively short time
that it has been open for traffic. In addition to
considerable correspondence the Works Committee
attended twice before the Improvements Committee
as a deputation, and in July reported the
receipt of a letter from the Council that they were
advised that they had no power to accede to the
Vestry's request. The Vestry then decided to
repave the road between Garnault Place and Farringdon
Road with hardwood but to again ask the
Council to contribute to the cost of the work, and
in the event of their declining to do so, to apply
for a loan for ten years at a reduced rate of interest,
and asked Dr. Blake and the Hon. Ashley Ponsonby
to support the request. Tenders were duly
advertised for, and that of the Improved Wood
Paving Company accepted. In the course of the
correspondence with the Council attention was
called to sec. 11, sub-section 10, of the Local
Government Act, 1888, as appearing to empower
the Council to assist the Vestry in the matter; and
the Council replied, on the 24th February, that in
view of the importance of the question raised by
the Vestry, and there being some doubt whether
the section of the Act referred to really gives
power to the Council in the direction indicated, it
had been thought well to take the opinion of
Counsel, with the result that the Council was advised
that it had no power to accede to the request of the
Vestry, and this being so, the Council regretted that
it was unable to assist the Vestry in the matter.
The Vestry thereupon asked the Council for a copy