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The other case was taken up by the Board at the instance of the inhabitants
of the parish of St. George the Martyr, who complained of the obstruction
of the traffic—both footway and carriageway—in Theobald's Road. The
question of costermongers was referred to in the last Annual Statement, and
the difficulties attending questions of street obstruction shortly mentioned.
Taking into consideration the result of former cases in Farringdon Road,
the Board felt a little hesitation in taking the initiative with respect to
Theobald's Road. This case, however, differed in a material degree from
the former, seeing that the complaints were for obstruction to the traffic,
and the Board decided to act accordingly. Printed notices were circulated
giving fourteen days' notice of the Board's intention to clear the road from
obstruction. In the meantime the assistance of the police was asked, to
aid the Board's officers on the expiration of the notice.
The time having arrived the Board's Inspector, accompanied by the
Sub-Divisional Inspector of Police for the E Division, and several other
officers, and a number of constables, ordered all the persons obstructing
the street, either on the footway or carriageway, to remove their goods. In
almost every instance the obstructions were removed, and the people moved
away after a little time. Two or three, however, objected and their names
were taken, summonses being afterwards applied for with the result that the
parties were fined by the magistrate. The whole of these proceedings
passed off quietly and ended successfully.
From this time there has been little further cause of complaint, and the
police have followed up the action of the Board by summoning several
persons who have since attempted to cause obstruction in this locality.
The Board had under consideration the London County Council General
Powers Bill, and the several Bills introduced by the Council to compulsorily
purchase the various water undertakings supplying the Metropolis with
water, including that of the New River Company. Although not approving
the object intended by the Bills, the Board was not prepared to incur
expense with a view of objecting to the action of the Council in seeking
to attain the control of the London water supply at an enormous cost to
the ratepayers of London, but contented itself by an expression of opinion
to that effect, which was duly communicated to the Council.
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
The Commissioners who, under the provisions of "The Public Libraries'
Act, 1892," retired in rotation during the last year were—