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34
November acceded to an application made by the Lambeth Water
Company to lend the Company horses and vans, to aid in distributing
water to the inhabitants in the event of a severe frost; the
terms for such hire being fixed at 21s. per day for each horse and
van, including the services of two men. The ensuing winter of
1895-6 proved, however, an exceptionally mild one, and the provision
thus made was fortunately not needed.
The following resolution was agreed to on the 5th February
1896:—
That the Vestry concur in the resolution embodied in the letter received
from the Paddington Vestry, instructing their representative on the
London Water Supply Conference to press for such legislation as will
throw upon the Water Companies the responsibility for the maintenance
of the communicating pipe from the Company's main to the
screw down valve or tap on the occupier's premises, instead of on
the occupier as at present.
The "Water Bills promoted in Parliament by the London County
Council for the acquisition of the Companies' undertakings were
rejected by the Government at the end of the year.
Water Companies' Charges.— On the 8th January and 5th February
1896, the Vestry concurred in resolutions sent down by the Vestries
of St. George, Hanover Square, and St. George-the-Martyr respectively,
in favour of promoting legislation to prevent the Water
Companies from increasing their charges according to increased
values contained in the new Valuation Lists; and the borough
members were asked to use their influence accordingly.
Byelaws for Houses Let in Lodgings.—After considerable correspondence
and negotiation with the Local Government Board upon
the subject of the adoption of new model regulations framed by the
Board under the Public Health (London) Act 1891 with regard to
houses let in lodgings or occupied by members of more than one
family, the following Byelaws were finally settled upon, and were
sealed by the Vestry on the 19th February 1896. They repealed
the regulations previously confirmed by the Local Government
Board on the 26th March 1890 (see Annual Report for 1889-90,
page 57), and at the close of this Report steps were being taken to
comply with the provisions of the Public Health (London) Act in
order to secure their confirmation by the Board:—