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26
The Inspectors have laid before the Board upwards of 150 Reports
of Nuisances, for the abatement of which orders have been made
and notices issued; and as a general rule the Board have every
reason to be satisfied with the readiness shewn by the inhabitants
to comply with their requirements.
FINANCE.
The expenses of the Board are directed (sect. 158), to be met by
precepts issued by them upon the Overseers of the Parishes in the
district; as regards the Parish of Lewisham these precepts are
referred to the Board of Guardians of the Poor of the Parish, who,
by a Local Act (passed in 1814), are invested with the powers of
Overseers; and (sect. 159), where it appears that any expenses have
been incurred for the special benefit of any particular part of the
district, or not for equal benefit of the whole district, the Board of
Works may direct them to be levied in such part, or exempt any
part, or require a less rate to be levied thereon, as the case may
require. They are also empowered (with the sanction of the Metropolitan
Board), to borrow, at interest, on the credit of any monies
or rates authorized to be raised by them, any money for the purpose
of defraying any expenses incurred under the Act.
The Board decided that the cost of the construction of the proposed
sewers and all sewerage expenses incurred by them should be
liquidated by one equal rate throughout the Parish and Hamlet respectively
in which the works should be situate, and that they
should not be deemed to be for the special benefit of any particular
part of the Parish or Hamlet; the section referred to (159) being
only brought into operation as regards watering and lighting the
roads.
The Board also decided that their general expenses, including rent
and furniture of offices, salaries of officers, implements and all establishment
expenses, should be paid out of the amount to be levied
as General Rate, and be borne by the Parish and Hamlet rateably
according to their rateable values; and the rateable value of Lewisham
being £116,135, and of Penge £31,306, it was determined
that Penge should bear one-fifth of all such expenses, as being the
nearest approach to the principle laid down compatible with the
justice of the case. To such amount it will be seen the Hamlet is
charged in the annexed account of expenditure.
On submitting the proposed sewers (see page 19), for the approval
of the Metropolitan Board, their sanction was also requested to the
borrowing, by the Board, of £10,000, the estimated cost of their
construction. This sanction was given—and on the 10th July, the
Board borrowed of the Kent Fire and Life Office (Maidstone), the
sum of £6,000, at £5 per cent, on the general terms of the Act—
that is, repayable on six months' notice by either party. A further