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Prefatory Note. 3
Saint Beorge the Martpr, Southmark.
ELEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE VESTRY.
PREFATORY NOTE.
This Report commences the account of the "Vestry's second decade. The Duties which
it seems to have become a habit of the Legislature to accumulate on the Vestries and
District Boards of the Metropolis continue to be augmented. This, while it goes far to
shew that these bodies are not inefficient as sometimes is asserted, tends necessarily to
increase their expenditure, and thereby the financial burdens also which their constituencies
have to sustain. So long however as the objects of this expense are such as the improvement
of the sanitary condition of the people, the greater safety and comfort of their
dwellings and other cognate and indisputable benefits the necessary cost will not by the
intelligent portion of the community be deplored.
The Medical Officer of Health's Report, which commences on page It, affords at once
a view of the sanitary condition of the Parish, and of those operations of the Vestry for
improving it which come within the province of medical science. For the purpose of carrying
into execution the Act of last Session, entitled "The Sanitary Act, 1866," the Vestry
have appointed an enlarged Sanitary Committee; and to this committee have referred the
obtaining of a plan and estimate for the erection of a Mortuary, and such other buildings
as will be necessary for carrying out the 23rd, 24th, 27th, and 28th sections of that Act.
It will also devolve on this committee to prepare and propose for adoption by the Vestry,
and confirmation by one of Her Majesty's Secretaries of State, Regulations to relate
to houses let in lodgings or occupied by members of more than one family, pursuant to
the provisions of the 35 th section. Their attention will also particularly be given to the
application of the provisions of the 25th, 38th, 39th, and 45th sections, which relate to the
prevention of Infection and Contagion, and the disinfecting of infected places; and of those
of the 53rd section which provides for the periodical removal of manure and other
offensive refuse.
The cost of scavenging has of late years greatly increased, partly on account of the
growing difficulty of getting rid of the refuse. With a view to diminish this cost, and also
the expense of keeping up of the metalled roads where the traffic is great, the Vestry are
taking measures for paving the carriage-way of the Old Kent Road and the London Road
by means of a loan, the repayment of which by instalments will extend over twenty
years. The effect of this, it is hoped, will be to diminish both of the items of expense last
mentioned, and also to improve these important thoroughfares. The present Contractor
for scavenging and watering the roads has already agreed to make, so soon as the pitching
of the Old Kent Road is completed, a deduction after the rate of £250 per annum from the
amount payable to him.
A copy of this Report will be supplied to any parishioner on application.
DANIEL BIRT, Vestry Clerk.
vestry Hall, Borough Road.