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Prefatory Note.
3
Saint Beorge the Martgr, Sonthwark.
TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE YESTRY.
PREFATORY NOTE.
The Paying of the Carriageway of the Old Kent road in this Parish has now been some
time completed. As the repayment by Annual Instalments of the loan, by means of which
this was effected, proceeds, and the Interest thereby becomes less, the burden on the parochial
funds of this expensive thoroughfare will gradually be diminished. The arrangements for
completing the paving of the carriage way in the London Eoad have been delayed by the
efforts of the Vestry to ascertain some system of Tramways free from the defects which
characterize all those hitherto brought under their notice. From [the very favorable statements
submitted to them respecting a Tramway laid at Salford the Vestry to prevent the
possibility of mistake decided to send a deputation thither to learn, by inspection on the
spot, the practical working of it. In the result it was found to have been laid for the use
of Omnibuses furnished with a fifth or guide-wheel adapted to a grove in the middle rail;
and the unanimous report of the deputation was (in effect) that while it appeared admirably
adapted for the purpose for which it was intended, both it, and any adaptation of it, would
for reasons given in the Report, be decidedly unsuited for a street of such traffic as the
London Eoad. The Deputation subjoined the important statement, that the conclusion,
forced upon their minds by the investigation, is, that, on account of the risk of being
mulcted in damages which arises when any accident occurs through smooth iron being laid
in the public way, that material should not be so employed unless and until the sanction of
the Legislature be previously given thereto. The paving of the Eoad with Granite Cubes
may be expected very shortly to be completed.
The Annual Eeport of the Medical Officer of Health and the Statistical Tables
which as usual will be found accompanying it while they shew the actual Sanitary condition
of the Parish, testify also the strong desire cherished, and the strenuous efforts made, to
improve, in all matters affecting the Public Health, the populous district under the charge
of the Yestry.
During the year has emerged from Chancery a small Charity called Dickinson's
Charity in which this Parish is interested. The scheme for the future management of the
Charity and some other particulars relating to it, will be found on a subsequent page.
On application at the Yestry Clerk's Office Parishioners will be supplied with a copy
of this Eeport.
DANIEL BIRT, Vestry Clerk.
Vestry Sail, Borough Road,
June, 1868.