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character of the whole neighbourhood has changed considerably in
the course of the last fifteen years, and there is no doubt but that an
open space is required. It would be premature to speculate as to the
possible results.
Another subject of considerable importance has been under
the consideration of the Vestry. The Governors of the St. Saviour's
Grammar School have long considered the desirability of moving
their schools to the suburbs, because, owing to the competition of
St. Olave's Grammar School, they find considerable difficulty in
filling the school. The Governors ultimately decided that the school
should be removed to the Clapham Road, thus taking it altogether
from the district which its founder originally intended to benefit;
and, although the Vestry have on direct or indirect control in the
management of the school, they felt constrained in the interests of
the Parish, to pass a resolution urging the Governors to re-establish
their school in the neighbourhoood of Southwark. They accordingly
joined with the St. Saviour's Board of Guardians in passing a
resolution praying the Governors to reconsider their decision, and
urging the Charity Commissioners to withhold their consent from the
proposed change.
The water famine of February and March, 1895, will not soon
be forgotten, and the whole question of the water supply of London
has been before the public. By the Vestry's instruction, evidence
was submitted before the Local Government Board Inspector, who
held an inquiry as to the failure of supply in this Parish. The late
Surveyor, Mr. Hiscocks, and the Chief Sanitary Inspector, Mr.
Edwards, prepared information, and a careful inquiry was made in the
Parish as to the failure of supply. It was stated that this failure was
due largely to the fact that the water mains in certain parts of the
Parish were only eighteen inches below the surface of the road; and
although this level may have been to a certain extent unusual, there
is no doubt that the mains froze sooner than would have been the
case had they been laid at a proper level. The Medical Officer of
Health has on several occasions directed the attention of the Vestry
to the quality of the water supplied, and the Vestry unanimously
resolved that the London County Council was the proper authority
to control the water supply of London. This is not the place to