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"The Magistrate declined to interfere with the closing order in respect of
No. 5, made by consent on the 30th November, and declined to make further
closing orders at present, but invited the owners of all the houses, except
No. 5, to say if they would accept his suggestions.
"The owner of No. 1, at once, through his counsel, accepted the conditions,
and the owner of Nos. 7, 9, and 11, through his counsel, at once did the
same.
"The owner of Nos. 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 made strong objections, chiefly with
a view to throwing the costs of the summonses so far upon the Vestry, but
ultimately undertook to accept the Magistrate's suggestions.
"All the summonses, except as to No. 5, were therefore adjourned until the
20th March next, when the Magistrate will hear evidence as to whether the
suggested repairs, etc., have been carried out to his satisfaction, and the
whole question of costs and whether closing orders will then be necessary
or not will be decided.
"From the remarks the Magistrate made, we gather that he would have been
disposed to make the closing orders had the temporary repairs not been
effected, and that he had something to say about the manner in which such
repairs had been made immediately before his visit of inspection, and would
take that part of the proceedings into consideration on the question of costs.
"Yours truly,
(Signed) CUNLIFFES & DAVENPORT."
And later on this further communication was received:—
"48, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
20th March, 1896.
" Dear Sir,
"Insanitary Areas — Weirs Passage.
"At the adjourned Summons this day, the Magistrate refused to make
closing orders, and made no order as to costs.
"These applications, therefore, are disposed of, each party paying their own
costs.
"Yours truly,
(Signed) CUNLIFFES & DAVENPORT."
On the 25th May, 1898, a letter was received by the late Vestry from
Messrs. Day, Russell & Co., Solicitors to Lady Henry Somerset, in reply to
a, communication to her Ladyship in regard to certain property in Somers
Town, stating that the property dealt with by the scheme had been sold by
her Ladyship to Mr. A. Bignold, of Princes Chambers, 56a, Pall Mall, S.W.
The following Report, submitted by the Public Health Committee to the
Borough Council, on 24th November, 1909, carries the history on:—