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instituted by the Poplar Board. The magistrate, however, refused to grant closing orders and no
material improvement in the condition of the area resulted. Moreover, the Poplar Board declined to
take further action, preferring to leave the matter in the hands of the Council. In May, 1892, after
conferring with the medical officer of health of the district I reported that in my opinion the defects could
only be properly remedied by an improvement scheme. The Committee after carefully considering the
question decided to recommend the Council to pass a resolution under section 39, (1) (b) of the Act in
respect of the area. This resolution was passed by the Council on December 20th.
The area included Bow-court, Edna-place, Prospect-place, Charles-place, Ann's-row, Tavernrow,
Tavern-court, and houses in Ann-street and Brunswick-road. It was estimated that about 250
persons would be displaced, and that the net cost of the scheme would be about ,£9,000. An inquiry
into the merits of the scheme was held by the inspector appointed by the Local Government Board in
1893, and the scheme was confirmed.
Broolce's-market, Holborn.—This area, which is about ¼ acre in extent, was the subject of a
representation under Cross' Act made in 1883, but was deemed too small to be treated by a scheme under
that Act. The Committee's resolution under section 39 (1) (b) of the Housing of the Working Classes
Act with regard to it was passed on October 13th, 1891, a scheme under Part II. of the Act was
prepared. The inquiry was held on February 2nd by Mr. C. J. Smith, the Local Government Board
inspector, and the scheme was, with some modifications, sanctioned. The Holborn District Board contribute
one-half the cost of the scheme (such contribution not exceeding £3,000), in accordance with an
order of the Home Secretary.
Green-street and Gun-street, Southwark.—In May, 1889, three areas in St. George-the-Martyr,
Soutliwark (the Green-street area comprising 28 houses, the Gun-street area comprising 58 housos and
the Falcon-court area comprising 33 houses), were represented to the Council by the late Dr. Waterworth
under Cross' Acts. The Council thought that the area should be dealt with under Torrens' Acts (now
Part H. of the Housing of the Working Classes Act), and the matter was made the subject of an inquiry
by an arbitrator (Mr. Cubitt Nicliols) appointed by the Home Secretary. The decision arrived at was
that the areas should be dealt with under Part II. of the new Act, the Council contributing one-third of
the expense.
In 1892, schemes for dealing with the Green-street and Gun-street areas were prepared by the
vestry, and on the 8th March the neccessary inquiry was held by an inspector of the Local Government
Board and the schemes were, with some modifications, sanctioned.
Mill-lane area, Deptford.—This area comprising some 50 houses (including 8 registered lodging
houses), with a total population of about 715 persons, was represented 24th March, 1891, by Mr. Roberts,
medical officer of health of Deptford, under Part I. of the Housing of the Working Classes Act. The
Council was of opinion it should be dealt with under Part II. of the Act, and application was made to the
Home Secretary to appoint an arbitrator. Meantime, however, negotiations resulted in agreement
between the Council and the Greenwich Board that each should contribute one half of the cost of
the scheme, which was estimated at about £39,500 net.
The Council parsed a resolution July 12th, 1892, directing a scheme to be prepared, and on July
26th a scheme was submitted under whicli the rehousing of 570 persons was contemplated. This
scheme was approved by the Council, and application was made to the Local Government Board
for an order sanctioning the scheme. The local inquiry was held in the following year, and the scheme
is in course of being carried out.
Moira-place and Plumbers-place, Shoreditch.—These areas were represented on April 26th, 1890,
by the late Dr. Sutton, medical officer of health for Shoreditch under Cross' Acts. The Council held that the
areas should be dealt with under Torrens' Acts. After the passing of the Housing of the Working Classes
Act, the Home Secretary decided that the areas should be dealt with under Part II. of that Act,
the Council and the vestry each contributing one half the cost. The vestry passed the necessary
resolution under section 39 (1) (b) of the Act, and prepared a scheme for rehousing some 400 of the
550 persons of the artizan class who would be displaced, the net cost of acquiring the property being about
£51,300. On July 12th the Council approved the scheme, and instructed the Council's officers to attend
the local inquiry in support thereof, and to urge the insertion of provisions dealing with certain points.
The inquiry was held in 1893, and the scheme confirmed.
Norfolk-square, Islington.—The late Dr. Tidy, medical officer of health of Islington, represented this
area, comprising45 bouses under Cross'Acts, on 24th June, 188H. The area was considered too small for the
application of Cross' Acts, and the vestry after attempting to obtain closing orders for some of the houses,
an attempt which proved unsuccessful, prepared a scheme under Part II. of the Housing of the Working
Classes Act for dealing with the area. The scheme involved the displacement of 214 persons, of whom
102 were to be rehoused, an open space of 100 feet square being left to form a playground. On October
4th, the Council agreed to contribute one half of the net cobt of the scheme, such contribution not
to exceed £4,000.
The scheme was confirmed after a local inquiry held in 1893 by the Local Government Board.
Queen Catherine-court area, Limehouse.—In January, 1891, the Liruehouse Board directed
that a scheme for the improvement of this area under Part II. of the Housing of the Working
Classes Act should be prepared. On May 31st, 1892, the Council agreed to contribute one-half of the
net cost of a scheme dealing with 29 houses at an estimated cost of £7,400. An inquiry was
subsequently held by the Local Government Board, and the scheme was confirmed.
London-terrace, St. George-in-thc-East.-- -The Council decided on July 28th, 1891, to contribute
one-half of the cost of a scheme under Part II. of the Housing of the Working Classes Act in respect
of this area. The inquiry by the Local Government Board, with regard to it was held in June, 1893.
I have reported from time to time during the year on a large number of areas, among which I
may select for particular mention the following—
Bishop's-court and other areas, Clerkenwell.
Baltic-court and adjoining courts and alleys in St. Luke's.
Greenbank and other areas in St. Olave's.