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and North Western and London Central Railways to take lands
within the District of this Board. That by the first-named Company
was to acquire by purchase, for offices and warehouses only,
the buildings and premises theretofore used by them as such
in New Oxford Street. The other application was to extend the
time for acquisition of lands, &c., by the London Central Railway
Company, for making an underground Railway from Charing Cross
to join the Metropolitan Railway at Hampstead Road, by way of
Tottenham Court Road; and also the formation of a new street
from that road to St. Martin's Lane, to the cost of which new street
the Metropolitan Board of Works were to be at liberty to contribute
£200,000.
It is much to be regretted that the Company failed to obtain the
approval of the Committee of the House of Commons of their application,
because the want of Railway communication in the Metropolis
from North to South is a very great inconvenience, and daily becoming
more serious, and the formation of the new street would have
afforded a direct leading thoroughfare from the North to the South
of the Metropolis, which does not at present exist. It would also
have removed one of the most unhealthy and over-crowded spots in
the Metropolis.
Bury Street.
During the year His Grace the Duke of Bedford has commenced
to carry out a great and necessary improvement in the widening of
this street, by taking down the houses on the east and west sides,
from Hart Street as far as Little Russell Street and Pied Bull Yard,
and appropriating a portion of the ground on which the same stood
to the purpose of widening the street. It is believed that, as the
leases of the remaining houses on the west side expire, the widening
will be continued up to Great Russell Street, and that the class
of houses to be erected thereon will greatly improve the character
of the thoroughfare.
Retirement of the Surveyor.
It is with regret the Board announce the retirement of Mr. W.
J. Trehearne, the Surveyor for upwards of nineteen years of this
District, arising from entire loss of sight. The Board have, under
such painful circumstances, exercised the power vested in them by
the Statute, 29 Vic. cap. 31, and granted to Mr. Trehearne an
annual allowance of £100. They have appointed Mr. George
Wallace, late of the Engineers' Office, Guildhall, City, in the place
of Mr. Trehearne, and they trust he will be found an able and active
officer. His entire time is to be devoted to his duties, and he is
debarred from private practice.
Medical Officer of Health.
The duties of this Officer (who was appointed in 1869) having
enlarged, the Board have increased the stipend to £200 per annum.