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bellishing the garden inclosure of Bloomsbury Square, prohibits the
standing or plying for hire of vehicles in that Square, which prohibition
the Company's Bill entirely ignored. A petition by the Board
against the Bill was presented accordingly, as also one numerously
signed by the inhabitants of the Square and neighbourhood. The
Board was heard on its petition by a Committee of the House, and the
Bill was also opposed by the Holborn District Board of Works
and the St. Luke's Vestry. On cross-examination of the Company's
Engineer by the Counsel of the Board, he admitted that the large
open space at the West end of Theobalds Road would be a convenient
space for the Company's terminal station, whereupon the Company
announced that it abandoned the proposed terminus in Hart Street.
The Committee of the House, after hearing the Counsel of the Holborn
Board of Works and other persons against the Bill, resolved, that,
looking at the length of time before which the New Street would be
finished, and the other circumstances of the case, not to approve the
Bill so far as it related to the new street from Old Street to Vernon
Place.
Water Supply.
Numerous and well-founded complaints have been made by the Ratepayers
on the largely increased charges of the New River Company for
the supply of water in this District. The charge is calculated on the
rent at what the premises are assessed, and not on the quantity
consumed, which is a most unfair principle, seeing that the rental of a
dwelling-house can be no criterion of the quantity of water used.
The subject is now under the consideration of the Vestries and District
Boards of the Metropolis, and this Board has resolved that it is desirable
that the water supply of the Metropolis should be placed under
the charge of a Metropolitan Authority, in order that arrangements
may be made to improve the quality of the water and to reduce the
cost. The Metropolitan Board of Works have resolved to apply to
Parliament on the subject.
Artisans and Labourers' Dwellings Act, 1868.
Under this Act the Board has endeavoured to improve the condition
of the dwellings of the poorer classes in the District, and orders
for that purpose have been made in respect of forty-six houses and
premises in Charles Street, Drury Lane, and Tower Street. Several
in the former Street have since been demolished, and others have
undergone structural alterations, improvements, and repairs necessary
to render them fit for human habitation. Much, however, yet remains
to be done to improve parts of the District which are densely
populated.