View report page

252
tion the Board of Trade, for the institution of
local enquiries into the frequent sacrifice of property
taking place in the metropolitan area,
South of the Thames, from fires, and the absence
of water when needed thereat.
At the last meeting of the Conference, in
March, the result was reported of the memorials
that had been forwarded to the Government,
the Board of Trade, the Metropolitan Board of
Works, and to other bodies in support of the
foregoing resolutions; and their thanks were
given to the Vestry of Camberwell for convening
the meetings.
The Committee have met since, and have
presented a petition to the House of Commons
in favour of the Bill introduced by Mr. Torrens,
M.P., to declare that the term Annual Value"
in the 68th section of the Waterworks Clauses
Acts, of 1847, shall mean "Rateable Value,"
and a deputation from the local authorities of the
metropolis, waited upon the Home Secretary
upon the subject (Mr. W. H. Squire representing
the committee) when it was elicited from
the President of the Local Government Board—