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111
of the Parish, required them to make returns of their respective
incomes and expenditure in connection with this Parish. These
your Committee investigated, and Messrs. Livesay, the Chairman
of the South Metropolitan Gas Company, Mr. Ryde, the Surveyor
retained by the Crystal Palace Gas Company, the Engineer and
Solicitor to the Southwark and Vauxhall Water Company, Mr.
Vigers, the Surveyor employed by the London, Chatham and
Dover Railway, and the various Secretaries and representatives
of the other Public Companies, attended your Committee, and
their objections were fully heard and considered. Your Commitee
are glad to report that they were enabled, after considerable
discussion, and after having viewed the reservoirs of the Southwark
and Yauxhall Water Company at Nunhead, finally to agree
with them as to their assessments. With regard to the South
Metropolitan Gas Company's important assessment, it was agreed
by mutual consent to increase the rateable value of the Company's
mains, works, &c., from £18,000 to £24,000, an increase of
£6,000.
With reference to the School Board, that Board appealed
against their assessments, contending that it should be assessed
at what the Board Schools would let for, if let to yearly tenants,,
and not, as your Committee maintained, upon the cost of building
and land, &c. It was represented to your Committee that a
special case was pending in the Court of Queen's Bench, the
decision of which would settle the dispute. Judgment has since
been given against the School Board, and consequently the
Committee's assessments have been sustained.
Your Committee feel gratified that they have been enabled
to dispense with the assistance of skilled Surveyors, which on
the occasion of the last Quinquennial List cost upwards of £750,
and they have been enabled to settle with all the Companies on
a fair and just basis, and so as to avoid the expense of litigation.