View report page

134
the bridge. The Vestry again took the request of the Board into
their consideration, and not being inclined to alter their resolution
that the expense should not exceed £10,000, instructed me
to refer them to the resolution of the Vestry, that the expense
should not exceed that amount. The Board however passed
a resolution that they could only proceed with the work upon
the following conditions, viz:—" That the Land-owners give up
the land required for the bridge and approaches, that the Local
Authorities and Land-owners contribute £6,000, that an agreement
be entered into for carrying out the arrangement," and
requested to be informed whether the Vestry were prepared to
accept these conditions.
The General Purposes Committee on receipt of this letter,
deemed it advisable again to invite a Deputation of the Greenwich
Board of Works, to meet them to consider the best course to be
adopted. After much consideration, it was agreed to recommend
a contribution of a moiety not exceeding £6000 of the
actual cost of the bridge. The Vestry and the Greenwich Board
of Works confirmed the recommendation of the joint Committees.
This resolution was communicated to the Metropolitan Board of
Works and led to much controversy with that Board, inasmuch
as the Board considered that they had no power to proceed with
the erection of the bridge, unless the Vestry and Greenwich Board
of Works and Owners agreed to pay one-half of the estimated
expenses as required by the Boards' Various Powers Act. The
Vestry which had already increased their contribution from
£1,000 to £1800, would not make any further advance. The
difference was happily settled by the perseverence of the representatives
of this Vestry at the Metropolitan Board, and it was finally
agreed that the value of the land agreed to be given up should be
part of the contribution of the Owners, and thus the requirements
of the Statute complied with. An agreement has now been
prepared, whereby the Vestry, the District Board of Works; and