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15
Under the Local Act, 50 persons were elected Trustees for Trustees,
certain purposes at the open meetings at the Town House.
The powers given to the Vestry took away many of the duties
of the Trustees, but still some duties were left with them, and
therefore the Vestry continued until 1870 to elect the Trustees.
In that year the Union Assessment Committee Act was
brought into force in the Metropolis, and the Vestry were advised
that there was really nothing left for the Trustees to do, and the
Vestry therefore determined to cease to appoint them.
Assess-
mittee.
In consequence of the legislation mentioned in the preceding
paragraph, the Vestry were required to appoint from among their
number a certain number to form the Assessment Committee of
the Hamlet.
The idea was to obtain as far as possible an uniform system
of rating throughout the Metropolis.
The Overseers have every five years to prepare a Valuation
List, which is submitted to and approved by the Assessment
Committee, after having heard any objections by the persons
alleging that they are improperly rated. After the Assessment
Committee have approved of the Valuation List the same becomes
binding for five years, unless altered by a court of competent
jurisdiction, or unless some altered circumstances occur to the
premises rated.
The Assessment Committee, it will be seen, therefore form a
most important body.
Upon the Metropolis Management Act coming into operation
such of the Parish Officers who lost emoluments became entitled
to compensation, and the following were granted.
Compensations
on
Loss of
Office.
Mr. O'Shaunessy, £100 per annum for life.
Mr. Sadgrove, £17 ,, „
Subsequently on the coming into force of the Act whereby the
duty of providing proper means for extinguishing fires in the
Metropolis was cast upon the Metropolitan Board of Works, the
Vestry granted a pension to Mr. J. Stevens, (late engine keeper)
£40 for life.
The two first named gentlerren died in 1860, but the latter is
still living.