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9
referred, the Vestry will appear before the Committee and
oppose it. The Vestry feel, that if the subway were constructed
at the site proposed, it would be of such little value (especially
owing to the steep gradients) that it would be little used, and
would ever hereafter be held up as a reason why no further means
of communication should be granted.
Another bill dealing with the means of communication across
Tower (Duplex) Bridge Bill
the Thames is the Tower (Duplex) Bridge Bill, which proposes
to authorise a company to construct a bridge from the west side
of the Tower to Horsleydown. The bridge is of peculiar design,
and will, it is alleged, get over the great difficulty of dealing with
the river traffic.
It is proposed to allow foot passengers to go over it free of
toll, but vehicles would have to pay.
The Vestry fully considered the project so far as they could
with the materials supplied to them, and came to the resolution
neither to support nor oppose it.
The Corporation of London also seek powers to deal with the
Lower Thames Steam Ferries
question of communications, and have introduced a bill which
seeks to enable them to establish a ferry between Irongate
Stairs and Horseleydown Old Stairs, on almost the identical
spot chosen by the Duplex Bridge Company. To pay for the
undertaking they propose to take power to expend the rents
arising from the Bridge House Estates, and also to mortgage
the same Estates.
The Vestry have deemed it right to petition in favor of this
scheme, as it shows that the Corporation are moving, and the
Vestry have little doubt but that in the course of a few years
the Corporation will see its way to erect a bridge on the spot.
Another bill, of which the Vestry approve, is the bill introduced
Metropolis Water Bill
duced by the Coroporation of London to deal with the question
of the Water Companies' charges.
It is proposed to compel the Companies to supply water by
meter. The Vestry have petitioned in favor of the bill as being
a step towards obtaining from the Companies some definite
standard of charge.
In April, 1883, the Board of Trade issued a form of provisional
Electric Lighting
order, of which they approved, with regard to Electric Lighting,
and invited the consideration of the Vestry thereon.
The Vestry did so, and made numerous objections, and afterwards
appeared before the Board of Trade in support thereof,
and in the result the Company withdrew their application.
The Brush Electric Lighting Company also gave the requisite
parliamentary notice of their intention to apply for a provisional
order this session, but failed to do so.
Under the Factory and Workshop Act, 1883, the supervision
Bake-houses
of bakehouses has again been entrusted to the local authorities.
1 he Vestry at once directed the proper officers to make a survey
of every such place in the Hamlet, and to report thereon. This
was done, and in every case where anything was discovered
which was deemed improper, an order was made for amendment.
The Vestry are pleased to be able to record that the Com- Gas
mercial Gas Company reduced their charges for gas supplied Supply
to the public lamps from £3 : xg : 6 to £3:16:0 per lamp as
from the 1st of January, 1884.
B