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12
the sanitary provisions of the Metropolis Local
Management Act. Under that Act there are two
courses open to the Vestry in case of the failure of
owners to comply with their orders. At the
expiration of the time limited in their Notice for
the completion of the requirements therein contained,
they may either execute the works at the
owner's expense, or they may proceed against him
in the manner provided in the Act, for the recovery
of the penalties to which his default renders him
liable. Prior to 1866, the former of these courses
was always pursued by the Vestry, at the advice
and under the direction of their Solicitor. The
results so obtained being very unsatisfactory, it was
resolved by the Sanitary Committee early in 1866
to recommend to the Vestry the adoption of the
other alternative. Accordingly, forms of order,
applicable to the principal cases in which constructive
works are required, were prepared by the
Vestry Solicitor at the request of the Sanitary
Committee. These were approved by the Vestry
on the 19th of March, last year, when it was also
resolved that the old mode of proceeding should be
abandoned, and that in future penalties should be
recovered, in accordance with the terms of the
Notice, in all cases of default.
The success which has attended this measure
has been most satisfactory. No less than 78 cases
have been reported to the Vestry by the
Committee in which their preliminary notices had
been neglected. In each instance Orders were made