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15
Miscellaneous.
The old Plough Bridge having been condemned as dangerous by the Commissioners of
Police, and a Magistrate's Order obtained for its demolition, it was resolved at a Meeting of
the joint Committees of the Trustees of the Roads, the Commercial Dock Company, the Grand
Surrey Dock-, and Canal Company, and this Vestry, that the Bridge should be taken down
and a new iron bridge, forty feet wide, be constructed in lieu thereof. The cost of rebuilding
the Bridge was roughly estimated at £1200, which it was agreed should be apportioned
as follows, viz.— the grand Surrey Docks and Canal Company, to pay £200, and to give
sufficient land to allow of the new bridge being built forty feet wide, on condition, however,
that in future the Company should be relieved of the repair and maintenance of the
Bridge. The trustees of the Roads likewise agreed to contribute a sum not exceeding
£333 6s. 8d., and the Commercial Dock Company the sum of £300 towards the
expenses of erecting a new Bridge. It was further agreed that the Vestry should carry out
the works and apply to the Metropolitan Board of Works for a contribution in respect of the
improvements in the roadway, and the Metropolitan Board of Works consented to contribute
£233 6s. 8d. towards the cost of the bridge. The work was tendered for, and the Vestry
ultimately entered into a contract with Messrs. Aird and Son for the erection of an iron girder
bridge, forty feet wide, upon brick piers, for the sum of £1325. The works were immediately
proceeded with, but in consquenee of the unsatisfactory nature of the ground, extra care, labour
and material had to be used in constructing the foundations of the piers, which will add to
the cost of the works. The bridge has been completed and opened for traffic and the
approaches thereto widened and improved.
Messrs. Cowan having applied for permission to bring out the front wall of their new
Mill, Church passage, and Mr. Hill having also applied to bring out his adjoining shop in a
line therewith so as to do away with an angle in the footway at that spot which was likely
to become a nuisance. The Vestry granted their applications upon condition that they should
build upon or effectually fence in the ground so as it should not hereafter become a nuisance
to the public.
In consequence of a suggestion made at the General Meeting of Parishioners for the
election of Vestrymen and Auditors in May, 1863, the Vestry caused Counsel's opinion to be
taken upon the question whether under the Metropolis Management Amendment Act, 19th
and 20th vic., cap, 112, the Church wardens of this Parish were to be appointed by the Parishioners
in open Vestry, as it had been done previously to the passing of the Act, or whether section
3, vested that power in the Vestry constituted under the Act 18th and 19th \ ic., cap. 120.
The opinion of Mr. Lush.Q.C., was accordingly taken, and the following is a copy thereof:
" 1 am of opinion that the power of appointing Churchwardens is transferred to and
belong exclusively to the new Vestry constituted under the 18th and 19th Vic., c. 120,
but that the making of Church Rates remains as it was before, with the open common
law Vestry of the Parish."
The Grand'Surrey Dock and Canal Company have abandoned all their Appeals against
the Paving and Lighting Rates of this Pariah.