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In conjunction with several other Vestries and District Boards in the Metropolis, this
Vestry petitioned the House of Commons against " The Artizans and Labourers Dwellings'
Bill" during its progress through Parliament, with the view of having the same amended, so
that the several Vestries and District Boards in the Metropolis might be constituted the
Local Authority for carrying out the provisions of the Act instead of the Metropolitan Board
of Works, as originally proposed in the Bill. The Legislature ultimately passed the Act,
as prayed by the Petitioners.
In July, 1868, the Vestry passed a Resolution as follows, viz. :—'' Resolved that the
" Metropolitan Board of Works be requested to introduce a Bill into the House of Commons,
'' having for its object the extension of the time of payment of the Main Drainage Loan from
" 40 to 60 years, and such a reduction of the three-penny Main Drainage Rate as the
'' extended time will permit, and to invite the concurrence of the Mortgagees therein," and a
copy of such Resolution having been forwarded to the Metropolitan Board of Works, a communication
was received from the Clerk to the Board in reply, stating he was directed to
acquaint the Vestry that the Metropolitan Board of Works did not consider it would be
advisable to adopt the course suggested by the resolution.
At the invitation of the Vestry of St. Pancras, Middlesex, this Vestry appointed Mr.
Church warden Bulmer, Col. Payne, and Mr. E. G. Dannell, as a Deputation to meet the
Members of other Vestries and District Boards of the Metropolis in conference, to consider
what could be done to prevent the further increase of Metropolitan Taxation, and a Meeting
for that purpose was held at St. Pancras Vestry Hall, on the 25th of March last.
The attention of the Vestry having been called to the increase of robberies, attended
with violence, in the Streets of London, they, in December, 1868, appointed Mr. Churchwarden
Bulmer and Messrs. Goodhew, Dannell, and Allen, to join a Deputation of the Members of
several other of the Vestries and District Boards in the Metropolis, who waited upon the
Home Secretary on the subject, and urged that such beneficial changes might be introduced
into the organization of the Police Force as to afford a reasonable guarantee for that protection
and security of which London and its suburbs have long been deprived.
A Memorial having been received fro m upwards of 40 Inhabitant Householders in the
western division of this parish, complaining of the inefficient supply of water to their houses
from the Mains of the Southwark and Vauxhall Water Company, the Vestry, in August
last, presented a Memorial, under the 9th section of "The Metropolis Water Act," to the
Board of Trade, setting forth such complaints, and urging the appointment of a competent
person to enquire into the grounds thereof, with the view of having the same remedied, in
consequence of which Capt. Tyler, R.E. attended and went through the parish with the
Medical Officer of Health and the Engineer to the Water Company, after which inspection
additional pipes were laid in Jamaica Level and Rotherhithe Branch Road, &c., which had
the effect of remedying causes of complaint in some of the localities only.
Upon the resignation by Mr. John Kelsey of the office of Surveyor of Payments, he was
appointed Consulting Surveyor, at a Salary of £100 per annum, and Mr. Edward Thomas
was elected Surveyor of Pavements at a Salary of £200 per annum. Mr. George Wells has
also been appointed Clerk of the Works to the Surveyor of Sewers at a Salary of thirtyshillings
per week.