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Works, on the 5th October, 1874, that the vestries are empowered and compellable to
cause the banks, &c. abutting or adjoining upon the river in any parish, to be raised
and strengthened, but the Act of Parliament being deficient in giving power to the
vestry to recover from the owners of waterside property the cost of raising and strengening
such walls, ask the Metropolitan Board of Works what steps they would recommend
the vestry to take, to compel the owners of the waterside property to raise
their walls, &c. in order to prevent the recurrence of floods ; also that the attention of
the Metropolitan Board be called to the great damage done by the recent high tide, in
consequence of the water backing up from the main sewers into the basements of the
houses abutting thereon."
A letter from the Clerk to the Metropolitan Board of Works was subsequently
received, acknowledging receipt of the foregoing resolution, and stating it had been laid
before the Board and referred to a Committee, but the Vestry heard nothing further
from the Metropolitan Board of Works.
The Vestry, however, caused notices to be given to the owners and occupiers of
River-side property, requiring them forthwith to raise their River walls, wharves and
premises, in order to prevent a recurrence of innundation in the event of another
high tide.
In January, 1876, the Vestry appointed Messrs. Thomas William Clarke and
Francis John Bisley as delegates, to represent it at a conference of delegates of the
saveral Vestries and District Boards affected, by a proposal of the Metropolitan Board
of Works, to apply to Parliament to enable that Board to compel Vestries and District
Boards to construct such works, for the prevention of Floods from the Thames, as may
appear to the Metropolitan Board necessary, and in case of default, to execute and
make themselves and charge the Vestries and District Boards with the cost
thereof.
The Delegates have had several meetings at the office of St. Saviour's District
Board of Works, Southwark, and the subject is still under consideration.
The Vestry having had under consideration the increase in the expenditure of the
School Board for London, in April, 1S75, the following resolution was passed and
copies thereof were forwarded to the School Board for London, and the Rcvarends
R. Marshall Martin and J. Sinclair, and Messrs. Alfred Lafone and Jas. Wallace, the
Members representing the Southwark Division, viz.:—
Resolved. "That a letter be written to the School Board for London and the
members representing the Southwark Division, to the effect, ' That while this Vestry
quite agree with the provisions of the Elementary Education Act, 1870, being
efficiently carried out, they desired the Board would use economy and keep the expenditure
strictly within the limits of the said Act.'"
The following replies were received by the Vestry:—