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should be paid a salary, and all building fees be paid to the Council,
and that their offices should be at the Local Vestry Hall, so that
they might be brought into closer touch with the Local Authorities.
After considering the matter, the Vestry passed a resolution
concurring with the views of the Battersea Vestry.
The Paragon.
General Purposes Committee.
The necessary documents for the completion of the purchase
of the Paragon Ground having been prepared, the Vestry, on the
7th June, 1898, directed a cheque to be drawn for the
purchase-money, £3,400. It was, however, then found
that the builder, who was engaged in taking down the old houses at
the Paragon, had used the open space as a depository for building
materials of all kinds, and, under the circumstances, the Vestry
deemed it advisable to defer the purchase until the space was cleared.
The purchase was completed on the 13th September, 1898, and
at the meeting of the Vestry on the 18th October, permission was
given to the Metropolitan Public Gardens Association to proceed
with the work of laying out the ground, the plans having been
previously approved by the Vestry.
The work is now proceeding rapidly, the Vestry having accepted
tenders for the provision of the necessary gates, railings and iron
fencing, and arranged for a suitable water supply to be provided. It
is hoped the ground will be opened soon after Whitsuntide.
Portland Place
open space.
On the 24th July, 1898, the Vestry received a letter from the Metropolitan
Public Gardens Association stating that the Trustees of St.
Bartholomew's Hospital were prepared to grant a lease to
the Vestry of the triangular piece of ground opposite Portland
Terrace for a term of eighty years, at a rental of 1s. per annum,
and that the Association were prepared to lay out the piece of
ground in the event of the lease being obtained and subject to the
Vestry maintaining the ground, and providing and fixing new iron
railings opposite the houses in Portland Terrace.
The lease of the ground was completed on the 25th October,
1898, and the Association are now carrying out the work of
planting the ground and making the footpaths, and the Vestry of fixing
the new iron railings, and making and fixing new iron gates, &c.