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141
watched and in four cases proceedings were taken. The prosecutions
were conducted by the Solicitor and Clerk to the Overseers, with the
result that in two cases fines were inflicted, and in the two other cases
defendants were sent to prison.
REMOVAL OF HUMAN REMAINS FROM THE CRYPT OF
ST. GEORGE'S CHURCH.
Perhaps the most important subject that has engaged the attention
of the Overseers during the past year has been the removal of the
above human remains.
At the request of the Churchwardens the Board of Overseers
agreed to co-operate with them in obtaining tenders and generally
supervising the carrying out of the work.
With this end in view the Overseers on several occasions visited
the crypt and came to the conclusion that having regard to the age
and alleged doubtful stability of the church, considerable care would
have to be exercised in the removal of the human remains to prevent
further damage to the structure. They accordingly requested the
Vestry to permit the Vestry Clerk and Surveyor to act in connection
with the removal of the bodies and to receive remuneration therefor.
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Before actually beginning the work, however, and acting under
the advice of Dr. Hoffman of the Burial Acts' Office, the Overseers
caused advertisements to be inserted in the ''Daily Telegraph" and
"Daily Chronicle," stating that any persons desiring to remove the
remains of their relatives might do so on making written application
to the Churchwardens before the 25th July, 1899, and on furnishing
such evidence and entering into an undertaking to comply with such
conditions as the Churchwardens might deem requisite.
No persons, however, availed themselves of this offer, but the
Overseers during the subsequent course of the work received inquiries
from relatives of deceased persons as to the removal of the lemains
of their friends, and in several instances they were able to satisfy
the inquirers that these remains had been discovered and properly
re-interred.
Prior to commencing the work, the Overseers caused a specification
to be prepared containing various precautions to be observed by
the contractor undertaking the removal of the remains.