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15
3hurch walls. On the reading of this letter a deputation was
appointed by the Vestry to wait upon the Home Office in reference
to the suggestion contained therein.
The Home Secretary, however, declined to receive the deputation
personally, but stated that, if, in the opinion of the Vestry the
representations could only be made conveniently by a deputation, one
of the Assistant Under Secretaries of State would see them, but there
were such obvious reasons why the examination desired should be
made that the Secretary of State thought it would be very unlikely
that his decision would be altered.
The Vestry on receipt of this letter passed a resolution instructing
the Vestry Clerk to reply stating that the deputation declined to
attend before an Assistant Under Secretary seeing that the Home
Secretary had apparently decided on the course to be followed before
hearing what the deputation had to say.
The Churchwardens subsequently caused the aisles of the Parish
Church to be opened, and reported the result of their investigations
to the Vestry on the 27th February, 1900, when an opinion was
expressed that no further disturbance was necessary.
It is satisfactory to know that this opinion was subsequently
endorsed by Dr. Hoffman and the Home Office.
At the conclusion of the Vestry year covered by this Report, the
work of cementing the floor of the crypt was completed.
SOUTH AFRICAN WAR.
In October, 1899, war broke out between this country and the
Republics of the Orange Free State and the Transvaal.
The men of the Army Reserve were accordingly called out on
active service, including some of the workmen employed by the
Vestry. The Vestry, acting in accordance with the practice of other
public bodies, determined, on the 24th October, to grant half-pay to
the wives of the Army Reserve Men who were on the Vestry s
permanent staff during the time they were on active service in connection
with the war in the Transvaal.
The large amount raised for the wives and families ot the
reserve men by voluntary subscription being considered insufficient to