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70
SUMMARY PROCEEDINGS.
Summonses have been taken out for the following offences:—
Unsanitary condition of premises 4
Obstructions 4
Non-payment of cost of reinstating pavement, &c. 3
Total 11
With one exception, the Vestry were successful in all the above
cases, the necessary works being put in hand, or the claim satisfied,
in most instances, before the summons came on for hearing. The
exception referred to was a summons for an alleged obstruction on
the footway in front of certain premises in Piccadilly, when the
magistrate held that the ground in question did not form part of
the public way, and accordingly dismissed the case. In consequence
of this decision of the magistrate, the Vestry passed a resolution
on the 18th May, 1882, authorising the Vestry Clerk to obtain legal
aid in supporting prosecutions on behalf of the Vestry if necessary.
CLAIMS FOR COMPENSATION.
Five claims have been made upon the Vestry during the year.
In two cases compensation was paid, one being for injury caused to
certain premises by the non-connection of the drain thereof with
the sewer, and the other for damage resulting from the bursting of
the sewer into a house drain. Two claims for injury to a cab-horse
alleged to have been caused by an unwatched and unlighted heap of
stones, and for a window alleged to have been broken by the
Vestry's workmen, respectively, were not entertained. In the fifth
case, which was a claim for alleged injury to vaults, owing to the
negligent and improper carrying out of the wood paving works in
Pall Mall, notice of action was given, and Messrs. Lee and
Pemberton were instructed to defend the action if the same
was brought. A writ was subsequently served, but not proceeded
with, and on the application of the Vestry's Solicitors, an
order was made dismissing the motion for want of prosecution.