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half the width of the street with a different material was out of the
question, and the Vestry did not feel justified, in view of possible
legal objections, in expending a large sum in paving works outside
the boundaries of the Parish, without lawful authority, an application
was made to the Metropolitan Board of Works to give legal effect to
the existing understanding with regard to the maintenance of the
street. Some objection was raised by the Strand Board to the line
of division, and eventually an Order was made by the Metropolitan
Board placing so much of the carriageway of Wardour Street as lies
south of Meard's Court under the exclusive management of the
Vestry for the purposes named, and the remainder of the street under
the exclusive management, for the same purposes, of the Strand
District Board.
PAVING AND DRAINAGE WORKS.
During the year wood pavement has been laid in the carriageways
of St. James's Street and St. James's Place, and asphalte in
the carriageways of Beak Street, and Smith's Court. The
wood paving works were carried out by Messrs. Mowlem and
Co., the total area so paved being 4,073 yards, and the net cost
£886 6s. 3d. (after allowing £607 10s. 3d. for the pitching stones
removed). The asphalte was laid by the French Asphalte
Company, the total area being 1,540 yards, and the net cost
£665 7s. 0d. (allowing £149 4s. 0d. for the pitching stones
removed). In each case tenders were invited by public advertisement.
Several applications for the substitution of a quieter or cleaner
description of paving for that at present laid were received, and
the Vestry decided to lay down asphalte in the roadway of Poland
Street, and wood in the roadway of Wardour Street. Tenders
were accepted in March, and the work was commenced towards
the close of the month, the French Asphalte Company and
Messrs. Muldoon Brothers, respectively, being the contractors. The
Vestry have under consideration the desirability of altering the
description of pavement in the carriageways of Argyll Place and
other thoroughfares.