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Board may proceed instead of the Vestry, and charge the latter with
the expenses incurred thereby.
Property acquired under this Act is to be devoted by the Vestry
or their lessees, either (1) to providing the labouring class with
suitable dwellings by the construction of new buildings, or repairing
or improving existing buildings; or (2) to opening out closed or
partially closed alleys or courts inhabited by the labouring classes,
and the widening of the same by pulling down any building, or
otherwise leaving such open spaces as may be necessary to make
such alleys or courts healthful.
A lessee acquiring property under this Act is to forfeit his lease,
if the works required by the Vestry to be carried out are either not
commenced or not completed within the stipulated time.
The expenses incurred by the Vestry in carrying the Act into
execution are to be defrayed out of the general rate, which may be
increased for the purpose to an extent not exceeding 2d. in the
pound for any year. The Vestry is also empowered to borrow
money for the purposes of the Act.
Sir Richard Cross's Acts mainly relate to the Metropolitan
Board of Works, but incidentally they amend Torrens's Acts in the
following respects.
An unhealthy area comprising a block of not more than ten
houses, is to be dealt with by the Vestry under Torrens's Acts.
Any building not in itself unfit for human habitation, may be
dealt with by the Vestry, if it is an "obstructive" building, that
is, if by reason of its proximity to, or contact with, any other
buildings, it either (1) stops ventilation, or otherwise makes, or
conduces to make, such other buildings to be in a condition
unfit for human habitation, or (2) prevents proper measures
from being carried into effect for remedying the evils complained of
in respect of such other buildings.
Where, in the opinion of the arbitrator, the demolition of an
obstructive building adds to the value of such other buildings, he
may apportion so much of the compensation to be paid for the