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132
George, Hanover Square, which is another Parish interested
in the ancient Charities of St. Martin's, and, at the close of
the year, awaited the framing of a scheme by the Charity
Commissioners.
THE VESTRY
Consists of 48 elected and three ex-officio Members, and was
constituted by the Metropolis Local Management Act, 1855.
It superseded an elected Vestry acting under the provisions
of the Statute 1 & 2 William IV., cap. 60, which was adopted
by the ratepayers of St. James's on the 6th April, 1832. All
the powers of the former Vestry and of the Paving Commissioners
acting under Local Acts, as well as some of the
functions of the Commissioners of Sewers, were transferred
to the newly-appointed body.
An Act was passed in the year 1858 relative to the main
drainage of the Metropolis, by which the Vestry, as the
rating authority of the Parish, were required to meet precepts
of the Metropolitan Board of Works for a Main Drainage
Rate not to exceed 3d. in the pound per annum.
In 1862 the powers of the Vestry were enlarged by the
Metropolis Local Management Amendment Act, and in the
following year turnpike roads in the Metropolis were transferred
from Commissioners, who had power to levy tolls upon
horses and other animals and vehicles, to the Local
Authorities, whose expenses are defrayed from the rates.
The Metropolitan Board of Works (Loans) Act, 1869, and
Money Acts of the Board, subsequently passed, besides
making some alterations in the mode of assessing the
expenses of the Board, have afforded increased facilities for
the raising of money by Vestries and District Boards, of
which, however, the Vestry of St. James have not yet
availed themselves.