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prudent, in the interests alike of the ratepayers of the Metropolis
and the vast population in the district for which
additional means of communication are needed.
The Metropolitan Board propose to seek powers to construct
a tunnel, without delay, between Greenwich and Blackwall,
and to defer coming to any decision as to the means of communication
to he provided at or near Shadwell until the
experience to be gained by the use of the bascule bridge at
the Tower has shown whether it is practicable to erect a
similar structure (which would be preferable on many grounds
to a tunnel) a little lower down the river.
FIRE BRIGADE EXPENSES.
By the Act of Parliament constituting the Metropolitan
Fire Brigade, three sources of revenue were provided, viz.
(1) a contribution of £10,000 from the Government; (2) a
contribution from the Fire Insurance Offices at the rate of
£35 for every £1,000,000 insured, and (3) a rate not exceeding
½d. in the pound. The income arising from these three
sources not proving adequate to the increasing demands on
the Brigade consequent upon the growth of the Metropolis,
the Metropolitan Board of Works are promoting a Bill in
Parliament to increase the contribution of the Insurance
Offices from £35 to £40 per million, and to raise the limit of
the rate from ½d. to 1d. in the pound.
The Vestry approve, in principle, of the extra cost of the
Brigade being shared by the Insurance Offices, and not wholly
borne by the ratepayers, and have requested the Right Hon.
W. H. Smith, M.P., to support this view in Parliament.