View report page

25
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 re-constituted Vestry.
An Act was passed in the year 1858 relative to the main
drainage of the metropolis, by which the Y estry, 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 Yestry 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 Yestries and District Boards, of which the Yestry
of St. James have availed themselves to a small extent.
By the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts of 1875 and 1879, the
Vestry are empowered to purchase samples of food and drugs
for analysis, to appoint a Public Analyst, and to prosecute
vendors of adulterated articles. Proceedings under these
Acts during the past year are mentioned on page 74.
The Yestry have also various powers under the Metropolitan
Paving Act, 57 Geo. III., cap. 29, commonly known as
Michael Angelo Taylor's Act, the Nuisances Removal Acts,.