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26
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 the Vestry
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
pages 65-6.
The Vestry have also various powers under the Metropolitan
Paving Act, 57 George III., cap. 29, commonly known as
Michael Angelo Taylor's Act, the Nuisances Removal Acts,
the Metropolitan Building Acts,- the Metropolis Gas Act,
the Sanitary Act, 1866, the Artizans' and Labourers' Dwellings
Act, 1868, better known as Torrens' Act, and other
statutes.
There has been a growing tendency for some years to
include in the local rates various sums for Metropolitan
purposes, over the expenditure of which local authorities
do not possess the slightest control. Thus, since the establishment
of the Metropolitan Board of Works in 1855, the
Vestry have at different times been required by Parliament
to provide funds for—(a) Main Drainage ; (b) Fire