View report page

120
increment arising from the increased valuation of property
in the Metropolis which came into effect this year, the
capital value of which can scarcely be computed at less than,
one million sterling. The Executive Committee feel that
they, and their advisers, took every possible step to bring
about a satisfactory solution of the question, and regret that
owing to what they believe to be the mistaken view adopted
by their opponents, who are also public authorities, further
delay and expense must be incurred before the desired end is
attained. For this delay and expense, as well as for any
increased compensation due to delay, the Corporation and
the County Council must be held responsible.
The Vestry have recently received communications from
one or two local authorities on the south side of the river,
complaining of the bad quality of the water supplied in
their districts. It was a matter of some suprise to the
Vestry that the local authorities south of the Thames
assisted to so small an extent in the promotion of the
above-mentioned Bill, for any advantages to be gained by
the consolidation of the Water Companies' undertakings,
would have been shared in to a greater extent by consumers
south of the river, where the scale of charges is so
much higher than in the remainder of the Metropolis. As
the matter at present stands, the Vestry do not see how
they can usefully co-operate with these tardily complaining
authorities, although they are still of opinion that the
municipalisation of the Metropolitan water supply on the
lines of the Metropolis Water Supply Bill of last year
would be advantageous to the community.
PARLIAMENTARY SCHEMES.
Session 1891.— The Central London Railway Bill became
law in the course of the Session.