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have, after many vexatious delays and a great deal of correspondence
and negotiation with the solicitors of Messrs. Fielden
Bros., the owners, as regards the lower portion, by deed of
conveyance and covenant dated the 31st December last, and with
the consent of the Metropolitan Board of Works, been conveyed to
this Board, Messrs. Fielden and the two Railway Companies
contributing a sum of £700 for the purpose of paving the same,
and this Board covenanting to repair, maintain, and light its
portion of the two thoroughfares as far as the parish boundary at
St. Olave's. The paving works are now being carried out by
Messrs. Wheeler & Hindle, the Contractors, under the direction
of Mr. Norrish, the Surveyor of this Board, and the same firm
have in hand the paving of the upper portion in St. Olave's, for
Messrs. Fielden, the St. Olave's Board not having yet succeeded in
coming to terms with the owners for taking over their portion of
the roads. Arrangements have also been made for the better drainage
and lighting of the two thoroughfares. Thus a long-standing
and dangerous nuisance has been got rid of to the satisfaction of all
the parties concerned, and the responsibility of the repair and
maintenance of the roads, so far as they are situate in St. Saviour's,
will henceforth devolve upon this Board.
Since the well-known decision of the House of Lords in the
matter of the appeal of Mr. Archibald E. Dobbs, whereby it was
finally decided that the words Annual Value occurring in the
Water Companies' Acts meant the net annual value of the
premises assessed, that is to say, the rent at which they would let
after deducting the usual tenant's rates and taxes, the probable
average annual cost of repairs, insurance, &c., several Bills have
been introduced into Parliament for dealing with the Water Supply
of the Metropolis, and for giving effect to the decision above
referred to, the Water Companies having in many instances been
unwilling to accept the Poor Rate valuation as the standard or basis
of their charges, and numerous disputes having arisen in consequence
which have had to be settled by the magistrates. The
Bill of the Corporation of London sought for powers to enable any
water consumer to require the water company supplying his
district to supply him with water by meter, at his option, at the
Water Supply.