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with the Queen, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and the
Princess Victoria of Teck in the loss which they had sustained,
and a copy thereof was forwarded to their Royal Highnesses.
Dr. Bernays.
A resolution of condolence with the family of Dr. Bernays,
who for many years had filled the office of Public Analyst for
St. Saviour's and whose death was announced at the same
meeting, was, on the motion of Mr. Gregory, also passed, and
a copy of the resolution forwarded to his widow.
Fire Escapes
and Alarms.
A circular-letter was, in the latter part of January, received
from the London County Council, calling the attention of
District Boards and Vestries to the desirability of making as
widely known as possible the position of Fire Escapes and Fire
Alarms in London, and suggesting that the object might be
effected by placing tablets of some description in or upon the
street lamps. The letter was referred to the Paving and General
Purposes Committee; who, on considering the proposal, were of
opinion that, in order to make the indications generally useful
and intelligible, some uniform method should be adopted throughout
the metropolis, and that that end could be best obtained by
the County Council itself as being a central authority having
jurisdiction over the whole of the metropolis. This view was
communicated to the County Council, and, in reply, a letter was
received stating that the Fire Brigade Committee were of opinion
that the work should be carried out entirely by and at the expense
of the Vestries and District Boards. It was thereupon
suggested to the Council, 011 behalf of the Committee, that it
should convene a conference of local authorities in order to
discuss the matter and endeavour to come to some mutual
arrangement with the object of securing uniformity; but the
Council declined, being of opinion that uniformity was impracticable,
owing to the diversity in the lighting arrangements,
and suggested that the Surveyor of the Board should have an
interview with Mr. Symonds, the Chief of the Brigade, and
discuss the matter. Meanwhile a great amount of correspondence
was taking place between the local authorities, inter se,
and with the Council, the desire being very generally expressed
that one uniform system should be adopted, if possible.
Ultimately, so far as the Board was concerned, the Surveyor
had an interview with Mr. Symonds, the Chief of the Brigade,
as suggested, and, on discussing the matter, that gentleman
expressed an opinion that possibly the difficulty might be met
by indicating on the back of the dust cards and on the rating
papers, the position of the fire escapes and alarms. On reporting
this to the Committee, they resolved to adjourn the
matter until such time as new dust cards were required to be
printed.
Ambulances.
In February, the Board, on the application of the Hospitals'
Association (Ambulance Department) consented to the placing