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the Penton Estate in the last century, and binding contracts were
entered into; that the rents were regularly paid until 1838, when
the Parish appears to have disputed its liability, whereupon
legal proceedings were instituted, which resulted in the establishment
of Colonel Penton's rights to the rents. Under these
circumstances the Vestry decided that it was inexpedient to raise
the question of the claim.
Proceedings under the Valuation Act, 1869.—One
of the most important proceedings of the year, as affecting the
interests of the Ratepayers, occurred under this head. Prom the
year 1870, when the Valuation Act first came into operation, the
Assessment Committee of the Holborn Union, as advised, have held
that after an assessment has been fixed, it could not be altered until
the next quinquennial revision of the Valuation List, except in
consequence of some structural alteration of the premises, a view
which the Vestry have always combatted, but hitherto without
success. But in July, 1881, a Provisional List was presented to
the Assessment Committee containing several strong cases in
point, notably the shops in Goswell Road under the Compton
Buildings, which were originally let at £60 per annum on lease,
and assessed accordingly. The rentals however could not be
sustained, and even before the expiration of the leases an allowance
of £12 per annum was made on the rents of many of the
shops as an equivalent to a reduction of the rents. Soon after
the making out of the Valuation List in 1880 these leases expired,
and the rents of the shops were mostly reduced from £60 to £45,
and the tenants appealed, with the result that these cases, with
others of the like kind, were submitted to the Assessment Committee
of the Union, and Counsel's opinion taken upon the
question, who approved of the views of the Vestry in the matter,
and the practice of the Assessment Committee was thenceforward
reversed, and the views of the Vestry were agreed to be acted
upon in the future. The Vestry Clerk's report, giving the Case
and Opinion in extenso, being of considerable importance, is as
follows:—