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has been taken accordingly, the letter referred to forming the
basis of the case for such Opinion, which case will, therefore,
speak for itself.
I have now the honor to submit the Case and Opinion as
follows:—
THE METROPOLIS (VALUATION) ACT, 1869.
The Assessment Committee of the Holborn Union in the County of
Middlesex.
STATEMENT for the advice of Counsel as to the operation and
application of ss 46 and 47 of the above Act in certain cases.
The Assessment Committee of the Holborn Union have from
time to time had cases brought before them in relation to their
powers and duties under the above-mentioned ss., which have
caused them considerable embarrassment.
The Vestry of the Parish of St. James, Clerkenwell, a Parish
in the Holborn Union, have lately submitted to the Assessment
Committee a Provisional Valuation List under Section 47 of the
Act. In this List the Vestry have reduced the assessments of
certain hereditaments, the Gross and Rateable values of which
had been fixed by the last quinquennial or Supplemental Valuation
List. The reduction has been made by the Vestry substantially
on the ground that the rents of the hereditaments in
question have been reduced since the Quinquennial List, or last
Supplemental List, was made. Mr. Paget, the Vestry Clerk of
St. James, Clerkenwell, addressed a letter to the Assessment
Committee, to explain the views of the Vestry. This letter, which
contains the arguments on which the Vestry base their opinions,
is as follows:—
VESTRY OF THE PARISH OF ST. JAMES & ST. JOHN,
CLERKENWELL.
Vestry Hall, Clerkenwell,
58, Rosoman Street, E.C.,
August 24th, 1881.
To the Assessment Committee, Holborn Union.
Gentlemen,
I have to call special attention to the following cases brought
before you in the present Provisional Valuation List: