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METROPOLITAN BOARD OF WORKS.
Spring Gardens,
20th October, 1874.
Sir,
In the year 1871 you were good enough to furnish the
Board with some statistics of the works carried out in your District
since the Metropolis Local Management Act 1855, came into operation.
At that time the attention of Parliament had been recently directed
to the Local Government of the Metropolis by the Bills on the subject
introduced by the late Mr. Charles Buxton.
The Board's object in obtaining the information was to show the
Legislature and the Government in a short and summary form the
general results of the action of the local authorities constituted [under
the Act of 1855, as exhibited in the improved condition of the various
districts.
Mr. Buxton's Bills, as you are aware, were not proceeded with, but
the Board having obtained the necessary information from the Local
Boards, submitted it in the shape of a return to Parliament, a copy of
which was at the same time sent for the information of your Board.
The question of the Local Government of the Metropolis is, it
would appear, again to be brought under the notice of the House of
Commons in the coming Sessions, and the Board in view of this, wishes
to be prepared with complete statistics of the whole of the works
executed by the Vestries and District Boards in the Metropolis from
1st January 1856 to 25th March, 1874.
I have accordingly to ask that your Board will be good enough to
direct that I may be furnished by the 1st December next, with the
information required, which would be most conveniently done by filling
up the columns on the other side of this letter.
Ton will perceive that what is now asked for is not so extensive
as the information which you were good enough to furnish in 1871.
You then gave in addition to the statistics of work done, a description
of the improved condition of your district at that time as compared
with its condition in 1856, together with certain other information which
is still sufficiently applicable to render it unnecessary to trouble you
for any further account. It is hoped that you will not find much
difficulty in supplying the information now required by the time named,
viz., the 1st December next.
I am, Sir,
Yonr obedient Servant,
(Signed) J. E. WAKEFIELD,
Clerk of the Board.
To the Clerk of the
Vestry of Clerkenwell.