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to £40 per million pounds insured by them. It appears
that the present halfpenny rate produces about £72,000
per annum, and that the Insurance Companies now pay
about £25,000 per annum towards the expenses of the Fire
Brigade. The Bill proposes to increase the rate to one
penny or an additional £72,000 per annum, and to increase
the Companies' Contribution by some £3,500 per annum.
The Vestry felt that this was a very inadequate proportion
to be paid by the Companies, and they therefore expressed
the opinion that if any increase over the present halfpenny
in the pound be required, it should be met by the Insurance
Companies.
Charterhouse Bill.-This Bill, introduced into the
House of Lords, makes provision for the sale or lease of
the Middlesex Estate of the Governors of Sutton's Hospital
in Charterhouse. Application has been made by the
Governors to the Charity Commissioners for a scheme for
the more beneficial disposition of the endowments of the
Hospital; and to that end for the removal from the
Hospital of the Poor Brothers hitherto maintained therein,
and for the establishment of a system of out pensions in
lieu thereof, and hence the proposal to sell or otherwise
dispose of the remainder of their Estate.
The Bill was considered by the Vestry, with the view
to efforts being made to secure some portion of the site as
an "open space."
By clause 4 of the Bill, it was provided that the
Governors "may set apart and appropriate for the formation
of streets, roads or open space, any part or parts of
the land," subject to the consent of the Court of Chancery
or the Charity Commissioners, and also that by clause 5
they may lay out the disused burial ground as an ornamental