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Gardens Association, offering to transfer to the Vestry,
all the working stock free of cost. The Vestry accepted
these offers, and at the close of the year to which this
Report relates, were taking steps to carry them into effect.
Price of Gas.—The Vestry, in November, received a
letter from the Strand District Board inviting the support
of the Vestry to a request to the Metropolitan Board of
Works to apply to Parliament for a reduction of the price
of gas in the northern half of the Metropolis, so as to
equalize the price with that charged by the South Metropolitan
Gas Co., on the Southern side of the Thames. The
Vestry acceded to the request, and addressed the Metropolitan
Board of Works accordingly, but the Board replied
that it did not consider such an application would be
attended with any probability of success, and that, moreover,
the Board is advised that it has no statutory power to
incur expenditure for such a purpose.
The Vestry, in March, 1887, received an intimation from
the Gas Light and Coke Co., that after the 31st of that
month the price of gas supplied to the street lamps would
be reduced from 2s. 6d. to 2s. 5d., per thousand cubic feet.
Tramways.—The line of tramways of the London Street
Tramways Co., authorised to be laid along King's Cross
and Farringdon Roads to Clerkenwell Road, was laid during
the year now under review. It will be remembered that
the usual agreement was entered into between the Vestry
and the Company, for the payment by the latter for the
paving to be taken to lying between the rails and extending
to 18 inches on either side. While the line was in
course of formation the Company offered, that in lieu of
paying the Vestry for the old paving, they (the Company)
should take up and relay the whole of the roadway throughout
from kerb to kerb, putting in Portland cement concrete