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attention to the means which may be adopted for
providing, in times of exceptional distress, employment
for the unemployed of a class who do not
ordinarily have recourse to Boards of Guardians for
relief. The classes of work suggested were such
as cannot be undertaken in frosty weather, and it
was therefore impossible for the Vestry to provide
employment by this means. The removal of snow
however gave employment to a large number, and
a sum of £281 10s. 7d. was paid to men specially
engaged for that purpose.
Valuation Metropolis Bill.—During the Session
of 1894 the Vestry considered the Valuation (Metropolis)
Bill, introduced by Mr. Pickersgill, but
which was really the Bill prepared by the County
Council and amended by the Conference of Assessment
Authorities, which had been sitting at Spring
Gardens for the past twelve months. The principal
provisions of the Bill were as follows:—
(a) The County Council are to make by-laws for regulating
the practice of the Assessment Committees and Overseers
in the assessment of either the gross or rateable value of
hereditaments, which by-laws are not to be operative
until confirmed by the Local Government Board after
considering any representations and objections by any
Overseer or Assessment Committee to the same.
(b) The Council in the third or fourth year of every
nial period are to convene a Conference of representatives
of Overseers or Assessment Committees to consider questions
of practice, or alterations of the by-laws.
(c) The Council may appoint representatives to attend any
Meeting of Overseers or of an Assessment Committee,
with power to take part in the discussion, but without
being entitled to vote.
(<1) The Council may make objections to the Assessment Committee
if they deem fit.
(fc) New and Supplemental Valuation Lists are to be prepared
by Overseers in triplicate instead of duplicate, one copy
being sent to the Council, who may insert in such copy