View report page

46
and parishioners paid their last respect to his
memory.
Election of Vicar. -The Vestry received a report
from the Churchwardens of St. James, Clerkenwell,
who were appointed Returning Officers at a public
meeting of the ratepayers held at the Town Hall on
May 25th, stating that the various resolutions then
passed were duly carried out and a poll taken by
ballot on June 21st from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., with the
result that 3,737 ratepayers voted and the Rev.
Cuthbert Joseph Parker, M.A., was elected by
2,698 votes, and was introduced to the Vestry on the
22nd September.
The expenses of the election, amounting to
£69 7s. 2d., were paid out of the General Rate.
Widening of St. John Street.—Re-building of
Horse and Groom P.H. —In February, 1898, the
Vestry in view of the widening of St. John Street
called the attention of the County Council to the re
building of the "Horse and Groom" P.H. in the
narrow part of St. John Street, and urged them to do
all in their power to prevent rebuilding or to obtain
the setting back of the line of frontage. A deputation
was also appointed to wait upon the Council.
The Improvements Committee of the Council informed
the Vestry that the suggested improvement
was desirable, but that the Council possessed no
statutory powers for the compulsory acquisition of
the land needed for widening the thoroughfare,
but that the Vestry could however,
arrange for the setting back of the public
house under the powers conferred by the
Act 57 George III., Chapter 29 (Michael
Angelo 'Taylor's Act), and also stated that if the
V estry exercised those powers the Committee would