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32
ARCHWAY ROAD.
This road, having been disturnpiked since 1872, became according
to the Local Government Act of 1888 a main road and, as such, liable
to be maintained and repaired by the London County Council—unless
the Vestry, within twelve months from the day appointed for the Council
to commence its functions, claimed to retain the maintenance in its
own hands. The Vestry made no such claim, but, as the Council
when its liability commenced was unprepared to maintain the road,
the Vestry undertook the duty until the end of June, 1889, and has
since continued it at the request of the Council, it being understood
that the latter body would repay the Vestry the expenses incurred.
In February, 1890, however, the Council intimated that subject to
the report of its Engineer that the road had been maintained and
repaired to his satisfaction, it would be prepared to contribute £120
towards the cost of maintaining the road for the year 1889-90, giving
as a reason for fixing such a sum that a similar amount had been
contributed by the Local Government Board for the same purpose
during each of the two preceding years. As this amount represented
little more than one-half the actual cost of maintenance, and as there
seemed no analogy between the conditions of a voluntary gift, such as
that of the Local Government Board, and the statutory liability of
the Council, the Vestry has intimated its dissatisfaction with the
proposal, but, so far, no reply has been received. The Council seems
to have adopted the same course with regard to main roads in other
parishes and the Vestries or District Boards of such parishes appear
equally with Islington inclined to resent such treatment.
The cost of maintenance and repairs to the road during the six
months ending March, 1890, amounted to £126 16s. 7d., being a total
for the year of £195 Is. 5d.
MAIN ROADS.
This subject was treated of in the last annual report, to which
also was appended a report of the Highways Committee dealing with
the question.
As it appeared to be the desire of some of the Vestries and District
Boards in the Metropolis to have as many as possible of the roads in