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sell a portion of it (comprising about 2 acres) overlooking Highbury
Fields for the sum of £8,750. This price was in the opinion of the
Vestry so excessive that no notice was taken of the offer.
The matter was again brought under the notice of the Vestry in
February, 1891, by a rumour that the Metropolitan Asylums Board
contemplated purchasing the portion of the estate in question with a
view to the erection thereon of a Fever Hospital. The Vestry as
representing the ratepayers of the parish strongly protested against
this proposal, and the idea was ultimately abandoned.
The residents in the neighbourhood (being under the circumstances
more anxious than ever to preserve the portion of the estate facing
the fields with the fine old elms thereon) subsequently attended by
deputation before the Vestry and presented a numerously signed
memorial urging the Vestry to take such steps as it might deem
advisable to secure to the parish and the metropolis the two
acres referred to. The memorial has been referred to the Works
Committee for consideration and report and is still under its
consideration.
REVISION OF BY-LAWS AND REGULATIONS.
It was briefly mentioned in the last annual report that a special
Committee had been appointed for the purpose of revising the By-Laws
and Regulations of the Vestry. The Committee met no less than
twenty-three times, and its report, which will be found in the Appendix,
was taken into consideration at special meetings of the Vestry held on
the 30th May and the 13th and 27th June, 1890, with the result that
the whole of the recommendations contained therein were approved
and adopted.
As will be seen from the report several important changes in
the practice of the Vestry were brought about by the adoption of the
new By-Laws, the most important departure being the appointment
of a Works Committee to take the place of the then existing Highways,
Sewers and Buildings, Lighting and Dusting and Slopping
Committees. Various other provisions were also made, viz., for the