View report page

14
of a very small and ill-conditioned character, and re-let the ground for
re-building. Huntingdon Street and Great Essex Street were two
thoroughfares on this estate, of a width of about 24-feet, both of which
are in course of re-building. The Vestry entered into negociations with
the agents of the owner, and concluded an arrangement for the purchase
of so much ground on the North side of Huntingdon Street, as would
suffice to widen that street to about 40-feet, exclusive of the areas, which
give an additional width of 10 or 12-feet from house to house. This
street is situate opposite Thomas Street at one end, and nearly opposite
to Myrtle Street at the other, and in the event of the former being
eventually opened for vehicular traffic, will form part of an important
lino of communication leading from Hoxton to Hackney Road. The
Vestry agreed to pay the freeholder for the widening of this street
£4415 10s., being principally for property which had to be removed or
re-built, to bo paid in three instalments, two of which have been paid,
and the third will be payable at Christmas, 1872, or sooner if the whole
of the land included in the deed of purchase can be rendered available.
The Metropolitan Board agreed to contribute one half of the cost of this
improvement (£2207 15s.), and have paid the sum of £1000 on account.
The legal and surveyor's charges were £126 6s. 1d., and the works in
connection therewith are estimated at about £800; the whole amount paid
by the Vestry was drawn from the current rates and not raised by loan.
Several other local improvements have been under the consideration
of the Improvement Committee, such as the widening of the Rosemary
Branch and Cat-and-Mutton Bridges, over the Regent's Canal; the
widening of the Hackney end of Goldsmith's Row, and of Red Lion
Passage in Hoxton. No practical step has been taken to advance any of
the former, but the latter has been virtually resolved upon, to be effected
by giving up a portion of the ground belonging to the Parish, used as a
Stone Yard; the Passage will be widened from 3-feet to 8-feet.
METROPOLITAN IMPROVEMENTS,
SHOREDITCH.
Metropolitan Improvements are distinguished from Local Improvements
by their being of a larger extent, more general in their character,