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the Board of Trade, and by deputations and memorials to the Government,
and petitions to Parliament, sought to obtain protection. The
amalagation scheme was, however, carried and all the Companies north
of the Thames, except the Commercial, were united with the Gas Light
and Coke Company, formerly called the Chartered, and brought under
one uniform system. The amalagation took effect on the first of
January last, but up to the present time no alteration either as to price
or quality has been made in the Independent district, and is not
anticipated during 1876, but it is expected that next year there will
be one uniform price charged and perhaps quality as far as possible
supplied, over the entire district. "Whether the new arrangement will
prove beneficial to the consumers in Shoreditch, as promised, or
injurious as anticipated, remains to be seen.
MORTUARY.
The provision of a Mortuary for the Parish has long been considered
as a most urgent, and it has proved to be a very difficult
matter. The principle obstacle to its establishment was the want of a
suitable site; but at length an arrangement was effected by which a
portion of the Parish churchyard was appropriated for the purpose,
and the arrangement seems in every respect to answer the object
intended.
An agreement was made between the Yestry, the Burial Board,
and the Vicar. The Burial Board undertook to provide a suitable
building for a mortuary, and to provide proper access, &c., the
Vicar assenting. The Vestry agreed to accept and use and to
pay the cost of using the Mortuary, and a Faculty (in the petition
for which all parties joined) was obtained. The Mortuary has now
been built at a cost, including architect's commission, entrance, &c., of
£672 18s. 6d. The Sexton of the Church, residing on the spot, has
been appointed Mortuary-keeper at a salary (for the present) of 30s.
per month.
It may here be stated that the agreement before-mentioned is in
course of being carried out, the Burial Board having taken a contract
for laying out and planting the churchyard, and the works are in
progress.