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land handed over to the contractors for Sewers and Paving. Some
delay has taken place, however, by the inability of the first Contractor
to carry out his undertaking, but the works having been placed in the
hands of Messrs. Nowell and Robson satisfactory progress will no
doubt be made. The widening of the High Street is also progressing-,
so far as the acquisition of the property is concerned, but some months
will probably elapse before the works required for the widening are
effected.
Beyond the purchase of some of the property required for the
New Street—Shoreditch to Bethnal Green—nothing has been done ;
none of the buildings have been removed and very few have been even
evacuated.
During the year the Great Eastern Railway Extension to Liverpool
Street, has been completed and the passenger traffic to and from the
High Level Station in Shoreditch entirely discontinued. The effect of
this alteration upon the trade of the High Street has been considerable,
and the loss is only partially compensated by the New Low Level
Station, in Shoreditch, which is mostly used for Local traffic.
NEW FOOTWAY PAVING IN ACTON WARD.
The principal streets in Acton Ward, Pownall Road, Shrubland
Road, &c., were simply Ballast roads and foot-paths. The Inhabitants
have frequently requested that the footpaths might be flagged, but the
same having been laid out previous to the passing of Sir. B. Hall's
Act, in 1855, the cost of the paving could not be charged upon the owners,
although it could upon the occupiers. The reason for this distinction
is not clear, but such is the fact. The Vestry replied to a request
of the inhabitants by ordering that Pownall Road, as a commencement
should be flagged, and the cost defrayed by a loan which, principal
and interest, should be repaid by the occupiers, over a period of fifteen
years. The legality of this proceeding was tested by summons before
a Police Magistrate against six occupiers, and was established. At this
stage the owners of most of the houses came forward with a memorial
offering to pay one-half of the cost, provided the Vestry would meet
the other. To this request the Vestry acceeded, and to secure payment,
resolved to charge the cost upon the occupiers in four quarterly instalments,
provided however, that if the owners or occupiers paid one half