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17
following summary of the powers and obligations conferred by
Torrens's Acts, and by Sir Richard Cross's Acts, will suggest
many points for consideration.
As to Torrens's Acts, the Medical Officers may report to the
Vestry or District Board that certain houses are unfit for human
habitation. The Vestry or Board is to refer this report to a
Surveyor, who is to report the cause of the condition of the houses,
and what is the remedy—repair or demolition. Notice is to be
given to the owner when the said reports are to be considered, when
the owner may attend and make objections. If an order is made,
the owner has two courses open. He may appeal to Quarter
Sessions, or he may require the Vestry or Board to purchase the
property. If he elects the latter course, and the parties cannot
agree as to compensation, the matter is to be referred to arbitration,
but the Arbitrator is to take into consideration the value of the
property as it then is and not its prospective value, and if the
premises be utterly uninhabitable and fit only for demolition, then
only the value of the land and the actual materials is to be
considered, and no allowance is to be made for compulsory purchase.
If the Vestries neglect to execute the Act, the Metropolitan Board
may, after three months' notice, execute the Act at the cost of the
Vestries. By the Bill now before the House* the several Acts are
amended as follows :—Torrens's Acts, and not Sir Richard Cross's
Acts are to apply to all areas where not more than ten houses
are included in the report. The Acts extend not only to houses
which are in themselves unhealthy, but to obstructive buildings, so
that a court or a cul de sac may be opened up, but in all such cases
the Vestry may, unless the owner chooses to retain the land,
purchase the premises at arbitration prices.
The report complains that the Metropolitan Board has never
exeroised its authority to compel the Vestries to put the Acts in
force, and the Bill now provides that after an Officer of Health
has reported any premises under the Act, and the Vestry or
District Board has not proceeded, the Board of Guardians or
* This Bill has now passed and is in force as an Act.