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administration of purely Local Affairs by Local Councils. When
Sir W. Harcourt's Bill was introduced it was found, in the opinion
of the Vestry to be antagonistic to the principle above expressed;
the Vestry, therefore, petitioned against the Bill. The entire
question has been so fully discussed in all its phases as to render it
unnecessary to dwell upon it in this Report. It did not pass the
second reading through want of time.*
The United Telephone Bill was promoted by private parties.
Its object was to obtain Parliamentary powers to carry lines across
and over streets, as is now practically done, but with doubtful
legality. The Vestry with many others opposed the Bill, and the
Government having refused to sanction it, it was not proceeded
with.
Representations have been made to the Government by the
Authorities of several Metropolitan Parishes as to the danger to be
apprehended from the numerous and ever increasing number of
overhead wires, but the reply of the Government was a refusal to
interfere until the question of the legal power of the Companies to
place the wires over streets, or of the Local Authorities to regulate
or remove them had been decided by a Court of Law. The
Wandsworth Board of Works brought a test action, which in the
first instance went in favour of the Board, but on appeal against it.
The Wandsworth Board, it is understood, declines to take the case
further—that is, to the House of Lords. It now remains to be
seen what steps the Government will take, if any, to place these
overhead wires under local control. There is reason to believe that
a united effort will be made by the various Local Authorities to
urge the Government to fulfil their promise and introduce a Bill for
that purpose.
Railways, Tramways, &c.
Two Bills of a purely local character affecting this Parish in particular
were introduced—the London and North Western Railway
Bill, and the North Metropolitan Tramways Bill—the former
*It is a significant fact relating to the above Bill that, since its introduction
in the session to the 30th July, when it was abandoned., the number of petitions
presented in its favor were 20, and the total number of signatures 30, so all but
one were signed officially (by Chairmen, &c.). Against the Bill the'number of
Petitions was '22G, of which 172 were signed officially by the Chairmen and others
under seal, and the total number of signatures was 21,556.