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borrowed for paving and other purposes, no interest had been
allowed. The Vestry obtained terms from the London and County,
the City and the Central Bank, and accepted those of the latter,
and appointed Mr. W. Smith, of the Shoreditch Branch, as
Treasurer. The terms are, interest allowed on minimum fortnightly
balances at one per cent. under bank rate. The probable
receipts from this source will be from £150 to £200 per year.
LONDON COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
The most important legislation of last year affecting the
Metropolis was the passing of the Local Government Act. The
effect of this was to separate that part of the Metropolis which was
under the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Board of Works and
the Vestries and District Boards, as established by the Metropolis
Local Management Act, 1855, from the rest of Middlesex, Surrey
and Kent. London is now, for administrative purposes, a
County in itself. The London County Council takes over all the
powers of the Metropolitan Board of Works, which was
superseded and which ceased to exist on the 28th of March last.
It takes over also some of the powers formerly exercised by the
County Justices, for instance, the control of the County Asylums,
Industrial Schools &c., the granting of Music and Dancing
Licenses, but not the Licensing of places for the sale of
intoxicating drinks. The revenue of the County Council
consists partly of Local Hates levied as Poor rates, and partly
of Government grants in the form of Licensing duties, Probate
duties &c. The Coal and Wine duties which formed part of the
revenue of the Metropolitan Board will cease in July next, and
therefore will form no part of the revenue of the County Council.
It is too early yet to attempt to calculate the effect of the
establishment of the County Council upon the financial burdens
of the Metropolis, but it may be said that almost one of the first
acts of the London County Council was to levy a contribution
upon the ratepayers of 12.55d. in the £, exclusive of the City, which
is only 10.65d., because the City maintains its own Police, Asylums.
&o., which outside the City are charged to the Metropolis. Of this