View report page

63
The Buildings
Scandal.
_ „ .... Allegations have been publicly made during
The Buildings
scandal. the year respecting the acquisition of sites and
the inferior construction of buildings for the School Board
for London. In January, upon the invitation of the Board
of Works for the St. Olave District, "to combine in a
"humble petition to her Majesty to appoint a Royal Com"mission
of Enquiry into the working of the School Board
"for London with special regard to its building work and
"general expenditure," the Vestry intimated their willingness
to adopt such a course ; and in March other communications
were received from several local bodies relating to
the same matter, advocating the appointment of a Special
Commission, to which the Vestry also gave a general assent.
miscellaneous matters.
A curious case of disputed jurisdiction exemcollege
Mews. Plifying the value, even in these days of elaborate
ordnance maps, and of " beating the bounds," arose upon communications
from Mr. Labouchere, M.P., and Her Majesty's
Office of Works, complaining respectively of ill-drainage
in College Mews and of the neglected condition of the
roadway. As neither the Vestry nor its predecessors had
ever repaired the mews, the matter was referred to the
solicitor, upon whose report Her Majesty's Office of Works
were acquainted of the Vestry's opinion that the roadway
of the mews was under the jurisdiction of that Department
as Paving Commissioners of the " Approaches to the Houses
of Parliament" under the 14 and 15 Vict., cap. 95; and
Mr. Labouchere was informed that, although the sewer
vested in the Vestry, the particular drain of which he
complained was upon private property. Notices were
subsequently served upon the owners to put the drainage
in question into proper sanitary condition. The Office of
Works, however, denied jurisdiction, as did also the Chapter
House authorities having control over the Collegiate Close.