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As, however, the action of the School Board appears to have
been dictated by a mistaken notion of the Vestry's powers, and
of their own powers in assuming, all too hastily, to exercise
authority over the Vestry's expenditure, and over the elected
Auditors in directing them to prevent such expenditure, we do
not suggest that the Vestry should take any steps to obtain the
surcharge upon the School Board by the Government Auditors
of any expenditure which may have been incurred in connexion
with the attempt to enforce the disallowance.
Our principal object in addressing the Vestry is, while congratulating
them on the test-proof precedent they have established,
to suggest that a public service might be rendered if the
facts were brought to the knowledge of the other rating
authorities of the Metropolis. It is remarkable that while
several of the daily journals flippantly exulted in the intended
silencing of the Vestries, not one of those journals has thought
it worth while to state that so far from taking the proceedings
at which they had hinted, the School Board, having taken the
best advice they could obtain, have tacitly acknowledged that
the Vestry's action was right and legally unassailable.
We are, Gentlemen,
Your faithful and obedient servants,
ROBERT E. H. GOFFIN.
Chairman,
R. MORGAN,
T. BULL,
THOS. HY. HOBBS,
CHAS. T. COWLEY,
The Auditors elected
under the
Metropolis Local
Management Acts.
A resolution was passed by the Vestry ordering that a
copy of this letter be transmitted for the information of
the other "rating authorities;" but this order having, by
some means, been brought to the knowledge of the School
Board, they shortly afterwards informed the Vestry that
it was not proposed to proceed further in the matter.
The order of the Vestry was not, therefore, carried into
effect.
STREET IMPROVEMENTS.
The efforts made to effect street improvements during the
year may thus be briefly recapitulated:—
Albert-gate estate.—Proposal to widen footway at. Promise
made by owners, but not fulfilled.