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Title: Fifth Report of the Vestry of the Parish of Chelsea [1860-1]


Author: Charles Lahee



Release Date: August 26, 2013  [eBook #43559]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)


***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FIFTH REPORT OF THE VESTRY OF THE
PARISH OF CHELSEA [1860-1]***

Transcribed from the 1861 edition by David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org.  Many thanks to the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Library Service for allowing their copy to be used for this transcription.

FIFTH REPORT
OF THE
Vestry of the Parish of Chelsea,
IN THE
COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX,
APPOINTED UNDER THE
METROPOLIS LOCAL MANAGEMENT ACT, 1855.

1860–1.

Ordered to be printed September 24th, 1861.

LONDON:
C. & F. BELL, MACHINE PRINTERS,
(By Appointment to the Vestry of Chelsea),
133, KING’S ROAD.

1861.

p. 2TABLE OF CONTENTS.

p. 3FIFTH REPORT
OF THE
Vestry of the Parish of Chelsea,
For the Year ended March 25th, 1861.

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, AND ESTABLISHMENT ARRANGEMENTS.

The result of the ward elections on the 29th of May, 1860, was to effect the following changes in the constitution of the board:—

Descriptions, with plans, of the several wards, with the names and addresses of the members of the vestry representing them, of the auditors of the accounts, and of the officers, as required by the Act to be given in each report, will be found in the Appendix No. 1 (pages 28 to 36).

At Easter, 1860, the usual election of churchwardens, sidesmen, church trustees, and auditors of the church trustees’ accounts took place; their names and addresses, together with those of the persons previously nominated as fit to serve the office of overseers of the poor, and submitted for the choice of the magistrates in special sessions, will be found in the Appendix No. 3, (page 37).

p. 4The vestry on Easter Tuesday also elected John Moore Segar, son of John Moore Segar deceased, for admission into the parochial charity school, pursuant to the will of the late John Chamberlayne, Esquire.

The return usually ordered by the board previous to the annual election, showing the attendances of each member, is reprinted in the Appendix No. 2 (and faces page 36); but as the period embraced in that return does not entirely correspond with the parochial year, the tabular arrangement commenced in the last report is continued:—

A list of the members who have served upon the various committees, and sub-committees, during the year, is given in the Appendix No. 4 (pages 38 to 41); and the list annually issued by the vestry clerk, containing the names and places of abode of the parochial clergy and lay officers, immediately follows it.  Appendix No. 5 (pages 42 to 46).

In November, 1860, in consequence of the numerous additional matters connected with the new building, into which the vestry had now removed, requiring the hall-keeper’s attention, the clerk reported that the messenger’s duties were not satisfactorily performed, and the subject being referred to one of the standing committees for consideration, a youth was appointed upon their recommendation at ten shillings per week to commence with.

During this year the vestry have contemplated some alterations in the salaries of the officers, and upon the application of Mr. J. E. Salway, one of the office clerks, for increased remuneration, in December, 1860, referred the whole question of their duties and salaries to the committee of works and for general purposes for consideration.  That committee for the purpose of comparison, and in order to have some data before them upon which to form a satisfactory opinion, requested Mr. Tite, M.P., to move the House of Commons for a return from each vestry and district board in the metropolis, of its population; number of houses; extent of its area; aggregate p. 5length of its streets; and the value of property, as assessed to live county rate, and the poor rate.  The committee wished this return also to show the number of meetings held during the year, whether of the full board or of committees, or sub-committees; as well as the names and salaries of the officers, with particulars of any other benefits enjoyed by them: and that this information might be tabularly arranged in the order of the amount of population of each place.  See Appendix No. 6 (page 47).

Mr. Tite however replied that Sir John Shelley had moved for such a return, referring to one similar to that printed at page 69 in the second report, but as the return moved for by Sir John Shelley differed from that suggested by the committee, in several important particulars, the vestry requested Mr. Tite to obtain the introduction into it of the additional information.

The act for regulating the supply of gas to the metropolis rendered it necessary that the vestry should consider the appointment of a Gas Examiner; and having themselves determined to put in operation in this parish the act for preventing the adulteration of articles of food and drink by appointing an Analyst; a committee was appointed in March, 1861, to confer with Dr. Barclay as to his acceptance of the latter office, and the terms upon which he would undertake its duties, having regard to his diminished duties as medical officer of health.  This Committee was amalgamated with one appointed subsequently, and specially, to consider the duties and salary of the medical officer of health, to whom was referred also, the question of the appointment of the gas examiner.

In consequence of the heavy amount of the solicitors’ (Messrs. Lee and Pemberton) bill for the year 1859–60, which included the greater part of the law charges in the actions brought against the vestry by the London Gas Light Company and Mr. Hornsby, the contractor, those gentlemen suggested in the following letter to the vestry clerk that they should be taxed:—

44, Lincoln’s Inn Fields, W.C., London,
18th May, 1860.

Dear Sir, We have given the subject of our Mr. Pemberton’s conversation with you respecting our bill of costs, mature consideration, and feeling the delicate position in which the vestry are placed as trustees accountable to their constituents, we would suggest that for the future all our bills be referred to Mr. Richard Dax, of the p. 6Temple, barrister at law, for taxation, and to certify the amount properly payable to us.  This course is adopted by the Great Western and North Western railway companies, the Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton railway company, the Shrewsbury railway company, the Metropolitan railway company now in course of formation, all of whom refer their solicitors’ bills to Mr. Dax for the satisfaction of the shareholders, and we believe it to be the practice with nearly all railway and other large companies; should the vestry resolve to do so, we shall feel great pleasure in submitting our bills to Mr. Dax, and being bound by his certificate, as it is extremely distasteful to us that any doubt should exist in the minds of the vestry as to the propriety or amount of any item charged by us, which however there almost necessarily must be, from the technical manner in which solicitors are obliged to make out their bills.  We ought to add, that we have no sort of personal acquaintance with Mr. Dax, who is the son of the late Master of the Exchequer, and a well known author and authority on the subject of solicitors’ costs.  Should the vestry adopt our suggestion, we must ask to be allowed to make out the bills now before them, afresh, as they are not framed for taxation, and that in future, our bills should be delivered half-yearly and paid within a short time after they have been certified, and we remain, dear Sir, your’s faithfully,

Lee & Pemberton.

The vestry, having accepted the proposal, returned the bills to the solicitors as desired, and requested Mr. Finch, a solicitor and a member of the vestry, to attend the taxation.  This, after a strong protest from the solicitors, he did; and the accounts amounting to £914. 3s. 5d., as originally delivered, were settled by Mr. Dax at £998. 8s. 7d., including the costs of taxation.

The law costs for the present year have been submitted to the same process, and have been certified by Mr. Dax to be correct at the amount at which they were sent in,—viz., £177. 1s. 6d.

Mr. Miles having been elected to preside at eighty-three meetings, out of the one hundred and fifty-three held during the year, his services as chairman were again acknowledged by a vote of thanks on the twenty-first of May.  The thanks p. 7of the vestry have been also given during the year to Mr. Perry on the eighth of May, for his exertions as delegate at the metropolitan and county association for the equalization of the poor rates; and to Mr. Foy on the fourth of December, for the tasteful way in which the decorations of the vestry hall, on the occasion of the inauguration dinner were carried out by him.

GENERAL WORKS.

Appendix No. 7 (pages 48–49), represents the cost, during the past year under the several sub-heads of paving, lighting, watering, cleansing, &c., and the provision made for meeting the same, by orders upon the board of guardians.

The surveyor’s return upon this subject forms Appendix No. 8 (page 50).

PAVING.

The cost of the item of paving during the past year, exceeding the estimate by four hundred and fifty pounds, has been unusually heavy,—viz., £3042 2s. 10d., after allowing for the sum chargeable to the several public companies and others for works executed for them.  This is about twelve hundred and fifty pounds more than the cost of the same item of expenditure in the year 1856–7, after making the same allowances; upwards of four hundred pounds more than in 1857–8, eight hundred pounds more than in 1858–9, and six hundred pounds more than last year.  It has been occasioned mainly by the purchase of the following materials, and by works executed in the places hereinafter named:—

p. 8In the last report it was stated that the question at issue between the Chief Commissioner of Her Majesty’s Works, &c., and the vestry, as to the taking charge and maintenance of the Chelsea Bridge Road, was in an unsatisfactory state, and the position of that question was stated in the appendix to the fourth report (No. 9), at pages 45 to 52, up to the receipt of Mr. Austin’s letter of the 27th June, 1860.  The proceedings since that date will be found in the Appendix to this report, No. 9 (pages 51 to 55).

LIGHTINGS

The Metropolis Gas Act received the royal assent on the 28th August, 1860: it contains fifty-seven clauses, many of them most important for the protection of public and private consumers.  By the twenty-seventh section of the act (23 & 24 Vic., cap. 125) the vestry are required to provide apparatus for testing the illuminating power and purity of the gas, and to appoint a competent person as examiner; and by the same section the gas companies are required to erect, at a distance not less than one thousand yards from their works, experimental meters with the necessary apparatus for testing the illuminating power of the gas supplied.  In alleged compliance with this requirement the London Gas light company have appointed a testing station at the house No. 73, Besborough Street, Pimlico.

Mr. Hughes [8] observes with reference to this twenty-seventh section,—

“There was some discussion as to the propriety of making the requirements of this clause compulsory instead of merely permissive.  After the fullest consideration however, it was thought essential, with the view of avoiding discussions in vestries, and especially with the view of counteracting the underhand and secret influence which the gas companies exert in many vestries and district boards, to make the clause compulsory.  There are many instances on record, where powers are given to local authorities, and yet these powers, although highly important to the public interests, have never hitherto been exercised.  Hence an additional reason for positively requiring them to provide apparatus, &c., for testing the gas, and to appoint and pay an inspector for the purpose.  It is true that no p. 9time is fixed within which the apparatus is to be provided and the inspector appointed, but I apprehend it will be competent for any ratepayer to compel, by mandamus, the performance of this duty by any vestry or district board, within a reasonable time.

“The second section of the clause imposes an obligation on the gas companies—namely, that each of them shall within six months erect at the prescribed distance from their works, an experimental meter and other apparatus for testing the illuminating power of the gas.

“Now these two obligations, the one on the local authorities of the metropolis, and the other on the gas companies, must not be confounded, because they are perfectly distinct, and the one is not to be a substitute for the other.  In the first place each local authority in the metropolis—i.e., each vestry and district board, about thirty-eight in number, constituted under the Metropolis Local Management Act, is to erect its own apparatus, and appoint its own inspector; and from future clauses it appears that the act contemplates a continuous and regular succession of testing by this inspector, both for purity and illuminating power.  The evidence of this inspector however as to any defects in the gas, will not be conclusive until his report has been confirmed by testing the gas at the prescribed distance of 1000 yards from the works.  Hence the necessity for the obligation on the company.  The next clause will better explain the mode of proceeding by the inspector, whenever he finds the gas to be below the prescribed standard of illuminating power.  With reference to purity there is nothing about testing for this at the distance of 1000 yards, and therefore the test for this may be made wherever the inspector pleases.

“With respect to the number of separate places for testing the gas, inasmuch as there are thirteen companies included within the act, and each must provide a testing house 1000 yards distant from their works, there must evidently be not less than thirteen of these. [9]  But if each local authority p. 10also erects a separate one at some central part of its district, thirty-eight of these will be necessary.  A power is afterwards given for two or more local authorities to combine, and then the number will probably be somewhat diminished.

“All this necessity for a duplicate set of testing establishments is rendered essential by the absurd requirement of the act as to testing the gas at 1000 yards distance from the works.  Now as the erection of this apparatus by the companies and the establishment of a permanent testing place away from their works will be very expensive to the companies, it is just possible they may be very glad to be relieved from this expense, and may consent to the testing at the establishment of the local authority being sufficient evidence of the illuminating power as well as the purity of the gas.  This is the more probable as it must be perfectly well known to the companies—at least to their engineers—that so far as the company is concerned the gas may just as well be tested in the centre of any district supplied, as at the limited distance of 1000 yards from the works.”

Under the provisions of the fiftieth section of this act, the duty is imposed upon the Metropolitan Board of Works of raising the costs and charges incident to its passing; and that board have accordingly levied under their precepts upon the several vestries and district boards, the necessary amounts for meeting the claims received.

The accounts sent in by the various parties were submitted to the proper officer of the House of Commons for taxation with the following result:—

p. 11The proportion of the above with which this parish is debited by the precept of 1861 is £106 16s. 5d., but that proportion is based upon the amount of the accounts as sent in; as reduced by taxation it will only be £81 12s. 8d.  But as the vestry has already contributed two hundred pounds to Mr. Beal in answer to his various appeals, and expended upwards of twenty pounds in making experiments as suggested by him, they will have a large sum to receive back

In November, 1860, a proposal was made by the vestry of St. James’, Westminster, to recognize the services of Messrs. Beal and Hughes throughout the enquiry into the supply of gas to the metropolis, and the passing of the recent measure by raising some fitting testimonial, and a committee of that vestry having been appointed to carry it out, Messrs. Hall and Perry were deputed to confer with them as to the best mode of doing so.

The Bill to amend the Metropolis Gas Act, [11] introduced by the government into parliament for transferring to the metropolitan board of works, so far as regards the metropolis, the powers conferred by the acts for regulating measures used in the sale of gas (22 & 23 Vic., cap. 66, and 23 & 24 Vic., cap. 146) upon the justices of the peace, of appointing inspectors of meters, having received the royal assent (24 & 25 Vict., cap. 79), it will be the duty of that board to take the necessary steps for carrying it into execution.  To aid in accomplishing this transfer, the vestry on the tenth July, 1860, expressed their opinion that the appointment of inspectors of meters in the metropolis would be best placed in the hands of the metropolitan board of works, and petitioned parliament and memorialised the justices of the peace upon the subject.  See Appendix No. 10 (page 56).

The number of public lamps in the parish on the 25th March, 1861, was as follows—

WATERING AND SCAVENGERS.

The following tabular statement shows the cost of these p. 12two services for the last five years:—

The contractors were fined £40 10s. for neglect during the year.

IMPROVING.

The principal charges under this head are for works over the Ranelagh sewer at Sloane Square in rebuilding the south wall; and in fencing the enclosure opposite Royal Avenue Terrace.

REMOVING NUISANCES.

The removal of the dust, ashes and refuse from the houses of the inhabitants, and the public courts and alleys during this year has cost £311 2s.  An alteration in the form of the contract as to the mode of executing the works by which the parish is divided into daily districts, was made during this year, which has very greatly lessened the public inconvenience, and consequently the number of complaints.  See Appendix No. 11 (page 57).

SANITARY MEASURES.

The return of the proceedings taken by the vestry under the metropolis local management act and the nuisances removal act, as required by the former statute to be published, will be found in the Appendix No. 12 (page 60).

Forty-seven slaughter houses in the parish were licensed by the magistrates in October, 1860, not one having been opposed by the vestry.  A list of them is given in the Appendix No. 13 (page 61).

The tenant of No. 3, Queen’s Road East, having been detected in slaughtering upon his premises which were not licensed for that purpose, the attention of the board was called to the subject, but as it appeared that he had been acting under the impression that the premises were licensed, in place of other proceedings, a letter of warning was written to him, and the offence was discontinued.

The notices of the vestry having been neglected by Mr. p. 13Peter Augustus Halahan, owner of Nos. 1 to 10, Wickham Place, application was made under the nuisances removal act to the magistrate and his orders obtained for the execution of the necessary works; these orders being also neglected and nothing being done at the expiration of the time allowed, the clerk was instructed to apply for the enforcement of the penalties provided by the twenty-seventh section.  The defendant was fined thirty-six shillings and costs, and in default of payment was committed to prison.

A manuscript copy of all the reports made to the vestry by the medical officer of health during the year is sent to the metropolitan board of works with a copy of this report.

GENERAL RATES.

The orders issued by the vestry, and the rates made by the overseers (the board of guardians) thereunder during the year, have been as follows:—

SEWERAGE WORKS.

Again no general sewers rate for local purposes having been made during the year, there is a deficit upon this account, of one hundred and fifty-five pounds nineteen shillings and one penny.

In the Appendix No. 14 (page 62), and No. 15 (page 63), will be found statements giving particulars of a similar kind to those given under the head of General Works.

The orders issued by the vestry for special sewers rates during the year, and the rates made by the board of guardians in consequence, have been as follows:—

p. 14APPLICATIONS.

During the period between the 26th March, 1860, and the 25th March, 1861, the vestry have adjudicated upon forty-six applications for directions upon the subject of house drainage, twenty-three of which had reference to the drainage of twenty-five houses already built, and twenty-three to forty-three intended houses and the new barracks at Pimlico; they have also brought under the cognisance of the Commissioners of Police, the dangerous condition of forty-five buildings, and have decided upon seventeen miscellaneous applications.  Of the applications so made, fifty-nine have been granted, and four negatived.

Eight buildings have been commenced without previous notice to the vestry, and their builders having been summoned before the board for neglect, the explanations given by them, or their apologies, have in most cases been considered satisfactory.  Fourteen proposals have been made to build before the general frontage line, and one hundred and three obstructions and offences upon the public highway have been dealt with by the Board.

The late HANS TOWN COMMISSION, and the late CHELSEA IMPROVEMENT COMMISSION.

Nos. 16 and 17 in the Appendix (page 64), explain the alteration which these debts have undergone during the year.

No special rate has been necessary upon the Hans Town district, during the past twelvemonth, but the order and rate made for the reduction of the debt upon the remainder of the parish has been as follows:—

VESTRY HALL.

The first meeting of the vestry in the new building took place on the ninth of October, 1860, and shortly afterwards it was determined to celebrate the public opening of the large hall with an inauguration dinner.  A committee being formed for the purpose the necessary arrangements were made, and p. 15on the thirtieth of November one hundred and twenty of the most influential parishioners, presided over by Viscount Chelsea, with the county members as their guests, commemorated the completion of a building, which it may be permitted the vestry to hope, will be of service to the ratepayers and the parish.  The report and balance sheet of the dinner committee is printed in the Appendix No. 18 (pages 65–66).

After the dinner the first public use of the hall was given gratuitously on three days to the Chelsea, Brompton, and Belgrave Dispensary, and by means of an oratorio, “The Creation,” on one day; a lecture by the Rev. J. B. Owen, of St. Jude’s Church, on another; and a concert on a third day, that useful local charity realised nearly one hundred pounds.

Having obtained a license for public music and dancing, the applications for the hire of the hall were soon found to be so numerous that a committee was appointed to regulate the letting, and they drew up the scale of charges which was approved by the vestry, and will be found at page 67.  A debtor and creditor account in connexion with the letting of the hall will be also found at pages 68–69.

One of the most important applications referred to the letting committee was from the proposed Literary and Scientific Institution, that the suite of rooms on the east side of the building might be set apart for their use.  The letting committee made a special report upon the subject, to the vestry on the eighteenth December, and a deputation from the council of the institution, consisting of the Rev. F. Blunt, Messrs. McCullagh, Lawrance and Mead, with Mr. Bull, the honorary secretary, had an interview with the vestry.  The report which is printed at page 70, read in connection with the following resolution which was passed by the vestry, will explain the nature of the engagement subsisting between the two bodies:—“Resolved, that the suite of rooms upon the ground floor (east side) including the lighting and warming of the same, and the use of the Hall for forty nights during the year, including the lighting, warming, and cleaning of the same, be let to the council of the Institution for £50 per annum, payable half-yearly, from Christmas next.  The tenancy to be subject to six months’ notice of determination by either party at any time.” A debtor and creditor account for one winter quarter will be found at page 74.

Upon the application of the vestry, Sir R. Mayne, the p. 16chief commissioner of police, appointed a standing for ten cabs at the King’s Road end of Robert Street, exactly opposite the hall; but unfortunately the post-office authorities were unable to comply with their request that a pillar letter box might be placed near to the hall.

The vestry hall buildings are insured in the Union Assurance Office for six thousand pounds; and the fixtures, fittings, and furniture, in the Manchester Fire Assurance Office for seven hundred pounds.

Ten thousand pounds, the sum originally borrowed, not having been sufficient to complete the building together with the fitting and furnishing, an application was made to the metropolitan board of works for their sanction to a further loan of two thousand pounds; and as it was necessary to accompany that application with a statement of the entire estimated cost, and to fortify it with a memorial from the vestry, those documents, as they contain much matter of interest, are printed at pages 75 and 72–73.

COUNTER’S CREEK DISTRICT.

Since the last report the sum assessed by the metropolitan board of works upon this portion of the parish has been, for the year 1861, four hundred and seventy-nine pounds, eleven shillings and eleven pence; but the vestry have abstained from issuing their order to the board of guardians for its collection.  They have, however, in consequence of the receipt of the following letter, upon the recommendation of the Finance Committee, paid the amount for 1858:—

Metropolitan Board of Works,
1, Greek Street, Soho, W.,
17th October, 1860,

Dear Sir,—I am directed by the metropolitan board of works to acquaint you that they have directed their attention to the subject of the amounts outstanding on their precepts issued to the vestries and district boards of the metropolis, and they desire me to apprize you for the information of the vestry of Chelsea, that having been unsuccessful in their attempt to carry a measure through Parliament in the past session for conferring upon the board the necessary powers to deal with the question of the redistribution of the Counter’s Creek charges, they have had under consideration the subject of the payment of the amount due from the vestry on the precept for the ordinary p. 17expenses of the board for the year 1858, being the sum of £447 4s. 2d. payment of which was, as you will recollect, allowed to stand over until the re-apportionments of the debts of the Commissioners of Sewers had been discussed in Parliament.  The board now feel that the time has arrived when it is necessary that they should adopt measures for obtaining payments of the amounts outstanding, and after an attentive consideration of the facts of the case, and having regard to the arrangement with the vestry in reference to the parish contributing to the cost of the Counter’s Creek diversion sewer, the conclusion they have arrived at as to the most convenient course to be adopted is, that the board should proceed to appoint persons to make a rate on the parish in default, for the amount due on the precept, and in the event of the vestry continuing their objection to the payment, that some ratepayer should then raise the question of the liability of the parish by an appeal against the rate, on which a special case might be reserved for the opinion of the Court of Queen’s Bench.  I am directed to add that the Board have deferred further proceedings in the matter for a fortnight from the date of their last meeting, the 12th instant, in order to afford the vestry an opportunity of paying the amount in question should they think proper so to do; and meanwhile I am to request that you will be good enough to lay this letter before the vestry, and to favor me with a reply with the least possible delay.  I am, dear sir, yours faithfully, John Pollard, Clerk of the Board.

The amount assessed for 1859, four hundred and fifty-six pounds, nine shillings and one penny, was paid by order of the board on the sixth December, 1859, before any portion of it was received from the board of guardians.

January, 1861, the metropolitan board were very pressing for payment of the amount for 1860 (five hundred and eighteen pounds, nineteen shillings, and one penny), threatening immediate proceedings if it were not made before the 25th of that month; the vestry, however, appealed through Mr Tite against this undue pressure, contrasting with it, the treatment received by the vestry of Kensington, who were in arrear many, if not all, of their instalments, and eventually p. 18the metropolitan board consented to receive the amount of the precept for their ordinary expenses of 1860 less this sum which was included in it.  Thus it is that the sums assessed for the first four years have been collected in the district, and paid to the metropolitan board; but for the two last, 1860 and 1861, they have not been paid to the metropolitan board, nor have any steps been taken to collect the money in the district.

METROPOLITAN BOARD OF WORKS.

The estimate upon which the sums were originally proposed to be raised by the metropolitan board of works for the services of the year ending the thirty-first of December, 1860, gives the following particulars as applicable to this parish:—

This estimate, however, having been printed and sent to the various vestries and district boards, underwent considerable discussion and some modifications, the principal of which latter, were, that instead of including the whole cost of the new buildings in Spring Gardens in the precepts for 1860, it was determined to spread it over three years; an item of £20,000 for deodorization was reduced to £10,000; the amount for special charges was reduced by £5,000; and the sum of £2,000 was substituted for £5,000 for minor improvements.  These alterations, with a credit of £364 10s. 10d. (the remaining portion of the £3053 16s. 3d. adverted to in former reports), had the effect of diminishing the amount required from this parish to £2239 10s. 9d., and it was thus apportioned by the precept dated 11th May, 1860:—

In September, the third precept for the Main Drainage rate was received, amounting to £2928 2s.; and in the following February the ordinary precept for 1861, £2580 1s. 4d.; therefore within the period comprised in this report this parish has been required to provide for metropolitan purposes the large sum of £7,747 14s. 1d.

The orders made by the vestry in pursuance of these precepts, and the rates made by the board of guardians thereunder, are shewn in the following table:—

The metropolitan board of works early in February of the present year determined to re-introduce into parliament the bill for amending the Metropolis Local Management Act, containing the same provisions as were in the bill of last session, with the exception of the introduction of certain clauses for the re-apportionment of the Rock Loan; but in consequence of the strong opposition to those clauses, the board deemed it expedient to withdraw them from the bill, and to embody them in a separate bill, and the two bills were accordingly introduced into the House of Commons.  The first of them, after great delays, passed through the House of Commons on the nineteenth of July, 1861, and was read a first time in the House of Lords on the twenty-second of that month, but in consequence of the advanced period of the session, it was found impossible to procure its passage through the required stages in order to its becoming law this year.  The bill No. 2, having relation to the Rock Loan, being strongly opposed by certain members of the House of Commons, was withdrawn.

p. 20With respect to the abortive bill of 1860, the solicitors of the metropolitan board reported: “We think it will be nearly correct to estimate the expense to the board, exclusive of printing, &c. by the printers of the board, and expenses of that kind, at about £1650.”  It is to be hoped that the failure of 1861 will be somewhat less costly.

The vestry of Chelsea have at various times responded to the invitation of the metropolitan board for suggestions during the preparation of the several bills for amending the Metropolis Local Management Act; for convenience of reference, their labours in this respect will be found in the Appendix No. 19, (pages 77 to 103).

CHELSEA CHARITIES.

On the twenty-second of May, 1860, upon the motion of Mr. Finch, a committee, consisting of the rector (the Rev. A. G. W. Blunt), the churchwardens (Dr. Diplock and Mr. Collier), three past churchwardens (Messrs. Hall, Perry, and Leete), and Messrs. Whitehead, Jones, Miles, Brown, Rabbits, E. O. Symons, Till, and Finch, was appointed to enquire into the charities of the parish, the present particulars of the several properties, and the application of the respective annual proceeds thereof, and to report thereon.  At the same time, the vestry clerk reported that, at the request of the rector, he was making arrangements preliminary to the appointment of new trustees, and laid before the vestry the following letter from Mr. Druce:

Mr. Lahee,

Dear Sir, Doubtless you are aware that the information contained in last Saturday’s “Chelsea Times” [20] was provided by me, as far as concerned the Chelsea charities.

The article of this morning [20] would lead me to suppose that it was taken to be the opinion of the writer of such information that under present circumstances it would be to the advantage of the parish that the vestry clerk should be a solicitor; nothing can be more foreign to my opinion, and without compliment, I think the office is now in very good hands.  In the wicked old tory times on Easter Tuesday, a man might blow out the steam of discontent, and tell a few truths profitable to the parish to hear; now a few highly honourable and sensible parishioners ‘make things pleasant’ p. 21in a comfortable room in a house in the King’s Road.  The money of the parish charities is not properly looked after; for many months I have been trying to get the late rector to put matters to rights, but without avail.  Being therefore left sole trustee for some portion, and knowing more than most, about the parish school and trust funds, I thought I was the proper person to light the match.  Should the vestry appoint the committee on charity affairs, I shall be happy to attend their summons to give them any information in my power: and I think they ought to have a committee, both on this subject and that of the church trustees, and at least chronicle the exact state of facts; for, seriously speaking, we owe ‘liberal opinions’ no small grudge for shutting up Easter Tuesday.  I do not recollect that in your charity report [21] you mentioned the large sums belonging to the charity schools, if you did, the vestry ought to have seen that the trustees were dying out.  From my experience of the working of the parish charities, schools, &c., I am quite convinced that the vestry should annually qualify themselves to issue a report on all charity money.  I have never found anything to make me think otherwise than favourably of the honesty of all dealings with the charity money, but I have found abundant reason to rest satisfied, that without some lay assistance and watchfulness, all matters get into disorder, especially where there are any accounts to keep.  This letter is at your service, and may be used as you think fit.  I am, dear sir, always yours very faithfully, Wm. Druce.  Swan Wharf, Chelsea, 14th April, 1860.

The committee, favoured occasionally with the assistance of Mr. Druce, and strengthened by the addition to it of Messrs. Butt, Tipper, and Callow, have met upon numerous occasions, and are carefully pursuing their enquiry.

CREMORNE GARDENS.

It will be recollected that towards the close of the season of 1858, the vestry thought it necessary to remind Mr. Simpson, the proprietor of Cremorne Gardens, of the arrangement made with them as to the conduct of his p. 22gardens, particularly as to the hour of closing; and that Mr. Simpson’s reply, although dated the 16th of August, was not received in sufficient time to be considered until the meeting on the fifth of October, when it was thought to be unsatisfactory.  Last year the vestry again moved in the matter, by reminding him of these promises, and requesting to know before Monday, the tenth of September, whether it was his intention to comply with their wishes and those of the parish, by closing the gardens at twelve o’clock at night.  No reply having been received from Mr. Simpson at the meeting of the board on the eleventh of September, it was moved by Mr. Delany that the report of the second of November, 1857, which the vestry had refrained from making public in consequence of the pledge on the part of the proprietor, that the gardens should be closed as near to midnight as possible, and that in other respects he would meet the wishes of the vestry, and the comfort of the inhabitants, should be printed for the use of the vestry.  The chairman, however, having ruled that this motion was irregular, it was referred to the committee of works and for general purposes to consider the whole question, particularly with reference to the effect, a change in the proprietorship, from an individual to a company, might have in increasing the annoyance of the parishioners; and the report of the committee was presented on the twenty-fifth of September.

That report, which is printed at page 107, recommended the publication of the report of 1857, and the presentation of a petition to the licensing magistrates that the hour of closing might be made twelve o’clock at night, as was the case with other public gardens.  A memorial from forty-four owners of property and ratepayers residing near the gardens, urging the vestry to act, was presented at the same time the report was under consideration.

The vestry then decided, by a majority of 17 to 6, to present the petition, but to withold the publication of the report of 1857; and the solicitor being in attendance with a form of petition, which was approved, the seal was affixed to it at once, and it was duly presented.

On the ninth of October, however, a day or two before the licensing day, a communication was received from the solicitors, which induced the board, on a division, by a majority of p. 23twenty-eight to eight, to pass the following resolution:—

Resolved, that having regard to the communication now made by the solicitors, from which it appears that the necessary evidence in support of the petition cannot be obtained upon the present occasion, the solicitors be instructed not to incur any further expense in the matter, on the understanding that if the gardens should be kept open after twelve at night, and the nuisance, annoyance, and injury to the parishioners continue, this board, will in sufficient time next year consider the necessary steps to be taken effectually to oppose the application for the renewal of the license in 1861.

“THE LOTS.”

“The Lots,” a parcel of land so called lying on the banks of the river [23a] in front of Ashburnham House, comprises about four acres, and is the meadow ground formerly allotted to Sir Arthur Gorges by the Lord of the Manor, in lieu of his right of common. [23b]  These are, and have been for centuries, the Chelsea Lammas Lands, and have hitherto been accustomed to be opened on the twelfth of August, being the first day of the month according to the Old Style.  The graziers, butchers, and others, with their cattle, used formerly to assemble in the lane leading to “The Lots” on the eve of Lammas, and when the clock had struck twelve they entered upon the meadow.

From the report of a committee, printed at page 108, appointed by the vestry in the year 1834 to investigate the state of these town meadows, when it was necessary vi et armis to reassert the invaded privileges of the inhabitants, it appears that “‘The Lots’ are Lammas land, and have been for ages appurtenant to the manor of Chelsea.  The Lord of the Manor possesses the right of letting the land on lease for the spring and autumn quarters, beginning with March and ending in August; and the inhabitants at large enjoy the privilege of turning in their cattle from August till February, being the autumn and winter quarters.”  Railways, however, and acts of parliament for smoothing down difficulties in their way, have sprung up since those pastoral clays; and the p. 24Lord of the Manor having sold his freehold to a railway company, the clerk called the attention of the vestry, on the 8th of May, 1860, to the following advertisement:—

West London Extension Railway Company.—Notice is hereby given, that a Meeting of the Householders, Inhabitants, and Land-owners of the Parish of St. Luke, Chelsea, in the County of Middlesex, and other persons interested in the Lammas Lands called “The Lots,” in the said Parish of St. Luke, Chelsea, will be held at the house of Mr. John Sparks Alexander situate in Cremorne Road, in the said parish, and known by the name or sign of the ‘King’s Arms,’ on Wednesday, the 9th day of May next, at Eleven o’clock in the forenoon, for the purpose of appointing a Committee to treat with the Company for the compensation to be paid by them for the extinction of the Lammas and other Commonable Rights, in or over certain land called ‘The Lots’ in the said parish of St. Luke, Chelsea, and which is required by the Company for the purposes of the ‘West London Extension Railway.  Act, 1859.’—Dated the 27th day of April, 1860.—Edward Bellamy, Secretary of the Company.

A meeting took place consequently on the 9th of May, at which the following resolution was passed:—

Resolved, that Messrs. William Hall (church warden), John Perry, James Miles, George Wevell Richards, and William Whitehead, being five of the persons entitled to Lammas or other Commonable Rights over or in the piece of land called ‘The Lots Meadow,’ otherwise ‘Chelsea Lot Mead,’ situate in the parish of Saint Luke, Chelsea, in the County of Middlesex, and containing by admeasurement three acres, two roods, and thirty perches, or thereabouts, and marked or referred to in the map or plan, and in the book of reference of the West London Extension Railway, deposited with the Clerk of the Peace for the said County of Middlesex, by the number 10 in the said parish of St. Luke, Chelsea, shall be, and they are accordingly, in pursuance of the provisions of the ‘Lands Clauses Consolidation Act, 1845,’ appointed to be a Committee having all such powers as by the ‘Lands Clauses Consolidation Act, 1845’ are conferred upon Committees of like description, to treat with the West London Extension Railway Company for the compensation to be paid for the extinction of p. 25all Lammas or other Commonable Rights over or in the said piece of land.

The important question of the boundaries of the parish has occupied considerable attention during the past year, and has been the subject of a reference to a sub-committee of the committee of works and for general purposes, who have still the subject under consideration.

Various memorials and petitions have been presented during the year, to which, as they sufficiently elucidate the subjects of them, and are printed in the appendix (Nos. 23 to 27) no further allusion need be made here.

The “Public Indicator” erected in Sloane Square by permission of the board in May, 1860, was removed in the fallowing March, in consequence of the failure of the proprietors to light it at night, and to provide the promised clock.  It is retained in the custody of the vestry, under a clause in the agreement, as a lien for the expenses of its removal and making good the paving.

Plans, books of reference, and parliamentary notices of the “London, Buckinghamshire, and West Midland Railway” (whose intended terminus was in the Pavilion grounds), and of “The London Tramway and Dispatch Company,” were deposited with the Vestry, but both of their bills were unsuccessful.  Mr. Train also made an application to the vestry for permission to lay down his tramways in Sloane Street and the King’s Road, but its consideration has been adjourned sine die.

On the twenty-ninth of January, 1861, Mr. Finch laid before the Board a copy of a “Bill to Transfer the Seats in Parliament forfeited by the Borough of St. Albans to the proposed Borough of Chelsea and Kensington,” which Viscount Enfield, M.P. for Middlesex had given notice of his intention to introduce in the House of Commons.  Immediately the Government [25] brought in their “Bill for the Appropriation of the Seats Vacated by the Disfranchisement of the Boroughs of Sudbury and Saint Albans,” which contained the following clause: “The parishes of Chelsea and Kensington in the county of Middlesex shall, for the purposes p. 26of this act, together form a borough, to be called the borough of Chelsea, and such borough shall, from and after the said first day of November, 1861, return one member to serve in parliament.”

An influential deputation from both parishes, accompanied by the two county members, had an interview with Lord Palmerston on the fifth of March, on the subject of the bill, and laid before his lordship various statistical information (see appendix No. 29).  But on a division in the House of Commons on the tenth of June, the clause was rejected by a majority of two hundred and seventy-five to one hundred and seventy-two.  Mr. Tite thus reported the circumstance to the board:—

42, Lowndes Square,
Tuesday Morning, 1 o’clock.

My dear Mr. Lahee,—I never was so taken by surprise as by the division I have just left.  The Government Bill was affirmed by two large majorities, but when we came to the Chelsea question, to my astonishment we were beaten by one hundred and three.  The house was excessively impatient, and would hardly listen to anything; but it appeared to me Sir James Graham, whom they would hear, said all that could be said on the subject.  I was also astonished at some of those I saw voting against us.  I will send you the division list as soon as I get it.  The impression in the House just now was that the bill would be withdrawn, so in happier times we may have another chance.—Yours very truly,

William Tite.

P.S.—Rather sharp work for M.P.’s yesterday.  I was on a committee from 12 to 4, in the House from 5 to just now; to-day we begin again at 12, I suppose until 2 o’clock Wednesday morning.

By order of the Vestry,
CHARLES LAHEE,
Vestry Clerk.

p. 28APPENDIX No. 1.
LIST OF VESTRYMEN, AUDITORS, AND OFFICERS,
WITH PLANS AND DESCRIPTIONS OF THE WARDS.

No. 1, or Stanley Ward.

All such parts of the said Parish of Chelsea as lie on the south side of the boundary line dividing the said parish from the parish of St. Mary Abbott’s, Kensington, in the Fulham-road, and on the west side of a line drawn from the point of the said boundary line in the Fulham-road, opposite the middle of Upper Church-street, in a southerly direction, along the middle of Upper Church-street, and along the middle of Church-street, to the south end thereof, and thence in the same direction to the southern boundary of the said Parish of Chelsea, in the river Thames.

VESTRYMEN.

Breun, John Cowan, 6, Lower Sloane-street.

Delany, James, 3, Albion Place, Fulham-road.

Foy, William, 46, Paultons-square.

Gable, Isaac Cosson, 2, Belle Vue.

Garner, Thomas Betts, sen., Mason’s-place, Fulham-road.

Hall, William, 22, Paultons-square.

Perry, John, 7, Danvers-street.

Tipper, William, 7, Odell’s-place, Fulham-road.

Wood, William, “Adam and Eve,” Duke-street.

AUDITOR.

D’Oyle, Henry, 190, Sloane-street.

p. 29PLAN OF No. 1, OR STANLEY WARD.

p. 30No. 2, or Church Ward.

All such parts of the said Parish of Chelsea as are bounded as follows:—that is to say: Bounded on the north-west side by the boundary line dividing the said Parish of Chelsea from the said parish of St. Mary Abbott’s, Kensington, in the Fulham-road, from the point thereof opposite the middle of Upper Church-street to the point thereof opposite the middle of Marlborough-road; bounded towards the north-east, and partly towards the south-east, by a line commencing at the last-mentioned point, and drawn south-east along the middle of Marlborough-road to the point thereof opposite the middle of Whitehead’s-grove, then turning south-west along the middle of Whitehead’s-grove to the centre of the south-east end of College-street, thence turning south-east across College-place, to and along the middle of Markham-street to the middle of King’s-road, and turning north-east along King’s-road, to the point thereof opposite the middle of Smith-street, thence turning south-east along the middle of Smith-street to the south eastern end thereof, and thence along the middle of the Royal Hospital Creek to the river Thames, and in the same direction to the southern boundary of the said Parish of Chelsea, at a point in the river Thames; bounded on the south by the southern boundary of the said Parish in the river Thames, from the point thereof lastly above mentioned to the boundary line of Ward No. 1; and bounded towards the west by the eastern boundary of Ward No. 1 hereinbefore described.

VESTRYMEN,

Alexander, John Sparks, “King’s Arms,” Cremorne-road.

Blazdell, Alexander, 25, Manor-street.

Callow, John, 41, Queen’s-road West.

Carter, Charles, “Red House,” College-street.

Dancocks, Samuel Sharman, Fulham-road.

Doubell, William, 144, King’s-road.

Finch, William Newton, 181, King’s-road.

Goss, William John, “Duke’s Head,” Queen-street.

Hulse, Robert, 40, Radnor-street.

Hunt, Henry, New King’s-road.

Lawrence, William, 141, King’s-road.

Miles, James, 180, King’s-road.

Osborn, William, 8, Queen-street.

Oxford, Henry, 40, Riley-street.

Parker, Edward, 21, Paultons-square.

Robson, Joseph, 24, Smith’s-terrace.

Symons, Thomas, Alpha House, Fulham-road.

Todd, John, Stanley House, Milner-street.

AUDITOR.

Mead, George Edward, 2, Durham-place.

p. 31PLAN OF No. 2, OR CHURCH WARD.

p. 32No. 3, or Hans Town Ward.

All parts of the said Parish of Chelsea, not included in Wards No. 1 and No. 2, hereinbefore mentioned, or in Ward No. 4, hereinafter mentioned and described.

VESTRYMEN.

Badcock, John, 19, Smith-street.

Birch, Abel Francis Faulkner, 14, Sloane-street.

Butt, John, 1, Bayley’s-place.

Chelsea, Viscount, 28, Lowndes-street.

Collier, Caleb, 209, Sloane-street.

Compton, James, 1, Smith-street.

Fisher, John, 60, Cadogan-place.

Gurney, George Edward, “The Earl of Cadogan,” 1, Marlborough-road.

Handover, William, Kensal New Town.

Hopwood, Owen Thomas, 195, Sloane-street.

Jones, Benjamin William, 81, Cadogan-place.

Rope, Robert Northern, 49, Sloane-street.

Shelton, Richard, 22, Halsey-street.

Symons, Elias Octavius, 3, Exeter-street.

Till, John, “The Australian,” Milner-street.

Tite, William, M.P., 42, Lowndes Square.

Thirst, Edward, 11, Halsey-terrace.

Todd, George, Stanley House, Milner-street.

Walker, Thomas Humble, 6, Wellington-square.

Williams, William, Kensal New Town.

Wood, Lancelot Edward, 28a, College-street.

AUDITOR.

Rhind, William, 189, Sloane-street.

p. 33PLAN OF No. 3, OR HANS TOWN WARD.

p. 34No. 4, or Royal Hospital Ward.

All such parts of the said Parish of Chelsea as are bounded as follows;—that is to say: Bounded towards the north-west by a line commencing at the intersection of the central line of College-street with the central line of Whitehead’s-grove, and drawn in a north-east direction along the middle of Whitehead’s-grove to and along the middle of Cadogan-street, to and along the middle of Halsey-terrace, to and along the middle of Cadogan-terrace, crossing Sloane-street, to and along the middle of Ellis-street, to and along the party-wall between the public-house known as “The Woodman” public-house, to the south, and No. 12, D’Oyley-street, to the north, and thence in the same direction to the eastern boundary of the said Parish; bounded towards the east by the eastern boundary of the said Parish, from the point wherein the north-western boundary line of the said Ward No. 4, hereinbefore described, meets the same, to the south point of the said eastern boundary in the river Thames; bounded towards the south by the south boundary of the said Parish in the river Thames, from the point lastly hereinbefore mentioned to the boundary of Ward No. 2; bounded towards the south-west by the north-east boundary of Ward No. 2 from the point lastly hereinbefore mentioned, to the said point of intersection of the central line of College-street with the central line of Whitehead’s-grove.

VESTRYMEN.

Dunkley, Thomas, 18, Lower Sloane-street.

Fuge, George Frederick, 13, Sloane-square.

Leete, John Hurstwaite, 143, Sloane-street.

Livingston, Alexander, 8, King’s-road.

Mowels, Samuel Alfred, 142, Sloane-street.

Rabbits, William, 20, Sloane-square.

Roberts, William, 25, Lower Sloane-street.

Roope, Charles, jun., 144, Sloane-street.

Sansum, William, 132, King’s-road.

Smith, George Baxter, 35, King’s-road.

Wain, George, 2, King’s-road.

Wright, John, 8, Queen’s-road East.

AUDITOR.

Crisp, James, 170, King’s-road.

p. 35PLAN OF No. 4, OR ROYAL HOSPITAL WARD.

p. 36APPENDIX No. 2.—A Return

OFFICERS OF THE VESTRY.

Churchwarden HALL, Churchwarden COLLIER: Elected respectively for Wards No. 1. and 3.

p. 37APPENDIX No. 3.
A LIST OF THE PARISH OFFICERS
Appointed at Easter, 1860.

Churchwardens.

Thomas B. Diplock, M.D., 1, Sidney-street.

Mr. Caleb Collier, 209, Sloane-street.

Sidesmen.

Mr. Edward Richards, 23, Danvers-street.

,, William Osborn, Woolhouse Cottage, Queen-street.

Church Trustees.

Mr. Samuel Sharman Dancocks, Fulham-road.

,, John Fisher, 60, Cadogan-place.

,, George Wain, 2, King’s-road.

,, Alexander Livingston, 8, King’s-road.

,, John Sparks Alexander, “King’s Arms,” Cremorne-road.

Auditors of the Church Trustees’ Accounts.

Mr. William Newton Finch, 181, King’s-road.

,, Elias Octavius Symons, 3, Exeter-street.

,, James Miles, 180, King’s-road.

Nominated for Selection as Overseers of the Poor, March 26, 1860.

Mr. Thomas Watkins, 2, Hollywood, Fulham-road. [37]

,, Samuel Alfred Mowels, 142, Sloane-street. [37]

,, Alexander Blazdell, 25, Manor-street. [37]

,, Samuel Sharman Dancocks, Fulham-road.

,, George Baxter Smith, 35, King’s-road.

,, Peter Yapp, 200, Sloane-street.

,, Owen Thomas Hopwood, 195, Sloane-street.

,, John Grant, 38, King’s-road.

,, Henry D’Oyle, 190, Sloane-street.

,, James Griffin, 1, Orford-street.

,, Edward Richards, 23, Danvers-street.

,, Henry Hunt, 16, New King’s-road.

,, John Perry, jun., 145, Sloane-street.

p. 38APPENDIX No. 4.
LIST OF COMMITTEES.

WORKS AND GENERAL PURPOSES.

FINANCE

FIRE ENGINES, STAFF, AND ESCAPES.

p. 39CONTRACT WITH LONDON GAS COMPANY.

PARISH CHARITIES.

LETTING, ETC., THE HALL.

INAUGURATION DINNER.

MR. DOVER’S CHARGES AGAINST THE METROPOLITAN BOARD OF WORKS.

METROPOLIS LOCAL MANAGEMENT ACT AMENDMENT BILL,
NO. 1, TO DRAW CLAUSES AND AMENDMENTS.

FOOD ANALYST

p. 40ASYLUM WALL.

RE-NAMING STREETS AMP NUMBERING HOUSES.

CONTRACTS FOR MASON’S AND BRICKLAYER’S WORKS.

WEST LONDON EXTENSION RAILWAY.

PROPOSED ROADS TO FULHAM AND KENSINGTON.

CHELSEA EMBANKMENT, DRAFT PETITION TO PARLIAMENT.

VESTRY HALL FIRST STONE.

CHELSEA EMBANKMENT AND PROPOSED PIMLICO AND WEST LONDON JUNCTION RAILWAY.

SPACE OVER RANELAGH SEWER, AND BOUNDARIES.

p. 41LINE OF FRONTAGE, KING’S ROAD; AND LIMERSTON STREET DRAINAGE.

VESTRY HALL, LIGHTING, FITTING, AND FURNISHING.