Read Ebook: 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 by Lahee Charles

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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. Peter 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 thereunder during the year, have been as follows:--

Date and Amount of Order issued by the Vestry. Date and Amount of Rateable Value of Gross Amount of Rate issued by the Property charged. Rate. Guardians. 1860, Mar. 13, ?4800 Mar. 28, 6d. in ? ?213,443 10 0 ?5336 1 9 ,, Oct. 23, 5600 Oct. 31, 7d. in ? 219,477 10 0 6401 8 6 1/2

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 , and No. 15 , 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:--

Date and Amount of Order Date and Amount Rateable Value of Gross Amount of issued by the Vestry. of Rate made by Property charged. Rate. the Guardians. Sept. 25 ?24 11 10 Nov. 21 4d. in ?1772 0 0 ?29 10 8 ? ,, 4 4 6 ,, 9d. in 120 0 0 4 10 0 ? ,, 4 19 2 ,, 7d. in 168 10 0 4 18 3 1/2 ? ,, 4 16 6 ,, 3 1/2 d. in 412 0 0 6 0 2 ? ,, 1 13 9 ,, 2d. in 325 0 0 2 14 2 ?

APPLICATIONS.

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 , 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:--

Date and Amount of Date and Amount of Rateable Value of Gross Amount of Rate. Order issued by Vestry. Rate made by Property charged. Guardians. 1860, Mar. 13 ?1150 Mar. 28 2d. in ? ?163,097 0 0 ?1359 2 10 ,, Oct. 23 920 Oct. 31 1 1/2 d. in ? 167,515 10 0 1046 19 5 1/4

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 on 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 .

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 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 chief 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,

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 , 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 the 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. , 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:--

Date and amount of Order of Vestry. Date and amount of Rate Rateable value of Gross amount of made by Guardians. property charged. Rate. WHOLE PARISH. 1860, July 2 ?1004 13 3 Oct. 3rd 1/4 d. in the ? ?219,477 10 0 ?228 8 9 3/8 1861, Apr. 9 ?1499 12 6 May 1st. 2d. in the ? ?220,927 0 0 ?1839 3 8 RANELAGH DISTRICT. 1860, July 2 ?715 18 5 Oct. 3rd 1d in the ? ?184,992 0 0 ?770 9 1 1/2 1861, Apr. 9 ?600 16 11 May 1st 1d. in the ? ?186,421 0 0 ?776 3 10 MAIN DRAINAGE.--WHOLE PARISH. 1860, Oct. 23 ?2300 0 0 Oct. 31 3d. in the ? ?219,477 10 0 ?2741 5 3 3/4

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.

With 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, .

CHELSEA CHARITIES.

On the twenty-second of May, 1860, upon the motion of Mr. Finch, a committee, consisting of the rector , the churchwardens , three past churchwardens , 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" was provided by me, as far as concerned the Chelsea charities.

The article of this morning 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' in 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 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 gardens, 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 twenty-eight to eight, to pass the following resolution:--

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