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:—

Date and Amount ofOrder issued by Vestry.

Date and Amount ofRate made by Guardians.

Rateable Value ofProperty charged.

Gross Amount ofRate.

1860, Mar. 13

£1150

Mar. 28

2d. in £

£163,097

0

0

£1359

2

10

,, Oct. 23

920

Oct. 31

1½d. in £

167,515

10

0

1046

19

5¼

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 (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.