Sir,—Referring to your letter of the 1st instant, I am directed to send
you copy of a resolution of the Committee of Works and for General
Purposes, which has been subsequently approved by the Vestry.
Resolved,—That this Committee recommend the Vestry to reply to the letter
from the Office of Works, &c., that the Board are still willing to agree
to the proposition made by this Vestry to the First Commissioner of Her
Majesty’s Works, &c., in February, 1860, for the purpose of having the
question decided by a court of competent jurisdiction at the smallest
expense, and with the least delay.
I have the honor to be, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
CHAS. LAHEE.
Vestry Clerk.
A. Austin, Esq., Secretary, Office of Works, &c., Whitehall, S.W.
* * * * *
_A. Austin_, _Esq._, _to the Vestry Clerk_.
Office of Works, &c., S.W.,
31st May, 1861.
Sir,—I am directed by the First Commissioner of Her Majesty’s Works, &c.,
to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 24th instant,
transmitting copy of a resolution of the Committee of Works and General
Purposes of St. Luke, Chelsea, approved by the Vestry in regard to the
portion of the Chelsea Bridge Road, in that parish, and I am to state
that this Board are advised by counsel that a mandamus against the
parochial authorities will be the proper course to be adopted to compel
the performance by the latter of the duties which the legislature has
imposed upon them with respect to the road in question; but that if the
parochial authorities think that the matter in dispute can be more
speedily and satisfactorily settled, and at less expense by means of a
special case, and will be good enough to transmit to this Board the draft
of such a case, it shall receive immediate attention; the bad state of
the road makes it, however, not merely desirable but necessary, that the
opinion of a court of competent jurisdiction should be obtained as soon
as possible.
I am, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
ALFRED AUSTIN,
Secretary.