Report from Select Committee on Metropolis Sewers : with minutes of evidence, and an appendix.

  • Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Select Committee on Metropolis Sewers.
Date:
[1834]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report from Select Committee on Metropolis Sewers : with minutes of evidence, and an appendix. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    23/276 (page 9)
    upon the ground of his not deriving any benefit from the sewage in the district ?— That would be all. 164. Do you publish your accounts?—No; they are called for by* Parliament occasionally. 165. Have you any periodical publication?—No. 166. You do not publish them for each parish?—No, we could not make it out for a parish, we could for a district. 167. The accounts are audited by a general Court of Commissioners?—Yes. 168. Is it numerously attended?—Yes. 169. Is notice given of the audit of the accounts?—Yes, to the Commissioners. 170. Not to the parishes?—Mo. 171. Is the court open?—Yes. 172. What notice is given of it?—By summons sent round. 173. No notice is given to the inhabitants in the parishes?—No. 174. Does it often happen that many persons assessed to the rates attend those courts ?•—No. 175. Would they be allowed free communication with them, if they demanded it?—Yes, there is a proclamation that all persons having business with the court should come and give their attendance. 176. Is not the court considered a court which virtually nobody has a right to attend ?—No, it is an open court. 177. In short, everybody may attend that likes?—Yes. 178. No public notice is given to the inhabitants of the districts assessed ?—No. 179. Are they held regularly?—Yes; the first and third Friday in every month, and more frequently if business requires it. 180. With regard to the business brought on on ordinary court days, is there any public notice sent to the Commissioners expected to attend of the hour at which that business would be brought on?—Not any particular business, but the hour at which the business will begin is sent; it is the fixed hour of business every day at 12 o’clock. 18]. The questions are taken in succession without the chairman having any discretion upon the subject ?—No, the chairman has a discretion on the subject. 182. And can bring forward anv question he pleases in the first instance?— Yes. 183. Have you any fixed number of Commissioners ?—No, it depends entirely upon those put in the commission; it depends upon the high authorities, not us. 184. When was the last commission ?—1830, upon the accession of the present King. 185. Who recommends to the Great Seal the persons who are to be added to the former list, or to supply the vacancies?—A petition goes to the Lord Chancellor and the Chief Justices of either bench, requesting that such names or such others as they please may be put in. 186. The petition goes from whom?—From the former Commissioners. 187. They renew their own body?—With additions ; but it depends entirely upon the discretion of the Lord Chancellor and the Chief Justices ; they add or leave out as many as they please. 188. Does the Lord Chancellor usually make great changes in the lists submitted to him by the Commissioners ?—I have not seen it done. 189. In general he adopts a certain number of names, submitted to him by the Commissioners?—Yes. 190. And confirms their appointment ?—Yes, but it does not follow of course. 191. But it is a matter of course?—Yes, it is usual; and to those names he adds from time to time as he thinks proper. 192. Does he usually make large additions ?—No; there are two additions made, one was of two names, and the other of nine persons. 193- Were they made by the Lord Chancellor’s own suggestion?—I cannot tell that; the only notice I have of it is a notice from the Crown, desiring me to send the commission for names to be inserted. 194. Do you know whether any petition proceeded from the Board to have those nine names added ?—I know no petition proceeded from the Board ; the Board did not know of any addition being about to be made. . 193. What is the meaning of those names being scratched out of the list?— They are dead. 196. Can anybody demand copies of your rates ?—No, c 197. Nor Mr. J. Horseman.