APPENDIX No. 9. CHELSEA BRIDGE ROAD.

CORRESPONDENCE SINCE LAST REPORT.

801.

From A. Austin, Esq., to the Vestry Clerk. Office of Works, &c., S.W., 5th March, 1861.

Sir,—The attention of the First Commissioner of Her Majesty’s Works, &c., having been drawn to the bad state of that portion of the road, leading from Lower Sloane-street to the New Suspension Bridge, which is in the parish of St. Luke, Chelsea, I am directed by him to request that you will move the Vestry of that parish to cause immediate measures to be taken for putting the above mentioned portion of the said road into a proper state of repair.

I am, Sir, Your obedient Servant, Alfred Austin,

C. Lahee, Esq.

Secretary.

The Vestry Clerk to A. Austin, Esq.

7th March, 1861.

Sir,—I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 5th instant, by direction of the First Commissioner, requesting that the portion of the Chelsea Bridge Road in this parish may be properly repaired, and to inform you that it will be laid before the Vestry on Tuesday next, the 12th instant.

I am, Sir, Your obedient Servant, Chas. Lahee, Vestry Clerk.

A. Austin, Esq., Secretary, Office of Works, &c., 11, Whitehall Place, S.W.

From G. Russell, Esq., to the Vestry Clerk.

1344.

Office of Works, &c., S.W., 6th April, 1861.

Sir,—With reference to the Board’s letter of the 5th ultimo, and your reply of the 7th ult., respecting the state of the portion of the Chelsea Bridge Road, in the parish of St. Luke, Chelsea, I am directed by the First Commissioner of Her Majesty’s Works, &c., to send you, herewith, copies of a letter of yesterday’s date, and of its enclosure from the Commissioners of Metropolitan Police on the subject of that road, and to request that you will lay the same before the Vestry.

I am, Sir, Your Obedient Servant, George Russell, Assistant Secretary.

C. Lahee, Esq.

Copy of the Enclosures last referred to.

Metropolitan Police Office, Whitehall Place, April 5th, 1861.

Sir,—I feel it my duty to transmit the enclosed report from the Superintendent B Division of Police, relative to the state of the carriage road leading to the New Chelsea Bridge.

I am, &c., (Signed) Wm. C. Harris, Assistant Commissioner.

A. Austin, Esq.

4th April, 1861.

I beg to report that that part of the carriage road leading to Chelsea New Bridge which is within the parish of St. Luke, Chelsea, is in a very dirty state and full of ruts; it is very dangerous, and quite unfit for public traffic. This road was formed by the Board of Works, and has not yet been taken charge of by the parish of St. Luke. There has been some correspondence between the parish and the Board, but nothing definite has been come to.

(Signed) G. M. Gibbs, Superintendent.

The Vestry Clerk, to A. Austin, Esq.

April 8th, 1861.

Chelsea Bridge Road.

Sir,—The Vestry of this parish will meet to-morrow, when I shall have the honor to lay before them your letter of the 6th instant.

Your letter of the 5th ultimo, was placed before the Vestry held on the 12th ultimo, and then referred to the Committee of Works and for General Purposes, by whom it is still under consideration.

I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient Servant, Chas. Lahee, Vestry Clerk.

A. Austin, Esq., Secretary, Office of Works, &c., 11, Whitehall Place, S.W.

The Chief Commissioner of Police, to the Vestry Clerk.

Metropolitan Police Office, Whitehall Place, April 9th, 1861.

Sir,—The enclosed report from the Superintendent of the B Division is transmitted for the information of the Vestry of the parish of Chelsea, that they may give such directions thereon, as they consider proper.

I am, Sir, Your obedient Servant, Richd. Mayne.

The Vestry Clerk, Chelsea.

The Enclosure above referred to.

Metropolitan Police.

B Division, Special Report.

9th April, 1861.

In reference to my report of the 4th instant, respecting the state of the carriage road leading to the New Chelsea Bridge, I omitted to state that a portionof the road, viz., from Queen’s-road East to the Commercial-road, a distance of 374 yards, is without gas lamps, or light of any kind at night, rendering it a very dangerous thoroughfare, and affording great facility for depredations to be committed. I also beg to mention that Her Majesty, when in town, frequently passes along this road on her way to the new park at Battersea.

G. M. Gibbs, Superintendent.

April 10th, 1861.

Chelsea Bridge Road.

Sir,—In acknowledging the receipt of your communication of the 9th inst. I beg to inform you that the subject to which it relates will be brought before the Vestry at its next meeting.

I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient Servant, Chas. Lahee, Vestry Clerk.

Sir R. Mayne, Chief Commissioner of Police.

Vestry Clerk to A. Austin, Esq.

April 26th, 1861.

Chelsea Bridge Road.

Sir,—Your letters of the 5th ultimo, and 6th instant, the former requesting that the portion of the road leading to Chelsea Bridge, in this parish, may be immediately put into a proper state of repair, and the latter transmitting a report of the Police to the First Commissioner of Her Majesty’s Works, &c., upon the same subject, having been referred by the Vestry to their Committee of Works and for General Purposes, have, together with the former correspondence, and proceedings in this matter, received their careful consideration.

In addition to the above mentioned two letters, the Committee also had before them a letter from Sir Richard Mayne, dated the 9th instant, enclosing a further report from Superintendent Gibbs, omitted from his former report above alluded to.

The Committee having reported their annexed resolution, and the Vestry having approved of the same, I am directed to request that you will lay the same before the First Commissioner.

Resolved,—That the First Commissioner of Her Majesty’s Works, &c., be informed that the Committee agree with him as to the bad state of that portion of the road leading to Chelsea Bridge, lying in this parish, which is probably owing to the manner in which it was originally made up, and to the works which have been lately executed there; and as the First Commissioner is aware of the difference of opinion which exists as to the legal obligations of his department on the one hand, and of the Vestry of Chelsea on the other, with respect to this portion of the road, he be again urged, as he was twelve months ago, to concur with the Vestry in adopting some inexpensive and expeditious mode of bringing the questions in difference before a competent tribunal for final decision.

I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient Servant, Chas. Lahee, Vestry Clerk.

A. Austin, Esq., Office of Works, &c., Whitehall Place, S.W.

Vestry Clerk to Sir Richard Mayne, Chief Commissioner of Police.

April 26th, 1861.

Chelsea Bridge Road.

Sir,—Referring to your letter and enclosure of the 9th instant, I am directed to transmit you copy of a letter sent for submission to the Right Honourable the First Commissioner of Her Majesty’s Works, &c.

I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient Servant, Chas. Lahee, Vestry Clerk.

Sir R. Mayne, &c., &c., Chief Commissioner of Police, Scotland Yard.

(A copy of the last letter was enclosed).

A. Austin, Esq., to the Vestry Clerk.

1672

Office of Works, &c., S.W. 1st 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 26th ultimo, containing a copy of a resolution of the Vestry of the parish of St. Luke, Chelsea, respecting the portion of the road leading to Chelsea Bridge, which is in that parish, and I am to state that the Board must deny that the bad state of the road is ‘owing to the manner in which it was originally made up,’ that with regard to ‘the works lately executed there,’ if, as the Board presume, the Vestry allude to the formation of a sewer, those works were not done by, or with the consent of this department; and that although the Board are advised that the parish are liable to the repair and maintenance of the road, and have no claim on the Board in respect thereof, they are willing, with a view of avoiding expense to both parties, to consider any proposition which the Vestry may submit to them for having the matter settled by a competent tribunal.

I am Sir, Your obedient Servant, Alfred Austin, Secretary.

Chas, Lahee, Esq.

The Vestry Clerk to A. Austin, Esq.

May 24, 1861.

Chelsea Bridge Road.

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.

C. Lahee, Esq.