The Express.
London, England, 1861-02-26 00:00:00

THE PAROCHIAL ASSESSMENTS BILL.

Last evening a crowded meeting of deputations
from the various metropolitan parishes was held at the
Courtelsouse, Marylebone, for the purpose of coosidering
the dope necessary to be taken in reference to the Pariamil
Assessment" Bill introduced into parliament by Sir G. C.
Lewis, the Secretary of State fee the Home department.
Mr. EDwARD HODOWA, of Marylebone, wee milled to the
chair ; sad the parishes represented were St. Mazylebone ;
St. lateens ; Islington ; Paddington ; St. Luke, Chelsea ;
St. Mary, Newington ; Kensington ; St. George's. Hanover-
square ; St. Janice's; St. Margaret's and St. John's, West-
mierter ; St. Mary, Lambeth ; Greenwich ; St. Giles's,
°imbrue!' ; St. Georges-in-the-Fiat; Mile-end Old.town;
St. James's, Clerkenwell ; St. Georze, the Martyr, South-
wark; Whitechapel ; St. Martin • k.c.
The CHAMIAN observed that he had no doubt but that
the gentlemen assembled from all parts of the metropolis
were fully conversant with the objects of the Parochial
Assessments Bill introduced into parliament by the govern-
, meet. He believed they were agreed upon one princip*
namely, that each • measure was wholly uncalled for.
(Hear, hear.) At present, in the case of any grievance as
to an assamment, there was first an appeal from such to the
magistrates in petty session, and subsequently to the
quarter maims; so that the magistrates had to • certain
extant coatroL But this bill went further—it allowed the
mete* to do all the week in the first instance, but then it
rze
been
to the magistrates to upset everything which
been done, to appoint amemen, surveyors, and •
machinery which would involve the Tampers= on enormous
'speedster& It was in every sense a scheme of motralisa-
tics, and the question now wee whether the metropolis
should call epee its representatives to exempt the metro-
pais from the bill, or whether they should go against the
hill altogether. (Loud cries of " The whole bill.") There
was • question before the house and a committee appointed
to form the metropolitan parish, late earporatioos. That
would plea the power into their own bands. It would be
for the meeting to say the course which should be adopted.
The meeting was addressed by repreeentstives of most at
the parishes abovenained--each of them being loud le hie
expression of disapprobation of the measure.
It was ultimately unanimously resolved—" That this
meeting of repremmtaitivee et the metropolitan parlehee
having considered the provisions of the Parochial Assess-
ments Bill introduced into the House of Commons by the
government, is of *Dion that the said bill kelfati;
*S speciallyeeablespecially as being subversive dtie w
psieciples of self-government, by proposing to bender the
power of seaming property which has hefere bola ex-
erased by the local authorities—responsible to the rake
payers—to beads of justices irresponsible to the tax4=
and, therefore, the bill should be most eaniestly
by all cooetitutional means."
It was also determined to request Sir G. C. Lewis to re-
ceive a deputation from metropolites parishes on the sub-
jest of the bill, and that the metropolitan and coast
members be specially requested to form part of such de-
putation.