The Sun.
London, England, 1845-10-08 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.

The Court met on Monday for the purpose of receiving
the annual returns of the overseers, &c., of the different
parishes
in the county of the, rentals of their respective
district -,
Mr. Whiskin was in the chair ; there were also pre-
sent Mr. Froshfield and Mr. B. Haw

ST. PANCRAS PARISH.
The first return that gave rise to any observation was
that of the parothial authorities of St. Pancras, who re-
turned 535,400/. as the amount of their rental ; the re-
turn they mad. last year was 582,0001. As a matter of
course, they were called upon to account for the de-
ficiency.
Mr. FRESIIFIELD said, the return now presented gave
the net rateable value of the property of the parish at
50,0001. less than the return made last year, and the
Court would wish to know how the very great difference
between the two returns was accounted for.
The Vestry-Clerk, in reply, said that it arose partly
from an over calculation of the property of the London
and Birmingham Railway, and partly from a revision of
t ofll
considered that the parish had been
assessed in comparison with other parishes it,
too e
highlypa rish
s,which had since been made by order
the vestry,
the county.
Mr. FRESHFIELD then inquired on what principle the
vestry had made their valuation.
The Vestry-Clerk said, that 25 per cent. had been
deducted from the gross estimated rental, and allowed
.'or repairs, &c.
Mr. FRESHFIELD said, that the only deduction which
the law sanctioned from the gross estimated rental, viz ,
the rent at which the property might reasonably be ex-
pected to let, was the average annual cost for repairs
necessary to maintain the premises and commend
such rent, and pay the insurance, and that a deduction
of a per ventage applying equally to a newly built house
illegal.
The one out of repair was
The Vestry-Clerk explained, at some length, the
principle on which the return had been made.
The Overseer of Kensington said, he had felt it his duty
on former occasions to call the attention of the court to
the unfair manner in which the returns of St. Pancras
and other parishes had been made out; the result of
which was that they paid less than their share of the
county-rate, while other parishes, who made a fair and
Proper return of their rentals, were compelled to pay
more in proportion than they ought to do.
Mr. FRESHFIELD said, there could be no doubt that if
it could be proved that any one parish in the county was
assessed at a less amount than it ought to be, that would
form a sufficient ground of appeal against the county-
rate generally for any other parish ; and then, address.
ing the nuthonties of St. Pancras parish, he a'ked,
whether, after having had their attention drawn to the
subject, they w.,uld still swear to the statement which
(the County-Rates Act),
parishma e their
report
they had handed in to the Court ? He would, at the
same time, inform them that sach statement would not
finally close the question, for by an Act passed during
the last session of Parliament
the Court of Quarter Sessions was empow,.red to appoint
a think
pcommitteeproper.
to
is,uhravte
eye anymlnmight
to the Court, and the parties might.. if they pleased ap-
peal to the Court against their decision.
The parish officers spid, they would persist in the re-
turn wiiieh they had made.
Mr. FRESHFIELD--Then you must take the conse-
quences. particularttee would.
The return was then received, and sworn to in the
usual form.

LIMEHOUSE.
There was a considerable decrease in the rentals of
this parish, which the authorities accounted for by stat-
ing that a great number of houses had been pulled down
to carry out the improve:nents contemplated in forming
spacious streets leading to the docks• &c., and that until
those improvements were completed the site of them
would not yield any rent wbatever. This explanation
was deemed satisfactory.
The several other parish returns which were pre-
sented contained nothing of public interest, and there-
fore did not call for any remark from the Court. But
it appeared from the result of the day's proceedings,
that the rental of the county had considerably increased
during the past year, to the amount, it was conjectured,
of nearly 200,0001