Parish Of Greenwich.
The Times, 1824-11-20T00:00:00

A unumerous Vestry Mfeeting of the inhabitants of Greenwich took plaec in the chureh yesterday eveniitg, for tbe purpose of c6n. d4erzae the accounts of former-Clcrch-wardens, Ocrafes, *stry- cllric &c. MIr. RITcwrt having taken the chair, Mr. HAMUoN5) nmoved that the bills of the late vestry.clerc and' mlicitor be taxedf; and that the Governors and Directorr be em- powered to sikce such steps as might be necessary for the recovery of any sum disallowed upon the same. Dir. PnATT asked what was unjust in the late vestry-clerk's ae. coumits? This business evidently originated in malice; for Mr. Bicklnell offered to have his bill taxed two years ago. MIr. 11AXaLOND observed that if Air. Bicknell offered to have his bill taxed two years ago, there coald be na harm in taxing it now. He disavowed any hostile feeling towards Mir. Bicknell. Aftter some discussion, the motion was carried. Mr. HAUS?OwND then moved, th.t the overseers of last year be *alled upon to render their accounts verified upon oath ; and that the Governors and Directors be empowerd to take the necesary steps for the recovery of any sumns which should xppenr to have been illegally Bpent. The worthy gentleman commented upon the items cnmpos. *ng the accounts which they had passed, observing that out of 1.1991 which they had receive(1, it appeared that only 2171. had gone to the or; of the residue, 2891. had gone for weekly dinners direct; 3471. for removals, also incliding dinner-charges; and 1581. to beadles and constables_this sum, in llike mnanner, including charges for Mr. EPWAtFlDS objCetld to Mr. liamninond's mentioning general sumsz let him give the particulars. Mr. HAMmonj) pledged himself for the accuracy of his state. ments. Mr. BE?IgET defied the overseers to show any act of Parliament authorizing them to appropriate tsums of money in this way out of the parish funds to defray the expense of dinners for themselves. It was no answer to say that the practice had subsisted foe' a0nr time; for the lorng contineance of an Illegal and'bad practice did not war- rant its being madle permanent. Alr. SuTER (the present vestry-clerk), on being appealed to, said that ithe poor laws dig not warrant the expenses for dinners to be de. frayed out of the parish fundIs. He merely stated this as a dry point of law; but he begged to be understtood as taking no part on one side or the other in the present discussion. iAr. BAwEnt put in a written statement in explanation of the late overseers' accounts. Mr. HAUNItOMW Said that the present overseers had reduced the expenditure In three quarters by 5,0001. Ir. BAKERt observed that they (the present overseers) had not carried on any works as the others had. ir. IIAA3NIOND said the rate was reduced to a shilling, and he expected to see it nnly 9d. After some conversation, and not a littie coafjuieas5-te..Neslution was passed unanimously. Mr. HAMMOND then presented the different reports of the Com- mittee appointed to investigate tke parish accounts back to the year 1817; which, upon being read by the vestry-clerk, gave rise to a great deal of irregular discussion * particularly that part which stated that Alr. Toolan had allowed a reduction in cettaii revies without consulting the parislh. Alr. rooLAK said, that the reduction was made, not toy lim, but at the desire of thd feoffees. Several resolutions were passed relating to these reports, condemn. ing the extravagant expenditure they pointed out; directingsteps to be taken to recover the sums illegally paid; and laying down re- gulations to be observed in granting church-rates in future. Thanks were then votedl to the Comniittee for their exertions; and to Dlr. Ritchiie for his condluct in thc chair; after which, the meet- ing separnted at a late hour. We uiderstand that proceedings have been resorted to in the Court of King's Bench against the present Committee. PAAVUSPI O' sRREwlzCN.