166 BOROUGH OF LEWISHAM. 
larger portion of the area, and the Lambeth Water Works in the 
western portion. After many attempts at buying out the Water 
Companies, an Act was at last passed establishing a Water Board 
for London and a large area around it, and we now have to pay 
our rate to this body, which was established by the Metropolis 
Water Act of 1902, and took over the Companies’ undertakings in 
1904. In still more remote times water was obtained from the 
streams and wells, Lady Well being a notable example, and it is of 
interest to note that the first supply by means of pipes took place 
in 1809, in the Parish of St. Mary, under the Kent Waterworks Act. 
The Lambeth Company, by an Act of 1848, was authorised to 
supply a portion of Lewisham to the west of the Ravensbourne, 
and in 1894 the Southwark and Vauxhall Company was empowered 
to supply a small portion of Lewisham, which was cut off from the 
Lambeth Company by the London, Chatham and Dover Railway. 
Lee has been supplied by the Kent Company under the Act of 1809. 
LocaL CHARITIES. 
Lewisham, like nearly all old towns, has been endowed from 
time to time with charitable bequests, left for the benefit of the 
poor. These, by a scheme of the Charity Commissioners, are 
managed by a body called the Trustees of the Lewisham Parochial 
Charities. The Vicar of Lewisham and the Churchwardens are 
ex-officio members, together with a number of elected members now 
appointed by the Borough Council, The charities include monies 
for the maintenance of certain almshouses, for educational purposes, 
and for gifts of money and kind to poor persons at Christmas and 
Easter annually. The Trustees meet at the Town Hall. 
JustTIcES OF THE PEACE. 
Justices of the Peace formerly had considerable powers, which 
have nearly all been given to newer authorities as they have been 
established from time to time—the Guardians, District Board, 
Stipendiary Magistrates, etc. Those having authority in this dis- 
trict are appointed to the Blackheath Division, and, like those in 
other parts of the country, receive their appointment from the 
Lord Chancellor. One of the most important duties now left to 
them is that connected with licensing houses for the sale of in- 
toxicating drinks. 
REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS AND DEATHS AND MARRIAGES. 
Though not looked upon as the work of the Guardians, the 
registration of births and deaths so far concerns them that by an 
Act of 1836, they have to form all necessary districts within their 
rar 
