Village Administration and Local Government wm B. G. 347 
respective Councils. But this was not all as regards the villages on the 
East Coast, and the East Bank of the Denierara River as these places 
had also to face the repayment of their shares of the East Demerara 
Water Supply loans which amounted to $31,906, and $3,341 arrears of 
instalments and interest on these loans. This Jast mentionecdl amount was 
paid, however, at the request of the Government out of the amount of 
$10,000 vote for the services of the Central Board of Health. 
The reports of the Inspector of Villages during these first few years 
make gloomy reading, recording as they do the difficulties of the 
adininistration, the poor rate collection, and the non-accomplishment of 
many much-required works. 
On the 12th March, 1894, we find that the first Conference of Village 
Councils was held at Plaisance Village at which a resolution was adopted 
“ praying that the Combined Court would grant the villages the sum of 
320.000 to assist them in carrying out various necessary works.” 
A petition embodying this resolution was presented at the meeting 
of the Combined Court on the 13th March, 1894, by the late Hon. E. C. 
Luard, and supported by most of the members, but nothing came of it, 
except that the Governor was asked to allow the unexpended portion of 
the vote of $10,000 to the Central Board of Health to be spent on urgent 
works in the villages. Help in this form was granted and amounted to a 
sum of $4,238, each village being allotted an amount equal to 30/ 
of the rates they had collected that year. This help was most timely and 
enabled some of the villages to pay amounts for works undertaken, but 
not paid for in 1893, which amounts owing to lack of funds could not be 
included in their estimates for 1894. 
To facilitate the work of the Board when dealing with village 
matters, in May, 1893, under Section 4 of the Village Ordinance, the 
Board recommended to the Governor-in-Council the appointment of a 
Committee from among its members to be styled: ‘The Villages 
Committee of the Central Board of Health.” ‘[his recommendation was 
approved by the Governor-in-Council and the following members of the 
Board were, in July, 1893, appointed to form the first Committee, viz: 
Henry Kirke, being the then Chairman of the Board, the Honourable 
A. Weber, the Honourable W. Craigen, the Colonial Civil Engineer and 
the Mayor of Georgetown. Out of this Committee has grown what is 
now known under the existing administration as the Districts Committee 
of the Board. 
In 1894, we find the Villages Committee of the Central Board of 
Health dealing with the question of the repayment of the amounts due 
the Government by the various villages on the East Coast and East 
Bank, Demerara River on Water Supply Loans. The position was 
represented to the Government an!it was made clear that enforcement 
of repayment of the instalments of loans and interest meant practical 
bankruptey for the villages concerned. 
