30 THE COACHING AGE. 



In another case a hat and coat for the bellman 

 were paid for out of the surveyor's account. In. order 

 to facilitate the delivery of letters in another country 

 parish, a charge was made on the highway-rate for 

 fifty-two weeks' remuneration of a fit person appointed 

 to meet the postman, daily at a given spot, carry 

 the letters thence, and deliver them. 



That the feasting of parochial officers, about which 

 one hears a good deal even at the present time, is not 

 an institution of to-day, appears from the disallow- 

 ance of a considerable charge on the ground that 

 the payment was made for the personal refreshment 

 of members of the highway board and others, on an 

 inspection of the roads in the district. The surveyor 

 in this instance appealed to the Local Government 

 Board, urging in support of his appeal that a peram- 

 bulation of the district was deemed necessary; that 

 those who took part in it had a hard day's work, and 

 had thus a right to some refreshment, for which 

 reasonable expenses should be allowed. The Board, 

 however, were unable to consider champagne a reason- 

 able item in the bill. 



In another case the auditor, and also the Board, con- 

 sidered that early salmon, sherry, and pale ale could 

 not be charged on funds raised by compulsory taxation, 

 although the appellant was of opinion that the repast 

 did not exceed the bounds of reasonable refreshment. 



