122 



Parliamentary Publications. 



The magnitude of the financial operations involved in the 

 proceedings under the Tithe Acts is illustrated by the statistics 

 now furnished as to the sum of over £4,000,000 originally 

 apportioned under the commutation arrangements of 1836, and 

 the several modifications since introduced. An interesting 

 record of the origin of the Board's powers in matters of 

 commons inclosure and regulation furnishes an introduction to 

 the account given of the administrative measures year by year 

 required in this connection. The history of the growth of the 

 Board's work in connection with the charging of estates for 

 improvements and works is followed by a full tabular analysis of 

 the different heads of improvements under which the £17,465,000 

 so charged has been expended. This exhibits the changing 

 proportions of particular classes of outlay from 1847 to the 

 present time. 



The total number of applications to the Board in 1902 under 

 the various Tithes Acts was 1,037, as compared with 1,142 in 

 1901. The number of transactions under these Acts completed 

 during the year was 1,049. This total included 306 alterations 

 of apportionments, 593 redemptions, and 109 mergers, the fees 

 received in respect of these transactions amounting to ,£4,044. 

 At the close of the year 960 cases were in progress, whereof 

 223 were altered apportionments, 668 redemptions, and 23 

 mergers. 



The total number of enfranchisements completed by the 

 Board in 1902 under the Copyhold Act was 297, as compared 

 with 293 in 1901, 233 being under the compulsory and 64 under 

 the voluntary provisions of the Act. 



The total number of applications made to the Board in 1902 

 for their sanction under the Drainage and Improvement of 

 Land Acts to expenditure for the improvement of land was 212, 

 as compared with 238 in 1901. The aggregate sum represented 

 in these applications was £144,703, as compared with the 

 exceptionally large applications of £301,3 18 submitted in 1901. 

 The actual expenditure on completed works for which charges 

 on estates have been created during the past year was £138,195. 

 This total included £54,438 for farm, buildings, £29,604 for 

 additions and improvements to mansion houses or other 

 residences, and £22,612 on account of labourers' cottages. The 



