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Parliamentary Publications. 



Board of Agriculture. — Annual Report of Proceedings under 

 the Tithe and other Acts administered in the Land 

 Division for the year 1900. [Cd. 502.] Price > 2|-d. 



The total number of applications to the Board under the 

 various Tithes Acts was 994 in 1900, as compared with 1,134 

 in 1899, a decrease due to a falling off in the applications for 

 the redemption of tithe rent charge. It was anticipated that 

 the change of procedure, whereby the compulsory redemption 

 is carried out by the Board's own officers, would bring about 

 this result ; but further experience has confirmed the opinion 

 that the undoubted advantages procured thereby afford 

 sufficient compensation even for a decrease in the rate at 

 which tithe rent charge is being extinguished. The number 

 of redemptions completed in this manner shows a satisfactory 

 advance, and such cases are found to be carried out both 

 more expeditiously and with less friction than appears 

 possible where valuers are employed. 



The greater activity in the enfranchisement of copyhold 

 land under the Copyhold Act, 1894, which was apparent in 

 the years 1898 and 1899, appears to be declining; but the 

 number of enfranchisements confirmed in the year 1900, 

 viz., 351, was still well in advance of the figures prior 

 to 1898. 



The Board had under consideration applications for 

 Provisional Orders for : (1) the inclosure of the Open Fields 

 and the Heath and Wastes, in all about 610 acres, in the 

 parish of Sutton, Northamptonshire ; (2) the regulation of 

 the Common, 826 acres, and the inclosure of the Open Fields, 

 321 acres, in the parish of Skip with, in the East Riding ot 

 Yorkshire ; and (3) the regulation of the Commons, about 

 400 acres, at Chipping Sodbury, Old Sodbury, and Little 

 Sodbury, Gloucestershire. The Board were satisfied, after 

 holding local inquiries, that in each case the proposed 

 proceedings would be expedient, regard being had to the 

 benefit of the neighbourhood as well as the private interests, 

 and accordingly framed Provisional Orders with respect to 

 the Sutton and the Skipwith lands ; but they have not yet been 

 able, after protracted negotiations, to settle in a satisfactory 



