e general district rate in an urban district
and the borough rate in a borough, made by the town council. They
still have power to give relief to poor persons in case of sudden and
urgent necessity, but their principal duty is that of rating
authority, and they are bound to make out the lists for their parishes
of jurors and electors. No payment is made to them. The office is
compulsory, but certain persons are privileged from being elected to
it. The assistant overseer, who was formerly nominated by the
inhabitants and vestry and then formally appointed by justices, is
now, as has been stated, appointed by the parish council. He holds
office at pleasure, and receives such remuneration as the council fix,
and he performs all the duties of an overseer, or such of them as may
be prescribed by the terms of his appointment. There may be in a
parish a collector of rates appointed by the guardians. In that event,
an assistant overseer cannot be appointed to perform the duties of
collector of rates, but, on the other hand, the parish council may
invest the collector with any of the powers of an overseer. The parish
council may appoint a clerk, who may be either one of their own number
without payment, or the assistant overseer, rate collector or some
other fit person, with remuneration.

Powers and duties of parish councils.

Among the duties transferred to parish councils may be mentioned the
provision of parish books and of a vestry room or parochial office,
parish chest, fire engine or fire escape, the holding or management of
parish property, other than property relating to affairs of the church
or held for an ecclesiastical charity, the holding or management of
village greens or of allotments, the appointment of trustees of
parochial charities other than ecclesiastical charities in certain
cases, and certain limited powers with reference to the supply of
water to the parish, the removal of nuisances, and the acquisition of
rights of way which are beneficial to the inhabitants.

Among the most important of the matters which concern a rural parish
is the administration of what are commonly called the adoptive acts.
These include the Lighting and Watching Act, the Baths and Washhouses
Acts, the Burial Acts, the Public Improvement Act and the Public
Libraries Acts. The

Lighting and Watching Act.

Baths and Washhouses Acts.

Burial