I am aware that questions have arisen with regard to the custody of documents under Sub-section 8 of Section 17 of the Local Government Act, 1894. The Act contemplated that this would be the case, and has provided that any questions as to such custody shall be determined by the County Council. The Local Government Board have no jurisdiction to determine questions as regards the Tithe Map, and it has been their practice to inform Parish Councils to this effect. I am advised that Tithe Maps are under the Tithe Commutation Act, 1886, to be kept "with the public books, writings, and papers of the parish," and the Sub-section to which I have referred requires therefore that they shall either remain in their existing custody or be deposited in such custody as the Parish Council may direct. It may be well to mention here that when there is in a rural parish an existing Vestry Clerk appointed under the Trustees Act, 1850, he shall become the Clerk of the Parish Council, holding office by the same tenure as before, and while performing the duties shall not receive less salary or remuneration than before (sec. 81, 2, 4). In our canons, which date from 1603, no fewer than eighteen refer to the duties of Churchwardens. One canon enjoins them to present to the ordinary those guilty of notorious crimes and scandals, hinderers of the Word of God, disturbers of Divine Service, and non-communicants at Easter. Other Canons refer to their duties in not allowing loiterers near the Church in time of Divine Service, in providing bread and wine for the Holy Communion, and marking those who present themselves at the Lord's Table. Others enjoin them to take care that no stranger be admitted to preach in Church without showing his licence; to provide a sure coffer for the safe keeping of the registers, and to see that the proper entries are therein made; to provide for the Church service books, font, Communion table, and pulpit, and a chest for alms; and further, to see that the Church is kept in sufficient reparation, that neither the Church or Churchyard be in any way profaned; that the bells be not rung at any time without good cause to be allowed by the minister of the place and by themselves; to see that the parishioners duly resort to their Church upon Sundays and holy days; that none stand idle in the Churchyard, or make any disturbance in the Church or Churchyard during the time of Divine Service; and further, call upon and exhort such as are negligent in resorting to the Church that they fail not to amend their ways; to keep the accounts connected with these matters; and, "last of all, going out of their office they shall truly deliver up to the parishioners whatever money or other things of right belonging to the parish which remaineth in their hands, that they may be delivered over by them to the next Churchwardens by bill indented." {22}