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20
The Vestry include in their Report, for the information
of the Ratepayers, the Report and Accounts of the Public
Baths and Wash-houses Committee, and append Statements
of Accounts relating to the Guardians of the
Westminster Union, and the Trustees of Charitable
Endowments in which the parish is interested.
THE PARISH.
Extent.—The parish occupies an area of 162 acres. It
has about 12½ miles of streets, of which 3¼ miles are paved
with wood, 5¾ with asphalte, ¾ with pitching, with
macadam, and 1½ miles consist of courts, yards and
passages.
Population.—The resident population, according to the
census taken in March, 1896, under the Equalisation of
Rates, is shown by the Registrar-General's Weekly Return
for the week ending May 23rd, to be 23,050. This number
is 1,94-5 less than that shown by the Census of 1891, and
there appears to be little doubt that the resident population
of the Parish will continue to decrease owing to the gradual
conversion of dwelling-houses into warehouses and offices
for business purposes only.
Local Government.—The Parish has a separate jurisdiction
under the Metropolis Local Management Act, and
particulars of the powers of the Vestry elected pursuant to
that Act are given on pages 24-26. For Poor Law purposes
the Parish is joined to the Parish of St. Anne, under the
name of the Westminster Union; it is also a constituent
part of the Central London Sick Asylum District.
Wards.—The Parish has been divided into four Wards
for the Election of Vestrymen, and this division is followed