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any single site in the parish. Much good might be effected
by the provision of buildings, on a modest scale, in convenient
localities, to which the poor could resort for the purpose of
washing clothing, &c. The statistics contained in the successive
annual reports of the commissioners for baths and
washhouses, show a constantly increasing use to be made of
the washhouses, and are of a nature to encourage the hope
that it may be found practicable to provide, at no distant date,
for the wants of the poor in the central and southern districts
of the parish.
PUBLIC SANITARY CONVENIENCES.
There are only 20 public urinals in the parish—a very
inadequate provision, which, however, is supplemented by
about 170 urinals at public-houses, to which the general public
have access. This more or less public accommodation is not
of a satisfactory sort, as a rule, but it is better than none at
all, and was improved as the result of proceedings taken by
your Vestry in 1888 and subsequently. There are three sets
of public water-closets, for the male sex only, situated, respectively,
at the rear of the central public library in High-street ;
at the west-end of Westbourne-grove, Notting-hill, and in the
Old Brompton-road, opposite the Bell and Horns tavern.
Sanitary authorities have now ample power to make provision
of this sort, section 88 of the Metropolis Management Act,
1855, enabling them " to provide and maintain urinals, waterclosets,
and like conveniences for both sexes, in situations where
they deem such accommodation to be required." Suitable
sites exist; none better, perhaps, or where provision of the
kind is more needed, than in Kensington High-street, opposite
the Parish Church. Here an underground retiring place for
both sexes might be constructed without giving rise to nuisance
in any sense of the word. Increased powers were conferred
by the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, which, to facilitate
the construction of underground conveniences, vests the subsoil
of roadways in the sanitary authority, who, moreover,
have power to compensate persons injured by the erection of
these conveniences near to their houses, &c.