View report page

166
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 Highstreet,
where, opposite the Parish Church, 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.
WATER SUPPLY.
In former reports I have dealt at length with matters
affecting the water supply of the Metropolis generally, and of
this parish in particular. There is little to be added to what
has been said in those reports. The County Council desire to
take over the Companies' properties, but with little prospect of
success in arranging terms. A Royal Commission has been
appointed to enquire as to the desirability of the acquirement
of the properties by some public authority, or, in the alternative,
the conferment of additional powers of control of the
Companies. The question is of importance, affecting as it
does the interests of public health, and the material interests
of the people of the Metropolis, and of the surrounding
districts within the areas served by the several Companies.
Constant supply is now nearly universal; and that the public
at large are not seriously dissatisfied with the existing
arrangements, may not unreasonably be inferred from the
fact that during the year no complaint was received in my
department, either with regard to the quality of the water, or
as to insufficiency of supply. Personally, I consider that, in
quality and condition, the water as supplied by the three local
Companies (West Middlesex, Grand Junction, and Chelsea)
is satisfactory. I would not say, great as have been the