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the rear of the Vestry Hall, and at Norfolk Terrace—both for the
male sex only. Section 88, Metropolis Local Management Act,
1855, enables the vestries and district boards to "provide and
maintain urinals, water-closets, and like conveniences for both
sexes, in situations where they deem such accommodation to be
required;" but your Vestry's efforts to provide this necessary
accommodation for the male sex have frequently been thwarted by
local opposition. Increased powers in this direction will be given
by the Public Health (London) Act when it comes into operation in
1892, including power to compensate persons injured by the
erection of these conveniences near their houses, &c. Accommodation
is provided at about 170 public-houses—not of a very
satisfactory sort in many instances, but better than none at all,
and much improved as the result of proceedings taken by your
Vestry in 1888.
The County Council, in May, 1889, signified to the vestries
and district boards its opinion of the necessity for chalet accommodation
for men and women, or the construction of places
giving such accommodation below the level of the ground, in the
manner which has proved successful in the City and elsewhere;
moved thereto by the "many cases of physical injury coming to
the knowledge" of the medical profession, which are "traceable
to the want of proper accommodation of this nature in London."
Little, however, has been done hitherto, to give effect to the views
of the Council. In this Parish one chalet, for men, in Norfolk
Terrace, constructed as a speculation by private persons, and having
proved unsuccessful, was taken over by your Vestry, and is now
in use.
PUBLIC BATHS AND WASH-HOUSES.
The Baths and Wash-houses, at the junction of Lancaster
and Silchester Roads, Notting Hill, opened in April, 1888, have
been well supported. But for the majority of parishioners the
site is not sufficiently central for bathing; and obviously it is too
remote for washing purposes. The same objection would apply