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170
such terms as may be agreed on with the authority. This is
the course which the Council appear desirous of adopting,
and it is rendered feasible by section 105 (c) which enables
the Sanitary Authority to borrow, with the consent of the
Local Government Board, for the purpose of providing a
building for the holding of inquests. Unfortunately, the
room placed at the service of the Coroner at the Town Hall,
is, in every respect, unfit for the purpose, and as no better
accommodation can be provided in the building, it would be
well, could an arrangement be made for erecting a suitable
Court in the disused Parish Churchyard contiguous to the
public mortuary. An alternative scheme contemplates the
acquisition of a site at the rear of the Town Hall. But to
give effect to it, compulsory powers would appear to be necessary.
The question of applying to Parliament for such
powers is under consideration. The number of inquests held
in the year ended 25th March last, was 172: of these 166
were held at the Coroner's Court, 4 at public institutions, and
2 at private houses.
In February, 1890, the London County Council passed a
resolution to the effect, "That all Coroners having jurisdiction
within the administrative County of London, be instructed, as
far as it is practicable, and accommodation is available, to
cease holding inquests or Coroner's courts in public-houses."
This resolution had good effect, the number of inquests held at
public-houses in this parish having fallen in the same year to
37, and 116 having been held at the Court. In the past year
no inquest in this Parish was held at a public-house.
DISINFECTION.
The Public Health Act imposes additional duties on the
Sanitary Authority in the matter of disinfection, the practical
effect of the legislation of late years being to throw the entire
cost of disinfecting rooms, bedding, clothing, &c., upon the
rates. During the year ended March 25th, 1893, numerous