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the Freeholder, was £65,000, which was considered too high,
and after correspondence and an interview with him he
consented to reduce the price to £4,500, and offered a strip
of land running by the side of the buildings, for an
additional £250 (this strip of land is an important part of
the area required,) making the purchase money £4,750.
Before proceeding further with the negotiations, we
felt it desirable to obtain the practical opinion of
Mr. J. C. Reynolds, your Surveyor, on the question of the
adaptability of the present buildings for the erection of
public Baths and Wash-houses, and he was good enough
(although not within his duties) to view the same, and he
reported to us that he was of opinion that the present
buildings appeared to be of a character convertible for the
purpose of Baths and Wash-houses.
In addition to his judgment, we considered it advisable
to have a detailed report prepared respecting the buildings,
by another professional man, and accordingly instructed
Mr. Thos. Wilkins, Surveyor, of Lyndhurst road, to
advise the Commissioners upon the following points,
viz. : —
(i) Whether the present buildings can be
advantageously and usefully converted into suitable
Public Baths, Wash-houses, with the necessary
Offices.
(ii) If such buildings are, in his opinion,
convertible for such purposes, what should be the
position, measurement, and manner of the construction
of such Baths, Wash-houses, and necessary
Offices.