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7
The Opening of St. Marys Church Yard.
On the 16th of April a Committee was appointed, of which
Mr. Greatorex was the Chairman, to discuss the question of
opening the old closed Burial Ground. It was recommended to
the Vestry to improve, plant, and open the place to the public.
The populous neighbourhood of the Hall Park Estate, comprising
several streets, would be materially benefitted by having
a public thoroughfare at the North-West corner, which is unfortunately
kept closed. It was further resolved by the Committee,
that in any plan for opening the old Church Yard, a scheme for
erecting, under the powers of the Sanitary Act of 1866, a
Public Mortuary and Dead House, should be comprehended,
and placed there, and under the management of a proper person,
having for the time being the care of Paddington Green, and
that such a person be required to live contiguous thereto. I
have constantly expressed my opinion that a Public Mortuary
has become a necessity for this parish, and have reported fully
as to its management, and the circumstances which frequently
come before the Coroner, showing the necessity of some responsible
person having the custody of bodies placed in a public
mortuary. I feel confident that no better place could be found
than the North end of the Church Yard.
The Alleged Deficiency of Water Supply.
In some of the densely-populated houses in streets leading
out of Harrow Road, the water supply has been found occasionally
to run short on Sundays and Mondays. I was instructed
to write to the Grand Junction Water Works Company, and
make application for a supply at such a time as would enable
the occupiers of these houses to avail themselves of water at any
early hour on Monday. The turncock now gives the supply late
on Saturday night, so that no deficiency shall occur on the
Sunday or Monday, it being evidently those days when the
ordinary supply is insufficient for the additional personal ablution,
house cleaning, and family washing of linen, which at this
time of the week is in greatest demand, and for which the usual
quantity in the cistern is not enough. Public baths and washhouses
are much needed for a very numerous class of persons,
belonging to the artizan class,who live in this locality. Stokers,
engine drivers, smiths, coal porters, and other men, whose occupations
are such, that personal ablution at home in the living
room, which also serves as a bed-room, becomes impossible. The
washing and drying of their garments at home is a real nuisance,
and can only be abated by establishing a Public Laundry, open
to all.