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54
no decision upon the subject, as in the meanwhile they were informed
that the Trustees of the garden were not prepared to dedicate the
same to the public.
SANITARY.
The details of sanitary work present such a similarity of feature
from day to day that it is practically impossible to convey any
accurate idea of the time occupied by the Vestry and their Sanitary
Committee in this branch of their duty. It may, however, be
remarked that not only is the Parish under continual inspection
with a view to the discovery and removal of nuisances, but that,
from time to time, printed instructions for dealing with matters
affecting the public health, are circulated among the parishioners.
For many years the sanitary condition of the Parish has been
steadily but quietly improved by this action of the Vestry and
their sanitary staff, and at no previous time was there less likelihood,
humanly speaking, of the spread of epidemic disease. The
maintenance of a satisfactory state of affairs may be materially
aided by the intelligent co-operation of the parishioners, especially
of such as, by their avocations, are brought into the poorer or more
crowded districts, and the Vestry always gladly receive an intimation
of cases requiring attention, and are quite willing to respect the
confidence of their informants if desired to do so. Anonymous
communications also receive attention, but, in these cases, enormous
waste of valuable time frequently arises from the Vestry's Officers
not being put in full possession of the facts, and being unable, from
their ignorance as to the complaining party, to obtain necessary
particulars. It is therefore desired that all communications should
be authenticated by the name and address of the writer.
Upon the request of the Vestry, the Guardians of the Westminster
Union readily consented to direct their Relieving Officers to
immediately communicate to the Sanitary Department any nuisance
which they may observe in the course of their ordinary duty, as
contemplated by the Nuisances Removal Act. A similar request was
made to the Superintendent of Police, who stated, in reply, that
the Commissioner had already issued such an order to the force