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been out of use for some time, and by advantage being taken of
the repaving of Dufour's Place to strip the mains and carry out
the necessary repairs before the roadway was concreted and
asphalted. The alterations to the money-taker's office and the
repairs to the water mains together representing an expenditure
of £208 5s. 5d., are of an exceptional nature; deducting these
items, the ordinary expenditure, in spite of the increased cost of
water, exhibits practically no increase.
The Commissioners have the satisfaction to report that, after
more than two years' deliberation and negotiation, the new
swimming bath is in a fair way of completion for use early next
season. The new bath will occupy, as the Vestry are aware, the
site of Nos. 14 and 15, Marshall Street, two freehold houses
belonging to the parish and adjoining the existing building
southward. It was necessary to obtain the sanction of the
Local Government Board, to the appropriation of these two
houses for the purpose proposed, the Yestry having already
assented thereto. Upon application being made to the Local
Government Board for their sanction, the Commissioners were
asked for their observations upon a memorial which had been
sent to the Board by 16 ratepayers objecting to the proposal.
The memorial totally misrepresented the intentions of the Commissioners,
and the Commissioners therefore asked the Board to
hold a public inquiry in order that the facts might be fairly
stated, and the real views of the ratepayers ascertained. A
local inquiry was accordingly held at the Yestry Hall, Piccadilly,
on the 20th March, by J. T. Harrison. Esq., one of the Board's
inspectors. Notice of the inquiry had been widely given
throughout the Parish, but only three ratepayers attended to
object. The following figures which were put in at the Inquiry
show the boon the Baths and Washhouses have been to the
poorer classes of the parishioners, and the comparatively small
burden imposed on the ratepayers thereby:—
Cost of erecting (in 1851), furnishing, and
extending (in 1861) the establishment £21,000 0 0
Amount borrowed 21,000 0 0
Interest paid on loan until its repayment 13,062 5 10
Total £34,062 5 10