View report page

28
generally appreciated and the number of bathers and
washers continued to increase until the maximum was
reached in 1865, when 160,480 tickets were issued to
bathers and 70,057 to washers, or a total of 230,537 tickets
in one year.
In 1890 the Commissioners came to the conclusion
that to meet the requirements of the district it was
necessary to provide an additional Swimming Bath of
modern design, and for this purpose they proposed to
utilize, subject to the consent of the Vestry and the Local
Government Board, the two houses No. 14 and 15, Marshall
Street, also belonging to the Vestry. The consent of the
Vestry was given to the proposal, and the Local Government
Board held the usual Public Inquiry into the circumstances.
Although previous notice of the Inquiry had been widely
given only three Ratepayers attended to object. After
hearing all the evidence tendered the Inspector remarked
that he had held many similiar inquiries but did not call to
mind one in which it had been so clearly shown that a bath
would impose so small a burden, if any, upon the Ratepayers.
The Local Government Board subsequently gave
their consent and the Commissioners erected the present
handsome Swimming Bath.
In a Report presented to the Vestry in January the
Commissioners state that after long continued delay the
new bath was opened on the 31st July last, and although
more than half the Swimming season had then expired
the number of bathers who made use of the bath during
the remaining few weeks seemed to show that it supplied
a want in the neighbourhood, and encouraged the Commissioners
to hope for a much better result this year when
the bath will be opened lor the whole season.