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local authorities would do all they could to second
the Council's efforts. The Vestry replied that they
approved of the action of the Council, and would be
willing to assist in the matter as far as possible.
Lighting Common Staircases.—In September
the attention of the Vestry was called to a newspaper
report of an inquest on a person who died
from falling down the dark staircase of a house in
Clerkenwell Green. The staircase was found to be
very dark at the bottom and dangerous, being
lighted from a skylight in the roof. The owner
was communicated with, and undertook to carry
out certain work to remedy the cause of danger.
The attention of the County Council was then
again called to the question of lighting dark staircases,
and they replied in November that their
Parliamentary Committee was taking steps to
procure a clause in a public general Bill, providing
for the proper lighting of such staircases. A clause
was introduced into their General Powers Bill for
the purpose, and in March the Council asked the
Yestry to depute some member to give evidence in
favour of the Bill before a House of Commons
Committee, and Mr. Walton, the Chairman of the
Works Committee, was appointed. The matter
was at this stage at the close of the year.
Baths and Washhouses.—The Committee appointed
to consider the desirability of the Yestry
adopting the Baths and Washhouses Acts has not
yet reported Negotiations were opened on behalf
of the Holbom District Board with the view to the
joint provision of such an establishment by the two
Parishes, but the Board was subsequently advised
that it had no authority to take any steps in the
matter.