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rating clauses, and to place the rating of canals on the same basis as
railways and other similar undertakings.
Mr. Ritchie held out very little hope of any action being taken by
the present Government as regards existing canals, although he promised
the matter should have consideration.
PUBLIC BATHS AND WASH-HOUSES.
The annual report for last year deals with the circumstances
which led up to the appointment by the Vestry of a special Committee,
to consider and report upon the whole question of the adoption of the
Public Baths and Wash-houses Acts in the parish. The special Committee
was re-appointed after the Vestry elections on the 24th May,
1889, and the report of the Committee, which will be found in the
Appendix, was taken into consideration by the Vestry on the 19th and
25th July in that year, with the result that the recommendations of the
Committee were approved, and the Acts adopted. The formal approval
of the Local Government Board was signified under the seal of the
Board on the 7tn day of September, and the Baths and Wash-houses
Acts being thereupon in operation the Vestry lost no time in proceeding
to the appointment of Commissioners for carrying the same into effect.
This took place on the 29th November, the names of the Commissioners
appointed being recorded on page 15.
Considerable time must necessarily be occupied in the selection of
and negotiations for sites suitable for the erection of Baths, &c,, and in
the preparation of designs and the erection of the necessary buildings.
It is, however, understood that the Commissioners will act upon the
policy foreshadowed in the report of the special Committee and
approved of by the Vestry, viz., that it will be more in accordance
with the needs of the parish to place three or more moderate establishments
in different parts than to erect one large and costly one in
the centre of the parish. At all events, the time is not now far
distant when the parishioners will have, at least, equal advantages as
regards Public Baths and Wash-houses as are enjoyed by residents in
other parts of the Metropolis.