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surveyor, and approved by the Vestry. Tenders for executing the work, amounting
to £5,633, have been accepted and the work has been commenced. A number of
measures for improving the sanitary condition of the parish have been taken,
amongst them being the appointment of an additional sanitary inspector ; the
purchase of a new disinfecting apparatus and two vans for disinfecting work, and
the institution of numerous proceedings under the Public Health (London) Act,
1891, especially against so-called Model " dwellings for artizans. The Goldsmith
Square Recreation Ground has been laid out as an open space. A thorough
inspection has been made of all the street gulleys in the parish, and a large number
of them have been repaired or re-constructed to prevent odours arising.
In accordance with the requirements of the London County Council extensive
alterations to this Town Hall, to make it safe against panic by fire and to improve
the accommodation and conveniences, have been put in hand.
All these special undertakings have made the year's work unusually severe, as
they have come in addition to the ordinary routine work of the Vestry which,
owing to new legislation, is tending to increase in several departments. Although
they have involved of necessity an increase of expenditure, it is a well established
fact that money laid out upon sanitary improvements is a good investment, leading
as it certainly does to a decrease of disease and ill health, which again causes
a direct decrease in the poor rate, a large proportion of which is spent in maintaining
the families of those who are disabled from work by illness.
Some of the other works undertaken are calculated in a short time to be a
relief rather than a burden to the rates, and all of them may certainly be said to
tend to the ultimate advantage and benefit of the parish and of its industries.
RATES.
Rates for the past year have been levied, as follows:—
s. d.
Poor Rate 3 3 in the £
General Rate 26 „
Sewers Rate 01
Total 5 10 „
The amount paid away by the Vestry on the precepts of the general Metropolitan
bodies and the Guardians was £126,288, as against £J20,000 during the
preceding year, being an increase of £6,288, which represents an increased rate of
1 3d. in the £. I pointed out in my last report that the general precepts had
increased by 7½d. in the £ in the three years from 1888 to 1891, whilst rates for
local purposes had decreased by 3½d. in the £ during that period. The continual
increase of these central precepts has the effect of starving local work and
preventing the growing requirements of sanitary legislation from being fullv met.