THE PEA BODY BUILDINGS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6383, 28 July 1882, Page 3

THE PEA BODY BUILDINGS.

(Sunday Magazine.)

"The sum given and bequeathed by Mr Peabody was in 18152, £150,000; in 1808, £100,000; in 1808, £100,000; and in 1873, £150.000; making a total of £500,000; to which lias been added money received for rent and interest, £280,448 4a !)d- making the total fund on December 31st last £780,418 4b 9d." The actual expenditure of the trustees lias been a little over £781,000. It will thus be seen that tlio fund has already increased by

mure than htvlf as much as tho original amount; and tho tniHtoos stato that tho net gain of tho last year lias been cloho ti)jon £30,000. Js this steady and rapid increase of the property consistent with :i due regard to tlm benoilts intended to bo conform! '! To this inquiry wo

l'md a completely satisfactory reply in tho statement boforo us. "Up to tho ond of the year, tho trustees had provided for tho artisan and labouring poor of London CIGO rooms, exclusive of bathrooms, laundries, and wash-

houses. These rooms comprised 2787 Roparate dwellings, which wero occupiod by 11,459 porsons." Tho sites selected aro in tho midst of several of tho most crowded and necessitous

■parts of the metropolis. During tho past year 432 new dwellings have been opened by tho trustees, and it is a sufficient proof botli of the popularity and of tho pressing need of the work which is being carried out by this fund, that for these dwellings tho trustees have received mord than 3000 applications I This fact, however, is not surprising when we remember tho kind of accommodation provided and tho extremely moderate, although, as we have seen sufficiently remunerative, rate charged for it. Tho buildings erected by tho fund are constructed on a plan which is deservedly growing in favour with English people, and which combines many sanitary, domestic, and other conveniences. They consist of blocks of buildings some six or eight stories high, with a common staircase for each block, A specially noticeable and valuable feature of tho arrangements is that there is a splendid supply of water and a sufficient number of well-appointed laundries, sculloriea, and bathrooms for tho use of tho inmates. The arrangements for drainage, ventilation, romoyal of refuse, &c. aro excellent, and it need hardly be added that the walls are substantial and tho workmanship in the buildings is of tho best. Notwithstanding the liberal expenditure thus involved, the trustees are able to place the rent at the extremely moderate sum of an average of 4s 5Jd per week for each dwelling, and 2s a wcok for each room, ■' The rents," we are told, "in all cases include the free use of water, laundries, scullories, and bathrooms." When we think what all this means, and contrast it with the shameful flimsiness, restricted space, and lack of convenience in the general run of small houses, even those intended for persons a step above the artisan and labouring class, we cannot wonder that the death-rate in the Peabody Buildings was appreciably (3.98 in a thousand) below the average of all London for last year, and that the applications from tenants are fa,r in excess of the accommodation, at; command.