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50
apparatus, and overflow drains, which must have had their
termination again in the Beverley brook. This brook,
it must be understood is a contributory stream of the
Thames, which the inhabitants, of Putney had, in completing
their part of the great intercepting system of sewerage,
expended many thousands of pounds in rendering pure
and free from the fœcal and other impurities that were
formerly permitted to flow into it. No wonder then that
the ratepayers and residents of the Parish were to be
found amongst the foremost to oppose so monstrous a
proposition as that of bringing again into the District the
same kind of sewage matter, which had been got rid
of at so great an outlay.
The ratepayers of this Sub-district may assuredly take
credit for having so promptly memorialised the Home
Secretary as to cause an immediate stop being put to the
progress of this objectionable Bill through Parliament.
For my own part I can but rejoice, as the Medical Officer
of Health, at the successful opposition to the scheme, since
I had no hesitation in expressing my belief, at a, meeting
held by the inhabitants to petition against the Bill, that
should the measure unfortunately receive Legislative
sanction, one of the worst conceivable nuisances would be
introduced and maintained in the neighbourhood, to the
utter disgust of every one living within its influence.
I have said nothing here of the prospects of securing a
better water supply for the locality, since this subject will
be fully commented upon in the introductory portion of
the Report; but 1 may be permitted to say that it will be
in the highest degree impolitic for the inhabitants to relax
in their exertions to obtain a speedy and complete recognition
of the principle of a constant supply, because it is
but too evident that a very strong opposition to the proposed
Government measure is being organised, both in and
out of Parliament, by the Companies and others interested
in maintaining the present unsatisfactory system.