View report page

45
NUISANCES.
During the year 1,187 nuisances have been reported and dealt with.
(See Table A.)
Nuisances fall practically into one of three classes, viz., those affecting
sanitary conditions in general, and those relating specially to (a) smoke, and
(b) to the sanitary conditions found on barges carrying cargoes of foul
and offensive matter.
I have therefore grouped them accordingly, and a full list will be found
in Appendices L to P.
Of general nuisances, some of the most important are as follows:—
Some five years since, the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company,
on the outbreak of Plague in India, erected some quarters on shore in
the Royal Albert Dock, for the accommodation and isolation of native crews
from their vessels. The erection of these quarters was sanctioned by your
Committee on the understanding that they were to be used only as temporary
accommodation for crews during the disinfection of vessels. The Company,
however, thought fit to utilise them as more or less permanent shore quarters
for the natives, with the result that their sanitary condition became seriously
defective. They were overcrowded, a feature unfortunately rather common
in the accommodation provided for natives. In this case, the maximum cubic
space available for each native found occupying was only 69 feet, with about
8 superficial feet of gross floor area, which actually diminished to 3.63 feet
clear of obstructions. The Company were therefore called upon to reduce
the number of bunks, and re-arrange them so that there should be at least
150 cubic feet available for each native, and 7'26 square feet of floor space per
head, and this was done.
Another important alteration made was with regard to the "Louisa
Ashburton" Coffee Rooms, in the Royal Albert Dock. This place affords
food and refreshment to a large class of dock employees; consequently a
large amount of cooking takes place in the kitchen. This kitchen was found
to be in a filthy condition, badly drained and structurally defective.
A careful inspection was made, and a detailed list of requirements compiled
and placed before the owners, with the result that the place was entirely
renovated and put in good order.
Important improvements with regard to sanitary conveniences and ventilation
have also been effected at several large bottling stores in the Poplar Dock,
where numbers of workpeople of both sexes are employed. The conveniences,