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11
sitting Judge declined to hear the case. In the meantime most
of the works required by the Vestry to be done had been carried
out. The case ultimately came on at the January sittings, upon
the subject of who should pay the costs, which was a' very
serious one for, in addition to counsel, professional witnesses
other than the Vestry's staff had had to be in attendance at
every sitting of the Court. In the end the Court decided in
favour of the Vestry on every point, and ordered the appellant
to pay all the costs. The appellant then threw every possible
obstacle in the way of the taxation of the costs, which were,
however, allowed against him at £154 17s. 4d.
Directly after this was done the appellant called a meeting of
his creditors, and it is very doubtful if his estate will pay any
dividend.
This is the first appeal which the Vestry has had, and it
brings out many of the weak points in the Act.
The Vestry have always been advised that great delays could
be secured, and it will be seen that this view has been
thcrougly borne out. The Vestry have continually urged the
necessity of making the working of the Act more simple and
expeditious, and consequently economical.
With a view of getting the earliest possible information of the
existance of infectious diseases in the Hamlet, the Vestry
communicated with all the medical men in the Hamlet, and in
the districts immediately adjoining thereto, enquiring if they
would be willing, under certain conditions, and in consideration
of a fee of 2/6 for each case, to notify to the Medical Officer of
Health of the Vestry every case of infectious disease coming
under their notice. The number of affirmative replies were
sufficient in the view of the Vestry to warrant them in starting
the scheme, and the Vestry hope that the knowledge thus
acquired will enable the sanitary officers, at the very outset, to
find out if there be anything existing in the neighbourhood
likely to have caused the disease, and if so to stop it, and so
prevent the spread of infection.
Mr. Thomas Taylor was appointed the Medical Officer of
Health to the Vestry at a salary of £15° Per annum.
Mr. R. H. Harland was appointed Public Analyst for the
Hamlet, to be paid by fees only, which were fixed at 10/6 for
each case.
The Sanitary Committee pursuant to the reference of the
Vestry referred to in the last report, reported in favour of two
Sub-Inspectors of Nuisances being appointed, but after great
consideration, the Vestry determined to try for a time if one
would not be sufficient.
Mr. Charles Cox, who had been appointed to the position of
temporary assistant, was appointed to the new office at a salary
of 36/- per week.
Mr. Leshaw is alone appointed an Inspector under the
Adulteration Acts, and still acts in that capacity over the whole
Notification
of
Infe&ious
Diseases.
Medical
Officer of
Health
Public
Analyst.
Sub-Inspedtor
of
Nuisances