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246
sectional test, or in other words to test during the progress
of the work only. Now, however, all drains are tested both
sectionally and when the house is ready for occupation.
The latter requirement was at first objected to by many builders,
but as they now know what will be required before a house is
allowed to be occupied, precautions are taken by them that the
drains when completed shall be sound and water-tight throughout.
Another matter which at first gave some trouble was the fact that
builders seldom provided the frontage or portion of drains beneath
the foot and roadway until they had either sold or let the house.
Steps are now taken to guard against this, and as far as
practicable all frontages are laid in prior to the drains within the
curtilage of the buildings being constructed. In many details it
is found that the present Regulations of the Vestry are insufficient,
principally as to the composition of concrete, the strength and thickness
of various pipes, and other matters of a minor nature. As these
Regulations will, however, it is expected, be shortly superseded
by the Bye-Laws of the London County Council, which that body
are now making under Section 202 of the Metropolis Management
Act, 1855, it is not suggested that the present Regulations should
be amended, as the Bye-Laws now being prepared will be a uniform
code and applicable to the whole of the Metropolis. This power
which the London County Council has had since its formation,
and also the Metropolitan Board of Works before it, has
unfortunately remained a dead letter until the present time. The
proposed Bye-Laws have been submitted to your Vestry for
consideration, and the latter upon the recommendation of the
Health Committee made such suggestions as in their opinion they
deemed requisite. Should the proposed Bye-Laws with the
Vestry's suggestions come into operation great assistance will be
given your officers in the carrying out of the same, as they not
only comprise the present requirements of the Vestry but also
valuable additions in certain details.
Success has attended the efforts of the Department during
the past year in the supervision of new drainage work, as will be