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evidence, having regard to the opinion of the Solicitor on the
matter, to justify proceedings being taken against the proprietors.
Also that upon testing the drains of "G" and "H"
Blocks, Victoria Dwellings, they were found to be in
defective condition, and that most of the w.c.'s were trapless
valve closets, in many instances the valves being defective,
allowing the water to escape. They discharged into soil pipes
which are trapped at the foot. Some of the closets had from
time to time been removed, and pans of the wash-down type
fixed, with traps above the floor line, without any regard
to the liability to syphonage by providing suitable antisyphonage
pipes. That upon the water closet handles being
raised, it was found that most offensive effluvia were given
off, that the water closets were badly supplied with water,
and the soil pipes were of lead with soldered seams and situated
within the building.
The Committee gave the necessary directions for the matter
to be brought before the notice of the owners with a view to an
entire reconstruction taking place. This was subsequently
carried out, and necessitated the relaying of the branch
drains and certain portions of the main drain, with suitable
means of inspection, abolishing the dip-stone trap arrangements
in connection with the old intercepting chambers in the courtyard,
the provision of suitable self-cleansing interceptors and
air inlets, and further new water closets and soil-pipes, about 40
in number to the blocks of buildings in question.
September 14th.—At this meeting he reported having received
information from the Coroner's officer, that on the afternoon
of the 2nd September an inquest would be held upon the
bodies of two persons who had died at No. 86 Longhedge
Street; that the rooms occupied by the family were in
dirty condition, and it had been suggested he should attend
the inquest. That he had visited the premises in question and