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a solution of the difficulty. We wish to work in conjunction with
all the Parishes, and we hope we may be able to do something on
similar lines to what was done ten or twelve years ago. At that
time Hackney suffered very much from the pollution of the River
Lea, and it was only by Sir Charles Russell taking up the matter
that the main river was brought into such a condition that it is not
a disgrace to the Parish. I hope that one result of our deliberations
to-night will be to formulate some such plan as was carried out
some ten years ago which brought about such a good end for the
Northern part of the Parish. We have one or two resolutions, but
before putting them I should like to call upon two experts here, Dr.
Warry, Medical Officer of Health for Hackney, and Dr. Alexander,
Medical Officer of Health for Poplar, to give you the result of their
visits to the River Lea.
Dr. Warry, Medical Officer of Health for Hackney, said: On
Saturday we visited that portion of the River Lea which forms the
eastern boundary of Hackney, at the point where the effluent from
the Walthamstow sewage farm and Leyton sewage works enter; and
I did not find very much difference in the quality of the water from
what it was last year. It was in such a condition as to be dangerous
to the health of persons frequenting the Marshes for the purpose of
recreation, and dangerous to the health of persons residing in the
immediate neighbourhood. That was the condition in which we
found the River Lea. In regard to its physical appearance it was
very turbid. The banks were lined with sewage fungus and we could
see bubbles of gas arising, due to decomposition. In summer time
the smell is very offensive and a danger to the health of the people.
We are desirous of getting this altered by almost any means.
Dr. Alexander, Medical Officer of Health for Poplar, said : I
went with Dr. Warry, and members of the Poplar Board of Works
and of the Hackney Vestry, on Wednesday. It was high water then,
but since Wednesday I have watched the River Lea at different times
of the day so as to get the low water tide, and I have reported on more
than one occasion to my Board the condition of the River Lea from
Bromley Mills, which affect the Poplar district, to the Bow Creek