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future builders will carry up a ventilating pipe from the sewer side of the
interceptor.
Combined Drainage.
The existing state of the law as regards the definition of " drain " and
" sewer " has, as was anticipated, involved the Vestry in a very large expenditure,
as during the year 80 systems of combined drainage, embracing 240
houses which were found to be defective have been dealt with by the Vestry,
who have reconstructed the " sewer" portion in each case, at a cost of
upwards of £3,000.
A Conference of Metropolitan Vestries and District Boards, convened
by the Holborn District Board of Works, at which the Vestry was represented
by the Solicitor and Medical Officer of Health, held eight meetings during
the year and settled a draft Bill to amend the definition clause of the
Metropolis Local Management Act, 1855, which they have presented to the
London County Council with a request that they will take steps to promote
the same in the next session of Parliament.
It is to be feared, however, that the chances of the Bill becoming law
are not great.
Supervision of New Property.
Attention has been frequently drawn to the inferior quality of much of
the building which has taken place in Fulham, and it is satisfactory to know
that of late a much more rigorous supervision of new houses has been
exercised and proceedings in several instances were taken last year by the
London County Council against builders in respect of contravention of the
London Building Act
As I have before pointed out, the Sanitary Authority have little or no
control over the construction of houses, except so far as the drains are
concerned, and at present the London County Council have no power to
make a by-law to the effect, that a new house shall not be occupied until
it has been certified by the Sanitary Authority to be in every respect fit for
human habitation, but I regret that the Vestry did not think fit to adopt the
recommendation made in a report on the matter that they should grant
certificates, when applied for, as to the fitness of new houses for occupation,
for in Fulham most of the new houses are sold by the builders on completion,
and if it were known that the Vestry gave certificates respecting