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112
the arrival of passengers from infected parts, who had proceeded to this
Parish.
In every instance enquiries were made at the addresses given,
which in the main proved to be correct, only one or two being false,
and instructions were given as to the steps to be adopted in the event
of the traveller being seized with Cholera.
Fortunately all these precautions proved unnecessary, because the
dread visitor did not arrive, but, nevertheless, it was a satisfaction to
know that the Parish was prepared to meet any cases that might
arrive.
COMBINED DRAINAGE.
From time to time considerable difficulty has arisen in deciding as to
who was responsible for the repair and maint enance of combined drains,
some owners of property contending that it was the duty ef the Vestry,
while the Vestry held the opposite opinion, an opinion too which was
not shared in by the Public Health Department.
As the head of that department I made serious representations to
the Public Health Committee, with the ultimate result that a joint SubCommittee
of the two Committees, Works and Public Health, was
appointed.
A case was stated for counsel's opinion, and this having been
considered by the Special Sub-Committee, reported that they are " of
opinion that every drain into which two or more premises drain, is a
sewer liable to be repaired by the Vestry, unless such drain was
constructed since 1856, pursuant to an order of the Vestry, or before
that date, pursuant to an order or direction, or with the sanction or
approval of the Metropolitan Commissioners of Sewers, and recommends
that the Works and Public Health Committees recognise such liability,
and in future either keep such sewers in repair, or, where it may be
thought preferable break up such sewers, and provide the persons whose
premises drained into such sewers with new drainage into some other
sewer at the expense of the Vestry."
This view was ultimately adopted by the Committees concerned.