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244
not more than three gallons." The Committee, moreover,
reported that the Council could, if it thought fit, make a byelaw,
under Section 39 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891,
" prescribing a minimum capacity of flushing cisterns, but, as
the bye-laws under this Act have so recently come into
operation," they did not advise this course for the present.
The Local Government Board expressed an opinion, that
" the most convenient method of bringing the question to an
issue, will be for the Council to make formal application to the
water companies, under Section 19 of the Act of 1871, to
make such alterations as the Council may judge to be reasonable,
and as are warranted by the Act; and that in the event
of the companies' refusal, it will be competent for the Board
to proceed in the manner directed in the section." The
Committee accordingly recommended that they be " authorised
to make formal application to the London Water Companies
for the amendment of their regulations in the particulars
specified in the recommendations made in December last,"
as quoted above, and this recommendation was adopted by the
Council.
In a report dealing with this queston (No. 12,1892, p. 149)
and recommending your Vestry to comply with the request
of the St. Giles's Board, for co-operation, I also advised that the
Local Government Board should be requested to obtain amendment
of the 14th Regulation likewise, so as to require the Water
Companies to serve a notice upon consumers to sever all connections
of waste-pipes of cisterns with drains. Your Vestry had
made a representation to the Board on this subject, eleven
years ago, which was supported by many of the Sanitary
Authorities. The local companies were at the same time
requested to exercise their power to enforce the cutting-off of
waste-pipes ; but they took no step beyond—in common with
the other companies—issuing a circular letter to their
customers, indicating the desirability of such severance being
effected, in conformity with the advice given by the Medical