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22
SANITARY CHRONICLES, 1894.
privately, of one of our own members to certain departures
from the specification, and that member actively bestirred
himself, and a Committee of the Board of Works visited the
block when the work was in progress, and some more close
adherence to the specification was enforced. The local
sanitary authority at that time did not supervise the
carrying out of the drainage. Now, I am glad to say, we
have different regulations and a proper system both as to
sanction and as to supervision of new drainage, and it is to
be hoped that it will be impossible for drains to be laid now
such as were found in this block. The block houses some
64 families, each family, save two, having three rooms; the
whole drainage was found defective, badly planned, and badly
laid ; some of the pipes were even not glazed socket pipes,
but made of a porous material, and nearly every joint
was open, with a number of minor defects.
It is far better to spend money on property than
on law, and the owner was unwise to resist the notice of the
local authority.
HOUSING OF THE WORKING CLASSES ACT.
The whole of Ryder's Terrace (Nos. 3 to 9) was reported
under the above Act. The owners came forward and
suggested a series of improvements which appeared to be
likely to remedy the evils complained of, viz., dampness and
want of ventilation; and these improvements have since
been carried into effect. Hence no further action was
taken.
A dark insanitary cottage at the back of No. 5, Capland
Street, was reported as unfit for human habitation, and
action was taken before a magistrate and the house closed.
No. 52, Lisson Street, was also reported as unfit foxhabitation,
and a "closing order" obtained. The house has
since been demolished. No. 40, Park Lane, was also
reported under the same Act as unfit for habitation, and
a closing order obtained. It has since been unoccupied.