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143
to them thereon, they had obtained a rule nisi for a
mandamus calling upon the Council to abate the nuisance complained
off These proceedings appear to have had the desired
effect, although no immediately successful result attended the
trial of the case (The Queen v. the London County Council, ex
parte The Lee Local Board) upon cause being shown by the
Council against the rule calling upon them to show cause why
they should not take some steps to improve the sewerage of the
part of the Lee district concerned. The law and parliamentary
committee, in their afore-mentioned report, animadverted
severely upon " the history of the Council's treatment of the
main drainage questions during the past ten years," as set out
in the Council's minutes ; they having, " as it would appear,
in the face of most forcible reports, shelved, from time to time,
the various extensive works recommended by both their main
drainage committee and their chief engineer, with a view to
rendering the main drainage system, in the words of that
committee's own report of the 14th November, 1895,' more
complete and more effective for the purposes which it is
required to fulfil." The committee considered that, "having
regard to these recurring floodings, &c.," the Vestry would be
justified in going to the same lengths as the Lee Board, but
they contented themselves with submitting a recommendation,
which was adopted by your Vestry, to the effect—
"That a further memorial, under the Common Seal of the Vestry, be
addressed to the London County Council, calling upon the Council to
perform their statutory obligations and duty by rendering the main
drainage system thoroughly efficient for the proper drainage of this
parish."
A further communication was forwarded to the Council
in September (together with my ninth report above adverted
to), in which their attention was again called " to the inadequacy
of the main sewers of the Council." It was again intimated
that unless the remedial works were put in hand, the
Vestry would have to bring the Council's default before the