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36
The population of this area is ninety-five. The number of deaths
during the five years 1895-1899 was seventeen, being equal to 35.7
per 1,000 of the population per annum; 41.1 per cent, of the deaths
occurred in children five years and under. The phthisis death rate
was 29.4 per cent. The number of infectious diseases notified during
the five years was six.
Twenty-seven nuisance complaints were received during the same
period, and during 1900 there were 28 sanitary notices issued.
4. Central street Area includes the houses numbered
2 to 36 on the east side in that thoroughfare, Whitby Court in the
rear of Nos. 20, 22, and 24, 81 and 83, Old Street, at its southern
end, and Nos. 2 and 4, Mitchell Street, where that street joins
Central Street. Most of the houses in Central Street are very old
and dilapidated, several are without yards, and the w.c.'s are in
consequence situated within the buildings. Where yards exist they
are very small and are partly covered over, causing the ground floor
back to be very dark, and with the narrowness of the street, which
is 16 feet 3 inches at the entrance, and the greater height of the
houses on the west side, prevents the circulation of air. Nos. 2
and 4 have a yard in common, in which there is one w.c. for the
two houses, which are occupied by five adults and three children.
Whitby Court contains three three-roomed houses, approached
by a narrow archway, under No. 22 Central Street, 3 feet 9 inches
wide, and they stand immediately behind Nos. 20, 22 and 24,
Central Street, from the backs of which they are only 5 feet
10 inches. The houses in Central Street are comparatively modern.
The three houses have small yards, nearly all covered in by washhouse
and w.c., and are bounded by a high wall so that the air of
the place is stagnant and the rooms dark. The rooms are situated
one above the other, and are occupied by fourteen adults and three
children.
Preliminary notices were served about eight years ago to close
these houses under Part 2 of the Act, and they were closed by the
owner, but as the Vestry did not proceed to obtain a Closing Order
they were after a short time cleansed and re-occupied.