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The number of choked drains cleansed and repaired or
re-constructed, was nearly the same as in 1887, viz., 819,
against 824; and of choked or broken water-closet pans, which
were released, and, where necessary, replaced by new, was 118,
against 95 in 1886 ; and the number of yards inefficiently
draiued numbered 91, against 76. The waste pipes from sinks
and baths disconnected from the drains numbered 660, against
976 in 1886 ; and the number of new and more efficient traps
provided was 780, which with three cesspools emptied and filled
up, and 69 ventilating pipes affixed to water closet outlets,
make 2,540 defects in drains and bad drainage arrangements
removed during the year. The number of houses cleansed,
whitewashed, and, where necessary, repaired, was considerably
in excess of 1887, as it reached 1,921, against 1,602; but of
yards newly paved, or new dust bins or other receptacles
provided, the number was only 1,159, against 1,594 in 1887.
In addition to these a supply of water was laid on to the
closets (chiefly servants' closets in better-class property) in 163
houses; the water supply apparatus, almost entirely in houses
occupied by the poor, was repaired on 1,246 premises, against
1,056 in 1887 ; water butts wore removed and cisterns substituted
in 18 houses ; direct communications between water closets and
the tap from which drinking water was drawn, were cut off in
202 houses, making up a total of 1,624 houses in which the
arrangements for obtaining good drinking water, or for flushing
closets, were improved. In addition to these, a large
number of nuisances, not included under the above headings,
were abated, making a total of 9,268 nuisances abated during
the year, as well as 1,287 accumulations of various kinds
removed. I attended 32 Sanitary Committee Meetings during
the year; also 2 deputations to the Metropolitan Board of
Works re the River Lee. I may also say that I am well
satisfied with the amount of work done by the officers in my
department.
Meteorology —The year was, as a whole, cold and rainy,
the total rainfall having been above the average of late years,