View report page

132
Area G consists of Sidney Place, a court opening out of
Sidney Street and containing 18 houses, occupied by 56 adults and
57 children, or a total population of 113 persons. All 18 houses
were carefully examined by me and found to be in a bad condition.
They were old and worn out, many of them being seriously dilapidated.
Walls, floors, and roofs were defective, as were also the
yards, sanitary conveniences, and drainage. The houses were dirty
throughout, and a large amount of structural repair was necessary
to made them habitable.
These facts were laid before the owner who had several consultations
with me at the Town Hall. I pointed out to him that he
must make up his mind to carry out very extensive repairs or close
the houses within a limited period. Finally he decided to carry
out repairs, and during the last 18 months he has been engaged in
the necessary works.
Many of the houses I have already re-inspected after repair, and
although they are still open to criticism in some respects, I am glad
to report a decided improvement, and one which goes far to make the
houses habitable. Unfortunately the class of tenants has not been of
the best, and this has caused delay and complication. It is expected
that the work will be completed at an early date.
Area H is a square of property bounded by Dingley Road,
Ironmonger Row, Lever Street and Hull Street, the outside of the
square consisting of 35 houses. Inside the square of property
stood 11 cottages and a ginger-beer factory. The cottages constituted
Garden Court and Charles Court, entered by narrow passages
from Hull Street. All the houses in this property were old and
worn out, with many defects, but particularly was this true of the
two small courts. These, with the ginger-beer factory, were also
unsatisfactory in that they prevented light and air gaining access
to the backs of the houses facing the outer sides of the square.
These facts were laid before the owners of the property, and
arrangements were come to by which the whole of the property
should be rebuilt in the course of two or three years. But in order
to improve the houses on the outside of the square at once, the
inside of the square was cleared during 1903. The owners fulfilled