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51
nuisance from black smoke from this factory chimney. Also the
chimneys belonging to the London County Council's Electricity
Generating Station need our continual care and supervision in this
district as from time to time they emit quantities of smoke which is
on the border line of being black in character, and also we have
numerous complaints about the emission of smuts and grit from these
chimney shafts. I may say that our communications to the
Engineer in charge of this matter are always received with due
respect, and I believe that steps are taken on receipt of such communications
to deal with the matter at the moment.
House Drainage.—Five drains have been constructed, 173
drainage systems have been reconstructed or repaired ; 290 such
systems have also been opened, cleansed and amended ; 77 surface
drains have been constructed ; 92 drains and soil pipes have been
ventilated; 360 systems have been tested by smoke, 326 by water, of
which number 123 were found to be defective ; 35 new soil pipes
and 253 traps have been fixed, together with 56 intercepting chambers
and fresh-air inlets, and 76 other chambers. Ventilation has
been improved in 260 cases.
Forty-one new covers to manholes have been provided. Twentythree
systems have been sealed off or slurried up. Twenty-six
forecourts, 13 areas, 67 yards, 8 mews and stables drained ; 4 cesspools
abolished ; 20 water-closets have been erected ; 162 cleansed
and repaired ; 67 w.c. doors and seats repaired or provided. A
pan, trap and water supply have been furnished throughout in 46
cases ; pan and traps only furnished in 216 cases ; pans only in 17
cases, and other fittings provided or improved in 437 cases, whilst
the water supply has been renewed in 71 instances. Public-house
urinals have been cleansed and repaired in 10 instances ; 11 urinals
were altered, 20 repaired or water laid on, and 6 constructed.
The Council has again seriously considered the state of the law
in regard to liability for the repair or reconstruction of drains.
Recommendations were forwarded to the London County
Council asking them to insert a clause in their next General Powers
Bill placing the liability upon owners of property for the cost of repairing
or renewing drainage systems up to the point of connection with
the public sewer. The London County Council in their reply pointed
out that they had endeavoured on many occasions to promote
legislation on this subject, but without success, and suggested the
Metropolitan Borough Couucils should approach the Ministry of
Health with a view to the promotion of legislation by public Bill. A
communication was accordingly forwarded to the Ministry of Health
on these lines, but no further action has resulted.