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6
sewers the Estate has vastly improved in health. Whilst
acknowledging the important work done in reconstructing
dilapidated sewers in the recent past, the Vestry I know is fully
aware that much more has to be done in that direction before it
can afford to stay its hand. In mentioning the work done in
improving the sewers of the parish it is impossible to ignore one
very highly disturbing condition which in my opinion is an
important factor concerned in the propagation of Diphtheria, and
probably many other diseases, that is the periodic flooding during
severe storms of the subsoil of the parish. Whether this flooding
arises from the main sewers of the London County Council not
being large enough to speedily carry off this additional storm water,
or whether it is due to some hindrance at the sewer outlets to the
ready flow of the sewage, I am unable to offer an opinion. The
fact however is beyond question that when these storms occur the
sewers are not only full, but there is a pressure of a column of
sewage many feet in height on our house drains and connections,
and in the case of joints not being watertight the subsoil is fouled
by sewage. The effect of this is that, after a storm, many of the
houses in our parish are in such a foul smelling state as to render
them unfit for habitation.
Various important matters such as the Infant Mortality in the
parish ; Improved Methods of Disinfection; Overcrowding in the
more densely populated parts of the district, have been fully considered,
and circulars have been distributed having for their object
the amelioration of existing conditions.
POPULATION.
The population, the rateable value of our houses, and rents go
on steadily increasing. Our residents number among them but
very few of the well-to-do, leisured class, they are for the most
part "toilers"—artizans and labourers—who leave the district for
labour in the early morning and return to it at night. At least 80
per cent, of the houses are occupied by members of more than one
family. Many of the young folk are engaged in service outside
the parish, a very desirable state of things, but not one that benefits
our death-rate, for as long as they remain in good health they live
away, but when ill often come home to die, thus swelling our deaths