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or injurious or dangerous to the health of the inhabitants of the district,
then, unless it is shown that such person has used the best practicable
means for abating the nuisance, or preventing or counteracting the
effluvia, the person so offending (being the owner or the occupier of
the premises, or being a foreman or other person employed by such
owner or occupier) shall be liable to a fine not exceeding fifty
pounds."
Communications were opened up with the London County
Council, the "local authority" under the Act, in regard to this
"offensive business," and after long delay proceedings were
instituted by that body, the solicitor to the Council having
requested that the proceedings your Vestry had intimated
intention to take, might be deferred until after the determination
of the Council's summons. The presentation of the case
at the West London police court was not all that could be
desired, and no surprise was felt when, on the third day of
hearing, the presiding magistrate adjourned the proceedings
sine die, making no order as to costs, thus leaving the matter
entirely open. In doing this, I am informed, the magistrate
gave it as a reason that your Vestry had not taken steps to
abolish the nuisance during the many years of its alleged continuance,
and passed some reflections upon your Vestry's
officers in the public health department for not having reported
the nuisance — if any existed; the fact being, as the Council's
representative knew, that during many years, in the annual
reports of the Medical Officer of Health, attention had been
drawn to the nuisance. These reports were in court, but were
not produced by the Council's representative. The Sanitary
Committee had reported to your Vestry that" it could not be
questioned that at times smells of the most obnoxious character
emanate from the premises to the serious inconvenience, if not
danger, of the inhabitants of the houses in the immediate
vicinity"; and they stated their opinion that the matter
should be dealt with either by complaint to the petty sessional
Court, or by proceedings in the High Court, so as to secure
the abatement of the nuisance. Prior to the proceedings of the
Council they had recommended that complaint be made to