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reply had been received from the remaining fifteen. The
Surveyor and the Medical Officer of Health were instructed
(January 12th, 1898), to attend the conference on behalf of the
Vestry. The Chief Engineer summoned the Surveyors only
to the conference, the result of which is unknown to me.
COMBINED DRAINAGE.
Several of the Metropolitan sanitary authorities made
representations to the County Council in 1894, on the need of
legislation " with a view to an alteration in the definition of the
word drain and the word sewer" in the Metropolis Management
Act, 1855 (sec. 250): and ultimately a deputation
representing a large majority of the Vestries and District
Hoards, waited upon the Main Drainage Committee with
reference to the subject. This committee subsequently (7th
July, 1894), reported that "a grievance exists, and that a
heavy responsibility is thrown upon the local authorities to
repair combined drains which were laid down for the benefit
of the owners of houses, and with the intention that the
owners should be held responsible for their maintenance."
Having carefully considered the matter, the committee came
to the conclusion that " the Council should, as the central
authority, promote legislation in accordance with the views of
the local authorities ;" and upon their recommendation it was
resolved : " That the Council do apply to Parliament for an
amendment of the definition of the words sewer and drain
in the Metropolis Local Management Act, in the way desired
by the local authorities, and that it be referred to the Parliamentary
Committee to prepare a public bill, and take such
other steps as may be necessary for that purpose." Such a
Bill (" Metropolitan Sewers and Drains ") was brought in on
behalf of the Council in 1896, but did not become law.
Legislation is certainly necessary, seeing that sanitary
authorities are unwilling to carry out the provisions of the
law, by repairing, as "sewers," conduits which they consider to
be " combined drains " properly repairable at the expense of