View report page

131
test, but whereas the latter is useless to shew a defect two or
three feet under the ground, the water test shews it just as
surely as if on the surface. And the danger of defective drains
is not wholly or principally the escape of sewer gas, but the
infiltration of the soil with sewage.
62. The Chief Inspector tested the drains at the Girls'
High School, and found them very defective. He had them
relaid and put into a satisfactory condition.
63. Twenty-one cases of Overcrowding were found, of which
I visited 10. They were mostly dealt with by advice as to rearrangement
of sleeping accommodation, but in several cases
notices were served
64. Table IX. shews that the larger number of nuisances
found were remedied without the service of statutory notices.
1663 intimation notices were served, but only 307 statutory
notices. Of these, 160 were reported to the Clerk after the
time allowed had expired. After the receipt of a letter from
the Clerk, the work was done in all but eleven cases, for which
summonses were taken out at the Police Court. These eleven
defaulters, it will be observed, necessitated at least 44
inspections and 33 letters or notices.
In six cases the offenders were fined. In the majority of
the other cases, orders were made for the work to be done, and
the cost of the summons to be paid.
A builder and house owner was fined £10 and costs, for improperly
repairing a drain, and the man he employed £1. A
man, working on his own account as a general house repairer,
was fined, for the same offence, 10/- and costs in each of two
cases, in spite of a plea of poverty, and another incompetent
J 2