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78
During the year new drains were constructed to 266 new buildings,
or additions to existing buildings, and the drains of 136 old
buildings were partially or entirely reconstructed, under the
supsrvision of the Officers of the Department.
During 1933, 17 claims made by the owners that the Council
were liable for the reconstruction of the common portion of the
drainage systems of their premises were dealt with.
In 3 cases liability, wholly or in part, was admitted by the
Council, and the expenditure incurred by them under this head
amounted to £126 8s. 9d.
In 11 cases liability was repudiated, and 3 cases were still under
consideration at the end of the year.

In 2 cases the Committee gave directions for proceedings to be
instituted against builders who had failed to submit plans of
drainage works executed by them. In one case the required plans
were submitted before the summons was issued, and in the other
the defendant was fined £1 (vide p. 74).
In 20 cases work to drains and sanitary fittings was found
to have been carried out without notice having first been given
or plans submitted to the Council in accordance with the require2
ments of the drainage by-laws.
These cases were reported to the Health Committee, and except
in 2 instances, satisfactory explanations having been received
from the builder responsible, the Committee ordered the offenders
to be cautioned.
In two cases legal proceedings were instituted by order of the
Committee, the result of which will be found set out on page 74.
During the year 1933, 651 drains were tested by smoke of which
85 were found defective. The water test was applied on 1,696
occasions, this being mainly applied to drains in course of construction
or reconstruction. Soil pipes and ventilating pipes were
reconstructed or repaired in 177 instances.
Water closets were provided in 17 cases and existing closets
repaired in 629 cases.
The total number of drains relaid during the year was 136.
Those cleansed and repaired numbered 404.