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have been amended in 97 cases, and covers to cisterns adapted
in 247 cases.
Sewers.—The inhabitants of the Borough, as well as
the inhabitants of London generally, very much appreciated and
enjoyed the beautiful weather and long continuance of sunshine
which occurred during the summer. Unfortunately for many
of the inhabitants, that enjoyment was considerably marred by
offensive smells arising from the sewers, and in the majority of
instances the sewers in question were found to be the large
main sewers under the control of the London County Council.
On enquiry it was found that the London County Council in
their wisdom had seen fit to remove a large number of the
covering plates from the manholes and thereby allow the
offensive emanations from the sewers to permeate the atmosphere
in the neighbourhood of those manholes. It was particularly
unfortunate that the amount of sewage in the sewers due to an
unusual spell of drought was at a minimum, therefore decomposition of the sewage and sluggishness of the flow were at
their maximum, hence adding materially to the unpleasant
character of the emanations. It was only after the exercise of
strong pressure that the London County Council were persuaded
to close the manhole openings again, since which time this
nuisance has come down to its usual level.
Another matter, however, in this connection which might
in my opinion be greatly improved, as far as this Borough is
concerned, is the method adopted for emptying road gullies. At
the present time this material is taken out of the gullies and
spread on the roadside adjacent thereto, awaiting the arrival of
the cart to collect it. I admit that this material is generally
spread over with lime, etc., but this does not abate the nuisance
occasioned to any great extent. It would seem to me as if
the best plan to adopt would be to use one of the modern
suction plants which draw up the material out of the gully,
emptying it directly into an airtight container alongside, which
I believe is a method similar to that adopted in many boroughs
in London.
House Drainage.—One hundred and twenty-eight drainage
systems have been reconstructed or repaired; 479 such systems
have also been opened, cleansed and amended; 52 drains and
soil pipes have been ventilated; 259 systems have been tested
by smoke, 280 by waiter, of which number 67 were found to
be defective; 34 new soil pipes and 196 traps (gully) have been
fixed, together with 21 intercepting chambers and fresh-air
inlets, and 71 other chambers constructed.