View report page

146
between April and August, when, "under No. 7 of our bye-laws
there is to be a thorough cleansing" of houses let in lodgings
oroccupied by members of more than one family, and registered—
as "the evidence clearly shows that this cleansing is often done
in the most perfunctory and unsatisfactory manner, even if it
be done at all." It was "satisfactory to note that, in the judgment
of several witnesses, an immense amount of good could
be done if the (said) bye-laws were stringently and rigidly
enforced," which, I may add, is not possible in present circumstances.
The water supply was described as "satisfactory and
constant"; that is to say, it is on the "constant" system; but in
nearly all cases the water is delivered into cisterns of which not
much cau be said that is satisfactory. Reference was made to the
inadequacy of water-closet accommodation, a matter which, as the
Committee noted with satisfaction, was being dealt with by the
Sanitary Committee. The Committee say it is "clear the time
has come for the application of stringent and even exceptional
remedial measures," which they sum up in "Recommendations
for adoption by the Vestry" (and which were adopted) "as
summarizing the several suggestions embodied" in their report.
These recommendations are shortly as follows:—
(a) That the Sanitary Committee should require the owners to
asphalte or pave with impervious material the yards in the
rear of the houses; which has not yet been done.
(b) That "one or two of the streets" should be asphalted; and
three of the streets and a part of a fourth street are being
done.
(c) That additional entrances should be made to Avondale Park;
and negotiations are in progress for the acquisition of land
for one such new entrance.
(d) That the Sanitary Committee should "arrange for the
suggested increase of sanitary inspection in the district"
(without increase to the permanent staff of Inspectors),
"with a view to the more strict enforcement of the existing
bye-laws . . . relating to houses let in lodgings"; but nothing
has yet been done to give effect to this recommendation, nor