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or building therein, and also before making any drain for the
purpose of draining directly or indirectly into any sewer.
3. And the sanitary condition of the district—The Board are
(under sect. 134), the "Local Authority" for the execution
therein of the duties and powers of " The Nuisances Removal
Act for England, 1855," consolidating " The Nuisances Removal
and Diseases Prevention Acts of 1848 and 1849;"
and also of another "Act for the Better Prevention of Diseases,"
passed in 1855, containing special powers for extreme
cases of epidemics.*
The Board decided that they must meet at least once a week, in
order to perform satisfactorily the duties confided to them; and
they accordingly determined to meet every Thursday Evening, at
six o'clock. This was, however, for some time found to be insufficient,
and from the 3rd March, to the 21st July inclusive, an
additional weekly meeting was held every Monday Morning, at
ten o'clock; the business of such meetings being confined to
matters of minor importance. Seven Members of the Board (sect.
38) form a quorum; but instances having occurred of business
of an urgent though detail character being required to be transacted
when a quorum of Members were not in attendance, the
Board passed a resolution, on the 24th April, to the effect that if at
any of the times appointed for the Ordinary Meetings of the Board
less than seven Members should be present, they should (being not
less than three in number) constitute a Committee for the consideration
and dispatch of matters of business requiring immediate
attention; and should report their proceedings at the next meeting
of the Board for confirmation and approval.
During the year there have been (inclusive of 2 meetings held in
December, 1855) 52 full Board meetings, 10 Monday meetings, and
12 Committee meetings under the above-mentioned resolution.
The attendance of the Members is given in the following table;
but as regards those against whose names an asterisk is placed,
reference should be had to the dates at which they were appointed,
or ceased to be, Members of the board.
*The word " nuisances," under the above Act, includes—
"Any premises in such a state as to be a nuisance, or injurious to health.
"Any pool, ditch, gutter, water-course, privy, urinal, cesspool, drain, or ashpit, so foul
"as to be a nuisance, or injurious to health.
"Any animal so kept as to be a nuisance, or injurious to health.
"Any accumulation or deposit which is a nuisance, or injurious to health."