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and placed in a separate ward of the Infirmary, to prevent the spread of the disease,
are, under medical treatment, recovering.
The District is at the present time remarkably free from epidemic disease.
I wish to call the attention of the Board of Works to the fact, that the elm trees of the
Parish are being destroyed by a small beetle (the Scalytus Destructor), which pierces
the bark and deposits its egg beneath it; unless attended to, all the fine elm trees in
the parish must ere long yield to these insect/ ravages. The plan which I should
propose as the only one likely to be successful (and most appropriate at this season of
the year, when the lavae are in a dormant state) would be to cut down and burn all
the trees attacked, and if any re-appearance of the insect should take place in the
summer in the remaining healthy trees, to adopt means which I should be prepared to
suggest to stay its further progress. Trees of a different kind might also, at this
season of the year, be planted to supply the place of those destroyed.
Since my last report I have visited the site of the new Cemetery, which seems to be
well adapted, as regards its situation, soil, and capabilities of drainage, for the purpose
contemplated.
It will be of great importance to carry the drainage below the depth allowed for
graves, and to place the drains sufficiently close together, as otherwise the water in
existing or future wells may be contaminated as bodies decompose.
The great importance also of well planting cemeteries with trees, shrubs, grass, &c.,
ought to be considered, as vegetation not only separates the noxious products of decomposition
and converts them to a useful purpose; but at the same time is a source of
ornament and health.
In many parts of the District accumulations of vegetable refuse from gardens, &c.,
take place contiguous to dwelling houses. Both for the sake of appearance and health
these decomposing collections should be prevented, or the scavengers be employed to
remove them.
The irregular supply of water from the Lambeth Waterworks Company requires some
remonstrance; frequently 2 days elapse without any water coming in. Many new
houses depending for their sole supply upon this source, much inconvenience is occasioned.
Several nuisances occurring in the District require your order for their removal. I
will enumerate them under the respective Wards in which they occur.
Blackheath.—The overflow of cesspools, drainage, &c., from Grote's Buildings,
Pound's Mews, and many adjoining large houses, empties into an offensive ditch at the
back of the houses, and must be a great annoyance at times, as well as injurious to
health. The sewer lies at the bottom of the Hill parallel with the North Kent Railway,
and it appears to me that it would be a great benefit to the locality, now several
new houses are erecting, if the cesspools to all the houses were emptied and filled in,
and a proper sewer constructed to the main.
The privies at Pound's Mews and adjacent require emptying and cleansing.
Phoenix Place, Blackheath, is still insufficiently drained. The inhabitants allow the
closets to remain in a most filthy state.
Lewisham.—The dirty state of the river Quaggy requires attention; houses still drain
into it, among which I may name Newman's block of houses close by its entrance into
the Ravensbourne. This must seriously contaminate the water.
Hither Green Lane.—A privy here is overflowing into the road, and requires
emptying and cleansing.
Stanstead Lane.—An overflow of offensive drainage near to Catford Hill.
Opposite the "Rising Sun," Rushey Green.—Drainage from stables and large dung
heaps; accumulation of manure in dirty yard running into ditch. No drainage.
A privy and cesspool at Rushey Green, near the Police Station, has been filled in
without having been emptied, and great nuisance occasioned. There is no closet or sufficient
drainage here.
The houses beyond the " Black Horse" Inn, Rushey Green, still drain into the ditch
opposite.
Penge.—The drainage from the Crystal Palace, the general open sewer of Penge,
and the ditches near the " Crooked Billet," are still in a very offensive state.
The land at the back of the Anerley School is not yet efficiently drained, although
the authorities of the School are having the ditch cleansed and drained, which may
somewhat tend to relieve the marsh in its neighbourhood.
The cottages in Harding's Lane, Penge, are entirely without water supply, except
from a pond in an adjacent field. The houses have no drainage; the closets require
emptying, and the ditches near the houses are full of filthy accumulation.