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50
ADMINISTRATIVE WORK.
Sewers.— Two complaints of offensive smells from sewers in the Bayswater Road
reached the Department and were forwarded to the County Council. No flooding was
recorded during the past year.
The search for disused and unused drain connections on the sewers in that part of
Westbourne Ward lying south of Talbot Road was continued during the past year and 15
connections were closed in Westmoreland Road.
Smoke Prevention.—The Inspector charged with the watching of chimneys connected to
factories and workshops reports that he has made 239 observations of a total duration of
162 hours, as compared with 131 observations (72¾ hours) in 1905 and 133 (56⅓ hours) in
1904. Smoke of all descriptions was recorded during 1091/6 hours last year, as compared with
57¾ and 46¼ hours in 1905 and 1904 respectively. Black smoke was recorded less frequently
and with shorter emissions during the past year, the total emission amounting to 2 5/6 hours
only, as compared with 2½ and 3 hours in 1905 and 1904 respectively. Estimating the total
emission of "smoke" and "black smoke" as percentages of the total number of hours spent
in the observations, a fair reduction in the former and a large reduction in the latter took
place. (See below.)

Five (5) complaints of nuisance from smoke were received, one arising from a factory
laundry, 2 from workshops (carpenter's and general smith's), and one each from a dairy and
restaurant. In two cases the nuisance was abated by the substitution of coke for coal, two
by alterations to the smoke stacks, and the fifth by more careful stoking. A list of the
premises under observation during the year is appended. (Table 31.)
In the absence of any standard of comparison, it is perhaps dangerous to arrive at
a definite conclusion, but the records of the past three years appear to justify the opinion
that less smoke of all kinds is emitted from the "commercial" chimneys in the Borough.
This is a gain not only to the health of the residents and amenities of the District, but also
to the consumers of the fuel, as smoke represents waste. As regards the question of
standards, experiments are about to be made by the Department with a view to utilising
photography to record the actual emissions in comparison with empirical standards.
Canal Boats.—The annual report of the Examiner of Canal Boats was submitted to the
Council, and forwarded to the Local Government Board, at the beginning of February. The
breaches of the Acts reported by the Inspector were of a comparatively trivial character,
and were all remedied on attention being called to them. Legal proceedings were
unnecessary.
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Five (5) cases of infectious disease were reported on the boats, viz., 2 of diphtheria and
3 of scarlet fever (all the latter on the same boat). The deaths among the occupants of the
boats numbered 3, 2 from phthisis and 1 from accident (fall).
Canals.—No complaints were received with reference to these, the supply of water
being ample throughout the year. The customary cleaning of the bottom of the "cut"
(Paddington Basin) took place at Easter, when some 600 tons of mud were removed and
parts of the concrete renewed.