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ADMINISTRATIVE WORK. 77
1908. The Committee came to the conclusion that intercepting traps could be dispensed
with, with advantage, as a rule, but the Committee were not prepared to recommend the
complete abolition of all such traps. So long as the existing drainage by-laws are in force
the question does not call for consideration.
Deposit of Drainage Plans, &c.—The reduction in the number of drains relaid during
the year did not involve any decrease in the number of plans and specifications received, which
numbered 302 last year, as compared with 348 in 1911, and 303 in 1910. The correspondence
in connection with the deposit of plans involved the despatch of 705 letters (708 in 1911).
There were no summonses issued with reference to plans during 1912, three being taken out in
1911, and one in 1910.
By the by-law made by the County Council on July 11th, 1911, the builder who carries
out the work of reconstructing drainage, &c., is made liable for the deposit of the required
plans, but without affecting the liability of the owner to submit the same.
Sewer Connections.—In consequence of complaints of rats gaining access to the
houses in Westbourne Park Road, a complete inspection of the house connections to the
sewers in Porchester Road and Westbourne Park Road was made by direction of the Public
Health Committee. The examination included all the connections in Porchester Road and
those of the premises in Westbourne Park Road falling into the sewer which discharges into
the Porchester Road sewer. Fifty-three connections were found to be defective, 12 from roadside
gullies and 41 from houses. In addition, 9 unused or abandoned "sewer eyes " were found.
Such defects as could be dealt with by the Council were referred to the Works Committee. In
other instances Orders were made by the Council under Section 85 of the Metropolis Management
Act, 1855, requiring owners to make good the defects discovered. The required works
were all but completed at the close of the year.
Combined Drainage.—Eleven systems examined last year were found to be defective and
were reconstructed by the Council, viz.:—
30, Bishop's Road. 440, Harrow Road and 56, Chippenham Mews.
20 and 22, Connaught Street. 98 and 100, Ledbury Road.
3, 4 and 5, Green Street. 68, 70 and 72, Porchester Terrace.
114, Great Western Road. 82 and 84, Richmond Road.
Yard in rear of 108 and 114, Great Western 20 and 21, Sunderland Terrace.
Road and 19, Aldridge Road Villas. 36 and 38, Westbourne Park Road.
A combined system of drainage at 37, Cambridge Terrace was reconstructed by the owner,
but was afterwards acknowledged to be a "sewer" repairable by the Council, and the cost of the
work refunded.
New systems were sanctioned (by Order under Sec. 74 of the Metropolis Management
Act, 1855) at—
13, 14 and 15, Blomfield Place. 93 and 95, Herries Street.
1 to 6, Goldney Place. 2 and 3, Salem Road.
Queen's Park Estate.—The whole of the combined drainage on the estate has been relaid
since 1901, as well as the single drains of all premises, except the unoccupied shops on the south
side of the Harrow Road.
Complaints of rats were received during the past year from two houses in Droop Street and
four in Third Avenue. In the former case the rats had made their way through unused sewer
eyes, and in the latter rat burrows and nests were found under the footway. The sewer eyes
were bricked up and the nests destroyed, and since those works were executed no rats have been
seen on the premises. A further complaint of rats was received from a house in Oliphant Street,
the animals having made their way through a defective roadside gully. After the completion of
the necessary repairs, the nuisance was stopped.