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80
ADMINISTRATION
Defective systems of combined drains, for which no approvals could be traced, were found
at:—
Cambridge Street, Nos. 15 and 16 Market Street, Nos. 73, 74 and 751
Porchester Place, No. 15 Sale Street, No. 26
Warwick Crescent. Nos. 5, 6 and 7
The above systems were reconstructed by the Council as "sewers".
Sewer Connections.—Fewer new connections were put in last year but the appended
tabulation shows that there has been considerable activity in this direction since the war.
Why the sewer connections should be—one might almost say—so suddenly found defective in
1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921
After Order by the Council 13 15 8 10 16 36 46 22
On initiative of "owners" 23 22 25 11 11 26 24 38
large numbers it is not easy to say. It is surmised that the change in vehicular traffic, both
as regards weight and speed, is partly responsible.
Water Supply.—A newly built house may not be inhabited until a certificate has been
issued by the Council to the effect that an adequate water-supply has been provided. List
year seven such certificates were issued—five for houses in Biddulph Road and two for houses in
Ashworth Road.
The Notices of discontinuance of water supply received from the Water Board numbered
twenty last year, as compared with four in 1920. In thirteen instances failure to pay the
water rates was the reason for the discontinuance of the supply. One summons was issued for
failure to restore the supply to an inhabited house—the water had been cut off on account of
waste—but the supply had been restored bv the time the summons came on for hearing,
Mortuary.—The number of bodies received fell from 224 in 1920 to 220 last year, the
latter total being more than 31 percent below the annual average for 1914-18. (See Table XX.)
The difference has been caused entirely by the fall in the number of bodies received for
inquest purposes.
The proportion of postmortem examinations made on bodies received has increased from
39 per cent during 1914-18 to 46 last year.
Trade Nuisances.—Offensive Smells.—There was a slight increase in the number of
complaints, attributable, it is thought, to the hot summer. (See Table XX.)
Smoke Nuisance.—The coal strike of last spring demonstrated what the atmosphere of the
Metropolis would be were no soft coal used. As was to be expected the strike caused difficultties
in enforcing the Law relating to the emission of " black " smoke, but not to the extent
which might have been anticipated. The duration of emission of such smoke was only slightly
increased as is apparent from the appended comparison. (See below.)
Duration of Black Smoke 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921
per 100 hours of observation 0.7 2.7 2.9 3.6 6.6 6.6 4.1 5.2
The complaints of smoke numbered 10, not all of them relating to black smoke, the only
form with which the Public Health Act deals. Nineteen premises were under observation,
emission of "smoke" being recorded during 1081/4 hours, including 181/4 hours of "black" smoke.
Four Notices were served but no summones issued.
Sewer Flooding.—On August 23rd there was some flooding of houses within a limited
area of the Borough after a rain-storm which must have been quite local. The total rainfall
for August 23rd, as measured at the Botanical Gardens, Regents Park, was 0.92 in. as compared
with 0.02 in. measured at Greenwich. Complaints of flooding were received from
occupiers of houses in Warrington and Randolph Crescents, Shirland Road, near "The
Chippenham" P.H., Saltram Crescent. Cornwall Road and Clarendon Street (one house in
each of the two last).
Canal : Canal Boats.—Complaints relating to the canal traffic are rare, partly no doubt
because that traffic is much reduced in volume and partly on account of the insignificant
amount of manure dealt with at the wharves.