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74
FACTORY AND WORKSHOP INSPECTIONS.
Nuisances arising within the several factories and workshops have
been satisfactorily dealt with, and the systems of drainage in the
newly built factories have been subjected to severe water test before
approval has been granted.
SMOKE NUISANCES.
The smoke nuisances arising within and without the district have
received much attention, and those within the district have been
reduced almost to a minimum.
In the matter of smoke nuisances arising without the district little
improvement is perceptible, and, unfortunately, an abatement is
almost impossible with the existing legal difficulties, as in a district
of this description nuisances are hard to prove.
FLOODING.
On July 25th and 27th very heavy rains were the cause of flooding
in the low-lying portion of Hackney Wick, by which 71 houses and
other premises in the district were rendered temporarily unfit for
habitation. The water gaining access to the underground tanks of a
mineral oil works, conveyed the oil to the street, when by some
means it became ignited and further damage to houses in White
Post Lane, occasioned by fire, resulting in deaths.
This part of the district seems to suffer on the occurrence of heavy
rains, by which the houses are rendered very damp, the water passing
beneath the flooring and allowed to soak away through the ground,
which must eventually lead to serious results.
In this instance, with the consent of owners and occupiers, the
floor boards of ground floor rooms were taken up by the Council's
workmen and the ground beneath treated with lime and peat powder.
In a few cases where objection was raised, disinfectants were left at
the premises and the flooring undisturbed.
No unusual number of cases of infectious diseases have occurred
at these premises.