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70
The following drainage ease is worthy of being recorded
Drainage of Hayles Buildings.
This case came before Mr. Francis on February 3rd, on a summons
taken out by Mr. Long for the Southwark Borough Council against the
Trustees of the Hayles Estate (a Lambeth Parochial Charity), complaining
that the drain serving Nos. 13 to 22, one of a number of blocks of
tenements in St. George's Road, Southwark, of which the Trustees are
the owners, was defective.
Evidence was given by the Medical Officer of Health and the Sanitary
Inspector, that the examination of the drainage arose on a case of
Diphtheria which occurred at No. 54, on November 1st, 1903.
The drains were tested by water at the Medical Officer of Health's
request, the Block tested numbering from 53 to 62. The drains were
found very defective and great leakage occurred. The drains of Block
64 to 88 were also water tested and found very defective, as were also the
drains of Block 13 to 22.
Communications took place between Messrs. Waring & Nicholson,
agents to the Trustees, and the Medical Officer of Health for the Council,
in which Messrs. Waring & Nicholson stated that the drains were sound,
and they continued their assertion in regard to Block 64 to 88. When
these drains were opened and water tested, the water escaped and filled
the trench. The soil under the pipes was found to be blackened with
sewage.
The main drain of Block 64 to 88 was amended and made sound, but
with regard to the drainage of the other blocks, all of which were found
to be leaky on applying the water test, the Trustees refused to repair
them. In the application of the water test no more pressure was put
upon them than would occur if the drains were blocked at the lowest
point in the ordinary way with sewage. The head of water in any case
was never more than two feet.
The testing of the drainage, the case in relation to which came
before the Court, was on November 24th, 1903, and was made by Mr.
Hyde in the presence of the Medical Officer. The attempt to fill the
drain with water failed as the water escaped from the drain and ran freely
through the wall of the chamber.
Mr. Francis adjourned the hearing of the summons on February 3rd
for 14 days, so that the drain might be uncovered in the meanwhile, to
enable both parties to inspect its condition. In the inspection of the
uncovered drain every obstacle was placed in the way of the Borough