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119
In all matters connected with his Estate, Lord Llangattock
places the welfare of his Tenants before his personal interests and
always wishes to meet the Authorities in a fair and reasonable
manner without taking advantage of legal freedom from responsibility
if be considers that such freedom prevents equitable arrangements
being come to.
In reporting upon the fair and proper mode of dealing with
combined drains, however, I have drawn attention to the fact that
Public Authorities frequently allow "sewers" to remain unrepaired
after having unsuccessfully called upon "Owners" to do the work,
and that the reason for this is probably that in the majority of cases
after the branch drains have been repaired and ventilated it is found
to be unnecessary in the interests of the public health to relay or
disturb the "sewer."
In all cases where, after the branch drains have been repaired
and ventilated, no "result" is obtained from a smoke or chemical
test (i.e. where it is demonstrated that no escape of gas into the
premises is possible) Lord Llangattock will not undertake to execute
any repairs to the sewers.
In cases, however, where the above test shows that danger to
health still exists, Lord Llangattock will not avail himself of his
legal right to call upon the Public Authorities to execute the whole
of the necessary works to the "sewer" but will, subject to the
Authorities agreeing to such an arrangement, relay or repair the
"sewer" conditionally on the Authorities undertaking to repay him
half the cost of the amount so expended, and not to claim any rights
over the site of such repaired "sewer" or "sewers."
By such an arrangement the Public Authorities would escape
expenditure for which they are legally liable, the "Owner'' would to
some extent be protected from requirements to execute work not
actually necessary for the preservation of public health, and the
primary object of securing the safety of Lord Llangattock's Tenants
from the dangers of defective drainage would be obtained.
I shall doubtless hear from you at your convenience in reply to
these suggestions.
Yours faithfully,
(Signed) R. Dickins.
G. Millson, Esq.