View report page

104
APPEAL CASE.
GRIFFITHS u. WEATHERITT (Southwark Borough Council).
Provision of a water supply to the upper storeys of a house under
Section 78 of the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1907.
Be 18, Olney Street.
A summons in this case was issued at the express instructions of
the Public Health Committee after some of the members had visited the
premises.
The proceedings before the magistrate on the 17th December, 1909,
were taken under Section 48 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891,
and Section 78 of the L.C.C. (General Powers) Act, 1907, to require the
provision of a proper and sufficient water supply to the upper floors of
18, Olney Street.
The premises are technically a tenemented house occupied by two
separate families, the family without a supply of water being on the top
floor. There are three storeys, the lowest one being a half basement. The
existing supply of water is from two taps, one in the yard and the other
in a washhouse in the yard.
At the hearing at the Lambeth Police Court the magistrate (Mr.
Chapman) made an order on the Owner, who duly appeared, to provide
the supply of water as asked for.
The Owner immediately appealed to the Quarter Sessions.
At the hearing at the Sessions, on January 7th, 1910, the Bench unanimously
dismissed the Appeal, and upheld the magistrate's Order with costs.
Evidence was given, on behalf of the Borough Council, by Dr.
Hamer, one of the London County Council Medical Officers, and Dr.
Millson, Medical Officer of Health for Southwark, to the effect that the
occupants of the top floor rooms had to come down twenty-five steps to
fetch up their water, and it then had to be stored in a bucket in the
room in which persons lived and slept. On examination the water was
found to be polluted by bird manure, seeds and other substances. Owing
to the difficulty of carrying up the water it was found that the family
used only three bucketfuls a day for all purposes, when they should
have used at least eighteen bucketfuls, which is the acknowledged
quantity required for such a family. It was contended, therefore, that
the supply of water, owing to the difficulty of carrying it upstairs, was so
restricted as to be insufficient for the maintenance of the health of the family
The Bench unanimously dismissed the Appeal, and upheld the
magistrate's Order with costs.
Mr. Campion appeared for the Appellant and Mr. Frank Dodd for
the Borough Council.