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38
Parish of St. George the Martyr, Southwark.

I proscnt you, as usual, with the analyses of the water supplied btley the two companies
to this district; but I must tell you that great doubt has been thrown upon their reliability.
We have a right to demand water free from sowage contamination, whether shown by
analysis or not; and, whilst it may bo quite true as stated by Mr. Hawkesley, that river
water becomes quito potable at a few miles from whence "immense quantities of sowago"
have been poured in, yet, it would bo much more agreeable, and more in accordance with
the fitness of things, that no sowago should be poured in at a few miles, nor at many miles
distant from the source whence the water is drawn. "By a whole host of terrible diseases,
God forbids the consumption of contaminated waters." The water with which London is
supplied is impure in quality and insufficient in quantity. But compared with what it was
only a few years back, our advantage is great.
,,"We have in the course of the yoar had occasion to remove persons affectod with fever,
to the Fever Hospital, against the will of these to whom they belonged. This was only done,
when having regard to the benefit of these afflicted, and the safety of the neighbourhood,
there was an absolute necessity; but which necessity doubtless appeared an act of cruelty.
This power possessed by the Vestry is one, which, should bo exercised with the greatest discretion,
and with the utmost regard to the feelings of these concerned. And, in a few cases,
owing to the crowded state and condition of rooms in which bodies lay, wo have been compelled
to remove them to the Workhouse Mortuary: when this has been done, there has
always followed the necessity of the Parish burying them, which would not have been the
case, had they not been removed.
The Bake-houses and Slaughter-houses have been visited according to the requirements
of the Metropolis Management Act, and the Bako-house Regulation Act.
There have come into oporation during the year, The Artizans' and Labourers' Dwellings
Act, 1868; also, the Bye Laws framed under the Sanitary Act, 1866, for registration
of Houses occupied by members of more than one family: which, for the due carrying of
them out, will roquire an addition to the staff of officers. They involvo a vast amount of
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