View report page

16
in the privies and water supply, and in the removal of the slaughter house—the
licence for which was refused at the Michaelmas Sessions of 18G4, is quite ft different
place to what it used to be. Some amendments have also been made, and are making
in Waters Court, where a constant supply of water with Jenning's Waste Preventer
has been given. The privies there caused some trouble at the commencement of the
present year, but we are promised amendment in them, and a more careful selection
of tenants to occupy the dwellings. During the summer also the Courts were cleansed
by the contractor daily instead of once a week as heretofore* The privies and
water supply in Swan Yard have also been improved.
At the annual licensing of cow-sheds and slaughter-houses, licences were
refused to Mr. Wace on account of the complaints made by the neighbours of the
annoyance created by the manner in which he carried on his business as a slaughterman.
Licences for cow-sheds were also refused to Mr. Liddiard of Hale-street, and
Mr. Maynard in Giffard-street, on account of their having converted their cowsheds
into stables. The former has been since convicted at the Police-court of keeping
cows without a licence. Licences were granted for 105 slaughter-houses and 65
cow-sheds. The magistrates announced their intention of granting no licences at
the next Sessions unless all the requirements of the Medical Officer of Health were
complied with, and unless the cubical space allotted to each cow intended to be kept,
amounted to 1000 feet. They stated that it was their intention to request a
return specifiying these points from the Health Officer, and that they should in
future state upon the licence the number of cows permitted to be kept in any shedSeveral
of the licences for slaughter-houses were given for sheep only, where the
arrangements for slaughtering oxen were insufficient. They expressed their intention
to refuse another applic ation where in any instance this condition may
have been infringed.
It is right to chronicle the erection of model buildings, by the trustees of the
Peabody gift, on the site formerly occupicd by Ward's Place. They are erected in
four blocks bounding an open paved square for the recreation of the children. There
are 32 tenements of three rooms each, for which five shillings weekly are charged;
104 tenements of two rooms each, for which four shi llings are charged, and 19 of
one room each, for which two shillings and sixpence are charged. They were
tenanted when the account, which I saw, was made up by C74 persons, viz. : man
and wife 272, widows 19, children 383. The rooms struck me, in some instances, as
rather small for the number in family; but the general arrangements are worthy
of all commendation. The tenants also were of a class which it has always appeared
to mo most desirable to provide suitable accommodation for. I may mention, in
illustration, that some were persons whose average weekly wages were as low as 7s.,
and many were families where the available wages were from 24s. to 15s. Among
the occupations of the tenants, I noticed "needlewoman," "charwoman," &c. I am.
+ Directions have also isccn given that during the present year certiin of the poorer localities shall be
claeaned daily.