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53
Committee that the fault lay rather in the negligence, want of
cleanliness, and poverty of the occupiers, than with the owners.
3. The alleged overcrowding was not confirmed, no cases
having been ascertained to exist. The population is undoubtedly
dense,—a family generally occupying only one or two rooms, but
having regard to the opinion of the Medical Officer of Health as to
what should be deemed overcrowding, and considering the exigencies
of the poor with large families, there was no reason to believe that
any undue crowding existed in this district.
4. In respect to the illegal occupation of underground rooms,
it was observed that in the locality these rooms had generally
large open areas in front, and apparently conformed to the provisions
of the 103rd section of " The Metropolis Local Management
Act, 1855." In two cases, however, where some doubt existed, the
District Surveyor, upon being referred to, found that they did not
in one respect quite conform with the Act, as the level of the
areas was not sufficiently below the level of the flooring of the
rooms, but not being occupied separately as dwellings, your Vestry
Clerk advised that no offence could be established. The slight
defect was immediately remedied by the owner.
Your Committee are therefore of opinion that the statements
which had been made were not in any way borne out by the Committee's
investigations, and that there was certainly nothing in the
condition of the houses which could have rendered them specially
liable to a visitation of Small-Pox, but that its ready reception
and rapid spread were due rather to the condition and habits of
the occupants who have again suffered so severely from a recurring
epidemic.
All which is submitted.
{Signed,) CORNELIUS WEST,
Chairman,
Sanitary Committee.
Vestry Offices,
December 3rd, 1877.