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as the property of the Sanitary Authority, but a large number of
combined drainages are relaid by private owners as the result of
voluntary work or of the service of notices by Inspectors. In
these latter cases, the owners are either responsible, by virtue
of the Sanitary Authority possessing a plan or application (or
both), in connection with the combined systems of drainage, or
prefer that the combined drains should be regarded as "drains,"
and not as "sewers."
On December 6th, 1907, an important Conference of
Metropolitan Sanitary Authorities was held at the St. Pancras
Town Hall (23 Metropolitan Authorities, including the City of
London, being represented), A Bill to amend the Metropolis
Management Acts with respect to sewers and drains has been
drafted, approved and adopted, and a copy sent round to each of
the City and Metropolitan Borough Councils, asking them to
bring the Draft Bill before the Members of Parliament representing
their respective districts, with a view to obtaining their
support and co-operation in the promotion of the Bill through
the various stages of the House.
Clause I., defining the meaning of the word "drain" in the
Draft Bill, is as follows :—
In and for the purposes of the Metropolis Management
Acts, 1855 to 1899; and the Public Health (London) Act,
1891, or any Act or Acts amending the same, the word
"drain" shall be deemed to include any sewer or drain
whether constructed before or after the passing of this Act
with which two or more houses or premises are at the date
of the passing of this Act, or may at any time thereafter
be connected or which is used or capable of being or
intended to be used for the conveyance of the drainage of
such houses or buildings directly or indirectly to any sewer
which has been approved as such by the Metropolitan