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19
Meteorology.—The climate of the past year, as seen on
reference to Table VII. in the Appendix, was like that of
the year previous, for the most part temperate. The
mean temperature was 49.48 (Farenheit), and coincided
with the average of the past 42 years; but it was more
equable, the first and last quarters of the year having been
warmer, and the second and third cooler than usual. To the
cooler temperature of the summer periods the diminution
in the amount of fatality from Diarrhœa
previously recorded was probably in great measure attributable.
The amount of rainfall was 21-9 inches, and OG9 inches
less than the average; the largest quantity fell in the
first and third quarters, and the least in the second
quarter.
Water supply.—The water supply of this District, both
as regards quality and quantity is still unsatisfactory.
According to the report of Dr. Frankland on the waters
supplied to the Metropolis during the past year it appears
that although all the waters derived from the Thames
underwent great improvement as regards filtration, those
of the Southwark and Lambeth Companies equally
contained on an average the largest amount of organic
impurity of all the waters supplied to the Metropolis with
the exception of that of the West Middlesex Company;
while that of the Southwark Company, by which this
District is chiefly supplied, contained relatively the
largest amount of impurity, and was in the worst condition
as regards turbidity and the presence of living organisms.
It is unsatisfactory to find also, in a population
which has increased at an annual rate of 6.8 per
cent, and is probably still increasing at a higher ratio,
that the quantity of water supplied by the Southwark
Company during the past year was 16.8 per cent, less,
and the quantity supplied by the Lambeth Company,
18 per cent, less than the quantities supplied by those
Companies respectively during the year 1881.