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12
SANITARY WORKS.
In the Appendix is given a Table, kindly supplied me by Mr. Worrell,
Chief Clerk in the Department of Works, of the principal works of sewerage
executed in the Parish during the year 1867. From this it appears that of
large brick sewers 2649 feet have been constructed; of pipe drainage 709
feet have been laid down; and of brick barrel drains 1,921 feet have been
made. A large number of sewers were repaired during the year, and nearly
2000 feet of drainage were constructed by private builders.
During the summer months the sewers were deodorized with carbolic
acid. Annexed is a return of the chief sanitary improvements carried out,
under the inspection of the officers of the sanitary department:—The
amount of work recorded during the past year is not go much greater
than that reported in 1866 as might be expected from the addition to
the staff. It is, however, certain that the work is now thoroughly done ; that
notices served are followed up until the required improvements are carried
out. Formerly, in consequence of imperfect book-keeping, many things commenced
were lost sight of, and many nuisances detected were not got rid of
when the first notice was neglected. More time is often expended in getting
one nuisance abated, if the parties at fault are refractory, than in finding out
and getting twenty nuisances abated if the defaulters are ready to comply
with the first notices. The number of sanitary improvements effected is not
therefore always a criterion of the amount of time and labour necessarily
expended upon them by the Inspectors. But the quality and thoroughness
of work are of the utmost importance, and are more valuable than mere
quantity of work with imperfect results.