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dwelling houses, that they were in a state so dangerous or injurious to health
as to be unfit for human habitation, and were not reasonably capable of being
made fit.
The summonses came before Mr. d'Eyncourt on the 21st July, and after
hearing evidence on behalf of the Council, he decided to view the houses.
On the 26th October he gave judgment. In the course of his decision he
stated that he examined the houses front and back, the staircases, the cellars,
the inhabitants, as thoroughly as he could, and he tried to bear in mind the
evidence given before him. No doubt the place had been cleaned up, the
doors and windows opened, and everything made to look as nice as could be.
But allowing for all that, he had come to the conclusion that he could not
make an order. They were not desirable residences in any sense of the word,
but there was a long, great gulf between that and place - not fit for habitation.
They were dark and closed in, being houses of no length, but most of the rooms
abutting on the passage were used as workshops, very few as sleeping rooms.
Some years ago, he understood, Mr. Horace Smith, had come to the same
conclusion, after ordering certain work to be done. But, of course, things
had progressed since then. The only objection he saw was to the cellars
opening on to the streets so that any rubbish might be thrown thrown down.
He suggested that means might be found to prevent this.
The Magistrate dismissed the nine summonses, and awarded the
defendants £2 14s. Od. costs on each summons (£21 6s. Od. in all).
I am, &c.,
A. POWEL COKE,
Chief Clerk.
The decision of the Magistrate was forwarded to the Local Government
Board, and on the 9th March, 1910, a further inspection of Weirs Passage
was made by Mr. E. Leonard on hehalf of the Board, but the result of his
inquiry has not been communicated to your Council.
4.—SCHOOLS.
At the 42 grant-receiving schools, 36 inspections and 2 re-inspections, were
made during the year by the Woman Inspector.
The Board of Education having decided to relieve Local Authorities from
the obligation to provide school places for children under the age of five years,
the age at which compulsory school attendance begins, many authorities are
ceasing to admit school children from 3 to 5 years of age
Infectious Diseases as concerning schools is dealt with in Part III., § 3,
Isolation and Exclusion.
The following is a list of the number, etc., of Elementary Schools and the
accommodation in St, Pancras, facts which are easily accessible for information:—