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and much inconvenience resulted to the poorer inhabitants from inability to put their cooking utensils
to their proper use. Moreover, these temporary receptacles were often kept in most improper positions,
under beds and in corners of living-rooms, where the contents were certain to become foul."
Communications passed between the Hackney Vestry and other authorities concerned, and
complaints were made to the Local Government Board of the insufficiency of supply. The Board
therefore ordered an inquiry, appointing Colonel Ducat and Dr. F. W. Barry to hold such inquiry. The
inquiry was held at the Hackney Town-hall in October, 1895, and the following is a summary of the
results of their consideration of the evidence placed before them—
I. That the scarcity of water in the East London Water Company's area during the summer of 1895
was due to the following causes :—
(a) Exceptional waste, beyond the undue waste of ordinary years, of water owing (1) co nonrepair
cf fractures in the consumers' pipes, brought about during the unusually long and severe
frost of the previous winter; and (2) to excessive garden watering during the drought in May and
June.
(b) Decrease in the volume of the river Lee due to the unprecedented drought which occurred
during the first six months of 1895.
(c) Means of storage possessed by the East London Water Company inadequate to enable them
to meet the combined waste and deficiency of water noted under headings (a) and (6).
We would also note under this heading that in our opinion the inconvenience experienced by
consumers was much aggravated by the want of proper means for domestic storage of water.
II. That although the scarcity of water undoubtedly gave rise to considerable inconvenience and
hardship there is no evidence to show that it had any appreciable deleterious influence upon the public
health within the area of the East London Water Company.
III. (a) That steps have already been taken by the East London Water Company which should in
our opinion afford sufficient storage of water to meet any deficiency in the supply of water within their
district for many years to come.
(6) That for the protection of the consumer against unavoidable temporary intermissions of the
supply, we consider that there would be distinct advantage in having properly designed means for
storage of water in houses.
Water fitting 8.
In 1895 Colonel Ducat held an inquiry into an application by the Council for the alteration of
regulations as to water fittings, under the Metropolis Water Act, 1871. Particulars as to the
alterations desired and the result of the enquiry are given in my last annual report.
Proceedings of the Council as to London water snpply.
The following is a summary of the proceedings of the Council in 1895 in connection with
London water supply. The Water Committee presented to the Council on the 12th February, 1895,
a report reviewing the report of the Royal Commissions on London Water Supply, and concluding
with a recommendation, which was adopted by the Council, that the Council should pass the following
resolutions—
(1) That the Council is of opinion that the scheme for a system of storage reservoirs, presented to
the Royal Commission on Water Supply by the water companies, coupled with the proposal to abstract
large additional quantities of water from the rivers, is not the proper method of meeting the future
wants of London.
(2) That any future capital expenditure on works in the Thames and Lee valleys for the supply of
London should be regarded as of a temporary character, and should be restricted to such improvements
as may be for the time indispensable.
(3) That the true solution of the problem is the obtaining of the necessary additional supplies from
a purer source; and that accordingly the Water Committee be instructed to proceed with the preparation
of a scheme to be presented for the consideration of the Council as soon as possible with a view to
an application to Parliament for the necessary powers.
On the 9th April, 1895, the Council resolved that " in the opinion of the Council it is desirable
that the Parliamentary Committee should press forward in Parliament the London County Council's
Bills for the purchase of the Lambeth and the Southwark and Vauxhall Water Companies with all
possible speed."
On the 18th June, 1895, the Parliamentary Committee reported on the position of the Lambeth
Water (Transfer) Bill and the Southwark and Vauxhall (Transfer) Bill which was before a Committee of
the House of Commons, and on an intimation from the chairman of that Committee as to the terms of
the arbitration clause.
On the 24th June, 1895, the Parliamentary Committee submitted to the Council a draft clause
concerning which they reported, " We believe this clause to be in accordance with the decision of the
Committee of the House of Commons, and to follow the lines of the policy of the Council for the
acquirement of the undertakings of the water companies at the fair and reasonable value of the undertakings,
having regard to all the circumstances of the case." The Council adopted the recommendation
of the Committee " That the draft clause be tendered to the House of Commons Committee in substitution
for the provisions of the Council's Bills relating to terms of transfer."
On the 9th July, 1895, the Parliamentary Committee reported that the Committee of the House
of Commons had closed its proceedings, and that the agent had been instructed to suspend all the bills
until next session.
On the 15th October, 1895, the Parliamentary Committee reported that the eight bills had been
suspended, and the Council, on the recommendation of the Committee, resolved—
That desiring that the supply of water in the metropolis and the surrounding districts should be in
the hands of a public authority with a view to a complete agreement with all parties concerned over the
entire area supplied, the Council do invite H.M. Government either to deal with the question themselves
or to appoint a Royal Commission to do so.
On the 22nd October the Council resolved " that the Council having decided not to proceed
with the suspended water bills, and desiring that the Council should be the water authority for London,
it be referred to the Parliamentary Committee to report to the Council without delay the lines on which