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states that this officer reported that one "sample consisted of water polluted and totally unfit for
public supply and drinking purposes." The water was taken from a main which terminated in a
" dead end."
The medical officer of health of St. George, Hanover-square refers to the prevalence of euteric
fever in November and December, 1898, and January, 1899, and states that this prevalence at a time
when, according to Sir Edward Frankland, the water contained an excess of organic matter, may not
be a mere coincidence.
The medical officer of health of Marylebone states that he has since May bacterologically
examined the water from the mains, and in no single month has there been any cause to suspect the
entry of polluting matters either from the reservoirs or in transit.
The medical officer of health of Hackney reports that he and the public analyst ascertained
that the East London Water Company were deriving water from a deep well on the premises of a firm
of colour manufacturers, and that samples of this water were analysed and found to be unfit for domestic
purposes. A copy of their report was forwarded to the Local Government Board with the immediate
result of the supply in question being discontinued for public use. He writes, " This incident
impresses one with the feeling of great insecurity with regard to the supervision and control of our
water supplies. The water company evidently did not regard the statutory duty of giving notice to
the Local Government Board before resorting to any new source of supply with that seriousness which
the Board attach to it or which the subject deserves."
Constant supply—The annual report of the chief officer of the Public Control department of the
Council shows that constant water supply is now given to all the houses in London in the districts of
the following companies—Chelsea, East London, Grand Junction, Southwark and Yauxhall and West
Middlesex, and that the number of houses on constant supply was, in the early part of 1899, 98.4 per
cent, of the total houses in London.
The River Lea.
The medical officer of health of Hackney reports that the condition of the river Lea during
the year 1898 was exceedingly bad, and that there were times during the summer when the foul
smells from the river were perceptible even in Hackney-wick and the eastern part of Clapton-park.
Every year, he says, the river becomes more polluted. The president of the Local Government Board
had consented to receive a deputation from districts within and without London bordering on the Lea,
but was prevented from doing so. Dr. Warry states that—
The necessity for this deputation to the president of the Local Government Board has since that
time become less pressing, for during the agitation on the part of the Hackney Vestry and probably in
consequence of it, a similar movement was on foot amongst the local authorities of the northern part of
the Lea valley on the subject of the pollution of the river Lea. A conference of these authorities met
at the offices of the Lea Conservancy Board on the 4th of August last year, when the idea of a Lea
valley scheme was approved of by those present. On the 6th October another meeting was held, when
instructions were given to Mr. Chatterton and Major Lamorock Flower to prepare a scheme with plans,.
Ac., for the drainage of the Lea valley. This has since been done, and it only remains for sufficient
influence to induce the Local Government Board to approve of the scheme and issue a provisional order
for its execution.
The London Equalisation of Rates Act, 1894.
The Equalisation of Rates Act provides that the London County Council shall in each year
form a fund equal to a rate of sixpence in the pound on the rateable value of London. The contribution
from each parish to the fund is to be in proportion to its rateable value. The fund thus formed is
to be distributed among the sanitary districts in proportion to their population. Where a sanitary
district comprises two or more parishes, and the aggregate of the contributions from such parishes
is less than the grant apportioned to the district, the difference shall be paid out of the fund to the
sanitary authority of the district, and no payment towards any equalisation charge shall be required
from any parish in the district.
Subject to the above, when the contribution from a parish is less than the grant due, the
difference shall be paid out of the fund to the sanitary authority of the district forming or comprising
the parish ; and if it exceeds the grant due to the parish, the Council shall, for the special purpose of
meeting the excess, levy on the parish a county contribution as a separate item of the county rate.
Every sum paid to a sanitary authority must be applied in defraying the expenses of the
sanitary authority incurred under the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, and so far as not required
for that purpose those incurred in respect of lighting, and so far as not required for that purpose
those incurred in respect of streets, and where the sanitary district comprises two or more parishes
the sum paid must be apportioned among such parishes in proportion to their population, and the
amount apportioned to each parish credited to the parish in the reduction of the rate required from
such parish towards the above-mentioned expenses.
The sanitary authority is required to render annually to the Local Government Board a return
showing the amount of the sum to be paid and the total expenses incurred in respect of the three
subjects mentioned.
If the Local Government Board, under section 101 of the Public Health (London) Act, are
satisfied that the sanitary authority have been guilty of such default as in such section mentioned, and
have made an order limiting a time for the performance of the duty of the authority, the London
County Council shall, if directed by the Local Government Board, withhold the whole or any part of
the payment of the sum due to such authority.
The Act provides that for the purposes of the distribution of the fund a census shall be taken
on the 29th March, 1896, which census was taken on that date as provided. In other years an
estimate of population on the 6th April will be made by the Registrar-General upon returns which
the Local Government Board will receive from the authority making the poor rate in each parish,
showing the total number of houses entered in the rate book of the parish.