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amount of debris fell into a dock in direct connection with the canal. The chief officer of the
Metropolitan Fire Brigade has supplied the following information—
" A fire occurred in the above yard on the evening of the 25th ultimo. A dock for
loading barges ran underneath a portion of the building on the ground level which was
burnt, and into this dock some 13 doors from the bonded stores opened. In the bonded
stores a number of casks of spirits and wines were destroyed, the contents of which would
be washed into the dock, also in the goods shed a quantity of flour and grocery stores were
destroyed ; much of this would fall into the canal. I visited the scene of the fire on
Wednesday last, and there was a particularly unpleasant sour smell about the dock and
ruins of the fire; therefore, I am not at all surprised to hear that the pollution of the
canal had caused trouble some distance away from the fire."
(7.) Owing to the dry weather the canal company had, as is the usual practice yearly about
this period commenced pumping water from the river Thames to the lower reaches, and from
the lower to the upper reaches. In other words, this means that, instead of the water being
changed by water coming down the canal, the level of the water is maintained by a supply from
the Thames, while that in the upper reaches is maintained by intercepting the water as it flows
down each time a lock is used and returning it to the higher pond. Thus no change takes place
in the condition of the water, except one of deterioration.
The pumping commenced on July 23rd and continued till the 29th.
(8.) The air temperature at the date of nuisance was high and had been so for a week.
(9.) Heavy rain after drought occurred on July 27th (.84 inches), and more rain on the 29th.
(10.) The results of analysis of water collected on July 13th, August 13th, and August 24th
show that on the first-mentioned date there was contamination of an animal and vegetable
nature, in the opinion of the chemist—"most probably sewage." On the later dates the water
had improved, and the results indicated that the organic matter present in the water was largely
of vegetable origin.
We have not been able to obtain any evidence of any sudden influx of sewage matter into that
portion of the canal complained about, and from the localised character of the nuisance there is no
probability of sewage in any large quantity having come down from the district outside. The canal
itself is practically a stagnant waterway, a small portion of the water only being changed in each
level when the locks are opened.
The secretary of the canal company claims the nuisance to have arisen from the fire at the goods
depot, through materials being allowed to get from the premises into the dock and decompose and
discolour the water. The samples of the water taken on July 31st and analysed by the chemist do
not support this theory. The medical officer, in his report, suggests as a possible explanation that
the fall of the goods shed with its miscellaneous contents into the dock "must have caused unusual
and sudden disturbance and stirring up of the canal water, which apart from the addition of the
contents of the shed may have been enough to cause water of an impure character to become very
offensive."
" If," the medical officer continues, " this be a correct explanation of the occurrence I think it
points to the undesirability of continuing the practice of pumping back impure water from the lower
to the upper reaches and to the need for steps to be taken by the canal company to maintain the
level of the water in the canal by water obtained from some source free from objection."
The canal company have power under their Acts to sell water from the higher levels outside the
county. This right the company exercise and the proceeds form part of their revenue, and that is
probably the reason why, instead of allowing the purer water of the higher to pass down through the
lower levels into the Thames, the company prefer to pump back water which lias been used, and use
the by no means pure water of the Thames as its source of supply for that portion of the canal
which passes through London. The good effect of using the water from the higher to purify the lower
levels passing through London was well evidenced by the quickness with which the nuisance complained
of was abated in the main water way when the company poured down nearly 16,000,000
gallons of water from the higher to the lower levels.
We may remind the Council that in 1893 and 1894 we reported several times on the unsatisfactory
condition of the canal. In December, 1893, we held a conference with representatives of the
various sanitary authorities through whose districts the canal passes; and in February, 1894, the
Council gave instructions for the opinion of counsel to be taken as to whether it would not be competent
for the Attorney-General, if called upon by the Council, to proceed by public indictment
against the canal company for creating a public nuisance by their neglect of the proper management
of the canal within the metropolis. Counsel, however, advised that this was not a case in which the
Attorney-General would be likely to take proceedings until every effort had been made to put a stop
to the nuisance under the Public Health (London) Act, 1891. Moreover, he was of opinion that the
Council could not pay the expenses of a prosecution by indictment out of the County fund.
Having regard to the nuisance which occurred in July last, we think the Council should address
a letter to the councils of the metropolitan boroughs concerned, pointing out that the condition of
the canal is such that it may during hot weather again give rise to serious nuisance, and asking
them to keep the canal under careful observation. We accordingly recommend—
That a letter be addressed to the councils of metropolitan boroughs through which the
Regent's-canal passes, referring to the nuisance which arose from the condition of the canal in
July last, pointing out that its condition is such that it may during hot weather again give rise
to serious nuisance, and asking them to keep the canal under careful observation.
Nuisance from the river Lea.
The medical officer of health of Hackney states that the river Lea has not improved in any
way in regard to its foulness, and that this condition was well marked during the hot months of
1900. Two samples, taken on the 11th July, one from the culvert of Leyton and Walthamstow
newer and the other from White Hart, Temple-mills, were submitted to analysis, and Dr. Warry
states that the chemist reported as to the first that " The sample was very foul, and contained a
large quantity of suspended matter. It may be fairly described as muddy sewage water," and as
to the account that " This is really a sample of river mud, as the suspended matter settles down
directly the sample is allowed to stand. Exceedingly foul and giving off very offensive odours."
Housing of the Working Classes.
Amendment of the Housing of the Working Classes Act.
In December, 1899, the Council had under consideration the) amendments of the Housing
of the Working Classes Act which were necessary, and adopted the following resolutions-
(a) That it is desirable that an amendment of the Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1890.