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56
The London County Council received 384 applications for licences for slaughterhouses,
and 381 licences were granted. Five licences for knackers' premises were also granted.

Complaints to the London County Council.
During 1901 the Council received 800 applications for assistance in securing the removal
of insanitary conditions. In cases in which representation had not already been made to the
sanitary authority, the applicants were advised to make such representation. In other cases
the sanitary authorities were communicated with. In all cases the matter was kept under
observation until the conditions complained of were remedied. In connection with these applications,
835 inspections were made by the Council's inspectors, the number of premises visited
being 1,463.
Nuisances
Smoke nuisance.
The annual reports of medical officers of health show the following proceedings in connection
with smoke nuisance—
In Paddington, proceedings were instituted concerning smoke nuisance from a brewery
in Queen's-road and from an electric lighting generating-station in Amberley-road, an abatement
order being made in the first instance and the summons being adjourned with consent in the
other, costs being allowed in each instance. In Kensington, complaints were received as to
smoke nuisance from the generating station of an electric railway company in Shepherd's-bush.
Proceedings instituted by the Borough Council of Hammersmith led to the company being fined
£60 and costs. The same company was on another occasion fined £25 and costs, on a third
occasion £10 and costs, and on a/ fourth occasion £60 and costs, the proceedings being instituted
by the Hammersmith Borough Council. The same authority also obtained the conviction of the
proprietor of a brewery for the same offence. In Fulham eight notices were served, and one
offender was fined £4 and costs. In Chelsea smoke nuisance was abated in three instances. In
Westminster 1,370 observations were made by two inspectors appointed for this purpose; eight
prcsecutions were instituted, and penalties amounting to £63 and costs were recovered. In one
case an appeal was taken to the High Court, and was heard by the Lord Chief Justice, Mr. Justice
Darling and Mr. Justice Channel. In this case the Queen Anne Residential Chambers and Hotel
Company having been convicted by the magistrate, the company appealed, contending that the
chimney was that of a private dwelling. " The Court dismissed the appeal with costs, looking at
the fact that there were 300 flats, with five boilers in the basement for electric lighting, cooking,
warming and other purposes for the benefit of the residents in these flats, and that, in truth, a
large trade establishment was carried on, the decision of the magistrate was right." In St.
Marylebone, the medical officer of health states, the number of nuisances from smoke
showed a marked decrease as compared with last year. In Hampstead, 8 complaints of smoke
nuisance were received. In St. Pancras, 102 chimney shafts are entered in the register, 125
complaints were received, 206 observations made, 21 notices served, and 1 summons issued,
resulting in an abatement and prohibition order. In Islington, 863 observations were made,
36 notices served, and 2 summonses issued. In Hackney, 1,754 observations were made and 78
notices served. In Holborn, 12 notices were served. In Finsbury, in 3 instances a summons was
taken out, in 2 an abatement order was made, and in the third the summons was withdrawn on
payment of costs, the defendant having removed the furnace. In Shoreditch the various chimneys
and shafts were kept under observation by the inspector charged with this duty ; among
the complaints were 45 from the County Council, referring to shafts and chimneys on 15 premises;
notices were served; the medical officer of health notes an improvement with respect to smoke
nuisance in the borough. In Bethnal-green, 48 intimations and 16 notices were served, and 1
summons issued, a penalty of £40 being inflicted. In Stepney, 70 smoke nuisances were
abated, in 3 cases summonses being taken out and magistrates' orders obtained. In Poplar, 251
smoke nuisances were dealt with. Two summonses were taken out in respect of one set of
premises, and two penalties, each of £5, inflicted. In Southwark, 32 complaints were received, 75
observations were made and 12 notices served. In Bermondsey 159 observations were made, and 6
summonses were taken out. In Lambeth the special smoke inspector made 620 observations, and
98 notices served. In 29 instances information as to smoke nuisance was received from the County
Council; a decision was given by the Lord Chief Justice upon an appeal by an electric supply company
from the decision of a magistrate who had fined the company on account of black smoke
issuing from a destructor belonging to the company ; the question at issue was whether for the
purpose of conviction it was necessary to prove that nuisance to some one resulted from the issue
of black smoke; the appeal was dismissed, it being held that nuisance to anyone need not be