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condition the site of such ashpit within a reasonable period to be prescribed in such notice, and
if such owner fails to comply therewith within the period so prescribed, he shall be liable on
summary conviction to a fine not exceeding twenty shillings, and to a further fine not
exceeding ten shillings for every day during which he makes default in complying with such
notice after such conviction.
" Provided that the sanitary authority may, if in the circumstances of any particular case
they think fit, bear any reasonable cost and expense or part thereof incurred in executing
work under this section."
Removal of offensive matter.
The removal of offensive trade refuse by the sanitary authorities of Woolwich, Finsbury, Wandsworth,
and Greenwich has been referred to in the last annual report. In his annual report for 1906,
Dr. Davies states that there are now 63 tradesmen in Woolwich whose refuse is thus removed. The
charge made for removal of offensive refuse is at the rate of 3d. a receptacle, charged per quarter in
advance, on the amount collected in the previous quarter, and a total of £91 4s. 3d. was thus received
.n the year. In Finsbury a weekly charge is made of from Is. to 2s., depending on quantity, the Borough
Council supplying tins for the purpose of removal, upon which a deposit of 8s. is made, which is
returned when the business is given up. In Wandsworth Dr. Caldwell Smith says that the system is
working satisfactorily, but some increase in the minimum charge of collection has been necessary.
In Greenwich, too, the arrangement with a contractor, Dr. Annis reports, continues to work very
satisfactorily, and has had the effect of leading other collectors to improve their methods.
Dr. Collingridge reports that a new system of collecting and removing fish offal from markets
and fishmongers' premises in the City was instituted during the year. He writes :—
" Hitherto it had been the custom for the cleansing department, by an agreement with the Markets Committee,
to remove such material in the ordinary way as trade refuse, but Messrs. F. S. Hempleman and Co., of West Ham,
having offered to undertake this work under special conditions free of charge, a contract was entered into with that
firm for this purpose on 21st May, 1900. The conditions of this contract are that the contractors shall for twelve
months from the date of contract collect and remove, free of charge, between the hours of 7 p.m. and 9 a.m., all
fish offal from the Corporation markets and fishmongers' premises in the City to the entire satisfaction of the iredieal
officer of health. The contractor is to provide a proper number of specially constructed galvanised iron bins, of a
pattern approved by the medical officer of health, and to thoroughly cleanse and disinfect such bins before returning
them to the markets or shops. Provision is made in the contract for requiring that the offal collected shall not be used
for human food or food for animals, and for entitling the contractor to convert it into manurial products. The
contract also contains penalty clauses for ensuring its due performance. The above arrangements has been found a
great improvement upon the former method, and has been of special advantage at Leadenhall Market, particularly
during the prevalence of warm weather. The approved bin has two covers, one of which is fitted with an indiarubber
ring inside, and can be so fastened down as^to form a hermetically sealed joint, thus preventing any smell emanating in
course of removal. This form of bin has been found well suited for the purpose, and no complaints of nuisance have
been received. The experiment has not only been a success, but the City Engineer has estimated that it will probably
result in a considerable saving."
Nuisance from sewers.
Nuisance from sewers is referred to in the reports relating to Paddington, Kensington, Hampstead,
Lambeth, Battersea, and Greenwich. The remedy usually adopted is to erect a ventilating
shaft in connection with the sewer from which nuisance is experienced. Little reference is made in the
annual reports to the subject of flooding from sewers.
Nuisance from rivers and canals.
Dr. Warry reports in reference to the River Lea, that there was no improvement in its condition
in 1906. He writes : " During the hot months of last summer complaints, by persons frequenting
the large open space adjacent to the river, were frequent." In reference to the condition of the
Regent's Canal in St. Pancras, Dr. Sykes states that analysis of the water showed that it was sewage
polluted, but that the contamination was not such as to cause a nuisance. No nuisance from this
source was experienced in Paddington.
Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1890.
The proceedings which were taken in 1906 under the Housing of the Working Classes Act related
in the main to the erection of houses'on the estates which had already been acquired under this Act
The following is a summary of the action taken during the year. :—
Proceedings under Part. I. of the Act.
Aylesbury •'place, Clerkenwell, and Union-buildings, Holbom, scheme.—In February the Housing
of the Working Classes Committee reported that the Works Committee were prepared to undertake
the erection of working-class dwellings on this area, for which the Council had, in the preceding
December, sanctioned an expenditure of £80,050. In July the Committee reported the completion of
Mallory-buildings on the Aylesbury-place area. The buildings provide accommodation for 164 persons
in 17 tenements of three rooms, 15 tenements of two rooms, and one tenement of one room. The Committee
also reported that all the houses on the Union-place area were now demolished.
Webber-row and Wellington-place and King's Bench-walk, Southwark, scheme.—In November the
Housing of the Working Classes Committee reported the completion of Overy and Delarch-buildings on