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portion is 5d. per night, and for the Shelter 2d. per night. These prices include what
is termed by the fraternity "a bath and a bake" (a bath and disinfection of clothing).
Food can be purchased at the Hotel cheaply. The premises are periodically inspected
and always found to be well managed and kept in a cleanly condition. During the
year there has been no repetition of the nuisance formerly complained of, caused by a
number of men congregating outside waiting for admission and spitting on the
pavement. As men so waiting number on occasions over 100, this nuisance was very
real, and the cessation is doubtless due to the action of the Authorities, who refuse
admission to applicants if they have been waiting about in the immediate vicinity
of the premises before the doors open at 5 p.m.
DRAINAGE PLANS.
In the course of the year, 407 plans have been submitted with regard to proposed
reconstruction of water-closets or drains in the City.
Of these, 367 were approved, 28 revised and approved, and 12 not approved.
In all cases where, on revision, it was found that the plans were not in accordance
with the Corporation Bye-laws, the matter was submitted to the judgment of the
Sanitary Committee.
STREET GULLIES.
The gradual substitution of properly trapped gulleys for those formerly existing,
has greatly reduced the number of complaints received of offensive smells arising from
those receptacles, especially in warm weather. In some cases this nuisance was
doubtless due to want of flushing, but in the majority faulty construction was the
cause of the trouble.
The City Engineer has given special attention to this matter for several years past,
and his action in replacing the old pattern gullies with those of a more up-to-date
design will, I hope, eventually lead to a complete abatement of the evil.
OVERCROWDING.
Overcrowding is a nuisance to be dealt with summarily under Section 2,
Sub-section 1 (e) of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, and during the year 7
cases were reported by your officers. On the service of the statutory notice of
abatement the overcrowding was discontinued in each instance.
SANITARY DEFECTS AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
In every case of notification of infectious disease, the premises involved were
inspected with regard to the drainage system, water supply, ventilation, &c.; and of
the 44 cases so investigated in 1911, it was found necessary to reconstruct the sanitary
system in 3 instances, and to make minor amendments to soil and waste pipes, water
closets, &c., in 19 others.