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Neglect to comply with Water-closet Bye-laws.—One instance of neglect in this respect has
occurred during the year under review.
Drainage Plans.—In the course of the year 184 plans were submitted with regard to
proposed reconstruction of water-closets or drains in the City.
Of these, 157 were approved, 20 revised and approved ; and 7 not approved.
Street Gullies.—-The gradual substitution of properly trapped gullies for those formerly
existing has greatly reduced the number of complaints received of offensive smells arising
from these appliances, 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 three cases
were reported by your officers.
Sanitary Defects and Infectious Diseases.—In cases of notification of infectious disease,
the premises involved were inspected with regard to the drainage system, water supply,
ventilation, &c. ; and of the 93 cases investigated in 1932, it was found necessary to make
amendments to soil and waste pipes, water-closets, &c., in 26 instances.
House, Trade and other Refuse Removal.—The City Engineer informs me that the refuse
removed from the City in 1932 consisted of 23,497 cartloads of street sweepings and slops,
and 47,085 loads of house and trade refuse, a total of 70,582 loads. The total for the year
1931 was 73,356. The use of the Destructor was discontinued in September, 1905, since
which date all refuse has been removed by barge from Lett's Wharf to the Corporation land
on Hornchurch Marshes, where it is dealt with. The horse manure collected from the street
orderly bins is not included in the above, but is dealt with by a contractor, who sells it to
market gardeners and others.
Legal Proceedings.—During the year, 108 notices have been issued by the Sanitary
Committee, and in one case it was found necessary, in consequence of non-compliance therewith,
to refer the matter to the City Solicitor.
Slimmer Flushing of Courts.—There are 161 courts and narrow passages throughout
the City, which were regularly flushed during the summer months, under the direction of
the City Engineer, who informs me that in this service, and the flushing of the main streets,
no less than 24,974,729 gallons of water were used. Of these courts and alleys, seven were
flushed four times a week, six three times a week, three twice a week, 21 once a week, five
once a month, and 119 every two months.
Disinfectants are also freely applied where desirable.
The condition of the approaches to Billingsgate Market and the Custom House, as
heretofore, required special attention. There has always been a difficulty in keeping the
thoroughfares in the immediate vicinity of these places free from nuisance caused by the
drippings from the fish carts, especially during hot weather.
Limewashing of Courts.—There are 60 courts and narrow passages situated in various
parts of the City, the walls of which, unless cleansed frequently, become dirty and unsightly
through the constant traffic of passengers or vehicles, together with the action of the smokeladen
atmosphere. These are cleansed or limewashed twice a year under the direction of
the City Engineer. Of the places so dealt with during 1932, 19 were situated in the East
District, 24 in the Middle District, and 17 in the West District.
Defective Connections to Sewer.—During the year, 19 reports were received from the City
Engineer respecting the condition of connections between the drains of certain City houses
and the public sewer.
Investigations showed that it was necessary to reconstruct 16 of the connections referred
to. As a result of the inspection of the internal drainage system of these premises, reconstruction
or alteration was found necessary in 13 instances.
In the majority of cases these external drains were brick-barrel drains, in which rats
had their breeding-places, and were, undoubtedly, a source of much annoyance to the
occupiers of the houses to which they were connected.