View report page

40
same soiled state as that in which they were removed; the absence of any
facility for destroying highly infected articles—leaving our Officers with
no provision whatever but the unsatisfactory method of burning them in
the open yard; also the fact that the cleansing station is a considerable
distance away from the disinfecting shed thus necessitating the carrying
backwards and forwards of items of clothing from the many hundreds of
cleansings during the year; all indicate the necessity for the re-organisation
and concentration of these facilities without further delay.
As regards the Coroner's Court, we have never had one in Hampstead
and the Coroner has frequently complained to me and direct to the
Borough Council of the unsatisfactory arrangement he has to make with
the Hampstead Dispensary when holding inquests in the Borough. This
item of a Coroner's Court is largely a matter for the London County
Council, they are responsible for finding one and the cost thereof. When
I approached their officials in 1924 they informed me that in their opinion
the County Council would willingly co-operate and bear their share of
such a scheme; their officials were in agreement as to the need, the
position, and the plans then prepared.
I have seen the arrangements in many London Boroughs, and without
exception Hampstead seems the worst equipped of any and in respect
to some we are scarcely comparable.
Flooding in Kilburn,
On the occasion of a severe rainstorm on 11th July, flooding again
occurred in Kilburn, especially in Netherwood Street and Iverson Road.
In the worst instances the depth of water in the lower rooms and passages
was twenty-seven inches, and in several homes damage was done to
furniture, clothing, bedding, etc. An appeal for funds to aid the people
affected was organised by the Yicar of St. James's Church.
The main sewers were quite unable to drain away the great amount
of water suddenly discharged into them, and the Main Drainage Committee
of the London County Council stated in their report on the subject
that no system of drainage is financially practicable which could be able
to dispose of the rain so as to prevent entirely any floodings.
The new North-Western storm relief sewer, which was practically
complete when the severe rainstorm above referred to occurred, would
have been ready for use two weeks later, and it is to be hoped that when
this is functioning, some improvement will be experienced when the
storms occur in future. This relief sewer was estimated to cost £527,000,
involving the construction of about miles of sewers, and has taken
about 2½ years to construct. It is hoped that it will relieve the flooding