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92
Combined, Drainage.— The number of orders under Seal as to combined
drainage granted by the Council was 8, the number in 1911 being 12.
In 8 cases the liability of the Council for the reconstruction of the combined
portions of existing drains was admitted, and the work carried out by the Works
Committee at the request of the Public Health Committee.
BLACK SMOKE NUISANCES.
The total number of observations of chimneys made by the inspectors was 1,386,
and 10 nuisances were discovered.
A report was submitted to the Public Health Committee at each meeting with
regard to the number of observations made and nuisances discovered. In each case
in which a nuisance had been detected, the owner was communicated with and any
explanation he had to offer was considered by the Committee along with the reports of
the inspector.
Acting on the instructions of the Committee 8 letters of caution were sent and 6
intimation notices were served. In no instance was it found necessary to issue a
summons in respect of nuisance from black smoke.
REMOVAL OF HOUSE REFUSE.
During 1912 the removal and destruction of house refuse was, as in former
years, in the hands of contractors. For part of the time in the North District the
work was performed by Mr. G. E. Cloke, to whom Messrs. Mead & Co., Ltd,, The
Wharves, Paddington, had assigned their business and with the consent of the
Council the remainder of their contract.
In due course the whole business of Messrs. Mead was taken over by a
company known as The Western Cartage Co., with Mr. Cloke as Managing
Director.
This firm was successful in obtaining the contract for the whole Borough, and
for part of the year acted as contractors both in the North and the South. The
present contract expires for both districts at March 31st, 1914.
The total cost for the whole Borough in 1912 was 12,875, the figure for the
North District being £4,520 and for the South £8,375.
The following tabular statement gives the number of complaints, letters and
refusals received in respect of the removal of house refuse, together with the fines
levied and recovered by the Council for contraventions of the terms of the contracts
during the last nine years.