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works asked for were carried out in nearly all cases. Police Court
Proceedings were taken in two instances where owners had failed to
comply with Notices served. One case was withdrawn on payment
of costs, the work having been done, and in the other an Order was
made by the Magistrate for the work to be done in fourteen days.
I beg to call your attention to the very few Police Court Proceedings
and the number of Statutory Notices compared with the Preliminary
ones, which shows that Statutory Notices are not asked for, unless
owners absolutely refuse to comply with what I consider is a reasonable
request and necessary in the interests of Public Health.
Drainage Examinations.—The smoke test has been applied
to Drains 153 times, and in addition 19 Drains were opened up for
examination after formal written complaints had been made, and
authority given for that purpose. The volatile or chemical test has
also been applied to Drains in numerous instances.
Inspection of Meat and other Foods- -The various
Butchers' Shops, Greengrocers' Shops, and other places where food is
sold were frequently inspected during the year, and on one occasion
in July I found unwholesome meat exposed for sale at three Butchers'
Shops. I reported the facts to the Council, and they decided to take
Proceedings against the Offenders, with the result that in each case
they were fined 10s. and costs. They all pleaded that the hot weather
was the cause of the meat turning bad, and had they not impressed the
Magistrate with this fact, I am confident that much heavier fines would
have been imposed.
On the 24th April I visited a Butcher's Shop in Acton Lane, and
found the whole carcase of a cow which I considered unfit for human
food, and no doubt you will remember that you came and looked at
this carcase yourself, and agreed that the same was unfit. It was
removed from the premises and condemned by a Justice and destroyed.
During the year the following were seized and taken before a
Justice:—
1 box Skate.
1 box Plaice.
1 carcase of Beef.
Quantity of pieces of Meat.
1 box Dabs.