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12
River Cray.—
Several lengthy reports have already been laid before your
Council on this matter, and the decision of the Local Government
Board, after the Inquiry, held on November 30th, will in some
measure be a guide for future action.
Unsound Meat.—
On August 31st, a quantity of unsound meat was seized by your
Inspector, Mr. Dunlop, at a butcher's shop at West Wickham.
The case was heard at the Bromley Petty Sessions on Sept. 12th,
when the vendor was fined £5 and costs.
Nuisance.—
On November 3rd, I reported upon a nuisance arising from the
unloading of offensive manure at Orpington Station and recommended
your Council to make representations to the South Eastern Railway
Company with a view of having the nuisance abated.
The unloading of manure takes place under more or less
objectionable conditions and to a varying extent at all stations in the
agricultural, fruit-growing, or hop-growing districts down the line;
and although it is of course a necessary evil I think the nuisance
might be reduced to a minimum if only the less offensive kinds of
manure were delivered in this manner, and more expeditious means
were adopted for its removal from the rail and conveyance to the
land.
It might also be possible for the times of removal to be regulated
so that it might be done at night or in the very early morning.
The carts might possibly be covered with tarpaulin or some
such covering when it is necessary to cart manure through
populous places, and certainly some more care should be taken to
prevent its being shaken out of the carts as they go along the road,
which constantly occurs and often to a considerable extent.
Failing these simple means, it will be well to consider what
measures can be taken to compel the Railway Companies to provide
sidings for unloading, more remote from the passenger platforms.
It is difficult to actually prove that this smell is injurious to
health, but it certainly constitutes a nuisance, and common sense
would suggest that it is at any rate not conducive to health.
Some of the so-called stable manure delivered is extremely rank
and unpleasant.