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46
pollution of the watercourse by the chemical effluents. However,
there is every reason to fear that it has not answered expectations,
and that additional precautions will be necessary.
An uncommon pollution in connection with another chemical
factory came to light during the year. A pond near this factory
was noticed to be distinctly tinged with a yellow colour, and
water pumped from an adjoining gravel-pit was also bright
yellow. Inspection of the factory showed that, although a
connection with a sewer was in existence, the " washings of nitronaphthalene"
had been allowed to discharge into an unused
ditch, and that the colouring matter had finally reached the
subsoil water. There was no evidence to show that this
pollution was injurious to cattle or poultry, and, although
stopped at once at its source, the colouring matter is still
occasionally pumped out with the subsoil water.
The pollution of the "Pyl Brook," a tributary of the
Beverley Brook, at Raynes Park, was also under consideration
during the year. Until recently, when sewage works were
constructed, the whole of the Sutton sewage was discharged into
this brook ; and even now an appreciable portion of it still
discharges into it. A special report was laid before the Sanitary
Authority, detailing this source of pollution as well as other less
important ones. The pollution from Sutton still remains, but
after a conference between the members of the Sutton Local
Board, the Sanitary Authority, and Dr. Seaton, it was arranged
that, if the pollution had not disappeared by April, steps would
be taken to divert the contents of the brook at the Sutton
Sewage Works, and purify them there.
Complaints have occasionally been received of pollution of
the river between Beddington Corner and Mitcham, by manufacturing
effluents, and even, as alleged, by sewage matter from the
Croydon Farm, at Beddington.
This portion of the river is under frequent observation, and
it may safely be said that its condition is not very bad, nor so bad