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and they came from householders living on the south, east, and
especially on the west boundaries of the farm, there being
a very considerable population at Beddington Corner, near the
latter.
The complaints were brought to the notice of the Croydon
Corporation, and finally a deputation waited upon the Farm
Committee, but it can only be said that they seemed incredulous,
and little hope was given that any alteration would be made in
the system of discharging crude untreated sewage upon the land,
the deposit from which, remaining on the surface, appears to be
the main cause of the nuisance.
IX.—RIVER POLLUTION.
The pollution of the River Wandle by the drainage of
Carshalton, a neighbouring District, still continues, but it is
satisfactory to record that at length a sewage scheme has been
settled for that parish, and that its construction will be commenced
early in the coming year, so that pollution from this
cause ought before long to disappear.
The scheme referred to does not, however, include the
disposal of refuse from several mills and dwellings situated on
the banks of the river in the neighbourhood of Beddington
Corner, but arrangements are being made with this Council to
receive this drainage into the sewers of this District in that
neighbourhood.
The general condition of this river in this District is fair,
but at certain points it is very unsatisfactory, and its bed still
needs the cleansing which was recommended in a report presented
at the close of 1895. Nothing, however, could be done until one
of the most unsatisfactory portions of the river near the Waddon
Mills had been cleansed. The Croydon Corporation commenced
operations there shortly before the close of the year, and when
this is done it will be within the province of this Council to
require the stream lower down to be attended to, especially in
Beddington, Hackbridge, and Merton.