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improper and negligent work being executed. Many
examples of such improper work have come under the observation
of your Inspectors, which, during the period they
remained undiscovered, were a source of grave menace to the
health of the occupants of the houses. Under Section 43 of
the before-mentioned Act, twelve hours' notice must be given
to the Council before commencing any such work, or, in case
of emergency, similar notice must be given before covering
up the work executed. Reasonable facilities must also be
given to your Inspectors for the purpose of examining the
new work. There can be no doubt that this section will prove
of great help in discovering dangerously defective drains,
and also be the cause of much needful supervision.
During the year the drains of 121 houses were examined
or tested by your Inspectors, and, as a result, 82 of these
were found to be more or less defective.
Altogether, the drains of 94 houses were entirely reconstructed,
and the existing drains of 11 other premises
were properly repaired. This work involved the laying of
2822 yards of stoneware and 232 yards of heavy cast iron
coated pipe drains; 109 soil pipes and ventilating shafts, 4 3
intercepting traps, 251 stoneware gullies, 161 w.c. basins, and
28 flushing cisterns were fixed, and 101 manholes were built.
In regard to existing sanitary fittings, 64 flushing cisterns,
40 water-closets, 19 soil pipes and 7 manholes were repaired ;
28 drains were unstopped and cleansed, 14 existing insanitary
water-closets were abolished, and 3 new water-closet apartments
were constructed. Some 97 bath, lavatory, and sink
waste pipes were repaired or trapped, and 37 new waste pipes
and 18 new glazed sinks were fixed. A large number of other
miscellaneous items were also properly attended to. In connection
with this work 354 water tests and 181 smoke tests
were applied. The practice which has been adopted in the
department in past years of testing all new drains with water
after the ground has been filled in, and of passing a steel disc