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53
No case of infectious disease occurred on Canal Boats in the district.
One boat was detained for cleansing and disinfection.
The number of boats on the Register on the 31st December, 1904, was 69.
No boats were registered in 1904.
On the 19th May, a letter was received from the Medical Officer of Health
of Northampton, stating that a girl named Emma Maria Sidwell, was on the
canal boat "Australia," Birmingham, No. 903, suffering from Erysipelas, and
that the cargo was consigned to Messrs. W. Pearce & Sons, Bow Common.
The boat arrived in this district on the 25th May, the girl had recovered, and
the boat was disinfected.
Houses Let in Lodgings.
The bye-laws were revised during the year, and afterwards confirmed by
the Local Government Board.
Before a house is recommended to the Council to be registered, a notice
is served on the keeper, requiring particulars of occupancy, rent, &c. This
involves a great deal of time and trouble, and the particulars when received,
are not of much value. About 5 per cent, only of the notices are filled in
correctly. After notices have been served for the abatement of overcrowding,
great difficulty is often encountered in obtaining access into the smaller
houses, especially, when early morning visits are made, in order to find out
whether the said notices have been complied with.
Where rooms are sublet by a keeper, who does not reside on the premises,
it is often very difficult to fix the responsibility on the proper person. This
also frequently applies to owners, who can only be found after some trouble.
The tenants are often unable to give the name or address of the person who
collects the rent. If the rent-book be inspected, it is often found to be
initialled only. It is impossible to say from these initials whether the collector
is the owner, or is acting as agent.
Since the new bye-laws have been in operation, a vast improvement has
occurred in the houses, which is due to the action of the owners as well as of
the tenants themselves. A higher standard of cleanliness has been established,
and overcrowding has been lessened. Notices under the bye-laws were served,
and overcrowding was abated in 614 registered houses. In only a few
instances was it found necessary to take police court proceedings.