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which I stated that I believed all the improvements with which we
are at present acquainted have been introduced into Messrs. Tucker'a
establishment; still, without doubt, it is a great nuisance, and the
effluvia at times quite poisonous to the air of the neighbourhood.
Mr. Simon observes "it is the common right of neighbourhood to
breathe an uncontaminated atmosphere," and with this common right
such a nuisance must be considered to clash.
By the 27th sec. of the Nuisance Removal Act, this occupation is
protected, provided the best practical means has been employed for
abating such nuisance and for counteracting such effluvia.
III. Slaughter-houses. The proximity of slaughter-houses is,
without doubt, fraught with danger to the inhabitants, unless great
care be taken. The Legislature has certainly made a step in the right
direction in requiring all slaughter-houses to be licensed, and has
wisely vested their control in the different Vestries or Local Boards,
so that should complaints arise, or the premises be kept in a dirty
condition, an objection may be made to the renewal of the license.
I have already reported to you that forty-six applications were
made to your Vestry for License to slaughter, and that after many
alterations and improvements had been carried out in the various
premises at my suggestion,—only four cases were refused a license, as
no means had been taken to prevent nuisances arising.
The Second Class of occupations includes those establishments which
do not require to be kept at a distance from habitations, but for which a
license must be granted, assuring the authorities that the operations are
not executed so as to be a nuisance. This list comprises 78.
The only establishments among us under this head, are the manufactories
of bricks and tiles, potteries, and gas works. Our gas works
are situated in Kensal Green, in a thinly populated district, and have
given no cause for complaint.
The offensive smells from brick and clay burning, have several times
been brought under my notice; but on application to the proprietors,
the grounds of complaint have been removed as quickly as possible.
The Third Class comprises those works which may remain without
inconvenience near dwellings, but should be subject to surveillance.
The only nuisance under this head which we have to deal with is the
keeping of cows,—I consider that these animals should (to a certain
extent at any rate) be allowed to roam in open fields, and not tied up
in close ill-ventilated stalls, and huddled together; and I doubt not
that as the Legislature has wisely laid down regulations with regard
to slaughter houses, it will not long pass over in silence the way in
which our milch cows are frequently kept.