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57
occurred. The "experiment" on the London consumers was tried
twice, for as soon as the first batch of cases occurred the milk
supply from the farm was discontinued; but a few days afterwards
the proprietor of the dairy was induced to take the milk
again, and the same results immediately ensued. Then followed
the visitation of the farm and the discovery of the source of,
impure water. The cause of the mischief having thus been
discovered and removed, the effect ceased at once and for all.*
BAKE-HOUSES.
The Bakehouses, 121 in number, viz.: 69 in the North, and
52 in the South Sanitary district, have been regularly inspected,
and the provisions of the Act relating to them carried out as fully
as possible. The special duties that have hitherto devolved
on your Vestry's Officers will, on 1st January next, be transferred
to Government Officers, by virtue of a clause in the Factory and
Workshop Act (1878), which places the Bakehouses under the
supervision of the Inspectors appointed under the " Factory Acts.''
DUST REMOVAL.
The removal of dust and ashes is now, and has been during the
parochial year, 1877-8, wholly carried out by your Vestry. This
work was commenced somewhat suddenly, and in a state of unpreparedness,
on your Vestry's determination to abolish the contract
system, and it is not surprising that many complaints of inattention
were made du; ing the early months of the year. On the whole,
however, there has been a decidcd improvement as compared with
previous years under the contract system, as the figures in Table
6a (Appendix) will shew. In course of time the difficulties which,
even now to some extent exist, and arise from the comparative
novelty of the work, will be surmounted, and as the methodical system
of calling at each house in the parish once, and once only, in
every week is brought fully into play, it may be anticipated that the
new order of things will prove increasingly satisfactory to the
ratepayers. There is reason to believe that not only has no additional
expense been incurred by the change of system, but rather
the reverse, taking into consideration the fact that the sums demanded
and paid for the work under contract rose yearly at a
portentous rate. A large sum of money, indeed, has been received
from the sale of dust to brick-makers: and this source of revenue
might no doubt be considerably increased were it in the power
of your Vestry to sort the dust and sell in the best market the
several constituents of the dust bins.
*I am indebted to Mr. Cleaver, the Public Analyst, who visited the farm and who
did the analytical work, for some of the above particulars.