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8o
A strong effort has been made to systematise the work of dust
collection, by dividing the parish into districts, and providing for the
inspection of dust-bins and for supervision of the "dusting-gangs." The
one thing needful for success is a systematic call at every house once a
week. Hitherto the rule, or at any rate the order, has been that a
dust cart should go through each street once a week on a given day,
and that a call should be made at each house once a fortnight. If the
plan of a weekly call could be organised, it should be understood that
if, through default of domestic servants, or any other cause beyond the
control of your Vestry, the receptacle is not emptied on the appointed
day, no further attendance will be given in the same week.
It may be mentioned that a dust-bin properly placed, and used
properly, is not a "nuisance" per se—becomes, indeed, little more than an
inconvenience even when full; and that it is not fair that dustmen should
be exposed to needless danger and annoyance resulting from misuse
of the receptacle. It is a fair question, indeed, whether those who misuse
the dust-bin, and then complain of your Vestry's " neglect," should
be held responsible for the creation of a recurring nuisance ?
NON-REMOVAL OF MANURE.
For several years I have felt it my duty to draw your Vestry's
attention to the subject of the removal, or rather the wow-removal of
stable refuse. Regulations have been framed and published for the
"periodical removal of manure, &c.," under the provisions of The Sanitary
Act, 1866, which prescribes a penalty of twenty shillings for default.
But still one of the most frequent causes of complaint by parishioners,
and one of the most frequent of recurring nuisances, arises from the
neglect of this obligation. Proceedings have been taken in several
instances to enforce the regulations but with little success, the offenders
having usually been able to satisfy the Magistrates that the duty
required of them was beyond their power to perform. In fact,
however, I believe the real difficulty often originates with the coachman
who will not give the refuse away, while the farmer or his carter
will not purchase it. At certain seasons, e.g. hay-making time and
harvest, there is a real difficulty in getting the receptacles cleansed.
Yet this refuse has an appreciable value, for your Vestry, to quote but
one example, receive a payment equal to 3¼ pence per week for each