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207
tive action. The subject, in relation to certain important parts of
it, hasalready been dealt with (at pages 148 and 176),in connection
with a report by the Law and Parliamentary Committee, and in
my observations on a communication received by your Vestry, in
November, from the Metropolitan Board of Works under the
heading " Conveyance of Offensive Substances through Streets."
I pass on now, therefore, to consider the matter in its local
aspects and as it relates to house refuse, stable refuse, and trade
refuse.
HOUSE REFUSE.
The collection of ashes, and miscellaneous refuse, from
nearly 22,000 inhabited houses, spread over an area of 2,200
acres, and to the extent of 40,500 loads in a single year, is no
light task. That it is on the whole satisfactorily performed may
be inferred from the fewness of complaints, which, it may be
said, were legion when the work was in the hands of contractors.
Comparatively few as the complaints now are, a not inconsiderable
proportion of them results from the refusal of domestic
servants to allow the refuse to be removed when the periodical
call is made. Nuisance, in the sanitary sense, need not arise,
even from a full dustbin ; when it occurs, it is due to improper
use of the receptacle, by the deposit therein of animal and
vegetable matters, of which it may be said that the former has an
appreciable value, and should be utilized, while the latter admits
of being burned, after drying, on the kitchen fire. A notification
to this effect was left at every house in the Parish in 1873,
and again in 1883.
The work of dust collection has been systematized by
division of the parish into districts, and provision has been made
for inspection of dustbins and oversight of the " dusting gangs."
A call is now made at every house once a week, and further improvement
is scarcely possible until the objectionable practice