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187
whose attention will probably be given to it in connection
with the subject of bye-laws to which I have already
referred (vide p. 126).
NUISANCE FROM BRICK-BURNING.
Every summer complaints are made in regard to stenches,
usually observed in the early morning hours, and almost invariably
supposed to be due to sewer gas, but which are actually due to
brick-burning in localities beyond the limits of the Parish.
The reality of the nuisance is not open to question, and the law
is strong enough to put a stop to it; but the process is tedious
and costly, as was proved in two important actions decided in
the course of the year 1885, in respect of nuisance arising from
this cause at Streatham and Hampstead respectively.
The decisions in these two causes are satisfactory so far as
they go, injunctions having been obtained; but although they
hold out hope of success in any similar proceedings, few are the
persons rich enough, as in the Streatham case, or the local
authorities spirited enough, as in the Hampstead case, to incur
the expense and worry of litigation. The nuisance, however,
being unquestionable, and such as may be prevented by the
adoption of a particular method of burning bricks, viz., in kilns
as contradistinguished from the "clamp" system, the subject
would seem to be a proper one to be dealt with by legislation.
The business of a brick maker is an "offensive" one, in very
truth, but it cannot be brought within the provisions of the
Slaughter Houses (Metropolis) Act, 1874. The London County
Council would be the proper authority for introducing such a
measure, and probably the Council would take up the question
were it encouraged to do so by the several Vestries and District
Boards. But it is somewhat difficult to obtain united action by
so many different bodies, and it being nobody's business in
particular to initiate proceedings which would involve a good