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187
under the provisions of the Slaughter-houses (Metropolis) Act,
1874, suggested the course most likely to succeed in preventing
nuisance, in connection with the storage, the collection, and the
conveyance of offensive material through streets; viz., by the
creation of bye-laws to regulate, in these respects, the trades, &c.,
which involve the production of refuse of an offensive character."
The Board's existence having been threatened by the introduction
of the Local Government Bill in 1888, no legislation was
initiated in that Session. The Committee, indeed, made no report
on the subject, and nothing has been done hitherto with a view to
the abatement of an admitted nuisance. There is reason, however,
for believing that it can and will be dealt with, as I recommended
that it should be, under the provisions of what will shortly be the
Public Health (London) Act.
NUISANCE FROM BRICK-BURNING.
Every summer, complaints are made in regard to stenches,
usually observed in the evening and the early morning hours, commonly
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 nuisances arising from this
cause, at Streatham and Hampstead respectively, and in a third
case, last year, in the district of the Chiswick Local Board, the
nuisance existing in the adjoining Parish of Hammersmith.
The decisions in these 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 and Chiswick cases, to
incur the expense and worry of litigation. The nuisance, however,
being unquestionable, and such as may be prevented by the