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cess, shall cause every such process, in which any offensive
effluvia, vapours or gases are generated, to be carried on in such
manner, that no offensive effluvia, vapours, or gases shall
escape into the external atmosphere, and shall cause all such
offensive effluvia, vapours, or gases to be effectually arrested or
destroyed.
" 2.—Every person who shall offend against the foregoing
bye-law, shall be liable for every such offence to a penalty of five
pounds.
"Provided, nevertheless, that the Justices, or Court, before
whom any complaint may be made, or any proceedings may be
taken, in respect of any such offence, may, if they think fit,
adjudge the payment, as a penalty, of any sum less than the full
amount of the penalty imposed by this bye-law.
"We recommend—
"That such bye-laws be made, and the necessary steps taken for
obtaining the confirmation of the Local Government Board
thereto."
The Report was received, the recommendation was adopted
by the Council, and the proposed bye-laws were forthwith sent to
the Local Government Board for their sanction—which has not been
received; a pretty sure indication of doubt on the part of the legal
advisers of the Board as to the power to make bye-laws for the
purpose; and so far confirmatory of my opinion, long entertained,
that legislation is necessary for enabling some Authority (properly,
the County Council) to deal with the question. Such legislative
powers, I hope and believe, will be conferred by the Public Health
(London) Act, which will come into operation on the first day of
January, 1892.
OFFENSIVE SMELLS.
It may be mentioned, in connection with the above subject,
that many letters appeared in the daily newspapers, in October,
and under a variety of headings, but all making complaint of
"offensive smells" in London—smells which, so far as they
affected this parish (to which the earlier complaints referred),
were due to brick-burning in adjoining districts. In a Report