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receptacle is entirely underground, being what is called a
sunken dung-pit—always undraincd, and covered with wooden
flaps. The rain enters these pits, and mere confinement of the
organic matters leads to very rapid putrefaction, the result
being that, after a short detention, serious nuisance arises, to
the great discomfort of persons living in the vicinity. Were
these pits cleared regularly, as required"by the regulations, they
would still be a cause of nuisance. Everyone who has observed
the " steam" arising when the contents are disturbed, must
have been annoyed by its horrible offensiveness.
These sunken dung pits are a nuisance in themselves,
and as the use of them involves a continually recurring
nuisance, it should be prohibited. Entertaining these views,
and all the efforts of the sanitary inspectors having failed to
keep the nuisance within bounds, I thought it desirable to have
a return prepared, shewing the kind and number of the
receptacles actually in use in the mews in the respective
districts. This return I submitted, in March, 1890, to the
Works and Sanitary Committee, by whom it was ordered to
be printed for the information of your Vestry, and with a
view to consideration of steps for dealing with the matter,
thoroughly and effectually; as, in 1888, nuisances in connection
with public-house urinals were dealt with. Under
the then existing law, it was found that nothing effectual
could be done to get rid of the nuisance. I am hopeful that
the bye-laws shortly to come into operation will enable
us to abolish sunken dung-pits.
The Sanitary Act of 1866 enabled the "Nuisance
Authority " (i. e., your Vestry) to contract with the occupiers
of stables and cowhouses, for the collection and removal of
manure or other refuse matter; but the Authority could
remove it only "with the sanction of the owner." The Public
Health Act has not made any material difference in the
position, for section 36 does no more than authorise the
Sanitary Authority to collect and remove the refuse from