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162
Committee inspected many of the houses, which, for the most part, are in
good structural condition; the majority of them, moreover, were in fair sanitary
condition. Some of the rooms were dirty, and require cleansing.
Cleansing orders will be served next month, with respect to the registered
houses (and nearly all of the houses are registered), in conformity with
the provisions of Regulation 7. A prime obstacle to carrying out work of
this kind satisfactorily, arises from the difficulty of emptying the rooms of
their inhabitants whilst the work is in progress. It would be well if temporary
shelters for a few families could be provided, so as to give the workmen
vacant possession of the rooms successively. But there are no empty
houses in the district. Some of the dust-bins and water-cistern covers were
observed to be in a defective condition. Occasionally a dirty water-closet
pan was seen, and water-supply apparatus out of order. On all sides, however,
your Committee observed the fruits of their labours during the last few
years, in well-ventilated drains, disconnected waste-pipes, flushing tanks for
water-closets, &c. Not all of the houses have been provided with these
modern sanitary arrangements, but the work of improvement will be conr
tinued to completion. Many of the yards were untidy, mainly from accumulation
of useless articles, which possibly the people do not know how to
get rid of, and which the dustman might. be authorised to remove. The
paving of some of the yards requires attention.
"It has been suggested that steps should be taken by your Vestry to get the
several streets condemned as "insanitary areas" Your Committee saw no
occasion for any such drastic and costly procedure. There may be a few
houses which it would be desirable to close temporarily, as being at present
' unfit for human habitation,' but there are none probably, that cannot be
repaired and made good at more or less expense. This matter is now
engaging your Committee's attention.
"Reference having been made, in the correspondence laid before your Committee,
to the condition of certain streets and houses in the ' Potteries ' district,
they made a careful inspection of the said district on Tuesday, March 14th,
1893. The roadways and foot pavements were clean. Some of the streets
have been asphalte-paved with manifest advantage in respect of cleanliness,
and your Committee would gladly see this system of paving extended both
in the ' Potteries' and in the so-called ' Avernus' district.
"The sewerage appears to be satisfactory, and no offensive smell was perceptible,
except in close contiguity to the fat-melting works in Tobin Street. The
houses for the greater part are of considerable age; most of them, however,
appear to be structurally sound. Many are very small, but they have good
yards, generally, and are usually occupied by single families. With very
few exceptions, those inspected were found in a clean and satisfactory condition,
The drains of many of the houses have been ventilated, waste-pipes