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Bakehouses, Cowsheds, Slaughter-houses, Mews
and Stables.
In both parishes the above-named premises have been
systematically examined. Attention has been given to bakehouses
with regard to overcrowding. Licenses were granted
by the London County Council to four cowhouses and five
slaughter-houses in the United Parishes.
In St. John's parish an inspection of various stables disclosed
the fact that 21 dung-pits were not in accordance with the bye-
laws. In only two cases was it found necessary to proceed
against the owners. In one case a fine of £5 and 12s. 6d.
costs was imposed, and in the other case a fine of 10s. and
12s. costs.
Customs and Inland Revenue Act.
Sections 4 of the Acts of 1890 and 1891.
Application was made for exemption from inhabited house
duty by the owners of Buckingham-chambers, but all the
requirements not being entirely carried out, the certificate was
not granted.
The necessary works being carried out, certificates were
granted to the owners of Nos. 2, 16 and 30, Lower Gardenstreet,
and 59, Tufton-street.
Combined Drainage.
It is satisfactory to note that the London County Council,
after numerous applications from local authorities on this
subject, have decided to apply to Parliament for an amendment
of the words "sewer" and "drain" in the Metropolis
Local Management Act, by extending the meaning of the word
" drain " so as to include any drain the plan of which has not
been approved as a sewer under Section 69 of the Act of 1853,
and Sections 45 and 48 of the Act, 1862.
During the past year the Vestry have had under consideration
two cases of alleged combined drainage. In one case the
owner of two houses, the drainage of which drained into a
single drain which was found to leak badly under the water
test, asserted that the defective drain was a sewer and not a
drain and therefore repairable by the Vestry. Police court
proceedings were eventually taken, and after several adjournments
by the magistrate and conclusive evidence on the part
of the Vestry, the magistrate decided that it was a drain and
not a sewer. The defective condition of the drain being
contested by the owner, an authority other than the officer of
the Vestry was appointed by the magistrate to examine and