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40
At 26 and 27, Lower Queen Street, full cesspools. No drainage,
and a pool of stagnant fluid in the yard of No. 26.
At Nos. 1 and 2, Chester Terrace, Albion Street, houses recently
erected, the cesspools were full up to the seat, the back yards filthy.
No drainage. No ashpits.
On the 28th January, I visited, with the Inspector, the west side
of King Street, from No. 25 to No. 17, both included, the other
houses at the north-west end of the street, having been previously
looked to. Every house was entered and carefully inspected, and
all particulars relating to each, respectively noted. No. 25, tenanted
by Long, carver, was in order except that it had no dust bin. The
others were deficient in almost every appliance required by the Act
of Parliament.
The house No. 22, had been originally fitted up in three flats,
according to the Scotch system, each flat to be tenanted by one
family.
This plan, however, has not been adhered to, and every room has
been let to a different occupier. There are three rooms on each
flat, and at the time of my visit seven of the rooms were occupied.
There being in all twenty-one inmates. The back room on the
ground floor is inhabited by an Irishwoman and child. I am credibly
informed that five or six more persons above fourteen years of
age, and of different sexes often pass the night there. I entered
the room, it smelt worse than any cesspool. I have therefore
thought it necessary to bring the place under the notice of the
Vestry, as fever is likely to be generated under such circumstances.
On the 19th January, and on other occasions, I went to a miserable
court at the south-west corner of Hanover Street, and known
as Hanover Court. It is composed of seven houses; three of brick
on the south, and four of wood and plaster on the north side. All
are dilapidated, wretched hovels. Two of the brick dwellings appear
to be in a dangerous condition, and I should invite the attention
of the surveyor thereto. The court is paved with pebbles, the
ashes and refuse of the houses being all thrown into a vast heap in
a corner. There is no water supply; and one privy is for the accommodation
of the whole population of the place, consisting, at the
time of my inspection, of forty-one persons; it had no fastening
whatever, not even a bit of string. I would venture to suggest
that the court be repaved, that a large dust-bin be constructed, a
drain made, and two more privies built.
I must do the owner the justice to say, that he entered at once into
my views; and at the time of my second visit, had actually begun
building two more privies. Indeed, all Hanover Street has considerably
improved of late years under his management.
Hanover Street is supplied with water from four stand pipes, one
of which is useless from being out of repair. The supply is too
scanty for the numerous population, and the water ought to be
carried into each house.