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Suffice to state that at the end of the year excellent progress and
results had been achieved.
At the same time all the soil sewers in the Borough were
test baited and certain sections, which proved to show infestation
received subsequent maintenance treatments.
The refuse destructor, piggeries, sewage disposal works and
controlled tip all received thorough treatment as part of the
scheme.
MISCELLANEOUS.
A fairly considerable amount of time is occupied in clearing
blockages in public sewers. The emptying and cleansing of these
by the Local Authority is made obligatory by the Public Health
Act, 1936. The cost of repairs of such sewers, however, is recoverable
from the Owners of houses served. Many of what
were previously termed combined drains in this area are now
public sewers within the meaning of The Act and, as the great
majority of houses are drained by means of public sewers it
will be realised that stoppages, even if occurring in a small percentage
of such public sewers, makes the actual number dealt
with fairly high. It is not always possible, also, to ensure that
repeat blockages do not occur. Occasionally something is
introduced into the sewer which continues to give trouble until
it is finally recovered or pushed into the main sewer in the
roadway. When complaints are received it is necessary first for
an inspector to make an investigation. Whilst doing so and in
order to save valuable time and expense a few rods are taken
and the matter generally attended to there and then. Occasionally
however, the blockage is one requiring calling on the Borough
Engineer to allow the sewermen to take the matter in hand. I
have thought fit to mention these facts as it may be considered
that actual clearing of drains are not matters for inspectors to
do themselves.
As I have said, however, the time and the expense saved
and the satisfaction derived by householders by prompt action
taken to remove conditions possibly prejudicial to health or at
least objectionable and inconvenient, makes the practice well
worth while.
Trouble was experienced during the summer in the neighbourhood
of the California Road depot due to the prevalence
of crickets and flies. Nearby houses suffered an invasion and
it became necessary to take more than routine measures to get
the matter under control. The presence of refuse tips, piggeries
etc., in close proximity to the houses no doubt influenced the
trouble. Extensive areas were treated with Gammexane powder