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32.
Several small sections of the sewers were treated for minor
infestations.
Liaison is maintained with officers of the infestation division
of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and Workable Area
Committee meetings were held from time to time at which difficulties and
new methods of rodent control were discussed.
INSECT PESTS
As in previous years the department was able to be of assistance
by giving advice and help to members of the public who suffered inconvenience
from insect pests.
Considerable nuisance was experienced from wasps during the very
warm dry summer and the department gave all possible assistance and
advice, in fact 243 wasp nests were destroyed and the cost of work was
recovered from the occupiers.
The carpet beetle, clover mite and ant continued to be most
troublesome. Six rooms were treated for infestations of bugs and 22
rooms for fleas.
Twenty-five council houses were inspected for evidence of vermin.
By arrangement with the Surrey County Council seven school kitchens
and canteens were sprayed with a residual insecticide as a deterrent
against insect infestation.
CARAVANS
There are no caravan sites in the Borough. Licences were
granted to station one moveable dwelling in the area.
PUBLIC SEWERS
Stoppages in public sewers (combined drains) were cleared by the
department on two hundred and sixty-two occasions. In a few instances
the assistance of sewermen from the Borough Engineer's department had to
be obtained.
RAINFALL
Table showing rainfall in the district during 1959, taken at the
Hogsmill Valley Joint Sewerage Board, California Road, New Maiden.