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being unfit for habitation under the provisions of the Artizans and Labourers
Dwellings Act; but the owner having made some improvements in the
property, the Board did not think it advisable to order the houses to be
demolished. These houses are nevertheless, in my opinion, still unfit for
habitation, for the following reasons, viz., the small size of the rooms, which
is only 12 x 12 x 6½ feet. The Court is entered by a narrow archway and
is blocked up at each end by a wall, so that there is no current of air through
it. The houses are without passage entrances, and the stairs leading to the
upper rooms open from the lower rooms, thus forming a ventilating shaft to
carry the foul air of the lower rooms into the rooms above. In addition to this
sanitary defect there is no back ventilation to the houses; the floor of the
lower rooms is six inches below the level of the Court, and the privies are
within a few feet of the front doors of the houses. I have no hesitation in
saying that all houses in such narrow Courts, and so constructed, are unfit
for habitation, and ought to be demolished.
Slaughter-Houses, Cow-Houses, and Bake-houses.
The slaughter-houses and cow-houses are annually licensed for their
respective purposes, and rules and regulations have been prepared by the
Board, which are, as far as practicable, enforced by the Inspectors, who
frequently make an inspection of all these premises.
Convictions have been obtained against persons using unlicensed slaughterhouses.
Legal proceedings have been taken and convictions obtained against
several persons for exposing for sale food unfit for the use of man.
The bake-houses are likewise regularly inspected with the view of
ascertaining if the provisions of the Act relating to them are duly observed.
The Closing of Vaults undek Churches.
The vaults under Whitechapel Church, Spitalfields Church, Trinity
Minories Church, the German Church in Hooper-square, and the Danish
Church in Well close-square, have been filled up in accordancc with the order
of, and in the manner prescribed by, the Privy Council. The whole of
these works were carried out under my supervision.
Trades Nuisances Abolished.
The most important of these Nuisances, and which more seriously
affected the health of the inhabitants living in their vicinity, were the Bone
Boiling Factories in Thomas Street and in Buck's Row. These are now
abolished, and as no person, under the provisions of the 55th section of the
Building Act, 1844, can lawfully establish or newly carry on this business,
the District will in future be relieved from this disgusting and health-destroying
nuisance.
A Bone Boiling Business in Speck's Buildings was abolished, iu consequence
of proceedings having been taken against the owner. Also,