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said to have been used as a depot for emigrants, afterwards it became a registered
common lodging-house, and is now converted into dwelling houses.
The owner has expressed his willingness to carry out any improvement
that may be suggested, if it is practicable to do so.
Water Supply, Constant Service.
The water supply on the constant service is now general in the
Northern part of the district, which is within the water limits of the East
London Company. From inquiries which the Inspectors have made of the
inhabitants, it appears that the change from the intermittent to the
constant service has given satisfaction ; and no inconvenience has been
experienced by the inhabitants while the alterations in the fittings were in
progress, and the expense has not been complained of, either to the Board
or its Officers. The cost to the owners, in making the alterations, ranges
from 7/6 upwards; the amount depending upon the length of new pipe
required. In some cases there has been no occasion to disturb the old
fittings. The supposed cost of alterations has not been nearly so great as
was anticipated, and I may add, that the companies are desirous to lessen
as much as possible the expense to the owners of property. The screw-down
taps are in general use, and they appear to be the best for private dwellings.
The Kilmarnock machine, Kennedy's and Guest & Chrimes' patents, are probably
the best adapted for Courts; but no doubt further improvements in the
course of a short time will be made in the several apparatuses now in use.
Every house in the district where a constant supply is given will be provided
with a stop cock, situated in the street, so that in the event of the fittings
getting out of repair, the occupiers can turn off the water pending the repairs.
The constant water supply is a question of so much importance to the
public health that I purpose making a few remarks upon the subject; and
before doing so, it may not be uninteresting to give a brief history of the
water supply in this district since the formation of the Union in 1834.
In the first volume of the report of the Commissioners, for inquiry
into the state of large towns and populous districts, 1844, it is stated in
evidence that the water supply was generally given only three times a week.
A few years after (1847) it was given daily, Sundays excepted. This, I
am informed, was a voluntary move on the part of the Companies; and in
the year 1871, by the provision of the Metropolis Water Act, (section 6,)
it was made compulsory on the Water Companies to supply water every day,
Sundays included. Several Courts in this district were before the year
1844, either entirely without any water supply, or water was provided for
the inhabitants by means of a pump, the water from which was unfit for
drinking purposes; and where a pump did not exist, the people had to fetch
the water from a distance. The majority of the Courts were, at the formation
of your Board, supplied with water by means of stand-pipes, from which
the water flowed for about one hour each day, when the inhabitants had to
wait for their turn, to fill such vessels as they might be possessed of, and
store the same in their rooms until the next day, when the water was again