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11
Under the provisions of this ACt of Parliament, in 1877 your late
Medical Officer represented to the Metropolitan Board of Works
certain houses included in a portion of the District,
Artizans' and known as the "Bell Lane area." On the 28th of
Labourers' May, 1885, I directed your attention to the same
Dwellings Act. area, and I explained that although much had been
effected in the way of improving separate houses,
yet the area as a whole could only be effectually dealt with by an
improvement scheme such as the above ACt provided for. A Deputation
from your Board waited upon the Metropolitan Board of
Works, and the Rev. R. C. Billing, M.A., in introducing the deputation,
fully explained the condition of the houses, streets and courts
comprised in the area. On the 25th of July, the Works and General
Purposes Committee accompanied by the Chairman of the Metropolitan
Board of Works, and also by several members of your Board,
inspected the property, and subsequently I attended at Spring
Gardens to confer with the Board's Officers upon the question. Those
gentlemen were in possession of even minute details regarding the
houses—and although the matter has been deferred by the Metropolitan
Board of Works, the necessity for interference is so great
that I believe the Bell Lane scheme will be the next improvement of
the kind which that Board will undertake. The concluding statistics
which I have the honor to submit for your consideration (Table G,
page 16) are probably the most valuable, as evidence of the chief
Sanitary work performed by your Inspectors, Messrs. Battram and
Wrack, during the year. I have to thank those gentlemen not only
for the manner in which their duties have been conducted, but for the
ready way in which suggestions from myself have been accepted and
carried into effect.
The mean weekly temperature of the air during the year was
48°.8 Fahrenheit, which was slightly below the average for many
years. The highest temperature recorded was
Meteorological 90°.2 Fahr., on July 26th, and 84°.7 on July 6th ;
Returns. whilst the lowest registered temperature was 22°.3,
on the 22nd January. On the nth December the
thermometer stood at 23°.3. Rain or Snow fell on 167 days to an
aggregate of 24.05 inches.
I have the honour to be, Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
To the Board of Works, JOSEPH LOANE.
Whitechapel District.