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65
At the time of the Inspector's visit on the 6th July, he found the barge loaded
with stable manure in a decomposing state, and that there were no covers of any
description to cover the refuse, and that no person was in charge of the barge at
the time.
The Bye-laws require that :—
2. Every person who shall load or carry in any ship, boat or vessel within the
district aforesaid any dust, ashes, rubbish, offal, carrion, fish or filth, or other matter or
thing liable to become offensive or to cause a nuisance if exposed to the open air, shall,
except while actually engaged in loading or discharging the same, at all times keep all
such dust, ashes, rubbish, offal, carrion, fish or filth, or other such matter or thing
properly and securely covered, so as to prevent any nuisance arising therefrom, and no
such dust, ashes, rubbish, offal, carrion, fish or filth, or other such matter or thing, shall
be loaded above the coamings or hatches of any such ship, boat or vessel.
3. Where, for the purpose of removal within, or carriage through the District of
the Port Sanitary Authority, any cargo, load, or collection of faecal or offensive or
noxious matter or liquid has been put into or upon any ship, boat or vessel, the owner
or consignee, or any person who has undertaken to deliver such cargo, load, or
collection, or who is in charge of the same, or of such ship, boat or vessel, shall not
without a reasonable excuse, permit or allow or cause such ship, boat or vessel
containing such cargo, load or collection, or any undischarged portion thereof, to remain
within the said district for a longer period than forty-eight hours.
5. If any faecal or offensive or noxious matter or liquid shall have been dropped
or spilt in any ship, boat or vessel while being loaded thereon, or removed or carried in
or through such Port Sanitary District, the Master of such ship, boat or vessel shall
within six hours of the discharge of such matter or liquid so being removed or carried,
cause such ship, boat or vessel to be thoroughly cleansed of and from such matter or
liquid so dropped or spilt.
On the 6th July, a telegram was received by the Dartford Rural District Council,
which read as follows :—" Please viewr barge here putrid dung everybody complaining."
The sender of the telegram complained to the Sanitary Inspector of the Dartford
Council, that the barge had been alongside the " Hard," at Greenhithe, since the 5th,
the contents had not been covered, and the stench filled the house; his son was suffering
from a sore throat caused by the stench, and other people were complaining.
It was ascertained that the cargo was being unloaded and placed in carts which
were covered with cloths.
During the process of unloading the cargo, the carts had to proceed some distance
to the farm, and in the intervals of unloading the cargo was not properly covered.
The usual notice was sent to the owner on the 6th July, and a message was
received from him in reply, that the barge (although belonging to him) was out on hire
to a market gardener at Greenhithe. It was stated, that owing to the excessive heat, all
hands were engaged on fruit-picking, and therefore the cargo had to wait.
On the 7th July it was found that the remaining cargo had been covered—but
there was a most obnoxious smell coming from the cargo.