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59
state of repair and were an eyesore to the neighbourhood.
Acting upon my suggestion you called upon the Landlord to
remedy numerous defects, which were likely to prove injurious
to health. Complaints were again made last autumn, by the
Coroner and his Jury, of the bad state of the houses, and, at your
request, I have again made a series of examinations of them,
with the Surveyor and Sanitary Inspector. We found that
many of the defects, pointed out in my former report, had been
remedied, and the landlord's agents state that they have spent
more than £200 on the premises. Of course the Sanitary
Authority, cannot interfere with the "Decorative repairs" of
the Cottages; but we have pointed out some still existing defects,
which would be likely to prove injurious to health and notice
has been given to put them right. After the first batch of
repairs had been called for, the landlord increased the rents of
most of the Cottages one shilling per week so that many of the
inhabitants appear to wish we had not interfered. This exemplifies
one of the difficulties which a Sanitary Authority meets with in
administering the law. They frequently get blamed on one hand
for not doing enough and on the other for their "interfering
ways." I may perhaps take this opportunity of saying that I
have always found you most attentive to any representations I
may have thought it necessary to make, as to Sanitary improvements
required; whilst you have been, at the same time, careful
not to give unnecessary trouble or expense to owners of property.
I have the honour to be,
Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
THOMAS MOORE,
D.P.H. Cambridge.