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31
Coroner's Inquests
were held on 15 bodies. Ten of these were due to violence of
various kinds, and 5 to sudden deaths from causes mostly
natural.
General.
The only case of any importance that had to be taken to
the Police Court during 1894, was with reference to a new road
being formed (between Church Lane and Charlton Lane), with
house refuse, etc. Various complaints arose, but for a long
time I was unable to say that any nuisance arose, dangerous
or injurious to the health of the inhabitants, although I by no
means approve of it as a suitable material for making a road, on
or near which houses will eventually be built.
The case was very thoroughly investigated by the Magistrate,
and five hearings took place, during which time he (the
Magistrate) viewed the place, with the result that this refuse,
which had preivously been left very inadequately covered, was
very thoroughly done, and it ended in the Magistrate dismissing
one summons, and advising that the others should be withdrawn.
He gave no costs in these cases, and although he considered
that owing to the more recent measures taken to abate
any nuisance, he intimated that he did not consider house refuse
a suitable material to make roads of near to houses.
This case, although the Board did not obtain a conviction,
is useful in many ways.