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5
The number of nuisances abated or in progress, to June 30th, 1858,
is as follows:—
Houses drained into the Sewer 814
Cesspools emptied 846
Houses cleaned and repaired 356
Drains „ „ 544
Other Nuisances abated 1453
Works in progress 79
Total 4092
The large number of nuisances abated speaks well for the energy and
perseverance of Mr. Valentine, the Inspector of Nuisances, especially
when we find that only 30 persons have been summonsed to the Police
Courts, and 2 prosecuted at common law. The plan, however, which
has been adopted at this Board on my recommendation, of requiring
persons to attend here previously to proceedings being taken in the
Police Courts, has strengthened our hands considerably, for no less than
165 persons have been summonsed here during two years, of whom 141
have done the works required. This plan has therefore saved a great
amount of trouble to the officers and of expense to the district. In all
these cases, as well as in a very large number of others, I made personal
inspection of the premises complained of, to ascertain in wnat degree
they were injurious to health and the urgency or otherwise of the works
requisite for abatement of the nuisances.
In connection with nuisances, I may mention the conviction which
has been obtained against Mr. Robins, of Homerton, for carry ing on a
manufactory of Japanned cloth in. such a manner as to prove a nuisance
to the neighbourhood. He pleaded guilty to the indictment on the day
fixed for trial, and agreed to move from the manufactory at Christmas
next ensuing.
The births registered during the thirteen weeks have been 580 in
number, and the deaths 346, so that the excess of births over deaths
was 233, or at the rate of 167 births to each 100 deaths, whilst the
numbers for the whole metropolis were 107,193 deaths to 169,170 births
or at the rate of 158 births to each 100 deaths. This comparison affords