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removal of dust numbered 3833, which is above those received in
the previous year. These arose from Mr. Devon not supplying
the Board with the number of carts required by my orders.
I made a personal inspection of a very large number of yards
in various parts of the District to ascertain the kind and extent
of their paving, as well as of their drainage, and the condition
of the water-butts and other water-supply apparatus,
and obtained orders from the Sanitary Committee for the proper
paving and drainage of those which were defective, as well as for
an improvement in the water supply and water-supply apparatus.
The occurrence of typhoid fever on several premises where the
water became contaminated by defective arrangements of one
kind or another showed the necessity for this. As before
mentioned, the average death-rate from fever was smaller than
that of the preceding 10 years, which may perhaps be accounted
for by the improvements made in the water-supply apparatus.
During the year I have made numerous visits to places on
which dust and house refuse were being shot, and especially to
localities where houses were being erected on the deposits which
had been made some time ago. In some cases I induced the
owners of the ground to prevent the dust contractors from
shooting there ; but finding myself powerless to stop the buildings
I brought the matter before you on several occasions, and on
October 1st asked that a case should be prepared and submitted
to counsel for his opinion. In my report I pointed out the
injury which the District had already sustained, and the future
annoyance and injurious consequences which must hereafter
accrue to the inhabit ants if these deposits were not stopped. At
the same time I expressed my opinion that the law as it at
present stands is not adequate for our necessities, unless the
Court of Chancery could interfere. I therefore drew up a list of
questions to be proposed to counsel for opinion, which was
embodied in a ease submitted to him by Mr. Ellis in November,
1875. As the matter is one of considerable importance, I now
lay before you an abstract of the case and the opinion of Mr.
W. H. Michael thereon. After showing that Hackney, being