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milk store or milk shop for any purpose incompatible with the
proper preservation of the milk, or to use any milk vessels which
are likely to cause contamination of the milk. The penalty for
neglect is a sum not exceeding £20, and will, doubtless, if
enforced as occasion may arise, prevent many of the objectionable
practices which have hitherto prevailed.
During the year the Metropolitan Board of Works were
successful in passing an Act of Parliament for making
considerable alterations and amendments in the Building Act.
Amongst other things they are empowered to make bye-laws
respecting the foundations and sites of houses to be constructed
after the passing of the Act, and as to the manner in which the
foundations and sites shall be made, found, excavated, filled up,
prepared, and completed for securing stability of the buildings,
and for purposes of health. Also as to the description and quality
of the substances of which the walls are to be constructed for the
prevention of fires, and for purposes of health. They are also
empowered to issue regulations for other purposes not connected
with sanitary matters, which I need not enumerate. I gave
evidence on behalf of the Metropolitan Board, as to the necessity
for some such regulations as these, because in my opinion many
unhealthy dwellings are being and have been erected in this
District. Under this power the Metropolitan Board has issued
a comprehensive and strict set of regulations forbidding buildings
being erected on made ground if the deposit contained any fcecal,
animal, or vegetable matter, or if it consisted of dust or similar
refuse, unless the same be removed and the site tilled up with
brick rubbish or like material. Also requiring that a layer of
concrete, six inches thick, should be laid over the whole site; that
mortar of good quality, made with clean sand or grit and lime,
should be used; and that the concrete should be composed of
clean gravel, or broken hard brick and lime. Also that every wall
of a house shall have a damp proof course throughout its whole
thickness, one foot above the level of the ground if there be a
basement, and one foot above the base of the wall if there be no