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caused by refuse poured into the Board's sewers. On the other
hand it was evident from the locality where the smells were most
intense, and from their nature, that they were caused by sulphur
compounds from Berger's Colour Works. The Metropolitan
Board of Works, under whose charge the Wick Road sewer is
placed by Act of Parliament, took proceedings against Messrs.
Berger, after having obtained proof that the offensive refuse
came from their works, and I am glad to say that the Board has
been successful in compelling Messrs. Berger to decompose and
precipitate all the sulphur compounds in a tank before the refuse
enters the sewer. Since the precipitating tank has been constructed,
and the sulphur deposited in it, all offensive smell has
ccased. This result shows that my contention was correct, viz.
that it was the duty of the Metropolitan Board of Works to
take the steps necessary for the abatement of this abominable
nuisance, and not the Hackney Board. Another nuisance
arising from effluvia occasionally evolved from Messrs. Barnes'
premises at Hackney Wick, but in Bow Parish, will soon be
remedied under the provisions of the "Alkali Works Regulation
Act," which requires that all makers of certain chemicals named
therein, shall make such alterations in their works to the
satisfaction of the Local Government Board Inspectors, as are
necessary to prevent the works from being an annoyance to the
adjoining neighbourhood, by the escape into the air of the
injurious gases. There are no manufactures in this District
which come under the provisions of this Act, as I have
always discouraged the erection of any buildings for offensive
businesses.
Amongst the unusual occurrences of this year have been the
extensive floods in the Hackney Marshes and their vicinity,
which rose so high that in March there were 99 premises flooded,
and in December no less than 395, the majority of the houses
being on the lower part of the Clapton Park Estate. These
floodings have added to the labours of the Sanitary Staff, as
notices were served on the landlords to remove the accumulations