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44
meable material. In the report above alluded to, I commented
upon the unsatisfactory state of the sewers and drains in this
locality as to their fall. This matter has been taken up since by
the General Purposes Committee and the London County Council,
the result being, that on the 7th of May, 1896, the Clerk to the
latter body informed the Hackney Vestry that "for the purpose of
relieving the sewers in the neighbourhood of Hackney Wick, the
Council has decided to construct a new sewer there, and the
necessary preliminary investigations are at present being carried
out with that object."
When this work is accomplished, an improvement ought to be
apparent in the health of this district.
On the 8th of February a sub-committee of the Sanitary
Committee visited Hackney Wick to view some of the property
there. Subsequently, I made a representation in regard to certain
houses under the Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1890, in
order, if possible, to obtain closing orders; but upon hearing the
summonses, the magistrate adjourned them to enable the owners to
put the houses into habitable condition. This was done, and the
summonses were ultimately withdrawn.
THE RIVER LEA.
Frequent analysis of samples of this river water made during
the year by the Public Analyst indicate its continued, if not increasing,
pollution. Indeed, it is difficult to imagine how the quality
of the water could improve with an increasing population along its
course, and a continuance of its main pollutions. Frequent and
loud complaints were made of the foul condition of its shallow
branches in Hackney during last year. The summer being extremely
hot and dry, the water became extremely offensive, due chiefly to
the sewer effluents of Walthamstow and Leyton, which are poured
into this part of the river. While this continues, the condition
of the water will remain highly polluted, and complaints will
be repeated during the summer months.