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as in the case of 189, Amhurst Road, which is a large private house with similar
houses on each side. An aerated water factory was built at the side of 189,
Amhurst Road in 1928, together with a garage and stable which was placed in
the garden abutting immediately on the garden of the adjoining property. The
ostensible access to the stable is from a rear passage out of Downs Park Road.
The establishment of this business, in itself naturally a grievance to the adjoining
household, is aggravated by the fact that the owner of the factory finds it convenient,
owing to the arrangement of the premises, to bring his horse through
the factory instead of using the rear passage. Since the owner has been warned
he has not been observed by the District Sanitary Inspector to do this, but the
neighbouring owner states that it still occurs at about 10 p.m. occasionally.
Aerated water factories so constructed that it is more convenient to bring horses
to their stable through the factory itself than by any other route are, in my
opinion, undesirable.
INABILITY OF SANITARY AUTHORITY TO DEAL WITH CERTAIN
COMPLAINTS.
It is certainly a misfortune to a person who purchases a house in what he
fondly believes is likely to remain a residential neighbourhood to find a large
well-built house next door converted into a cabinet-making or aerated water
factory, as in the case already mentioned. Such a happening may, in fact, obviously
cause a serious depreciation in the value of his property, as well as actual discomfort.
Such a depreciation has occurred in Leadale Road owing to the manner
in which it was permitted to establish timber works at the back of that road.
The area of the site of the most recently established works is about 640 feet
by 140 feet, and against the fence at the bottom of the 35 feet of garden that
each adjoining house possesses, the owners have placed various sheds for the
purpose of their work, from the point of view of the owners of the houses, the
most unfortunate position possible on the site. Vigors, an adjoining timber
works, causes infinitely less nuisance owing to the better use of their site. Here
is an extract from a letter dated November 18th, 1925, from No. 29, Leadale
Road:—
" You are probably aware that within the last twelve months certain
saw mills have been erected at the back of the above road, facing the
river. The last to be completed is owned by Messrs. Morris & Co., whose
works adjoin the garden fences. From this building there is emitted every
day thick volumes of smoke and soot, which make it impossible not only
to use the garden, but even to obtain requisite ventilation for the back rooms.
This same firm have a practice of lighting a huge fire of wood shavings on
the open ground a few yards from the fence, and this is kept going from
7.30 a.m. until late at night.
Apart from the noise of the machinery, which we are unfortunately
compelled to put up with, you will appreciate the nuisance that the whole
road is subjected to by this intolerable state of affairs.”
Complaints of various kinds have continued as regards this work, the
owners abating some nuisances, others of different nature arising and receiving
attention, and others continuing for which no powers for enforcing abatement
exist. Here is the most recent with regard to that factory—March 7th, 1929—
from No. 39, Leadale Road:—
“ There has been erected a dust collecting plant just at the back of
my garden. There is a leakage from the funnel over the shed of this plant,
and the saw-dust is collecting on this shed and is being blown all over my
garden, as well as in the neighbouring gardens, making our gardens look
like a refuse heap. It is impossible to allow the children to go out into the