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boiler, fellmonger, slaughterer of cattle, sheep, or horses, soap-boiler, tallow-melter,
tripe-boiler, and any other like business, offensive or noxious, so far as relates to the
erection of buildings in the neighbourhood of any such business, and so far as relates to
the carrying on of any such business in the neighbourhood of any public way or of other
buildings of the first or dwelling-house class. That it shall not be lawful hereafter to
erect any buildings of the first or dwelling-house class nearer to than fifty feet from any
building which shall be in use for any such offensive or noxious business ; but if a building
already existing within fifty feet be hereafter burnt, pulled down, or destroyed by tempest,
such building may be rebuilt; and that it shall not be lawful for any person to establish
or newly carry on any such business, either in any building or vault, or in the open-air,
at. a less distance than forty feet from any public way, or than fifty feet from any other
such buildings of the first or dwelling-house class, and that if any such business be now
carried on in any situation within such distances, then, from the expiration of the period
of thirty years next, after the passing of this Act, it shall cease to be lawful to continue
to carry on such business in such situation, save as is hereinafter provided; and that if
any person erect any building in the neighbourhood of any such business contrary to this
Act, then, on conviction thereof before two justices, he shall forfeit a sum not exceeding
fifty pounds, for every day during which such building shall remain near to such offensive
or noxious business; or if any person establish anew any such business, or carry on any
such business contrary to this Act, then, on conviction thereof before two justices, such
person is hereby made liable to forfeit, for every day during which such business shall be
carried on, a sum not exceeding fifty pounds, as the justices shall determine, and that it
shall be lawful for the justices also to award to the prosecutor such costs as shall be
deemed reasonable."
Now, although by this clause the newly-setting up of private slaughter
houses was prohibited, yet, many new ones have been licensed during the
past few years, and, for the benefit of those unacquainted with the
system, I will here describe the routine that has to be gone through when
a person desires to get such license. This can only be obtained once a
year; that is in the month of October. A month's prior notice must be
given to the Clerk to the Magistrates, and also to the Vestry, of the
intention to apply at the special session holden for the purpose. Then
the Sanitary Staff inspect the premises; see that they are properly
constructed, ventilated, paved, and drained. A Report is sent up to the
Sanitary Committee, who then visit the premises, and in their turn send
up a Report to the Vestry, who have always, in my experience, adopted
such Report, and voted powers for the Committee to carry out the
resolutions contained therein.
The Medical Officer of Health then takes his instructions as to who
shall be opposed and who shall not. He attends at the sessions, when
the names of those applying are called over; and when no opposition
is given by the Vestry or others, the license is invariably granted.