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3
In 1866 (the Cholera year), Mr. W. W. Burrows was appointed
a temporary inspector. Six months afterwards this appointment
was made permanent. There were now three Inspectors working
together,—two of whom devoted their whole time to Sanitary work,
while tho third had other parochial duties to perform, in consideration
of which ho only received a proportionate salary. he was,
however, assigned a district, which though in area nearly one half
of the Parish, yet contained but very few houses, as it included
Victoria Park, the Green, and much vacant land, which however
has since been built upon.
Mr. Christey had a severe illness in 1870, which left him incapacitated
for work, and as it was not considered advisable to superannuate
him, he was made an assistant Inspector at £50 a year, and did no
more duty. At this juncture, Mr. J. Lapworth, a clerk in the
Surveyor's department, was appointed a Nuisance Inspector, and
took over Mr. Christey's district.
The first Medical Officer of Health was Mr. Pearce, he was
suooeeded by Dr. Sarvis in 1864. Dr. Sarvis held office till
his death in 1875, and then your present Medical Officer was
appointed.
The amount of work devolving upon the Sanitary Staff increased
as time went on. No. 3 district, which had originally the fewest
houses, beoame gradually covered with buildings. The population
of the Parish rapidly increased, and of course added very considerably
to the work of the department. Year by year new Acts of
Parliament have augmented the duties of the Inspectors, amongst
these I may mention the Sanitary Act of 1866, and other amending
Acts, the Bakehouse Regulation Act, and the Food and Drugs'
Act.
It will thus be seen that though for the last twenty years there
have been three Inspectors, only two have devoted their whole time
to Sanitary duties, while the third Inspector, whose district equalled
in area that of the other two put together, only gave as much
time as he could conveniently spare from his other multifarious
duties, to Sanitary work.