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36
The water supply to waterclosets in houses occupied by the poorer inhabitants
is generally wanting, though it had been provided in respect of those houses to
which attention had been directed by the Mansion House Council.
In a large number of instances, dust-bins are dilapidated, but in recent years the
Vestry have been engaged in the effort of replacing these by pails. Eight
thousand pails are already in use, and six thousand more have been ordered. But
after the supply of the pail, the old dust-bin has too often been allowed to remain,
and has in its dilapidated form continued to receive refuse, with the result of
causing definite nuisance.
Newly erected houses are necessarily free from many of the faults of those which
preceded them. Nevertheless, comparatively recent houses are fitted with faulty
closet apparatus, and the drains and soil pipes are commonly destitute of ventilation.
Two recently erected blocks of model dwellings inspected by us were open to tho
following objections:—In one (Queen's Buildings) the watcrclosets were placed in
the sculleries without direct light or ventilation; in the other (Quinn's Square),
from the great height of the buildings, abutting on narrow courts, the lower rooms
were so deficient in light as to detract from their healthiness.
It appears to us that the plans of all large blocks of dwellings for the accommodation
of the working class should be subject to approval by some competent authority.
Paving of private roads and courts is in many cases imperfect, but the public
paving has been greatly improved, and is now generally in very good condition.
(Note.—The total length of the highways, including about two miles of
private road, is nearly 42 miles; the sum of 110,764l. has been expended
by the Vestry on carriage and footway pavings since 1855.)
The sewers and drains under the control of the Vestry appear to duly fulfil their
purpose, excepting perhaps a few old brick sewers, which, it is stated, will be dealt
with in due course.
Since 1855 the Vestry have constructed 20 miles of new sewers.
There is no evidence of any special overcrowding of houses by their inmates. In
a few instances, in the course of our inspections, more persons were found to occupy
a single room than would allow for each the amount of cubic space generally
required in the metropolis, and by the model byelaws of the Local Government
Board as to houses let in lodgings. The experience of the medical officer of health
and of the inspectors of nuisances was that such overcrowding was rarely to be
found in the daytime.
The licensed slaughter-houses are 17 in number. The proximity of some of these
to dwelling houses is objectionable, and exception might be taken to the condition
as to cleanliness in which a few were maintained. In other respects they complied
with the byelaws of the Metropolitan Board of Works, and were provided with tho
usual utensils.
Further, a gut-scraping factory was inspected. These premises are subject to
the control under byelaws of the Metropolitan Board of Works. At the time of
inspection the most noticeable defects were defective paving, faulty air-inlet valves,
and badly fitting doors, giving opportunity for effluvium to escape.
There are 33 licensed cowsheds ; all which were inspected were found to comply
with the byelaws for such premises. Milk stores were also inspected with a similar
result.