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169
marginal reference of which is "but not to affect
navigation of rivers or canals,"but which in its latter
half goes on to say" and the provisions of this Act
shall not extend or be constructed to extend to mines
of different descriptions so as to interfere with or
obstruct the efficient working of the same, or to the
smelting of ores and minerals, or to the manufacturing
of the produce of such ores and minerals." It must be
nearly twenty years ago that a serious nuisance
arose in Camberwell from the establishment of some
works coming within the last category. The words
which I have quoted, contained in a clause which
apparently could not have any sanitary application
to Camberwell, escaped the notice both of the Vestry
Clerk and of myself. But an astute lawyer, who
appeared before the magistrate on behalf of the
defendants, had unearthed them, and thereby gained
a victory for his clients. A deputation from the
Vestry subsequently waited upon the President of
the Local Government Board and drew his attention
to the defect in the Act. The defect, however, still
remains.
The supply of wholesome water for drinking is
a sanitary requirements of the greatest importance;
and one might suppose that direct powers would be
given to local authorities to require that surface