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105
of the office, and interfered to some extent with the continuous
efficient performance of the ordinary duties of
inspection. But the vacated places have been filled by other
officers, and towards the close of the year ending March
25th, 1889, five Inspectors were, I am pleased to say, in
full work.
The total number of houses inspected for the first time
was less than that inspected in the previous year; but the
number of re-inspections was larger. The great bulk of the
work performed was of the ordinary character, and needs
no explanation or comment.
I pointed out in my last report that for several years
past the Inspectors had been giving more and more attention
to what I termed "the niceties" of drainage; meaning
thereby all those details which are necessary to ensure that
drainage shall be not only efficient but also safe. This is
a subject of the highest importance for the sanitary wellbeing
of the Parish.
The sewerage of London, so far at any rate as concerns
the arrangement and construction of the main sewers bv
Sir Joseph Bazalgette, under the direction of the late Metropolitan
Board, and the arrangement and construction of the
local sewers by the parochial Surveyors, under the direction
of the Vestries and Local Boards, has, on the whole, as will
generally be acknowledged, been admirably carried out.
But in order to secure efficient and safe drainage it is essential,
not only that the channels by which sewage is conveyed
from dwelling-houses and other buildings and their adjuncts
to the outlets of the main sewers should be as perfect as they
can be made, but that also, on the one hand, all the details
connected with the removal of sewage from premises should