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96
Public Mortuary, &c.
There were only four dead bodies removed by your Board to the
mortuaries at the Cemeteries during last year. There have been a
great many bodies removed by the police to the mortuary at the
Fulham Union Workhouse. It is necessary that in every district
there should be a public mortuary where bodies of persons who
have died in the street or for whom there is not proper accommodation
at their residences can be taken to. Your Board have had
under consideration the question of your providing a public
mortuary, with coroner's court and post mortem room in conformity
with 27 and 28 sect, of the Sanitary Act, 1866. Owing to the proposed
change in the Local Self Government of the Metropolis you
have decided not to build one at present. The Fulham Board of
Guardians having refused to allow bodies brought by the police to
be any longer received at their mortuary at the Fulham Union
Workhouse 96 your Board has fitted up a temporary mortuary and
post mortem room at the Wharf in the Chancellors.
Chancery Proceedings.
The action against the Metropolitan Railway Company for
creating a nuisance at the Hammersmith station of the Metropolitan
Railway by the manufacture of gas has terminated. A perpetual
injunction has been granted restraining the Company, their officers
or servants, from manufacturing at the said station gas so as to
create a nuisance and the Company were ordered to pay the costs
of the Action, and the costs of the Motion.
The Chancery Action taken by you against the Manbre
Saccharine Company for creating a nuisance has terminated by a
verdict being returned for the defendants: "That there was no
nuisance, and never had been one." The case was heard before
Lord Coleridge and a special Jury. Very strange to say the Lord
Chief Justice expressed himself as fully satisfied with the verdict,
and your Board was ordered to pay the costs of the action. There
can be no doubt about the fact that a most serious nuisance was
caused at the works. I am informed by several of the inhabitants
that the nuisance is at times as bad as ever. I was and am of
opinion that an injunction ought to have been granted. I gave
evidence "that the nuisance was at times and in my opinion would
be as bad as ever." Your Board have done your duty in the
matter, and you are not responsible for the health and comfort of
the inhabitants being sacrificed.
The average mean temperature registered during last year was
49°5 Fahrenheit. The highest temperature registered was 81°0;
the lowest 22°2. The total quantity of rain registered as falling
in the year was 27.11 inches.
I am, Gentlemen,
Your Obedient Servant,
N. C. COLLIER,
Medical Officer of Health.