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17
Local Management Act (referred to under head of Waters),
and Lodging-house Act.
Section 29 Nuisances Removal Act enacts, That whenever
a house occupied by more than one family is so overcrowded
as to be a nuisance or prejudicial to the health of the inhabitants,
the local authority shall, upon the certificate of the
Officer of Health, cause proceedings to be taken before the
Justice, who are empowered to make such order as thev think
fit, and to inflict a penalty, not exceeding 40s., upon the person
permitting such overcrowding. Magistrates have decided
in some cases that overcrowding exists where the amount of
cubic space is less than 400 feet for each person.
Hut these enactments must all fall short of the purpose,
unless better accommodation is provided for the poor, as the
scarcity and high rental of cottages almost necessitates
overcrowding, which, although not so much felt in this
neighbourhood as many others, still obtrudes itself upon our
attention sometimes.
No more benevolent proceeding, to improve the status of the
mechanic and labouring man, to prevent degradation, and
reduce sickness and mortality, could be undertaken, than that
of providing house accommodation for the poorer class; and
if a joint stock company could be formed in every town
(under proper management) for the purpose of purchasing
sufficient land upon which to erect small cottages for the poor,
it would not only be a benevolent undertaking, but would
prove remunerative.
Bakehouses.
During the year 1864 the Act for the Regulation of Bakehouses
came into operation, since which the bakehouses of the
district have been frequently examined, and most of them
have been found to be in a clean state, and the regulations
contained in the Act appear to be carried out. In two instances
the proprietors have had to be cautioned, but exhibited
a readiness to adopt the suggestions of the Inspector.
Cowhouses and Slaughterhouses.
The Cowhouses and Slaughterhouses of the District have
also been inspected, and in one or two instances the licenses
have been opposed, from the fact that they were erected in
the midst of inhabited houses, and that they were not kept in
a sufficiently clean state.
With some exceptions in this district, the animals are