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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.
1865— In some instances in this district houses have
recently been placed so closely together that there is deficient
circulation of air. It seems to me to be essential that the
powers of the Board should be more extended, so as to
prevent houses being placed in such close proximity as to be
detrimental to the health of the inhabitants.
Water.
1856.—The paramount necessity for an abundant supply
of pure water, both for internal use, and for purposes of
cleanliness, cannot for a moment be questioned; but, as
poisons contained in water are introduced into the system in
the most subtle form, and in a condition which renders them
most easily absorbed by the fluids of the body, and in a most
unobserved and gradual manner, it behoves those who have
the custody of the public health to look well into the sources
of supply, and, where public companies are concerned, to its
proper filtration prior to service.
1856.—As drainage is carried out it will be of great
importance to look to the water supply. The supply of
water should be from mains daily or constantly charged.
1857.—I should urge the importance of frequently
cleansing cisterns or other receptacles for water. Many
cisterns which I have examined lately, from the length of
time which has elapsed since they were cleaned, contained
water in a decidedly impure state for drinking. The most
pure supply is liable to contamination from decomposition
and dirt of this kind.
1807. I cannot, however, but constantly observe the
great carelessness evinced by many occupiers of houses as to
the purity of the water supplied to them, and the filthy state