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ARTIZANS’ AND LABOURERS' DWELLINCS ACTS.
In continuation of the paragraph in my last Annual Report
upon this subject I have to report as follows:—
55 & 57, BROOK STREET.
The Board considered the reports of the Medical Officer and
myself as to these houses, and Mr. Knight the Surveyor of the
'owner attended and stated their objections to the same, particularly
to that part which alleged that tin- defects could not be remedied
by structural alterations and improvements and that the houses
ought to be demolished. Mr Knight said that in his opinion the
premises could be made fit for habitation and that the owners were
prepared to carry out such works as were necessary for the purpose,
and the Board accordingly adjourned the matter until the next
meeting and requested Mr. Knight to furnish a schedule of the
works which the owners were ready to execute.
At the adjourned consideration, the Board having resolved
itself into Committee, I reported upon the plans and schedule of
works submitted on behalf of the owners (a copy of which schedule
had been sent to each member of the Board) and which it was urged
would put the premises into a condition fit for habitation. I pointed
out that certain defects referred to in the reports were not dealt with
in the schedule, and Mr. Knight informed the Committee that the
owners were willing to perform the works required for the purpose
of remedying the name. Mr. Knight having retired, I stated that
as the owners had expressed their willingness to carry out the works
included in the schedule, I was of opinion that it would not be
advisable for the Board to insist on the demolition of the premises,
and possibly incur the serious expense of an appeal by the owners
to the Court of Quarter Sessions and probably fail as the Court
would consider the plans and schedule which had been submitted
and not the original reports.
As a result the following Resolution was passed:— "That the
"Clerk be and he is hereby directed to draw up and submit to the
"next Meeting of the Board an order upon the owners to execute
"the several works included in the schedule submitted on their
"In-half, and the additional works agreed to by Mr. Knight, and
"added to such schedule." Such order was in due course approved
by the Board and served upon the owners of the houses, who
subsequently complied therewith.