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summer months a small amount of vegetable matter (principally
pea-shells, difficult to separate) renders it liable to become
heated and undergo slight decomposition and putrefaction.
It therefore contaminates the air for a considerable distance
around, while it becomes so heated.
The next product, called " hard core" consists of pots and
pans, stone jars and bottles, clinkers and broken crockery, old
boots, &c.,—it is put aside for the foundation of roads. It often
comprises oyster and fish shells in an offensive condition.
The " soft core" is the next product; it contains sufficient
wood, old straw, paper, mattings, &c. to make fuel for heating
a furnace. The destruction of (i soft core" by burning has
been a very recent experiment, and is intended to save the
large weekly cost of removal by boat. This soft core contains
large quantities of decaying vegetable matter, and other
offensive things, and animal filth in the form of dead cats,
dogs, rats, rabbits, &c. may be found occasionally. The smell
from the chimney is complained of in the neighbourhood.
Complaints and Petitions have been presented recently.
The fourth product represents the ashes or small siftings,
consisting of nearly half of the gross bulk collected. After
being sifted it is placed in boats and taken off into brick-fields
or by trucks from GreatWestern Railway to brick-makers,and is
mixed up with the clay and burned with the substance of brick.
It is obvious that the nuisances above referred to cannot be
entirely or effectually remedied otherwise than by the entire
removal of the trades in question ; but pending the accom
plishment of this desirable object, I submit in obedience to the
resolution of the Committee the following plans for rendering
them as innocuous as may be: —
Regulations may undoubtedly be made under the existing
acts of Parliament by which all kinds of house refuse can be
removed without danger or inconvenience to public health;
that these offensive trades may be made substantially innocuous
by improved management I have also no doubt.