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7
Second to these only, is the frequent removal of the dust and
refuse from the houses. Such removal being for the offensive
and insoluble solid matter, what drainage is for the noxious
quids.
In Rotherhithe, our drainage has improved and is daily improving,
our water-supply, although too scanty in the western
district, is certainly of better quality than formerly, but in regard
to getting rid of the solid refuse, we seem to retrograde instead
of advancing. Complaints are being continually made to me of
he neglect of the scavengers, and dustbins are shown to me
rammed and overloaded with offal.
The landlord of Hanover-street called (on May 22nd), by a
??? my attention to the state of the above-named street. In
every yard there is a huge heap of dust, ashes, and rotting
vegetable matter, the latter at this season of the year becoming
particularly offensive, and likely to breed fever. The quantity
of refuse in this locality alone was estimated by the landlord at
thirty cartloads, which estimate, after personal inspection, I
consider too low. I have thought it my duty to bring this
matter under the notice of this Board, that such a growing
nuisance be suppressed at once, and some regulation be adopted
for a systematic removal of the refuse from the houses. Days
were originally fixed by the Board for this object, and placards
were posted up allotting a day of the week to each district, that
the inhabitants might know when to expect the dust-cart. This
excellent scheme has been practically annulled by the carelessness
of the scavengers.
The house No. 1, Albion-street, has been frequently examined
by me. A slight urinous smell can always be detected at that
part of the wall where the urinal of the Albion public-house is
placed. The urinal has long stood there, and is much used.
Great inconvenience arises from the suppression of such places,
the public still continue to resort to the spot after they have
been suppressed. This unpleasantness is felt in Rose and
Rummer-lane where an old urinal has been bricked up, and the
inhabitants of the neighbouring houses complain of the indecent
consequences.
A large cesspool, common to the three houses Nos. 27, 28, and
32, Surrey-place, is full, and occasions a nuisance in Record's
Cottage, Cow-lane, which is adjacent to it. A notice has been
served.
The cesspool of 367 and 368, Rotherhithe-street, has been
dug out of the yard of No. 1, Queen-street, where it is merely
boarded over. The covering of the cesspool occupying about
half the yard, and being eight or nine inches above its level,
when the cavity is full the liquid matter oozes through the