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???have re-appeared ; two deaths from the former, and one from the latter,
hang been registered.
Yours respectfully,
???nuary, 1862. W. MURDOCH.
SEVENTY-THIRD REPORT.
Gntlemen,
In my Report of December, 1861,1 described the flooded state of many of
??? back-yards of the houses on the north side of Commercial Street, Dept???
Road. My attention has been again called to that place, and on
???day, 31st ult., it was visited and carefully examined by the Surveyor, Mr.
???g, and myself. I have but little to add to the statements previously made.
???The back premises of the dwelling-houses, numbered from 1 to 9, have not
???fered, but between Nos. 10 and 31, and also in William Street, and in
???ederick Place, Commercial Street, a great number of the yards have been
???ndated. In some cases the water has nearly covered the yards, in others
???has penetrated under the flooring of the houses, rendering them wet and
???wholesome Several persons in the row have been affected with rheu???tism,
which they naturally enough attribute to the dampness of their
???ellings. The flooding seems to be caused, not exactly by leakage of the
???bankment, as is generally believed, but by filtration or percolation of the
???ter through the earth, and becomes, as might be expected, much worse
???en the tide rises in the timber pond, the pressure being thereby increased.
Let it be remarked here, that the greater number of the dwellings
amined in Commercial Street, do not possess those sanitary requirements
???hich are deemed necessary for every well-regulated residence. Thus, none
the water-closet6 are supplied with water, many of the pans are full, and
???ong the whole road we did not see one properly-constructed dust-bin. The
eaps of ashes and house refuse in almost every yard, spoke little in favour of
???he tidy habits of the inhabitants, or the diligence of the dustmen.
At the Jolly Calkers, at some distance from the road, there is a wooden
???rinal, which is often in a dirty state. The floor is stone paved, and has in
???a small grating about four inches square, communicating with a cesspool,
notice has been served to the effect that the drainage of the urinal be
???cnnected with the sewer.
Some complaints of offensive smells issuing from the Guano-sheds,
???plough Bridge, were made in the early part of January. Fish steaming has
???ot, of late, been practised there. The stench arose from the process of
???mplying the tank containing the liquid result of former cookings. As the