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complaints besides those already mentioned, some diseases of children, and forty eight
inquests, made up the remaining three hundred and thirty seven deaths.
For the abatement of nuisances it was necessary to serve one hundred and sixty
four notices; a few summonses were also issued, which were attended with a successful
result in every case; and it affords me satisfaction to state, that during the last seven
years, no process has been issued in any of the superior Law Courts.
An .unusual form of nuisance occasioned more than ordinary trouble; a person
from Stoke-upon-Trent, rented an arch of the South Eastern Railway Campany, situated
in this parish, and deposited therein some tons of a substance technically called "Pure,"
this mis-named stuff' is the excrement of dogs; it was sent from the midland Counties
in casks, deposted in a tank, and then subjected to a process of stirring and other
manipulation, which caused an intolerable smell; this "Pure" is used by Tanners,
and whatever consideration a nuisance of this description might receive, in a neighbourhood
where the business of Tanning is carried on, it was certainly unfair to introduce
it into a parish where there is not a single Tanning establishment; the first step taken
to remove the nuisance was by notice, which received no attention, a summons was then
issued, and after two hearings at the Greenwich Police Court, it was arranged that the
Magistrate should visit the premises, who declared a nuisance to be in existance and
inflicted a fine; this fine was paid, but did not cause the removal of the nuisance,and
a second summons was issued, the fine doubled, and the defendant left the premises a
few days afterwards.
No complaints have been made of the quantity or quality of the water supplied
by the Kent Water Company, but in accordance with annual custom very loud
complaints were made of insufficient quantity received from the Southwark and
Vauxliall Water Company, in some parts of the parish the scarcity was so severely
felt, as to induce the inhabitants to send a memorial to the Vestry, the supply however
improved, and further action was not deemed expedient.
The panic caused by the Cattle plague having subsided, the business of Cowkeeping
seems to be flourishing, the animals are more numerous, and lodged in more
commodious and better constructed premises than formerly, when inspected, the Cowhouses
were found in fair condition.
No complaints could be made of the condition of the Slaughter-houses, when they
were periodically inspected.
The state of the Bake-houses when they were inspected, was on the whole satisfactory.
The Dusting and Scavinger's work has been performed during the year, as well as
on former occasions.
For the assistance you have given me in the discharge of my duties, and the
co-operation of my colleagues, I return my best thanks.
Yours respectfully,
SAMUEL TILLEY.