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superficial area not being concreted might have
caused serious trouble. I need hardly add that this
condition of drainage was at once remedied.
The drainage also of a considerable number of
small houses in Chiswick New Town has been
thoroughly overhauled, and in many instances, having
been found seriously defective, it was necessary to
issue the usual notices requiring them to be re-laid.
In James Street and William Street more especially,
the drain pipes were found disjointed, having a reversed
fall and improper connections, thus allowing
the sewage to escape into the subsoil instead of the
main sewer.
Owing to an outbreak of diphtheria in Bedford
Park during the month of June (to which I have
already alluded), a natural suspicion fell on the
drainage and water supply, and a memorial signed by
several of the inhabitants was presented to the late
Board urging a house-to-house inspection; and acting
upon my recommendation it was decided that the
Sanitary Inspectors should make a careful and
thorough examination of those houses which are in
Chiswick. This was carried out, and as a result many
drains were found defective, in some cases seriously
so, and have since been relaid. In fact at the present
time several of these alterations, such as the ventilation
of drains and the remedying of various sanitary
defects, are in progress.
The water supply of this portion of the district
is constant and has been found on analysis of good
quality.
Under the Housing of the Working Classes
Act, I have had occasion to issue my certificate in