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cause of trouble, while men without an intimate knowledge of
the positions of the manholes and line of drains will often do irreparable
damage, without removing the obstruction or remedying
the nuisance. Owners and occupiers are encouraged to inform
the Sanitary Inspector when the drains are stopped ; but there
are some owners who are reluctant to send for fear the Inspector
may discover some other sanitary defects necessitating remedial
measures being taken, hence the " handy man " is brought in.
Drain Testing.—There have been 1,509 house drains tested
with chemicals, smoke or water ; 1,141 proved sound (being equal
to 76.5 per cent.). In 368 instances defects were discovered,
either in the drain traps or connections. Comparing these figures
with the previous year, when the drains tested were 1,140, drains
in which no defects were discovered being 761, or 66.7 per cent.
of the number tested.
Summary proceedings were instituted for non-compliance
with Sanitary Notices, exposing unsound and diseased food for
sale, contraventions of the Contagious Diseases of Animals Act,
and Public Health Act. Convictions and fines amounting to
£47 18s. 6d. were obtained as under:—