View report page

45
DRAINAGE WORK.
At 405 houses drains have been tested, and in twelve
instances defects in the drains have been discovered, all by routine
work, such as visits caused by the occurrence of a case of infectious
disease, or complaint of offensive smells. In addition to the
twelve defective drains there were eighteen defective water-closet
connections and 17 defective water-closet traps. In 37 instances
soil pans were renewed or cleansed, and 28 new ventilating pipes
were erected. For the carrying out of these sanitary amendments
the District Inspectors supervise and pass the work. No pipes were
permitted to be covered until they were tested.
SANITARY APPLIANCES.
This term includes the appurtenances to the drains proper and
during the year there have been 110 apparatuses to the water
closets .renewed or repaired, and 48 waste pipes from scullery sinks
and baths were dealt with.
DISEASED AND UNSOUND FOOD.
The markets, slaughterhouses, and premises used for the
preparation and sale of food have received a considerable amount
of attention. In the early months of the year we examined and
dealt with a large quantity of meat, bacon and other foods. If
the condition of the food rendered it unfit for human consumption
it was condemned, treated, and invariably used as food for
animals.
There was one seizure of rancid dripping, that resulted in legal
proceedings, when a fine of £8 was imposed upon the person responsible
for exposing it for sale. The following are the principal
articles of unsound food dealt with during the year :—Meat, bacon,
margarine, fish, cheese, butter, etc.
COLLECTION OF HOUSE REFUSE.
The refuse of the Borough has been collected with regularity.
This work engages 1G horses and vans (the method being a very
slow and expensive one). The Committee realized this some time
since, and had it not been for the war, these slow moving horses
would have been replaced with electrically propelled dust vans.