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Owing to either ignorance or want of interest in such matters by
the occupiers, nothing was suspected until the occupants developed
very bad throats and diarrhoea, when upon investigation this was
found to be the cause.
Sec. 35 of the Public Health Acts Amendment Act, 1907, now
gives power to remedy the evils of improperly placed, constructed,
or neglected cisterns.
During the year ten notices of withdrawal of water supply
have been received from the Water Board.
Samples of the water from a well found to be the only water
supply to premises in New Maiden were taken and submitted for
analysis.
As the report was very unsatisfactory, notices were served to
provide a proper and efficient water supply, and to discontinue the
use of the water from the well.
At the close of the year this matter is in hand.
House Accommodation.—During the year the following
buildings were completed and Certificates of Occupation granted
by the Surveyor. 165 new houses, 1 Milk Store, 1 Bathroom and
W.C., 1 Store and Coal House, and 1 Stable building. In addition
to these the Dormitories at the Kingston Guardians Union Farm
were completed.
Housing of the Working Classes Act, 18)0.—During the
year 4 notices were served under Part 2 of this Act. In all cases
the condition of the premises was owing to continual neglect on
the part of the owner, nothing evidently having been done in maintenance
for a number of years, and consequently the premises
going from bad to worse.
In one instance it was found that only one W.C. was provided
for 3 houses. This has been remedied ; a W.C. now provided
for each house, sinks provided inside the houses, a necessity to
cleanliness which hitherto had not existed, and the premises
redrained, etc.
Beverley Brook.—No complaint has been received during the
past year from the Thames Conservancy regarding this stream. I
found, however, that there existed a source of pollution in the
Old Maiden district from the overflowing of the contents of a
cesspool. The conditions were drawn to the owners attention,
and the premises were entirely redrained and connected to the
Council's sewer.