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43
It is to be hoped that strong representation will be made to push on
this scheme, and that the Council should not only favour the scheme,
but warmly support it.
A combined drainage scheme, carrying away the sewage from your
district, would be the best solution of our difficulties and those of our
neighbours, besides releasing a large quantity of land for other more
useful purposes.
There were no complaints of smells arising from the sewers in the
streets. The Surveyor has erected ten ventilating shafts, 30 feet high,
at points where sewer gases were most likely to accumulate, and there
are now throughout the district fifty-one of these shafts.
HOUSING OF THE WORKING CLASSES.
Ample and sufficient accommodation is provided in your district, and
practically there is no overcrowding. The rents prevailing for accommodation
near the railway stations are in excess of what the average
workman can pay, although within the means of the thrifty artisan, and
much still might be done under Part 3, Housing of the Working Classes
Act, by judicious municipal enterprise in the erection of cheap selfcontained
workmen's cottages, when the proposed scheme of Electric
Tramways is completed, and if the City and N.E. Suburban Electric
Railway scheme become an accomplished fact, very large tracts of
unoccupied land will be available for buildings of this description.
All new buildings have to conform to the bye-laws (Model Bye-laws
of the L.G.B.), and are supervised by the Surveyor, and two Building
Inspectors are constantly employed under his supervision. That .this
latter precaution is absolutely necessary is apparent, considering the
number of new houses built yearly.
MORTUARY
This building, erected in 1901, and fitted up for the reception of
infectious and non-infectious bodies, with post-mortem room attached,
is of the most modern type, and has been a great acquisition to the
district. During the year under review, a commodious building, suitable
for the holding of inquests, and fitted up for that purpose, has been
erected, and in future there will be no need to hold inquests at publichouses.
The Coroner and his jury, as well as the public and press who
have to attend, will appreciate the new order of things.