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26
in the district." Since that date, very few can have escaped
inspection, beyond those more recently erected, and many have
been inspected twice or more since 1894. There must be quite
3,000 such houses to be dealt with in this wav, being occupied
by weekly tenants at rentals of tbout eight to twelve shillings
per week, a small proportion being from six to eight shillings.
It is not possible to proceed with the work, to any extent,
during the winter months, as the more serious nuisances would
not be discovered, owing to the frost, etc., which interferes with
the testing of drains or fittings, as well as the works of abatement.
The nuisances most commonlv found are defective w.c.'s,
drain connections, and dustbins, leaky roofs, wet walls, etc.,
The percentage of defective drains is comparatively low compared
with the earlier vears, manv of such drains having been
repaired or renewed after former inspections.
COTTAGE VISITATION
487 other cottages have been dealt with under this inspection,
which is practicallv a "house-to-house inspection" of
cottage property, without the testing of the drains. It is found
that it takes four or five years to get through all the cottages
(about 3,000), with the drain testing, and as there are numerous
defects apparent on mere inspection only, these can be discovered
and dealt with at times, when, for various reasons, it
is inconvenient or impossible to test the drains. It is not
intended that the thorough house-to-house inspection shall be
in any way neglected, or interfered with.