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of Beverley Brook, its tributaries and ditches. In July, 1910, I
reported at length on the condition of Palewell Common, and
incidentally on the state of the well and the ditches. I recommended
that the " well," or rather, the pond and contributing
springs, should be properly cleansed, protected from contamination
by a cattle fence, and maintained at a level by a properly arranged
wear and sluice, with drainage through agricultural pipes into the
ditch. I also recommended that the ditch (which drains into Beverley
Brook) should be properly kept up by a hedger and ditcher. It
does not seem likely that these very necessary things will be done
unless the Common is taken over and managed by the Council
under a scheme. That this should occur is, from every point of
view, most desirable, but though the idea commands general assent,
and has been seriously discussed, I am not aware that any definite
steps have been taken.
The Beverley Brook, and particularly its propensity to overflow
its banks, is a topic of perennial interest.
At the present moment some rather interesting legal questions
are being discussed concerning the Authority really responsible for
its care, and I understand that there is very good reason for
holding that, having been a sewer, in a technical sense, under the
old Metropolitan Board of Works, it is to the London County
Council that we must look to find the body that now has it in
charge. Be that as it may, a conference has been arranged to discuss
the subject of flooding, &c., and at this conference
representatives of the various riparian authorities will be present.
Milk and Food Supply.
It will be seen from the tables appended to this report that
very many inspections have been made of the places where milk is
sold in this district; and I am glad to say that I have again noticed
in the course of my visitations, a marked improvement in their