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80
Foremost among the large number of improvements effected
in the Parish during the year, is the supply of fixed water
apparatus and supply to tho water closets. The question of tho
water-supply formed quite an antilogy. In the early days
of the Vestry's good work (1857), when it was attempted to
enforce the supply, summonses wero dismissed, as there was no
nuisance. Water closets within tho Parish in Clerkenwell have
always been required to be furnished with water, and have
always had it. But in the case of those out of doors, in yards,
where a good supply was at hand, this was not enforced.
Sanitary Committee after Committee have viewed these smaller
courts and houses where the water was at hand, and have considered
this sufficient, and in this I concurred. The same opinion
is still entertained in some Parishes, in Islington, for instance,
water is not required to out-door closets where there is no
nuisance. But latterly the magistrates have come to the decided
opinion, that a closet without water is a nuisance. In a recent
case, in my presence, the Defendant, summoned for having no
water to his closet asserted that there was no nuisance. The
Magistrate retorted: Sir, you are talking nonsense, a closet without
water must be a nuisance, and a fine was inflicted. But
public opinion is in favour of the supply, and the Vestry have
decided that it shall be provided, and I am not now aware of tho
existence of a closet in the parish without water.
It will be remembered, that a year or two ago, the agents of
the Mansion House Counsil inspected tho Parish, and found, out
of 464 houses visited, 194 had no water to the w.c. It is curious
that this Parish should have been so specially picked out for
complaint, when during tho last year, water was laid on to 495
closets in Kensington, and 218 in St. Luke's Parish, and in 1884,
there were 3,029 closets without water supply in St. Pancras,
which has since been provided 1 Again, Sir Charles Dilke, after
his inspection of the Parish, said "your water closets and watersupply
are your great point."