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with a notice previously given him, to abate a nuisance by abolishing a
cesspool, and making a proper drain. Directly he received the summons,
he commenced to do the work, but he did not appear at the court to
justify or explain his conduct ; and as he had commenced the work, the
magistrate would not, in his absence, make an order for costs.
The past year has been distinguished by the commencement of a movement
in the Parish, for providing superior dwellings, with proper regard
to sanitary arrangements, for the working classes, at moderate rents. I
refer to Langbourne-buildings in Mark-street, one block of which is finished
and all occupied, containing 20 separate dwellings, two other blocks aro in
course of erection that will also contain 20 separate dwellings each, and
there is ground for two blocks more, being five altogether, which will,
when completed, contain 100 separate dwellings; and so well has space
been economised in the design, that these 100 dwellings will only cover
the same ground that was previously occupied by 32 small houses of a
very inferior character. The rents of those already inhabited range from
five shillings to seven and sixpence weekly. Each house has a proper
water-closet, with an abundant supply of water for domestic use, a place
for keeping coals, plenty of cupboards, a copper for washing purposes,
and the roof of the building being flat is properly guarded round, and
serves for a drying ground. By a very convenient and ingenious contrivance,
there is in every houso a spout for conveying the dust down to the
dust-bins, which aro concealed under the areas behind; and another
important advantage is they arc fire-proof. In those that are in progress,
there will be a number of tho dwellings lot at four shillings per week each,
having two rooms, with all the conveniences of the others, and that will
be the minimum both of rent and accommodation.
There aro several points of great public importance connected with
these buildings. They arc the first that have been erected in the
metropolis as a purely commercial speculation; and from the nature of
tho material used, and the extraordinary economy of space, the cost of
erection is so moderate as to leave no doubt of their being a profitable
investment; all of what aro called "model lodgings," previously erected,
have either been tho work of individual philantrophy, or associated
charity, where a high remunerative return for the capital invested was
not expected. This has operated against their success, for so long as
these buildings do not pay something like tho same per centage as other