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35
In two places I had to order the removal of horses which were kept
inside of dwelling-houses and were also a nuisance to the inhabitants of
neighbouring houses.
I made the usual periodical inspections of the licensed slaughter-houses
85 in number, and cow-houses 51 in number, and found them generally
satisfactory, and any suggestions made for improvement, promptly
executed.
During the year there were 1580 applications to have dust removed;
which were duly given to the contractor and properly attended to.
The cleansing of the roads and streets has been upon the whole, regular
and satisfactory; the complaints of neglect have been few, and these
frequently caused by circumstances over which the contractor had no
control, such as the surface of the streets being disturbed by the putting
in of gas and water pipes, that caused temporary interruption to the
regularity of cleansing.
In my report of last year, I made reference to the erection of Langbourne
Buildings, Mark Street, as being likely to supply a want that is
becoming every day more apparent, that is, healthy dwellings for the
working classes, there are now four blocks of these buildings completed,
containing 80 separate dwellings all occupied; and the demand for more
is not in the slightest degree diminished; but the supply appears for the
present to be stopped. The complaints of over-crowding are frequent in
the neighbourhood, a consequence no doubt of the removal of so many
houses by the railways, and this evil is certain to increase as the work of
demolition proceeds, unless some adequate provision is made to supply
their place. Overcrowded dwellings are among the most prolific sources
of disease, immorality and pauperism; and now that it is particularly
shown that such buildings can be erected so as to yield a large return for
the capital invested, it is to be regretted that enterprizing capitalists do
not largely invest, in what would be to them a safe and advantageous
speculation, and at the same time a permanent and important benefit to
the community.