Page:Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management.djvu/2204

1994 which the offence continues or to pay the expenses incurred if the sanitary authority do the work themselves—as they may do, if they think fit. And if such closet, etc., appears to be in bad order or condition, or to require cleansing, alteration or amendment, the owner or occupier may be ordered to do what is necessary, and if he fail to do so within the specified time he will be liable to a fine of £5, and a further fine of 40s. for each day the offence continues; or the sanitary authority may themselves do the work and charge him with the expenses.

In either case, whether the closet, etc., be merely out of order or be defectively constructed, the offender will have to pay the costs of the examination; which may be recovered summarily.

Appeal from an order of the sanitary authority.—Any person who feels himself aggrieved by any notice or act of the sanitary authority may appeal to the County Council, whose decision is final.

Regulations as to ash-pits, etc.—Every house must be provided with a sufficient ashpit, dustbin or other receptacle for the deposit of ashes or refuse; and the sanitary authority has the same powers of enforcing this requirement as in the case of water-closets—for which, see previous page.

Removal of Refuse.

House refuse.—It is the duty of the sanitary authority, at proper periods, to remove house refuse and to cleanse and empty ashpits and earth closets, etc. (if any), in their district. If they do not do so at the ordinary period the occupier may serve them with a written notice requiring them to remove the refuse, etc., within forty-eight hours; and failure to comply with the notice will, in the absence of reasonable cause, render the authority liable to a penalty of £20. "House refuse" means ashes, cinders, breeze, rubbish, night-soil, and filth, but does not include trade refuse.

Any person, who being directly or indirectly employed by the sanitary authority, demands from the occupier or his servant money for removing any house refuse, is liable to a fine of 20s.

Manure.—The sanitary authority may, if they think fit, undertake the removal of manure, etc., from any stables or cowhouse within their district, the occupiers of which consent in writing to such removal. This will not, however, relieve the occupier from liability for any fine to which he may be subject for placing manure, etc., on any footpath or roadway, or for having any accumulation thereof so as to be a nuisance or injurious to health. Notice may be given by the sanitary authority (by public announcement or otherwise), requiring the periodical removal of manure from stables or other premises. Failure to comply with such notice will, without further notice, involve a fine not exceeding 20s. for each day during which such non-compliance continues. The County Council are authorized to make bye-laws with respect to receptacles for dung.

Trade refuse.—The sanitary authority, if required to do so by the owner or occupier, must remove any trade refuse, but the owner or occupier will have to pay a reasonable sum for its removal—which in case of dispute, is to be settled by the magistrate. "Trade refuse" includes building materials.

B. In Places outside the Administrative County of London.

Water Supply.—Where it appears to a local authority that a house is without a proper supply of water, and that the same can be furnished at a cost not exceeding the water rate authorized by any local Act in force within the district, or where such does not exist, at a cost not exceeding 2d. a week, or such other cost as the Local Government Board may consider to be reasonable, the local authority may by written notice require the owner, within a specified time, to obtain such supply and do the necessary work for that