HH62/1/BRWICK/5

Transcription

[page] 4

and the houses are otherwise unhealthy. Where new cottages are
built at farm places, they are complete and commodious, with two
apartments on the ground floor and two large sized attics above,
which latter serve as sleeping rooms if the family should be numerous.
Some of these attics may, in winter, be cold, but with a little
attention in the shape of lath and plaster they would be quite
suitable. Those cottages which have been built during the last 40
years or so are convenient, and those very old ones above referred
to, will, in the course of a short time, be pulled down and others
built in their places. Little Swinton is for sale, and when a
purchaser is found new cottages must follow as a matter of course.
The village of Chirnside in the East District was not in a satisfac-
tory condition as regards drainage and privy accommodation, so I, on
3rd September, along with the District Medical Officer of Health
and Sanitary Inspector, visited the locality and reported as to what
course should be adopted in putting things right. On 10th Dec-
ember, I again visited the place and met by previous arrangement
a Committee of District Councillors and Representatives of the
village. After an inspection of the plans, and also of the fields and
roads, a notification of the plan of drainage previously fixed upon
was arranged, by which a certain limited extent of irrigation of the
effluent was adopted. Much requires to be done before the village
and its surroundings can be said to be in a satisfactory sanitary
condition. There are very few water-closets, and properly con-
structed privies are the exception. This village, from its position
(situated as it is on the top of a hill with sloping grounds), with a
good water supply, and a properly arranged system of water-closets,
ought to be extremely healthy. If water closets were constructed,
and made to discharge into the public drain, a more complete system
of irrigation would be necessary.
In December, I visited Greenlaw along with the Sanitary Inspec-
tor, and examined the new drainage which has been carried out
recently.
A Skinnery at Earlston in the West District has led to a great
deal of discussion, and I have been consulted by the District Medical
Officer and Sanitary Inspector as to this nuisance. The Medical

[page] 5

Report and Sanitary Officer's Report are conclusive, and with their
conclusions and opinions I entirely agree. The case having been
given by the District Committee against the tenant, the continuance
of the work in its present form and position could not be sanctioned.
The tenant, however, appealed to the Board of Supervision, and the
matter will again come before the District Committee for consi-
deration.
The pollution of the Clockmill Burn by a part of the sewage
from the west part of the Burgh of Duns has also come before me,
and I have frequently visited and examined the locality. An open
ditch conveys the sewage to the Clockmill Burn, commencing where
the common sewage pipe terminates south-west of the Public
School. It runs south for 60 yards and then joins a run of water in
the corner of the field which flows due west till it reaches the Clock-
mill Burn, a distance of 820 yards. This burn continues its course
to the south-west for 250 yards, where it is joined by the Pouter-
lynie Burn; these joinings make a considerable sized streamlet
which flows south for nearly half a mile, through the farm of
Langton Mill, where it runs into the Langton Burn. The open
ditch, before joining the Clockmill Burn, runs parallel with the
Duns Road leading to Gavinton, but at no point is it nearer this
public road than 180 yards. This open ditch with sewerage is far
removed from human habitation, and the nearest houses are three
at Clockmill, where the distance is 240 yards. The ditch was foul
at certain places where impurities and other articles were noticed.
The source of the Clockmill Burn is a large pond at Duns Castle
Kennels which is supplied by the lake called the "Henpoo." The
run of water leading from the lake to the said pond has the sewage
from the Castle running into it as well as that of the cottages at the
Kennels. The burn runs south through Clockmill, drives the engine
at the foundry situated there, and runs to the corner of the field where
the open ditch above referred to joins it. There are twelve houses at
Clockmill with about sixty-three inhabitants. Those near to the
foundry on the south side of the Duns Road have no privy accommo-
dation, consequently all manner of sewage is put into the burn which
runs in front of the houses at a distance of two or three yards

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