14th August, 1855, must have an area not less than three feet wide from six inches below the floor of the cellar to the level of the street, and extending to the full length of the external wall, such open area to be at least five feet long and 21 feet wide in front of the window; an open fireplace with a proper flue; a window opening of at least nine superficial feet, with glazed sashes, 4 feet of which are made to open. But no such cellar, not then so occupied, can afterwards be let as a dwelling unless it be seven feet high, the ceiling one foot above the adjoining footway, with an open area three feet wide along the entire frontage from six inches below the floor to the surface of the footway; be effectually drained, and have a watercloset or privy, and an ashpit, a fireplace, with a proper chimney, and a window of nine superficial feet, made to open, as approved by the Surveyor to the Metropolitan Board of Works. Penalty for violation of such provisions 20s. a day during continuance. District Surveyors to report (18 & 19 Vict. c. 120, s. 103) in June and December in each year, and when otherwise required, as to all cellars not built in conformity with these provisions, &c. (25 & 26 Vict. c. 102, s. 62). Such Surveyors, or other person having reasonable grounds, may enter for inspection, and on refusal may be authorised by any Justice (a) (18 & 19 Vict. c. 120, s. 104).

COMMON LODGING-HOUSES.

PUBLIC HEALTH AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACTS.

In any District to which the Public Health and Local Government Acts are applied, no Common Lodging-House can be kept unless the same be registered; and the Local Board of Health shall cause a register to be kept of the name of every

(a) The City Sewers Amendment Act, ss, 10-16 (see note, p. 37), contains provisions in relation to cellar dwellings within the City of London.

person keeping such house, and the situation thereof, and make Bye-laws, fixing the number of lodgers who may be received, for promoting cleanliness and ventilation, and for the inspection thereof (a); and the Keeper must allow such inspection by any person producing authority from the Board; or the use of any disinfecting process at the expense of such Keeper, recoverable in a summary manner. Penalty for non-registration, or refusal of inspection between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., not exceeding 40s. (11 & 12 Vict. c. 63, s. 66).

The Board may give notice, requiring the owner or occupier of any house to whitewash, cleanse, or purify the same, in case it appears on the certificate of their Medical Officer, or any two Medical Practitioners, that such house is in such a filthy or unwholesome condition that the health of any person is affected thereby, or that such purification would prevent or check infectious disease; and if such person fail to comply within the time specified, he shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding 10s. a day during default, and the Board may execute the work at his expense, recoverable in a summary manner (11 & 12 Vict. c. 63, s. 60).

NUISANCES REMOVAL ACTS.

The Local Authority [see "Constitution of Local Authorities"] must take proceedings to abate overcrowding in any house inhabited by more than one family, and certified by the Medical Officer, &c., to be so overcrowded as to be injurious to the health of the occupants; and the person permitting such overcrowding is to forfeit not exceeding 40s. (18 & 19 Vict. c. 121, s. 29).

THE COMMON LODGING-HOUSES ACT.

The Common Lodging-Houses Act provides that the Metropolitan Police Commissioners in the Metropolis (6), Local

(a) See suggested forms for Bye-laws, p. 625.

(b) By the City Sewers Act, s. 91 (see note, p. 37) the Commissioners may make regulations for the registration and inspection of Lodging-houses within the City of London.

Boards of Health in their Districts, Councils in Boroughs, Improvement Commissioners in their Districts, or Justices in petty sessions, or petty sessional divisions in other places. (14 & 15 Vict. c. 28, s. 3), the expenses to be borne by the funds at their several disposal (s. 4; and 16 & 17 Vict. c. 41, s. 14), are to give notice to the Keeper of every Common Lodging-House within their jurisdiction, to register such house (14 & 15 Vict. c. 28, s. 6). The Authority must keep a register of all such houses, their situation, and the authorised number of lodgers therein (s. 7). No lodger is to be received until such house has been approved and registered, except the relative of a deceased Keeper within four weeks after his death (s. 8; and 16 & 17 Vict. c. 41, s. 3). The Authority may refuse to register any Keeper who does not produce a certificate of character, signed by three ratepayers of at least 67. value of his parish (ib. s. 4). The Authority may make regulations for any of the purposes for which Bye-laws are authorised by the 11 & 12 Vict. c. 63, vide supra, such regulations to be confirmed by the Secretary of State (14 & 15 Vict. c. 28, s. 9). Like penalties as by the said Act, vide supra, for violation of regulations (s. 10). Immediate notice of fever or any infectious disease in the house to be given by the Keeper to the Authority and the Medical and Relieving Officers of the Union, &c. (s. 11). The Authority may cause any such patient to be removed to an hospital with consent of the Authorities thereof, and on certificate of the Medical Officer that the disease is contagious and that the patient may be safely removed; and may cause any bedding, &c., to be destroyed, awarding compensation for the injury to the owners out of the poor-rates (16 & 17 Vict. c. 41, s. 7). The Keeper must give free access for inspection (14 & 15 Vict. c. 28, s. 12), and cleanse the premises, &c., as often as required by any regulation; also limewash the walls, &c., in the first week of April and October (s. 13). The Authority may by notice require the owner or Keeper, within a specified time, to obtain a proper supply of water for the use of the lodgers, and remove the house from the register in case of non-compliance (16 & 17 Vict. c. 41,

s. 6). The Keeper of any house in which vagrants are received must, if required, report to the Authority every person who resorted to his house during the preceding day or night (s. 8). Any police constable or Inspector of Common Lodging-houses, may give a certificate to the Local Authority, under the Nuisances Removal Act, 1848 (s. 1), of the existence of any cause of complaint in any such house, who must take all proceedings as therein required to be taken, on notice from two householders (s. 9). For neglect of any of such requirements, the offender is liable to a penalty not exceeding 57., and further penalty not exceeding 40s. for every day during continuance of offence (s. 14), or, in default, to imprisonment not exceeding three months (16 & 17 Vict. c. 41, s. 11). On conviction of a third offence, the offender may be adjudged not to keep any such house within not exceeding five years, without license from the Authority on such terms as they think fit (s. 12). The provisions of the Railway Clauses Consolidation Act as to the recovery of penalties, are incorporated (a) (14 & 15 Vict. c. 28, s. 15). Restrictions as to hours of inspection under the 11 & 12 Vict. c. 63, vide supra, are not to apply (s. 16). The Act is not to extend to the city of London, nor to Scotland (ss. 17, 18). Certified extract of register to be furnished gratis, and receivable in evidence (16 & 17 Vict. c. 41, s. 5). The two Acts are to be construed as one (s. 2).

THE LABOURING CLASSES LODGING-HOUSES ACT.

By this Act Town Councils, Local Boards of Health, Improvement Commissioners, or, with the approval of the Secretary of State, Vestries of parishes having a population of not less than 10,000, or of two parishes having such an aggregate population, are empowered, subject to the confirmation of the ratepayers in manner prescribed, to adopt the Act (14 & 15 Vict. c. 34) within their Districts respectively; the expenses to be charged upon their respective funds or rates (ss. 1 to 14, and s. 28). In the case of any parish the Vestry are to appoint Commissioners,

(a) See note (c), p. 108.

whose proceedings shall be regulated as set forth in relation to the appointment of officers, keeping books, accounts open to inspection, audit, &c. (ss. 15 to 24). Expenses chargeable on the poor-rate (ss. 25 to 27). Commissioners, to be incorporated (s. 29); may, with approval of the Treasury, borrow money on security of the rates (s. 31), which the Public Works Loan Commissioners may advance (a) (s. 32). The Companies Clauses Act, 1845 (b), as to Mortgages, Officers, Bye-laws, Damages, and Penalties incorporated (s. 33). Commissioners may purchase lands, or appropriate borough or parish lands (ss. 34, 35). They are empowered to erect and furnish Lodging-houses for the Labouring Classes (s. 36). To make contracts for buildings (s. 37), or purchase existing Lodging-houses (s. 38). Water and gas companies may furnish supplies on favourable terms (s. 39). Commissioners not to be personally liable (s. 40). Persons aggrieved by any Bye-law, order, &c., of the Commissioners may appeal to quarter sessions (s. 41). Commissioners, &c., may sell or exchange lands (s. 42); or Lodging-houses which may be unnecessary (s. 43). On the sale of all such Lodginghouses the Corporation to cease (s. 44). Management, Byelaws, &c. (ss. 45 to 48). No tenant to receive parochial relief (s. 49). Lodging-houses within the District of a Local Board of Health to be open to inspection by them (s. 50). Penalty on officers for taking fees, &c., not exceeding 507., and to become thereby incapable of acting (s. 51); half to the informer (s. 52). Act not to extend to Scotland (s. 53).

LABOURERS' DWELLINGS ACT.

Under this Act joint-stock companies may be incorporated for providing Dwellings for the Labouring Classes, properly constructed as respects drainage, ventilation, water supply, and conveniences (c), and subject to rules as to capital, interest, powers of mortgage, letting, &c. (18 & 19 Vict. c. 132, ss. 1 to 11). Penalty for misappropriation of funds (s. 12); and for insuffi(b) See note, p. 50. (c) "As may be approved by the General Board of Health;" but see 20 & 21 Vict. c. 98, s. 8.

(a) See note, p. 126.