The letter read
Beaminster,
August, 1878
GENTLEMEN,
Mr Leigh (the Authority's clerk) tells me that you would be glad to have a report of the sanitary condition of Beaminster. The drainage in some parts of the town is certainly is very bad, more especially perhaps at the lower end of St Mary Well Street, where, at times, when water is stagnant, it is really quite unhealthy. I consider that it ought to be covered in, but at any rate it should be regularly amd thoroughly flushed. The yard leading to Mr Froome's premises is bad, partly consequent on the proximity to the slaughter house, and partly from the fact of the different gratings not being properly attended to. Many of the cottages, too, in Clay lane require more accommodation; also I hear complaints of the supply of water. The water at the lower part of the town, opposite Mrs David Hann's residence, is much better than it was, simply because apparently more trouble is taken in keeping it clean and flushed. But the great source of annoyance regarding the town in its sanitary aspect, is the one to which I have already frequently alluded---namely, the slaughter houses. If, instead of the differing slaughtering houses in the town it could be managed to erect a common one out of the town, it would, to my mind, at once put the town henerally in a more healthy condition. I am, gentlemen, yours obediently. WM. JAS. DANIEL'. The Rev. Canon Codd taking the chair about 30 leading parishioners resolved that a hatch of hatches be placed by the Sanitary Authority to raise a flush from the two streems flowing into the river there. Lady Oglander might also feel disposed to enlarge the flood hatch in which case the Sanitary Authority should contribute to the cost. The meeting considered the nuisance from the slaughter houses to be over-stated and requested that the Inspector of Nuisances kept a constant eye on them
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