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pollution of rivers. There had been many cases in the 

 Courts of Session where individuals had come forward at 

 considerable expense, and incurred considerable odium, to 

 stop this pollution, and it ought not to be left in their hands. 

 It was a matter which affected the national interests, 

 and it was the duty of the Executive to appoint public 

 officers to see that this evil was not committed. He trusted 

 that some expression to that effect would go forth from the 

 Conference. 



Mr. SuRR said this was a subject which came home to 

 them all as individuals and members of a large community 

 living on the side of the large rivers. Being born in London 

 he remembered being taken out as a boy in wherries on 

 the Thames, and the river was then pure between Poplar and 

 Blackwall, where whitebait were found in great quantities, 

 but they were not now to be found below Thames Haven 

 and Southend. He would not go back to the old times 

 when it used to be stipulated by the parents of apprentices 

 that they should not have to eat salmon more than two 

 or three times a week, but he must say that the Thames 

 was now a disgrace to any city, and was gradually 'becoming 

 worse. He was down the river on Friday, and in many parts 

 there was a most noxious effluvium. Why was the sewage 

 of a city to be continually sent into a river to do so much 

 harm when it might be utilised for the benefit of the country 

 at large ? Not only had the Metropolitan Board spent an 

 enormous sum to do a great amount of mischief, but they 

 were going to increase the sum to carry the sewage lower 

 down. He had no personal interest in the ABC Sewage 

 Company, but had had an opportunity of examining the 

 works, and had seen sewage from Aylesbury flowing through 

 a succession of tanks until in the last tank there were fish 

 swimming about in perfectly pure water. He had also seen 



