212 THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
had been kindly arranged by the Chairman of the Company, Mr. George
Banbury ; instead of doing so, we went at "full steam" onwards.
" Afternoon tea" and gracefully presided over by the ladies of the party. Hot
water was available on board, and after a long exposure to the warm sunshine,
the repast was much enjoyed by all present.
Mr. Howard Saunders, F.L.S. (editor of "Yarrell's British Birds," and author
of the "Illustrated Handbook of British Birds") gave some account of the more
remarkable Birds of the district.
The intake of the East London Company is at Ponder's End—Kidd's Weir.
There was an ample supply of good water flowing. But alas ! nearly opposite
Kidd's Weir, the Intake of the East London Water Company. The Last Intake
for Drinking Water on the Navigable Lea.
the point was moored a most foul-smelling cargo of London refuse—"manure" so-
called. Major Flower has no power to prevent pollution to the air ; and although
the water was excellent, the frequency of manure heaps placed on the banks of
the stream—fortunately kept back from draining into it as far as is possible—
and the barges full of similar filthy refuse, forced the conviction on all present that
the air is not as pure as it ought to be, especially below Enfield Lock.
Happily by a recent decision of the Board of Trade, a toll is to be enforced
in future ; up to the present day "manure" is carried on the Navigation of the
Lea free "by Act of Parliament," It is to be hoped that this decision will lessen
the evil, which is a blot on an otherwise beautiful river.
Tottenham Lock was reached at 9 p.m., and the party dismissed, leaving to
a future day a visit to Lea Bridge, which we venture to hope may be accom-
plished—perhaps next year. Those who took part in the excursion will long