CITY SANITATION.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1111, 26 April 1911, Page 10

CITY SANITATION.

* INSPECTOR'S ANNUAL REPORT. Reporting for the year ended March 31, 1911, upon the sanitary condition of Wellington City, the Chief Inspector (Mr. J. Doyle) states that ho believes Wellington will compare very favourably with any other city. Inter alia, Air. Doyle states that dur-' ing tho year every houso has been carefully inspected, and tho particulars recorded in a readily accessible form, which is intended to be the foundation of a history of every house in tho city. "Speaking with a knowledge of every street antl every house in the city," slates the inspector, "1 havo no hesitation in saying that, although certain town acres were subdivided and built upon in the- early days in a manner which would not now be permitted, there- is no part of Wellington which could, with any degree of accuracy, bo described as a slum area. "There aro many wooden houses in the city, much out of repair. Old buildings aro being gradually removed, and tho by-laws prohibit the erection of wooden buildings in the main part of the city. The death-rate, per 1000 of population for 1910 is 8.95, the lowest in tho four centres." Dealing with the fatal fire in Johnston Street, Mr. Doyle remarks: —"It niay not bo out of place to say here, in reference to the fire at the Wcllcsloy Restaurant, that a good deal of misapprehension existed, and statements quite incorrect were made with regard to the sanitary condition of the premises and the firo risk. The facts are that the premises were clean and well kept, the air space provided in the bedrooms and cubicles was equal to nearly 400 foot per bed, and, notwithstanding tho fact that two lives ,wcro lost, the facilities for escape in case, of firo in this building were sufficient under any circumstances which could reasonably bo anticipated to enable the whole of the occupants of the upper floor to walk out, on to tho roof of tho adjoining building, from which they could easily reach the street." Mr. Doylo recommends improvement in some of the fire escapes in use in the city, and points to tho necessity of providing anvplo means of escape from fire in buildings devoted to business or manufacture. Mr. Doyle makes special reference to the conditions under which bargain and salvago sales are often held. Speaking of motor traffic, Mr. Doyle states that tho total number of motorcars and motor-bicycles registered, including 27 licensed as hacking-carriages, is 1460, and as the number is steadily increasing, and the speed at which somo of these vehicles are frequently driven through tho streets is distinctly dangerous, ho suggests to tho council that the question of obtaining powers, additional to what are contained in the Motor Regulation Act, 1908, be considered. During the year license fees produced a revenue, of £3175 19s. 4d., and, the sale of articles left in tramcars returned £15 9s. 3d., total £3191 Bs. 7d. Last year's licenses produced £3106 Is. Id., including £188 15s. on account of dangerous goods licenses, but as these licenses are not now dealt'with by this department, the item is not shown in this year's statement. There has been a substantial increase (£19,0 15s. 3d.) in tho revenue of the department from liconses. Two thousand and eight dogs were registered, and 423 unregistered wero taken off the streets. Of tho latter, 112 were claimed, 129 sold for £38 16s. 6d., and 182 destroyed. The experience of tho year, Mr. Doyle remarks, has shown that the sanitary inspection of the city cannot be satisfactorily., carried., out by. three: inspecf tors. Messrs. Hill, Lindup, and Cooper, who are engaged in house-to-house inspection, average about thirty inspections per day. They have also to writo out their reports, and a considerable part of their time is taken up in follotrina; up notices and finding owners. Tho result is that tho intervals between tho inspections are too' long, and very objectionable conditions may develop during these intervals.