The Daily Telegraph. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1883.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3612, 8 February 1883, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1883.

The deplorable inefficient manner in which the sanitary regulations of the borough have been carried out was fully exposed in the Inspector of Nuisances' report read at the Council meeting last night. Almost one of the first things taken in hand on the establishment of the municipality in this town in 1874 was in relation to the abolition of cesspits. Mr H. R. Holder, who then sat in the Council, was indefatigable in his efforts in that direction. It is now nearly eight years ago that through him the earth-closet system was adopted by resolution, and a by-law was passed to give it effect. Unfortunately the by-law was allowed to become a dead letter. A few householders respected its provisions, but the great majority of the inhabitants showed themselves to be as indifferent to the laws of health as they were to those of the borough. It was certainly the duty of the Council to have rigorously enforced its by-law, and if efficient administration had been the rule instead of the exception long ere this the people would have become accustomed to what was then an innovation. The very limited trial that was given to the earthcloset system failed to demonstrate its advantages, and by degress the pit was once more resorted to. Thus ended the first effort of the Council to promote the health of the town. The reclamation of the swamp sections and the drainage scheme next occupied attention, and the cesspit abomination was lost sight of. It was not till 1881 that Dr. de Lisle, then in the Council, moved for the appointment of a sub-committee to report on this subject, and what is known as the pan-system was adopted. Last year, in order to meet the wishes of the residents on the hills, the system was confined to the lower levels of the town, and instructions were given that it should be vigorously enforced. Notices were accordingly served upon all the householders within the prescribed district, and the Council believed that it had done its duty. It was confidently hoped that a step in the right direction had onco more been taken, and that the

remembrance of sickly seasons, to guard against a recurrence of which the measure had been adopted, would induce a hearty cooperation on the part of the people. How far these hopes have been realised can be ascertained by a reference to the very valuable report furnished by the Inspector of Nuisances. From this report we learn that there are 613 houses within the district in which the adoption of the pan system is compulsory. Of this number only 205 are attended on by the contractor, and the balance of 408 have absolutely ignored the by-law. The Inspector rightly says that " this evasion of the regulations by about two-thirds of the inhabitants is a most serious defect, if not an utter breakdown to the system. It constitutes a legitimate margin for serious discontent on the part of those who comply with the letter and spirit of the bylaws without receiving any adequate advantage or protection therefrom, and suggests the advisability of a reconsideration of the arrangements under which it is worked." The evasion of the system is most Hkely due to two causes, —first, a preference for the cess-pit for its own sake; and, secondly, the desire to escape the cost of removing- the pans. The Council last nig-lit passed a resolution by which non-complying householders will be given one week's grace, after which time penalties will be enforced. The suggestion of the Inspector that a sanitary rate to cover the cost of removing night soil, if carried out, would lighten the expense to householders, and, making the cesspit as expensive as the pan, it would rob the former of half its charm.