THE SANITARY CONDITION OF DUNEDIN.

Evening Star, Issue 3697, 28 December 1874, Page 3

THE SANITARY CONDITION OF DUNEDIN.

To the Editor. j Sir,—lt is with much pleasure that I j noth e by your article of this evening that you have again drawn public attention to ! the sanitary condition of Duuedin. It is certainly marvellous to witness how the people of Dunedin co on, month after month, ' quietly enduring the presence of that which may yet make them bitterly repent their indifference—the dangerous nuisances which exist in every quarter of the city. Impure closets, private properties undrained, public property badly drained, uncovered sewers and low-lying grounds smothered in fetid water—what do such abuses usually treed but sickness and pestilence ? May we < xpeot a special interposition of Providence on onr behalf while we look calmly on, defying, by our apathy, the evil which, like another ■word of Damocles, is hanging over our heads? It seems futile to expect from the City Council the application of active remedies unless c ! amorous ! y demanded by the public voice. Our City Councillors can contend amongst themselves for hours about the veriest trivialities, but the serious question of the public health seems too small a matter for them to wrangle over. It is, therefore, high time that some action should he taken by the citizens themselves for the purpose of doing what is possible towards the removal of what is dangerous from their midst. I would point out as instances of the {jest- breeding beds of Dunedin the two small akes formed whilst reclaiming that portion of the hay behind the distillery, Why, sir, the abominable stenches daily rising from these places are really fearful. On a warm day, when the tide is out, it ia simply impossible tp pass them without the projection of having ones nose and mouth stuffed up ; spd to add to the filth and slime which has been for months accumulating in these reservoirs, putrid rubbish of every description is being daily shot into one of them, to avoid the expense, T presume, of filling up with earth. By the way, can you explain why these two places weep left qn{filed by the reclamation party! One would almost imagine that some satanic or imb pile overseer had ho arrapgefl them that they Wou ! d be certain to become for all mapner of abomination, and thus prove ip time q source of misery to thp City, Let the citizens look to it; and more particularly let those living in the locality of these nuisances tako timely warning, for, as sure as the day succeeds night, so sure will dfsease and dea hj make havop ampngst qs if we continue neglectful of nature’s law?. Np Wonder that Duplin is scoring such a respectable percentage qn the death-roll of the Colony.—l am, 4c,, , Antidote. Dunedin, December 26.