POISON.

Evening Star, Issue 3704, 6 January 1875, Page 3

POISON.

To the Editor. Silt,—Poison is laid all over Dunedin. In every breath, day or night, we are inhaling poison. ! he rate of mortality for the last month places Dnnedin in excess of the rest of New Zealand ; and unless the authorities are equal to the circumstances the rate during the summer months wi'l be frightfully increased The number of closets crowded in the small yards of the numerous houses of this overcrowded city, impregnating the air we breathe with poison, is the canse of Dunedin’s hith rate of mor : ality. It most be remembered that we have no sewerage as in other towns and cities to carry away noxious matter. Like a fog cloud the stench is floating ever the city into ou doors and through the windows thrown open for ventilation. Leading articles and correspondence in the Kvenxko- Star have exposed this matter and pointed out the danger, but, it appears, without avail.— I suppose because what concerns everybody happens to be nobody’s business. >"umtner is advancing, the crowds of population increasing : there i 8 not a moment to be lost. The people roust prove. lave* are valuable.

Lntil proper sewerage works can be carred out the ( ity Council, as a sanitary measure should, during the summer months, employ a staff of nightmen, whose duty it should be to sprinkle a powerful disinfectant in ever, closet in the. city at least '-nee a week. A special meeting of the City Council should be r ailed at once for the purpose, f am sure the Professor of i hemistry would gladly advise as to the best disinfectant; and say for the rest of the uumner the cost would be even LI,OOO, there could be question that it would be well expended, as the best means of neutralising the bloodpoisoning stench where sewerage is absent. I beg to give you my address as one prepared to work with any disposed to move in this matter by requisition to the City Council, or otherwise.—lam, &c., Health. Dunedin, December 31.