The Feildig Star. TUESDAY AUGUST 21. 1883 Typhoid Fever.

Feilding Star, Volume IV, Issue 33, 21 August 1883, Page 2

The Feildig Star. TUESDAY AUGUST 21. 1883 Typhoid Fever.

Some weeks ago we sounded a note of alarm on tbe sul.j'ct of frvors and ether contagious diseases that ai>> likely to he germinated from collections of filth allowed to accumulate in manv of the back premises ot residences within the borough. Ws were under the impression that so s?pous a subject wnuM have at once received the attention of th< 1 Borough Council, and the question ventilated at the next meeting of the council following. We were disappointed. No notice what ever was taken of the matter. Since that time the unpleasant revelations connected with the ship Oxford, and the way in which the disease that broke out in that vessel has bsen carried to whatever port any of the passengers have visited, ought to have, at least, awakened some interest. The apathy displayed is specially remarkable when it is remembered "that the disoase has appeared in Wang-uuui and could in a few hours be inuoiluced into our midst. One fatal case is reported from Westport, in the South Island. In this age of advanced science, deaths from preventable causes can be reduced to a tnirrimum by the exercise of plainly laid down rules ot hygiene. These rules are few and simple, and easily carri d outCleanliness in the b.idy and a pure atmosphere with plenty ot good water i.re all that are needed. These cannot be attained unless the inclinat on lies in the minds of the people, and' past experience has proved that such does not universally exist. Habits of cleanliness have to be forced on the people, hence the necessity that has always existed, and will exist to the end of time for Boards of Health and Panitary Inspectors. There is no law in tbe land to make a man wa&h himself, as that would be interfering to' 1 much wi'h the liberty of the subject, besides such a man can always be avoided by delicately-minded people. But there is a law which can be made to compel persons to keep their premises clean and wholesome. Borough Byelaw No 74 says — "The Council may make such provision as it shall think fit for the periodical removal from every dwelling or other tenement .vithin the Borough, at the expense of the owner or occupier thereof, of any filth, refuse, or rubbish of any k.nd." In clause TNo. 76 it i» provided that the Inspector ot Nuisances shall have the power at all reasonable hours to enter into, or upon, any building or land within the Borough for the purpose of effecting aay suchremoval as specified in section 74, and of oxamn-ing all places lively to be in a filthy condition. Provision is also made for the cue enforcement of these clauses. The question only remains, why are these clauses not enforced ? It would cost the ratepayers nothing and would benefit them individually and collectively, and besides there exists an urgent necessity for (,he work to be taken in hand at once. 1 he Borough is now employing a Collector of the Dog Tax, who could be made to combine with his other duties those of Inspector of Nuisance*., and the township could be thoroughly pur ed of all impurities before the summer heat is upon us to make the collected fiith in too many places festering heaps of obscene corruption. We again urge upon the City Fathers the consideration of this very important subjec*.