SANITARY CONDITION OF THE BOROUGH.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 104, 11 May 1901, Page 2

SANITARY CONDITION OF THE BOROUGH.

.. ” ] REPRESENTATIVE MEETING OF 1 CITIZF"S. CRUSADE AC. -INST FILTH. Ake present ATT'. meeting of citizens was held at the Borough Council Chambers yesterday afternoon for the purpose of conferring with the Council upon the subject of what steps should be taken to improve the sanitary condition of the Borough. Amongst those present were His Worship the Mayor (Mr J. Towuley), W. A. Barton, S.M., Canon Webb, Revs. Williams, Paterson, and Rothwell, Messrs DeLautour, Nolan, Lysnar, Shelton, Bright, Miller, W. L. Rees, Dixon, Price, A. F. Matthews, Simson, Parker, Morgan, Ambridge, Matthcwson, Whiuray, Little, R. Robinson, Johnston, Martin Smith, R. N. Jones, Kennedy, Symes, Pyke, and Capt. Clirisp, and many others. The chair was occupied by tlio Mayor, who, in opening the proceedings, said that he had received a letter from a number of citizons with regard to tho question affecting the public health, and had taken the first opportunity of calling the Council together. He then read the following letter “To His Worship the Mayor : Dear Sir, —We beg to oxpress to you our serious anxiety as to the stato of the public health at present at Gisborne, and to convey to you our most earnest assurance that we would do everything in our power to enable you to tako effective stops to deal with this most sorious_ question. We would ..be much obliged if you and the councillors would meet us today with the medical oificer of tho local Board of Health as citizons, to in-

formally confer with us as to tho powers tho Board of Health now possess, and as to the most effective methods under the circumstances of our town in exercising

thoso powers in the public interest. If it would bo inconvenient to permit us to meet you at the Borough Council offices at 4 p.m. to-morrow, we will appoint some other place and time as you may desire. We are, yours very faithfully, W. A. Barton, Anthony S. Webb, James G. Paterson, A. R. Muir, W. H. Tucker, E. W. Paslcy, H. J. Bushnell, W. P. Finneran, G. H. Lysnar, L. T. Symes, G. W. Sampson, W. Sievwright, John Brooking, C. DeLautouv, Francis T. Morgan, Vincent Pyke, John Coleman, John Warren, R. Johnston, A. Davys, Henry A. King, Herbert W. Williams, Jas, Brown, H. Martin Smith, Jas. Macfarlane, and George J. Winter. The Mayor, continuing, said that the letter was signed by the most influential people that they had in the place, and the Council would at once seo that he had no option but to call them together. In the first place, he wished to inform the gentlomen Who had signed the requisition that they had no health officer in connection with the Council. There was one in connection with the port, appointed by the Government. Some time back lie had brought the matter forward in tho Council and endeavored to get a health officer appointed, but he had been unsuccessful in his efforts. They met together that afternoon under very sad. circumstances, because they had just had two or three deaths in the Hospital from typhoid fev ei, which was rather prevalent in Gisborne at the prosent time. Still, it was not any worse than it had been in former years. A-voice : We may bo no worse off at tho present time, but have we taken the necessary steps to make us better ? (Hear, hear.) The Mayor : Until we get water supply and drainage wo must expect those periodical attacks of typhoid more or less. It is no worse this year than it has been for the last five years. In 1897 there wore 26 cases and one death ; in 1898 63 cases and three deaths, in 1899 47 cases and three deaths, in 1900 28 cases and two deaths, and in 1901 to date there have been 39 eases and four deaths. These figures are of course taken from tho hospital registers. The gentlemen present well know that the Council is doing all in its power to get both water and drainage for the Borough. I am quite sure that the Council will in deference to the gentlemen who have signed this requisition do all they can to effect an improvement in tho health of the Borough. We must not, however-, raise undue alarm, and think that we are worse off than we have been. Mr Townley continuing, mentioned one case where the patient had been brought off a steamer in tho bay, and showed how four or five other eases were caused by the one mentioned. Mr DeLautour, on behalf of those who had signed the requisition, replied to the Mayor’s remarks. He thanked His Worship for tho statement he had given, as well as for the figures quoted. He pointed out that the figures being taken from the hospital records only, did not represent the number of fever cases. Te get at the true state of affairs they requirod to got returns from the several doctors regarding the number of cases treated privately. If this were done they would find that the number of eases was not far short of fifty.

The present state of things had, as the Mayor pointed out, been going on for some years, but was that any reason why it should not cease ? (Hear, hear.) Those who signed the requisition had no wish to criticise the actions of the Council, but each one felt his responsibility in this matter to do something towards improving the present state of things. They did not wish to do anything that would in any way embarrass the Council or cause undue alarm, but simply that the subject should be seriously considered. It was no consequence what rates the Council had to levy so long as they got a clean city. He • understood that the Borough was at present rated lighter than any other place in the colony, but if that economy were brought about by the sacrifice of efficiency, it was the dearest economy that they could have. (Hear, hear). He ventured to say that if they were not so used to what was going on in Gisborne, they would be shocked at it. They had grown up in comparative filth, and were getting used to it. In 1863 the city of Christchurch was an undrained city, and there was a serious outbreak of fever. Every precaution was, however, taken, and improvement was soon brought about. Not only solid matter was removed from the houses but even liquid matter. People were not allowed to contaminate the district by. throwing their worst liquid in their yards, and a clean bill of health was soon brought about, No doubt it would cost a deal of money, but this was a second matter when the ques-

iion of the health was concerned. The Public Works Act of 1900 was exactly suited to this district, as under its provisions they could borrow for the purpose of improving the s'anitary condition of the town. Mr DeLautour strongly urged that immediate steps should be taken to have a public health district gazetted. Under the Act, they did not require the votes of the ratepayers, and there was no rjpson for delay. Having decided as to what was a suitable district, they could wire to the Colonial Secretary to get it gazetted. When the Board of Health was set up, they could have an officer who would do his duty fearlessly, and this he denied that a local Inspector could do. He suggested that Kaiti, Whataupoko, and Gisborne should be gazetted as one district. The speaker made lengthy reference to several matters which seriously affected the health of the town that had come under his own notice. Seeing they could borrow money under the Public Health Act, at 4 per cent., for sanitary purposes, why did they not do so? Those who signed the requisition were quite ready to pay, and the Council had no reason to delay. In conclusion, Mr DeLautour j said : “"The purse being available, we ask you to exercise the powers that you have under the Act and give us a clean town. You want to get behind all these dens of filth. I had several places pointed out to rije to-day, and the filthy accommodation in that vicinity requires the attention of a Board of Health. ■ No local inspector can deal with the filth of this place. We require a responsible officer, such as the Sergeant of Police was at the time of the plague. - A short time ago our present cemetery was condemned by Dr. DeLisle, but still to-day we are burying typhoid patients there’, in a place which, as we all know, has direct drainage to the river. The Council speak of having, no money. I deny that assumption. AVe have money for all we want. Those who signed the requisition represent some of the money of the place, and we” are

prepared to bear our sharo of tlio burden. We want to seo the town clean, and as it will be three or four years before we can have a water supply, wo must do what wo cau in other directions in the meantime. We must not submit to this bad public health of which we have now tho unenviable repute without making every effort to rectify it. (Applauso.”) Mr DeLautour before resuming his seat moved that steps should be taken to have a public health district proclaimed and officers appointed. Mr L. T. Symos said that he had much pleasure in seconding the resolution. lie endorsed every word that had fallen from Mr DeLautour. He thought that the town was disgraceful for filth. He had seen within two or three chains from Gladstone road places which were very hot beds of fever, and yet they had been passed oxer. Tho town, lie thought, might be improved if rubbish boxes wero placed along tho streets, and also if people wero requested not to spit in tlio streets.

The Rev. Rothwell said that before coining to Gisborne he made enquiries as to what kind of plncc it was. Ho was informed by one doctor that Gisborne had an excellent climate in every respect, with the exception of typhoid, and ho (tho doctor) could not understand a town with tho population of Gisborne, which had boon so long in existence, having so much typhoid. There was no reason for it whatever. Evoryono who heard that he was coming to Gisborne seemed to be under the impression that ho was coming hero to die. Of course, remarked tho rev. gentleman, these reports are greatly exaggerated, but it only serves to show the reputation that Gisborne has outside. Poople said that they would rather go l anywhere in the colony than come to Gis- ! borne. The sooner the stigma was removed tho bettor, and every effort to | prevent tho spread of fever should bo made. Mr W. L. Rees made a strong speech in support of the resolution. Ho contended that without water and sewerage typhoid and other diseases would not bo suppressed. They required good water to drink and a complete system of drainage. He instanced tho good work dono in Wellington, and urged that Gisborne should follow its example. Three years ago Wellington swarmed with typhoid, but at the present time, with its complete systom of' drainage, it was the healthiest city in Now Zealand. They must have a water supply in Gisborne, and the best they could possibly get, no matter what it cost. Tho present state of things, lie said, tended to decrease the value of property in the Borough, whilst many people would not remain in the district. He understood that the Council had inspected a number of tho yards that day, and had had their eyes opened. “ Their noses wore not opened,” remarked Mr Rees, “because Councillors took the precaution to take with them plenty of camphor and other things to protect them from disease. The condition of filth' that oxists in the borough is simply disgraceful, and we should do all in our power to improve matters. I hope to see at tho next meeting of tho Council that stops arc taken to stay this plague. Indeed, what is going on in every place in Gisborne is far worse than the plague.” Mr F. J. Shelton endorsed the remarks which had fallen from Messrs DeLautour and Rees. He urged that every effort should be made by the Council towards cleaning the town, and that no liino should be lost in doing so. Mr J. W. Bright stated that the Council were devoting their attention to the question of water and drainage, and tho sum of .£3OO was on the estimates for the preparation of plans, etc. They were awaiting tho report of Mr Mestaycr with a groat deal of interest. Every effort should he thought be made to removo from Gisborne the stigma that it was a feverstricken place. He was one of the committee who undertook the duty of making an examination of tho town to ascertain what was the condition of affairs, and he was impressed with the fact that the people themselves wero willing and anxious to render tho Council every assistance. One conclusion the committee had arrived at was that they had not nearly sufficient carts to remove the rubbish. He

suggested that the Council should lay in a big stock of lime, and have it ■ freely used throughout the Borough. They should educate the people to the use of lime, for there was nothing better for sanitary purposes. Mr Matthewson, Chairman of tho-’Haiti Road Board, as representing an outside body, cordially endorsed what had been said by previous speakers. He hoped that Haiti would be included in the proposal before the meeting. lie did not think ratepayers should bo • afraid of spending a hundred thousand pounds when there was so much at stake. They must have “it at any cost, for the public health was more important than the public purse. Whilst they were dealing with the questions of water and drainage, they should have a thorough and efficient scheme.

Mr Matthews, Chairman of the Whataupoko Road Board, assured the meeting that his district would bo pleased to join with Gisborne and Haiti in any scheme for improving the public health. He pointed out that as far as Whataupoko was concerned there had not been one case of fever in that district this yoar. The resolution was unanimously adopted.

On the motion of the Rev. Mr Paterson, a vote of thanks was accorded to the Mayor and Councillors for meeting the citizens that afternoon.