SANITATION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2037, 23 March 1907, Page 2

SANITATION.

Several unsavory matters were mentioned in letters from tlio District Health Officer which were considered at the meeting of the County Council' held yesterday. Under date March Ist, Dr. Do Lisle writes: ''When visiting Messis. Uotirko and Co.’s lat-boiling promises I observed the manner in which Mr. Maynard’s pigs are kept, and certify that the manner constitutes a nuisance and a menace to health. The styes are lovol with the ground, and the concrete floors are without fall, so that the water and filth aeuinulat.o. Further, the pigs are in the habit of going to the mud on the river banks for the purpose of wallowing, thus stirring up the mud, accentuating the smell arising therefrom. I recommend that the styoß bo raised about two feet above the present concrete floors, floored with gratings on open boards, the concrete beneath to lie given a proper fall to facilitate the removal of the filth, the said filth to be removed daily and either buried in cultivated ground or burnt; tlio banks of the river to be fenced off to prevent the pigs from wallowing in tlio mud.” He called lilioii the Council to see that his recommendations were carried out within a month. The Chairman said the proper course was to instruct to sec that the suggestions contained in the letter carried out.

Regarding tlio erection of ’Messrs. Bourko and Co.’s fat-boiling works at Matawhero tlio Health Officer stated that the works were being built in such a manner as to minimise any nuisance. Inter alia ho stated: of permitting the establishment of an offensive trade in a. vicinity which bids fair to at no great distant date he well built over, and if permission had been asked of me I would not have been inclined to grant it.” lie mentioned that so far no permission bad been given for the erection of the works.

The Clerk said no permission had been given by the County. The Chairman said it was tacitly understood that permission was given When the place became more populated they could stop ill and order the firm to stop their trade.

A Councillor asked if the firm had not got permission when legal proceedings were threatened. The Councillor was informed that the threatened proceedings were in connection with “making a stink.”

The matter of getting permission is to be brought under the attention of the firm.

The Health Officer also visited the gnt-scraping works of Messrs, Nelson Bros, and found everything satisfactory. The river was visited at the point of discharge of drainage at low tide. There was a sickly odor but the Health Officer would not say it was unhealthy. The only further method that might bo token would be that the effluent might he taken in trenches over cultivated land, but as the river was not used as a water supply there was no lavr to compel this to be done. A Councillor stated that there was a very disagreeable stencil ill tlio river ; and it was decided to write to Messrs. Nelson Bros, asking them to deodorise the effluent as much as possible.