BOARD OF HEALTH.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 853, 19 March 1877, Page 3

BOARD OF HEALTH.

Monday, March 19,

The Local Board met at the conclusion of the Drainage Board meeting, the same members being present, with the exception of Mr Wright,

After the minutes of the previous meeting bad been read, Mr Harman suggested before the minutes were confirmed, that when permission was given to anyone to keep pigs on their premises within a distance of one chain from the the house, it should always be understood that such permission only ran during the pleasure of the Board ; as it might be found necessary at a very short notice to withdraw this permission. After remarks from members, the inspector was given to understand that when recommending such permission, each applicant should be given to understand that it might bo revoked by the Board at any moment. The usual report of the inspector was read and approved. Mr N. K. Cherrill, of Clare road, wrote complaining of a neighbor having a pigstye of a very offensive character, considerably within the limit permitted by law from the writer’s house. Mr Cherrill also referred some cesspools near his place, which were a nuisance.

Mr Pearce (inspector) said he had visited the place, and found the stye near the house, but perfectly clean. He had served a notice on Mr Berry to remove his stye to the required distance. The cesspools complained of were also not in the state as represented. The following report on the Antigua street drain was read from Dr Powell, health officer

“ I have the honor to report that I have inspected the Antigua street drain. I am well acquiuted with this drain from its proximity to the Hospital ; at times the stench arising from it is almost insupportable, although on the occasion of my last visit it was not as bad as usual. “ The smell is in a great measure due to the waste water from the neighboring brewery, which in consequence of the defective state of the drain has not a free flow to the river. The channel is constantly getting choked with rubbish, the muddy bottom getting in consequence scoured into holes, in which organic refuse collects and putrifies. I think it imperatively necessary that this state of things should be remedied.” Mr Harman did not wish to call upon the proprietors of the brewery to abate the whole of the nuisance caused by that drain, as another portion of Antiqua street also drained into this chancel ; but the largest proportion of the nuisance was certainly caused by the brewery, and he considered the ratepayers should not he called upon to bear the total expense. If the drain were not boarded from that point to the river tanks should then be placed at every outlet from the establishment, and all solids precipitated into them. For a long time he had an opportunity of seeing this drain—atl east twice a day—and had observed grains going

into the drain, whit h should certainly not have been permitted. The drain should boarded from the brewery to the river. Mr Duncan said that if he thought th drainage scheme was not going to be carrie ' out shortly, he would compel the owner o the brewery to lay down pipes from there t< ihn river.

The inspector said that, if the drain wen* cleared out once a fortnight no nuisance would bo experienced. It was neglect that caused the nuisance complained of. After further remarks, it was decided to leave the matter in the hands of the chairman to instruct the inspector as to what course he should take to keep the drain clean for some little time as a trial.

The sub-committee appointed to confer with the sanitary committee of the City Council, sent in the following conclusions, that had been unanimously arrived at by the joint committees. “ 1. To allow the Local Board of Health the use of the Northern reserve and of the southern resems not used by the City Council at a nominal rental for night soil purposes.

“ 2. 1 To concur with the Board of Health’ as to the form of pan to be used in the Christchurch Health District

‘'3, The committee are of opinion that it is advisable that scavenging contracts should be entered into for the city and suburb'," The action of the committee was approved.

The chairman was authorised to make temporary arrangements with the inspector to continue his duties until the permanent course to be taken in this matter has been decided upon. The Board then adjourned for three weeks,