BOARD OF HEALTH.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1069, 30 November 1877, Page 3

BOARD OF HEALTH.

Friday, November 30. The Local Board of Health met at 10.30. Present —Messrs Hobbs (chairman), Ross, Duncan, Harman, Hall, and Tancred. inspector’s report. The report of the Inspector of Nuisances was read, as follows : 1.1 beg to report that I have, in accordance with the resolution of the Board passed at the last sitting, taken proceedings against Mr W. Wilson to abate the nuisance therein referred to. 1 he case was heard on the 10th instant; Ins Worship made an order that the required work be performed within throe weeks from that date. 2. J have also, as instructed by the _ Board, served further notice on Mr Bates, Lichfield street, chair maker, to abate the nuisance arising from smoke from bis engine chimney; m conformity with that notice he has again heightened it. I believe there is now no causi for complaint, Tn this I am borne out from enquiries I have since made in the neighbour hood ;i. I have inspected the aide channel outre east . idt* ot '’olombo road, near the tail' a> referred to in a letter from the Sydenham borough Council. There is a largo quantity oi

hous e drainage lying in it in a filthy putrid state : there is not sufficient fall for this water in any direction, and owing to the recent works by the railway authorities the drainage south ward has been completely stopped : I therefore report the same under cl ause 58 of the Act to be a nuisance andinjurious to health. 4.1 have also inspected the pool of water at corner of Fourth street and Colombo road. 1 am informed the land is owned by one Hugh Smith residing on the West Coast. I purpose giving him notice on his return to Christchurch which, is daily expected, to have the hollow place filled up; the artesian well from which the water came has been stopped. 5. The inhabitants of Newtown are again complaining of the offensive effluvia from Mr Hancock’s candle factory ; in the event of a formal certificate being lodged under clause 78 of the Act have I the authority of the Board for making complaint before the Resident Magistrate under the same clause?

I have inspected the private street off Durham street south, and find there is a quantity of stagnant drainage in the gutter thereon, and on the premises abutting on the same. Mr Whiteman the owner and occupier of premises on this street has again written on the subject. I therefore, with a view to further proceedings, if the Board should so determine, report the same under clause 58 of the Act to he a nuisance or injurious to health. j. I have served notice on the owner of the premises tenanted by Mr Anson, Addington, to abate a nuisance under clause 59 of the Act. Wm. Pearce, Chief Inspector of Nuisances.

The Chairman said that he had, since last meeting, received a copy of the Amended Health Act, which had passed both Houses, but he was not aware whether it had yet received the assent of the Governor. The effect of the Act would be that they would have to raise funds to meet the cost of working the Health Act in addition to the Drainage rate.

Mr Duncan said if they were to have the sweeping of the streets and other nuisances, he would oppose the taking over of the powers at all. He would move—“ That the consideration of the Amended Health Act be postponed until a later period of the day.” Mr Boss seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Mr Duncan said that Parliament having forced upon them a Bill against their own wishes, he thought that if they telegraphed to the Colonial Secretary that they objected to have the Act, the G-overnment would have no other course but to alter the legislation. COEEESPONDENCE. A letter was read from Mr Wbiteman, calling attention to the drainage of a private street off Durham street south. It was so bad that his medical adviser had told him that unless he left his house, or some drainage was given, he would never be without illness. A letter was read on the same subject from the City Council, to whom it had been referred, staling that the Council considered that (hey had no concern with it whatever, and that it was a matter for the Drainage Board.

Mr Bell was in attendance, and stated it as his opinion that the only remedy was to act under the 30th section of the Act, and do the work, charging the residents with the cost. After some further discussion, it was resolved to refer the matter to the chairman of the Drainage Board, with a request that the engineer be instructed to carry out the work at once.

A letter was read from Mr Hewitt, complaining of the eJlluviaarising from Hancock’s boiling-down factory, Montreal street south. It was decided to instruct the inspector to proceed before the Besident Magistrate on receiving the formal certificate under the Act.

A letter was received from Mr Anson, complnining of a nuisance in Hereford street, and also complaining most bitterly of the stench arising from the Antigua street drain. The Inspector reported that he had served notice as regarded the nuisance, which had been remedied. The Antigua street had been cleared out.

A letter was read from the Sydenham Borough Council, pointing out several nuisances in the borough. The Inspector reported that the cases brought up had been attended to. A letter was read from Mr Bates, of the Canterbury Chair Factory, concerning the alleged nuisance of his chimney. On the report of the inspector, it was decided that Mr Bates’s efforts as regarded his chimney were satisfactory. A copy of the resolutions passed at a public meeting at Knightstown, respecting the Amended Health Act, was forwarded by the chairman.

It was resolved that the receipt of the resolutions be acknowdedged. A letter was read from many of the residents on the Wilson Nursery Ground, praying that the Board would compel Mr Wilson to fill up a stagnant pool existing on his section. It was resolved to refer the writers to the action taken in this matter by tire Inspector. SANITARY. The Chairman reported one case of scarlet fever since last meeting. It was decided that the medical officer be requested to furnish the Board with a report as to the health of the district at an early date. AMENDED HEALTH ACT, Mr Duncan resumed the discussion in this matter. They found that when the works were in full swing it would take Is in the £ to pay the interest and sinking fund on drainage loans. If they were going to take over the powers of the Local Board of Health and pay for it they might have to carry out the'general scavangering and perhaps watering of the streets. In this case it would cost some 4d or 5d in the £ over the whole district. If they were to take the whole work the cost would be very large. The staff alone and plant to carry on the Act would come to £2300 a year. He for one was not prepared to do this. Nearly all the districts were of opinion that the powers of the Local Board of Health should go back to them, and he for one was quite willing to hand over all the powers they had as a Local Board. He would suggest that they should telegraph to the Government that they were not in a position to incur the expenditure necessary under the Act, and that therefore they be requested to alter the legislation. Mr Ross agreed with Mr Duncan that they were not warranted in taking the funds of the Drainage Board to the extent of some £2300 a year for the working of the Public Health Act.

Mr Hall agreed with the former speakers, and pointed out the injustice which would be lone to the country residents by rating them some fourpcncc or fivepcnce in the pound to curry out the scavengering of the city. He was therefore of opinion that the powers should bo handed over to the City Council u"d various Road Boards.

The Chairman said that the question was surrounded with much difficulty as regarded

the rating. He thought that it would bf very much better for the Board to say tha l ■he Act now pushed on them was totally un suitable, and, as the Legislature would not pass the Bill the Board had sent up, he was inclined to go witl Mr Duncan. It must bo remembered that if they had the Act they would be forced into a dishonest course towards their deben ture holders. It must also bo remembered that they were putting their successors into a very peculiar position. They would have a drainage scheme upon their hands and a system of seavengering and general care of tin streets without any funds to carry it out. Mr Harman said that the City Council had taken up the position of throwing on to the Local Board of Health powers and duties which had been discharged for years by the City Council. Of course the ratepayers of the city would escape the payment of certain officers which the Board would have to pay. What had been referred to by Mr Hall was certainly the point of the position. If they were forced into this expenditure by the Act they would have to levy a rate of 5d or so in the £ on the whole district, which would be making the rural portion pay for the seavengering of the city. This was a position which he for one was not prepared to take up. Mr Tancred said that it was a very great pity they were unable to go on as they were. So long as the law remainedas it was now they could not get rid of the responsibilities of the Board of Health. They could ask the Government to repeal the clause making the Drainage Board the only local Board of Health While they remained as members of the Christchurch District Drainage Board they were members of the Local Board of Health, and as the City Council had taken up the position they said' the only way out of the difficulty was either that the Government should repeal the provision making the two bodies one, or that they should resign as a Drainage Board. Mr Hall thought perhaps it would be better to adjourn the consideration of this matter for a week, and confer with the City Council in the mean time.

A very lengthened discussion ensued, and ultimately Mr Harman moved—“ That a telegram be sent to the Colonial Secretary to the following effect: ‘ While being of opinion that it is desirable that one Board of Health should act for the whole of the Christchurch Drainage District,’ the members of the present Board feel bound to represent to the Government that the rating powers of the Drainage Board will not suffice to defray the expense of discharging the duties expressed in clauses 47 to 52. They therefore request that an Act be passed making other provision for tlie discharge of the duties of the Local Board of Health legalising the expenditure already incuri’ed by the present Board, and defraying the same out of any funds arising from rates levied by the Drainage Board.” Mr Duncan seconded the motion, which was carried. The Board then adjourned at 2 p.m.