BOARD OF HEALTH.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1434, 20 September 1878, Page 3

BOARD OF HEALTH.

The usual Board of Health meeting was held at the close of the drainage meeting at noon to-day. Present—-Messrs Ross (chairman), Hobbs, Hall, Harman, and Tancred. HOUSES UNFIT TO LIVE IN. Dr. Powell stated that Mr Hobbs, the inspector of nuisances, had called upon him, and asked him to inspect three houses in George street, which he had stated were unfit to live in. He had visited these houses, and found them as described. Mr Hobbs had asked him to give a memorandum of his opinion to lay before the sanitary committee. Being an officer of tire Board of Health, he had considered it necessary to consult that body before doing so. The Chairman asked what condition he had found the houses in. Dr. Powell stated that underneath the houses there were stagnant pools, or rather lakes, of water, while the back yards were a mass of filth. Indeed they presented more the appearance of pig-styes than anything else. If they were raised and the ground filled up then the premises might bo habitable. At the present time they were nof'fit for human habitation, and were besides a source of groat danger to the public health. After some discussion, the Board requested the medical officer to write to the sanitary committee, and to take action himself under the Act. It was stated by members of the Board that there were a great number of houses in Christchurch in the same condition. inspector’s report. 1. In accord mce with instructions, I have several times Mnco the last meeting of the Board visited the premises of Mr H irler, soap and candle maker, Wo. Ist m. I find that v-ry little tadow has been melted for some weeks i ast. Complaint was made to mo, however, by persons residing in the neighborhood and by others who are compelled to pass the premises, that the had od )ur arising during the process of melting is a great nuisance to them. Mr Hor.'er states that for some purposes of his business it is necessary to melt in open pans fat of the best quality. This being so, Pcan only suggest that the fumes arising during the process shall be consumed ; and that it is practical) e -would appear from the following extract from “Parke’s Hygiene Impurities in air, tallow melters, &c. In many trades of this kind large quantities of very disagreeable anim 1 vapors are produced, which spread for a long distance and are disagreeable. Although a nuisance, it is difficult to br.ug forth po.-itive evidence of insalubrity. But the odor is so bad that in France rules are in force to oblige the vapors to bo condensed or consumed.’’ “M. Foncon has figured an apparatus which completely burns the animal vapors.” The premises also being unsuitab c, and not of sufficient extent, should 100 improved and enlarged. Mr Holder states bo contemplates making alterations and improvements. I would dire t attention to the Public Idea th Act. 187(5, s 78, which makes it the duty of a local Board to direct complaint to be made before a Resident Magistrate, upon a certificate signed by ten inhabitants of the distiict of such local Board that any offensive trade carried on therein is a nuisance or i ijurions to health. Such a certificate has not yet been lodged. 2. The drain cut for the diversion of the water from the Fevryrcad drain, having drained the water Iro n the old clay pits on premises situate on Ensor’s road, 1 have intimated to the owners that the pits must bo filled up. 3. The notice served on the owner of premises situate in Phillipstown to provide additional closet accommodation has been complied with. Only the one case of typhoid fever has occurred in the neighborhood. 4. I have investigate! certain alleged cases of typhoid fever unreported. The medical attendant stated the cases referred to were not typnoid fever. 5. I have to report the very bad condition of a ditch on Olliviev’s road. A case of typhoid feve his been reported on premises abuitiug on this ditch.

(j. Complaint continues to be made of the foul odour ari-ing from the side channel on the road through Papanui, the drainage from several premises flows into this channel, and there emanates. Cases of fever have been reported on premises abutting on it. I have been engaged inspecting from house to house at Woolston and at Bingsland. Wm. Pearce, Chief Inspector of Nuisance. With regard to the first clause, Mr Harman said the inhabitants had the remedy in their own hands, as any ten of them could lay an information before the Resident Magistrate. It was one of those things that must be done by a neighborhood. The Inspector said the smell was offensive to persons passing on the coaches to Sumner and other places. With regard to clausa ~>, it was resolved to write to the Ileathcote Hoad Board on the subject. With regard to the Glh clause, it was rcsolved to write to the Avon Road Board calling their attention to the urgent necessity of at once attending to the matter. SWINE. The inspector was instructed to carry out the by-law with regard to swine in_ the Borough of Sydenham, and in the thickly populated parts of the Avon district, and other d strict s consenting to its operation. Thy Chairman was requested to see the solicitor, in order to learn what steps should be taken iu the matter of advertising tho bylaw. COI'UE^rOAJJKNOC, Several letters were read on the subject or the bad drainage of certain private premises, and in most cases the inspector was ordered to take action in the matter. The Board then adjourned,