BOARD OF HEALTH.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1482, 15 November 1878, Page 3

BOARD OF HEALTH.

«, The Board of Health then held their usual fortnightly meeting. Present—Messrs Ross (chairman), H. J. Tancred, A. Duncan, and R. J. S. Harman. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. inspector's report. The Inspector reported as follows : 1. The Borough Council of Sydenham, relying on the Board's communication of August 16th, liave requested my services somewhat, specially in the abatement of nuisances within the borough. The Council, through tho chairman of the sanitary committee, expresses their desire to introduce sanitary measures generally through the J°iEsfc£r bnrthensome to the "borough fund 'or oppressive to the ratepayers individually. ~,,,,. t r l j At an interview with the chairman, J. directed attention to the clause of the Public Health Act, by which this can be accomplished. For some time past compaiut has been made by persons who have adopted tho closet pan system, that so many cesspools still exist. I find it is not generally known to ratepayers that common privy cesspools arc defined nuisances under the Public Health Act. Clause 47 of the Act permits every local board to undertake or contract for the removal of night soil, &c, either for the whole or part of their district, and may impose penalties for obstructing such removal, but persons shall not be liable to penalties if such matters are required for use on the premises, and kept so as not to be a nuisance. The Council considers that to undertake or contract for the scavenging of tho borough would be unduly burthensome to the borough fund, and therefore desire to take advantage of clause 49 of the Act which in substance is, " that when the local board does not undertake or contract for the removal of night soil, &c, it may make by-laws this duty on the occupiers of premises. Such by-laws are necessary before taking legal proceedings for closing existing cesspools in the borough. 2. I have written to the railway authorities requesting abatements of the nuisance arising from the dense smoke which sometimes issues from the smithies at the Christchurch railway station, and have received a reply that the matter shall receive immediate attention. 3. I have been engaged inspecting from house to house in Sydenham. Referring to clause 1, Mr A. Duncan said that while wishing to afford every assistance to tho Sydenham Borough Council in placing the services of the inspector at the Couucil's disposal, still he thought they should as far possible, assimilate themselves to the Christchurch City Council, and frame their own by-laws, which could afterwards be legalised by the Board. They would eventually be their own local Board of Health, and they should commence by framing sanitary bylaws to suit their own requirements, which the Board could legalise. Mr Duncan's views wcro those of the Board generally, and tho matter then dropped. The remainder of the clauses were considered satisfactory, and the report was adopted. The town clerk of the borough of Sydenham wrote, acknowledging the receipt of a copy of the report of the health officer, Dr. Powell, for the Christchurch drainage district for tho six months ending last SoptemU <V letter was read from the Chief Inspector of Nuisances on behalf of the Sanitary Committee of tho Christchurch City Council, drawing the Board's attention to the oJlenstve state of the south drain, and asking lor immediate action to be taken for the removal of the objectionable matter. The inspector wa 3 instructed to take action as requested, and as to the question of cleaning the drain, that the chairman was requeued to confer with the chairman ot the Drainage Board. INFECTIOUS DISEASES. Tho health officer reported the following cases of infectious diseases :—Typhoid, 1; scarlatina, 1 ; diphtheria, 1 j ow fever 1. Tho Chairman drew attention to the state of tho side channels in Armagh street west and neighborhood. _ „_, The following resolution was passed— Xhat the attention of the City Council be called to the bad state of the side channels in Armagh street, west, and this Board would be glad it the Council would give attention temporarily until each time as the Drainage Board shah have permanent drainage arrangements winch they understand they will be able to carry out, shortly." Tho Board then adjourned.