The Globe. THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 1879.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1544, 30 January 1879, Page 2

The Globe. THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 1879.

We are nearly through one of the hottest, and consequently most unhealthy, seasons which the traditional “ oldest inhabitant ” may perhaps remember to have experienced in Canterbury ; and situated as the city is, at the present moment, in regard to things sanitary, while, furthermore, taking into consideration tho fast increase in the population, it may well bo asked what practical stops are being taken by the authorities towards preserving tho health and comfort of tho community. Legislative enactments of all possible kinds have been placed on the statute book, providing for tho doing of a variety of things, all tending to servo public interests in tho direction indicated. Whether it he for general drainage purposes, for tho providing of a water supply, or for ensuring the health of cities, boroughs, and oven country districts, legislation has been introduced, year after year, retrulations have also beo" auu Hoards or other responsible bodies created, with a view of henofittiug tho common weal. Unfortunately, this host of theoretical efforts have, so far, boon scarcely productive of much practical good. Yet all tho time taxation in a variety of shapes knocks at tho door of the citizen ; rates aro levied for this, that, or the other purpose; public money 00/os out from between the fingers of the governing bodies; and tho burden keeps on accumulating until the panting taxpayer is fain to turn round and inquire when the finality will come. At the present moment, in tho city, the totted up amount of rates levied upon property is something enormously out of tho common. It has assumed a very largo percentage upon tho value of vested interests. It is a percentage which has been going on increasing year by year. The public—not always versed in the mysterious intricacies of those municipal manipulations by which drainage rates, Waimakariri river rates, ordinary rates, and what not, have originally been imposed by the opoi’atiou of tho law—want to see what immediate benefits aro derived by tho expenditure of these monies. Wo are not prepared to say that a superabundance of tho taxing element is not a thing of necessity in all and especially in young and rising communities, unpopular as it is bound to be. Far from it. But tho money should he laid out in as wiso a manner as could possibly he devised, and much care taken that its fructification bo carried out comprehensively. Besides, the now much worn and certainly very largo question of the drainage of tho Christchurch district, upou which for some three years past engineering efforts of tho highest calibre, as well as a not inconsiderable number of thousands of pounds, have been expended, another issue is before tho public of perhaps as great importance. Wo refer to tho wretchedly incomplete manner in which the provisions of, and subsequent regulations under, tho “ Public Health Act, 1876” aro being carried out. Wo ai’o not directly blaming tho Board of Health in tho matter, as it is undeniable that tho members of that painstaking, if slowly stirring body, have to a great extent shown a laudable dosiro to carry out to tho host of their ability and resources the tenets of tho law which they have to administer. But can anyone read the last report of the Board s Health Officer, Dr Powell, without coming to the conclusion that there is a screw seriously loose somewhere in tho daily application of that governing machinery? Dr. Powell has oftentimes placed before tho Board of Health, in terras pungent and unmistakoahlo, the deplorable state of sanitary arrangements found to exist in tho dwellings of tho city and suburbs. In tho last reports, Dr. Powell draws the attention of the Board once more, to tho fact there are more than 1600 foulsome cesspits in tho city, the existence or which absolutely effects in a most grievous manner tho public health. Certainly, wo did not require these oft repeated warnings of tho Health officer to know that, practically, little has in reality been done since the advent of tho Board to power towards enforcing some of tho most important provisions contained in tho Public Health Act. Typhoid and other fevers aro the outcome of foul air and had water, and while tho present season has boon especially favor-

aljlo to the dissemination ot‘ those diseases, it is a well-known fact that in some parts of the city the supply of artesian water has partially or totally failed, The inspector of nuisances, we believe, has not lacked Seal in the discharge of his duties, nor. as wo said before, has the Board of Health, nor perhaps the City Council, as far as their jurisdiction in the matter extends. It is mainly owing to people's negligence and carelessness that much of the unwholesome state of things at present obtaining is attributable, It has often boon said that you cannot make people good by Act of Parliament. And it is, perhaps, more d i fficult still to make people cleanse themselves and their ways by the same process. A Board of Health, though it may bo most zealous in its duties and possess most energetic officers, cannot do much for the public good, when the stupidity or negligence of householders thwarts its efforts at every step. Yet the public Health Act provides, to a certain extent, for the contingency. It inacts, in clause 27, that the Board shall have the power, upon necessary evidence being adduced, to order “the cleansing and disinfecting of any house or part thereof, and of any articles therein likely to retain infection.” This, of course, deals only with cases when things have arrived at that unpleasant state needing cure and not prevention. The machinery recplisito to secure the health of the community, as set out by law, would appear ample, and, at the present moment, in good working order. But it rests with the householders themselves whether it shall bo worked in a manner such as to practically benefit the community. So far as the powers of the Board of Health extend, it should leave no stone unturned and lose not a moment in trying to devise substantial moans to have Dr. Powell’s warning recommendations acted upon.