BOARD OF HEALTH.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1585, 19 March 1879, Page 3

BOARD OF HEALTH.

Tuesday, Mabch 18. The usual meeting of the Board of Health was held at 4 p.m. Present —Messrs Harman (in the chair), Duncan, Hobbs, Blakiston. inspectob's bbpobts.

The reports of the inspector of nuisances were read as follows :

March 3rd, 1879

1. I have inspected the various, premises from which infectious diseases have been reported. Some cases having occurred in Clarkaon's paddock, Sandridge, fears have been expressed by some of the residents that the present condition of the portion of Jackson's Creek in that locality is injurious to health, I have directed attention to it with a view to its being cleaned out. 2. The side channel on the east side of the Town belt east in the Sydenham and Christchurch districts is in a very neglected condition; with regard to that portion bounding the Sydenham district, Mr S. Manning has expressed his willingness to contribute towards the expense of channelling. . . 3. I have inspected the locality mentioned in Dr. Symes' letter, and find the complaint arose from a compost heap on Mr Hawker's farm, consisting in part of refuse from the fellmongeries in the neighborhood. These premises are thus kept in much cleaner condition than formerly, and the bad practice of burying refuse on the river bank has been avoided. Mr Hawker will act on suggestions made by me to prevent nuisance in the future.

4. I have inquired into an alleged case of typhoid unreported, and find the case was certified as diarrhoea.

5. A very bad odour was detected during the temporary removal of the weir at Lane's mill on the Avon, and the consequent exposure of the weed near the outfall of the Antigua street and Lincoln road drains. These drains convey to the river at this spot besides the drainage of a large area, that from a large malthouse and brewery, and from the wash-house, kitchen, and offices of the hospital. Wm. Pearce, Chief Inspector of Nuisances. March 18, 1873.

I beg to report as follows: — 1. The nuisance arising from offensive side channels within the borough of Sydenham is being vigorously dealt with, twelve men having been engaged for some days past for that purpose. A letter from Mr Harvey, complaining of sludge being left too long on sides of the streets, has received attention. 2. I beg to report a nuisance under clause 58 of the Act, arising from the manner of keeping a number of pigs on premises of Mr Hunter, St. Albans. In order to abate the is necessary to concrete the floor of the sties, and to discontinue accumulating offensive refuse on the premises for the purpose of feeding the pigs. I need the authority of the Board for serving the requisite notice. 3.1 have requested the tenants of premises owned by Mrs Craddock, off the south side of the South Town Belt, to stop the continual flow of artesian water, which is flooding aprivate street and the footpath on the belt. I am informed that the report of the professional gentlemen on the drainage, Ac, of this locality will probably be ready not later than the end of the present week.

4. Mr Marriott, North belt, complains that nightsoil ii emptied into the drain on the north

side of the belt. This has been done, and I have reason to believe, by persons not engaging the city scavenger. 5. The concrete surface channels at the premises of Colombo road school, referred to by the medical ofhcer, have been cleaned out. Wm. Pearce, Chi jf Inspector of Nuisances. The reports were considered seriatim. It was decided to strike out clause 2 of the first report* The other clauses were deemed satisfactory, On clause 2 of the 9>cond report a memorial was read from seven residents of St.. Albanß, complaining of the nuisance arising from Mr Hunter keeping pigs. It was resolved that a member of tho Board be requested to visit the place and report upon it, and that tho chairman be empowered to act on the report of the member inspecting. The inspector was instructed to take all necessary steps to secure the conviction of persons throwing night soil into tho creek near the North town belt.

In connection with this matter a letter was read from a resident in the neighborhood complaining of the practice of persons throwing night soil into the creek near the North town belt, the water of which, as artesian wells were scarce, was used for various purposes by the residents along the creek. The Chairman said that the inspector would taks steps to prosecute any one who was found committing the offence complained of. BEPOKT or MEDICAL offices. The following report was read from Dr. Powell: — March 11. Sir,—l have the honor to inform you that on the Ist inat. I, accompanied by the chief inspector, Mr Pearce. visited tho public schools of Christchurch in order to inspect their latrines. I need hardly point out the very great importance of proper sanitary arrangements where hundreds of children are assembled together for several hours of the day, more especially in a town where typhoid fever is endemic. I find the accommodation on the whole fairly sufficient, and the offices clean and tolerably wholesome. There was one exception, the Colombo street school. Here the offices were very dark and low, and the drainage from those and the urinals passed into a long sluggish gutter with a mud bottom a state of things which was highly objectionable. I understand, however, that things are in a transition st*te, and that it is intended to change the site of the present offices and erect aew ones. I also observed that the concrete channelling surrounding the building beneath the eaves were filled with stagnant water, and choked with macerating paper and other rubbish, a state of things which should not be allowed to exist. I was struck with the general want of principle exhibited in the arrangement of the offices at all the schools. There seemed to be no definite attempt to proportion the accommodation to the number of scholars.

LI. Powell. Dr. Powell then gave a sketch of what he considered should be done.

The following report on existence of gullies was read: — March 11th.

Eecently, when visiting a serious case of typhoid fever, my attention was forcibly directed to the dangers likely to occur from the existence of gullies and depressions within the town. At these points the sub-soil is exposed, and free exit given to emanations therefrom. But worse than this, the slops and sewage from adjacent houses tend to flow into them, while in heavy rains the washings of sections and b»ck yards carry down much refuse matter, and these having no flow of water to carry them away are always soaking the soil of the gully. In addition to this these depressions form a convenient receptacle for the disposal of all kinds of rubbish; in fact, at any time gullies and gravel pits may be seen within the precincts of the city in the process of being filled with rubbish. This deleterious rubbish drying into dust is carried far and wide by the wind, and when subsequently houses come to be built upon the sites in question the dwellers and the medical officers are puzzled to account for the recurrence of cases of diphtheria, typhoid fever, &c , and those feelings of illness which it is fashionable to call blood poisoning. Let me call your attention to a gully which passes at the back of the Hospital through St. Andrew's grounds, and between Oxford Terrace and Tuam street to Lichfield street and onwards. [The writer then proceeded to detail fatal cases of diphtheria, &c, occurring in the vicinity of this gully from 1869 to 1879.] .... Any one who knows the neighborhood will see that all the cases quoted by me occurred in close proximity to the line of the old gully mentioned. I believe that a municipal by-law exists pi'oviding for the filling up of gullies, &c, but it is not enforced. I think in the interests of public health that the by-law should be carried out, and that there should be a rigid supervision of the material used for filling in, as it is impossible to say how long rubbish contaminated with organic matter and contagion may continue noxious. LI. Powell. The Chairman said he thought that a copy of the first report should be sent to the Board of Education. Mr Blakiston moved —" That the chairman be requested to forward a copy of the report to the Board of Education." Mr Duncan seconded the motion, which was agreed to. It was resolved to forward the report, No. 2, to the Mayor and City Council of Christchurch. COBEESPONDENCE. A letter was read from the Christchurch City Council, stating that the Board's letter respecting the drainage of sections 133 and 134 on the south belt, had been referred to the sanitary committee. A letter was read from the Sydenham Borough Council, stating that two surveyors had been engaged to inspect and report on the south town belt, and that Messrs Walkden and Thornton had been appointed for the city and the borough of Sydenham. A letter was read from Mr Harvey, calling attention to the fact that a dangerous and abominable nuisance was caused by the Sydenham Borough Council sweeping the side channels and leaving the debris on the side walk, which in the heat of the paßt few days had caused a great nuisance. The matter was stated by the Inspector to have been abated. A letter was read from Mr L. Metz, calling attention to the great nuisance which existed in Worcester street from Mr T. Hill's veterinary infirmary, which was within ten feet of Mr Metz'a house, and from which not only great noise proceeded at night, but also abominable smells, which could not but prove prejudicial to the public health. The Chairman said tbat on receipt of the letter he had despatched Mr Pearce to the premises, which were found to be in a good condition. The premises being within the city, the letter had been handed over to the city inspector. If there was any nuisance the Board had power to enforce the removal of the premises. Mr Pearce would inspect the premises, and take steps at once to prevent any nuisance. TTTAM STBEET EAST. A letter was read from Mr Taylor, calling attention to two overflowing cess pits in Tuam street east. The matter was referred to the City Inspector to take proper action. INFECTIOUS DISEASES. The medical officer of health reported thirty-seven cases of typhoid fever and six cases of diphtheria since the last meeting of the Board. ACCOUNTS. Several accounts were passed for payment, and the Board adjourned.