MOSQUITOES

Hokitika Guardian, 3 December 1928, Page 7

MOSQUITOES

NUISANCE AT PUKEKOHE

PUKEKOHE, December 1. “ The mosquito nuisance in the borough appears to be getting worse,” said the Health Inspector, Mr T. C. Thompson, in a report to the Pukekohe Borough Council on Monday evening. The report went on to say that while the mosquito was not of the harmful type, it caused much annoyance to residents, and every effort should bo made on the part of the council and the inhabitants to rid the town of the pests and to prevent tlie breeding of them by ceasing to allow conditions that were likely to cause breeding places. The nuisance appeared to be confined to the inner area of the town, and particularly the lower end of King Street and surrounding blocks. The inspector considered among the contributing causes were the small number of swamp areas which required draining, the extensive hedge cultivation soak holes and drainage, and an accumulation of old tins and refuse under hedges. He recommended that notice he served on property owners concerned to provide channel drains through swamp land, that certain drains in the borough he cleaned out, and that some very thick hedges over open drains in property near the Pukekohe Hotel he cut back to allow the drains getting the air and of drying up the ground in the vicinity. The inspector emphasised the need of the council acquainting the residents of the terms of the Health Act, which laid it down that it was an offence for anyone to have such conditions as to harbour mosquitoes. The Mayor, Mr John Poutly, expressed some doubt as to whether the council had power to compel property owners to cut drains as suggested, and to cut back hedges that were not actually overhanging a road or footpath. Subject to the council having the power, the health inspector’s recommendation is to he given effect to.