The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 1880.

Kumara Times, Issue 1109, 20 April 1880, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 1880.

The prompt and decisive action taken by the Local Board of Health on the suggestions we made last evening is deserving of the highest commendation. Within a few hours of our calling attention to the necessity that existed for measures being adopted to prevent, if possible, by precaution the spread of that serious epidemic diphtheria, which is now unfortunately prevalent in Hokitika, a special meeting of the Board was called, when resolutions were passed which, if given effect to in their entirety, will go far towards securing this township from the disease in question. Although, however, the Board has acted Under the circumstances with great forethought, the general public themselves are to the largest extent the parties who by their individual action can place the town in such a sanitary Condition that it would bo almost impossible fot the now dreaded disease, diphtheria* to obtain a foothold therein. Under llie “Public Health Act, IS7G,” the Board are invested with large powers for the suppression of any nuisances as clause 57 says

It shall be the duty of every Local Board to cause to be made from time to time inspection of its district, with a view to ascertain what nuisances exist calling for abatement under the powers of this

part of the Act; and to enforce the provisions of this part of this Act in order to abate the same.

Among other nuisances, the Act defines Any premises in such a state as to be a nuisance or injurious to health. Any pool, ditch, gutter, watercourse, P r ivy, urinal, cesspool, drain, dr ashpit, so foul or in such a state as to be a nuisance or injurious to health.

Any animal so kept as to be a nuisance or injurious to health.

Any accumulation or deposit which is a nuisance or injurious to health.

Arid, in default of their abatement; provides—

If the person oh whom a notice to abate a nuisance has been served makes default in complying with any of the requisitions thereof within the time specified, 'or if the nuisance, although abated since the service of the notice, is, in the opinion of the Local : Board, likely to recur on the same premises, the Local Board shall cause A complaint relating to such nuir sance to be made before a Justice, and such Justice, shall thereupon issue a summons requiring the person on whom the notice was served to appear before a Resident Magistrate’s Court:

And also gives the Court power to inflict a penalty not exceeding £5, and all the costs incurred by the Local Board. That the provisions Of the Act will be required to be enforced by the Local Board of Health, cicept in very extreme cases, we do not for one moment opine, as the good sense of the community at large taken in connection with the fact that the cleanliness of their premises may be the means of saving the lives of their offspring should be thoroughly sufficient grounds for everyone removing any nuisance that may at present exist on their property. Should our ideas, however 1 , in this respect bcrUl-founded, then it will be the bounden duty of the Local Board of Health, through its officers, to impartially and strictly enforce the provisions of the “ Public Health Act, 1876,” in the interests of the residents of the town generally.

We are glad to learn that the sub-com-mittee appointed by the Board of Health last evening to interview Dr. Acheson relative to his accepting the appointment of medical officer to the Board received a favourable reply, Dr. Aches oil having consented to act in that capacity. A meeting of the Hospital dommitlee will be held at the Secretary’s office tonight, when, doubtless, some information will be to hand as to the date oh which the Greymouth Christy Minstrels intend kindly giving one of their highly amusing entertainments in this toWh dil beh&lf of the funds of that institution.

We understand that a young lady at Dillman’s Town has been attacked this afternoon with all the symptoms appertaining to diphtheria. The usual weekly parade of the local Rifles will take place at the Drill Shed this evening.

The committee of management for the chess handicap tournament met last evening. Mr Janion was elected chairman, and Mr Petrie secretary and treasurer. The rules of the late tournament were revised so as to suit the present tourney. It was arranged that the list of entry should be kept open till Thursday evening next, and the handicap be notified oh Saturday, the 24th. Thirty-four entries have been received.

Wakanui, near Ashburton, was during last Saturday night visited by a fierce hailstorm, accompanied by thunder and lightning. The hailstones which fell are said to have been about ah inch in diameter. Five horses belonging td Messrs Sweeny Brothers were killed by the lightning. The horses were seen together on Saturday evening in a paddock on the farm, and on Sunday morning they were found lying dead side by side. They were alj lying on the same side; within a few feet of each other ; they bore no marks of violence, and one of them had a bite of grass in its mouth, which indicates that death must have been instantaneous; The horses were valued at £IOO.