Sanitary Improvements in Naples.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 91, 28 February 1885, Page 4

Sanitary Improvements in Naples.

Every one in Naples is at present intent on reforms, and retorms have already been commenced. Such a cleansing as Naples has undergone, during the last four or five months, it has not known since it was built. Of what it is intended to do it is sufficient to say that the projects of the municipality have been embodied in the bill which is now before the Chamber of Deputies, with every prospect of being passed. Two of the principal articles of the bill are a complete system of sewerage and the construction of new streets, which involves the destruction of many of those loathsome houses which were the nests of disease. It is calculated thar it will take twelve years to effect these changes, and the loan of 100,000,000 of lire is to be proposed, and will no doubt be sanctioned, for carrying them out. A writer in one of the Naples journals asked a month ago : " And when the city is improved and new, and healthy buildings have been erected, what is to be done with the foul inhabitants of the dirty quarters?" It is an important question, for, unless vast changes are made in the people themselves their new residences will become as foul as their old ones. Pari passu, then, with knocking down and rebuilding, a regular moral training through the medium of schools and other kindred institutions must be introduced, so that the inhabitants may be trained and disciplined to enter on a healthy manhood. Commerce haanow begun to bring prosperity to Naples, and it might be much more increased were certain unwise restrictions removed. Even before the cholera appeared complaints were made that the heavy anchorage duties levied prevented large ocean steamers from touching here. The British and Dutch steamers on their way to the Levant and India passed by or merely gave a glance." This has been a great loss for the commerce of Naples, and it is to be hoped that Parliament will have the wisdom to rescind regulations which the whole commerce of the city deplores.— " London Times" Corr, Naples, December 2nd.