INSPECTOR OF NUISANCES’ REPORT

Temuka Leader, Issue 328, 11 December 1880, Page 2

INSPECTOR OF NUISANCES’ REPORT

The following is the Inspector of Nuisances Report as read at the meeting of the Temuka Board of Health ou Tuesday last Temuka, 7th December, 1880: The >. hairman and Members Local Board of Health, Temuka. Gentlemen, —I have the honor to inform you that during the past month I have made a general inspection, visiting in all 233 houses situated in Wallingford, Arowhenr-a, and Sod Town, and including a number of dwellings north of Mr Wheelband’s store, and respectfully submit the following details for your consideration and decision ; Wallingford.—This is the most thickly populated portion of the district, and contains 133 premises ; 55 of these were in a satisfactory condition, and supplied with every convenience for the preservation of health. The plosets of 20 others were provided with various kinds of pans for the reception of foecal matter, which the scavenger would have no difficulty in emptying, if engaged j but fully 30 of these pans are emptied by the owners, who bury the contents in their gardens contrary to a resolution of the Board, and I regret that I have been unable to obtain sufficient evidence to lead to a conviction, should legal proceedings be taken fqr the prevention of such a practice. I found 18 pits, 13 closets without pans, seven houses requiring closet accommodation, and 13 nuisances arising from accumulation of garbage, &c. The necessary notices have been served for the abatement of a large number of the foregoing nuisances, and six notices have been served requiring the removal of pigs. Two persons have complied, the time allowed in three cases has not expired, and the other person on whom notice was served (Mr Earquharson), intends to appeal to you against its enforcement. Being a case of considerable importonoe, I wish to state that Mr Farquharaon’s three large pigs are kept near the north end of the township, and that at the time of my visit the stye was in a very dirty condition, the stench arising from it being perceptible to anyone passing on the road, and certainly injurious to the health of residents in the locality. Should Mr Farquharson’s application be granted, it would then become very difficult to prevent such animals being kept even in the centre of the town. I might mention that the Board, a few years ago, passed a resolution to the effect that pigs should not be kept in the Townships of Wallingford and Arowhenua. Arowheiiua. —The number of dwellings in this’ township has greatly increased of late, and it now contains 46. The outbuiidsngs and yards of 25 I found perfectly clean and in good order ; (he closets of 15 others were not furnished with pans ef the kind approved by the Board ; 4 houses had pit closets, and 2 required closets- One pig is also kept in this township. A large number of the residents are in the Habit of disposing of the contents of their closet pans in the manner as already described by me in the Wallingford report. Complaints having been made as to the condition of the water used at the School I examined the outbuildings, &c. A pipe drain leads from the urinal and passes near the lavatory, in • which about 80 gallons of water are used daily and terminates at a concrete cesspit. The cesspit which has been built some eight months, and never been emptied, contained about 10 gallons of water. I turned on the watervin the lavatory, but none ran into the cesspit: it is therefore plainly evident that 80 gallons from the lavatory alone leak through the pipes. As to whether the waste water obtains access to the pump, I cannot say : the water used for drinking purposes is first pumped into a tank a,nd then carried by means of pipes to the lavatory. I tasted the water : that obtained direct from the pump appeared all right, but the water in the lavatory smelt and tasted badly. If the waste water does reach the pump the badness of the drinking water, when allowed to stand, is explained. Sodtown.—On my visit to this place I noticed a great improvement in every respect from what it was a few months ago; a number of substantial closets having been erected (in compliance with notices served), yards very tidy, and. pigs loss numerous and kept far cleaner. At the present time nine tenements are deficient in closet accommodation, and as the occupiers are not in a position to expend money to build them, I believe the Government, to whom the property belongs, would, if asked by tjie Board, erect the required conveniences. Premises near Wheelbands. —Would the Board instruct me as to whether the regulations relating to closets, pigs, &0., are in force in this portion of the Temuka Road Board District, —I am, &c., Geo. Bolton, r Inspector of Nuisances