7

H.—22

table matter, which, when they do not produce actual disease, have a morbid influence on the general health of the inhabitants. From personal knowledge, I can state that, in HoMtika, sickness increases as the temperature rises, and that the mortality is greatest when the temperature is lowest. . A hot summer therefore is sickly, and a cold winter fatal to life. As a high temperature promotes putrefaction and decay, it is obviously favourable to disease depending on atmospheric impurities. To remedy and guard against atmospheric impurities, good drainage and cleanliness must claim the foremost rank. During the past six months, numerous cases of zymotic and miasmatic disease have occurred throughout Hokitika, but more particularly in the low-lying portion of the town. The forms of disease were—scarlatina, erysipelas, dysentery, diarrhoea, and low fever. I attribute the cause chiefly to defective drainage : I refer particularly to the Market Eeserve on G-ibson's Quay, where, or near "to it, most of the diseases referred to have occurred. There is a foul and open drain (a fever nest) in front of the houses. Other portions of the town are nearly deserving of equal remark. I would particularly direct the attention of the Local Board of Health to clause 30 of the Public Health Act, wherein ample power is given to dispose of such nuisances as open drains. An efficient system of drainage is simply indispensable for preserving the health of the inhabitants of the town of Hokitika. The number of deaths which occurred during the past six months were fewer than during the corresponding period of last year (vide Table). The sanitary condition of the town of Hokitika would in my opinion be materially benefited if facilities were provided for bathing and washing. A cheap and inexpensive system of public baths would, I am sure, be productive of much good in a sanitary sense to the people, and could be made almost self-supporting. I would suggest a consideration of this matter to the Local Board of Health. The stowage of hides in a populated part of the town I consider to be very objectionable. I desire to draw attention to the apathy parents and others show in complying with so important a matter as not having children vaccinated; but, as ample power rests with the proper authorities to enforce compliance, it is a matter that cannot be overlooked, and, with the knowledge that small-pox has recently appeared in the colony, the subject assumes considerable importance. In the subjoined Table it is shown that, of 24 deaths registered for the town of Hokitika during the past half-year, 14 were of children under one year, and that in 1873 29 deaths were registered, of which 14 were children under one year. I have, &c, ' FITZHEBBEBT DeEMOTT, "W. D. Banks, Esq., Clerk, Local Board of Health, Hokitika. Provincial Surgeon. The Cleek, Eoad Board District, Okarito, to the Chaieman, Central Board of Health, Hokitika. Sic,— Eoad Board Office, Okarito, 23rd June, 1875. In reply to your circular, I am instructed by the Chairman of the Local Board of Health to report that there is at present a species of chicken-pox among a few of the children in the district. Otherwise the district is in a very healthy condition. I have, &c, J. S. Behton, The Chairman of the Central Board of Health, Hokitika. Clerk. Mr. H. H. Walteks, Paroa, to the Chaieman, Central Board of Health, Hokitika. Sic, — Office of the Local Board of Health, Paroa, 17th July, 1874. In reply to your circular dated 9th ultimo, I am directed by the Board to report as follows: —■ 1. The sanitary state of the inhabitants of the Paroa District is generally good, the majority of cases requiring medical attendance being of the nature of mining accidents. 2. The back country being rapidly intersected by good roads, the transport of patients to the Grey Eiver Hospital is much facilitated. 3. Some apprehensions are felt with regard to the Chinese, of whom a great number have recently arrived in the district. It is feared that their repugnance to meddle with the dead bodies of any of their countrymen, and also their wretched mode of living together in great numbers with limited dwelling accommodation, will engage the active attendance of the Board during the summer months. 4. The only part of the district where a medical man resides is the Greenstone. I have, &c, H. H. Walter, The Chairman of the Central Board of Health, Hokitika. Secretary. Mr. J. S. Caeo, Stafford, to the Chaibman, Arahura Board of Health. Sic,— Stafford, 24th July, 1874. In compliance with your request, conveyed to me in a letter by your Hon. Secretary, I beg to forward a short report on the sanitary state of health in this district, as far as my own knowledge enables me to do. I must, however, observe that such report must necessarily be brief and incomplete, owing to the circumstance that a large number of patients from here resort to either the Hokitika Hospital or are treated by private practitioners there, so that a considerable amount of ailments incidental to the Arahura population escapes my notice altogether. To commence : of the diseases which came under my personal care since my last report, I have to record in particular the zymotic disease termed scarlatina, which has been prevalent here during the past five months of the present year as an epidemic, attacking a large number of children, and also several adults. I am, however, happy to state that the said malady had assumed for the most part a benign character, and did not go beyond the stage of what is termed scarlatina anginosis, so that, with