H.—s

It is hoped that the Public Health Amendment Bill will more clearly define the powers of tho Central and Local Boards in this respect, and that its provisions will be less cumbrous and more easy of administration than those of the present Act have been found by experience to be. T. M. Philson, M.D., Health Officer. Auckland, 10th June, 1876. Vincent E. Eice, Secretary.

Sub-Enclosures to Enclosure in No. 1. Eepoets furnished by the Local Boabds of Health. 1. City of Auckland. 6. Epsom. 2. Karangahape Highway District. 7. Mount Eden. 3. Ponsonby. 8. Borough of the Thames. 4. Grafton Road. 9. Waiotahi Highway District. 5. Newmarket. 10. Kauaeranga. N.B.—No reports received from the following Local Boards: —Parnell; Newton ; Eemucra; Eden Terrace ; and Mount Albert. Sib,— Town Clerk's Office, Auckland, 20th May, 1876. In reply to your letter dated 15th inst. requesting a report upon the health, cleanliness, and general sanitary condition ofthe city, in conformity with section 15 of "The Public Health Act, 1872," I have the honor herewith to enclose you the report trom the City Sanitary Inspector relative thereto. I have, &c, V. E. Eice, Esq., Secretary, P. A, Philips, Board of Health (Central), Auckland. Town Clerk.

Sic— City Council Offices, Auckland, 20th May, 1876. I have the honor to report upon the health, cleanliness, and general sanitary state of the district under the jurisdiction of the City Council. The health of the city has much improved, and is now good. Twenty-two deaths were registered for the month ending April 1876. The number for the corresponding month of 1875 was 39, (showing a very marked improvement in the infant mortality). The number of deaths of children under two years in April 1876 was 9, whilst the number of deaths under two years for the corresponding month of 1875 was 28. The cleanliness of the city has considerably improved, and a further improvement will be experienced when the suggested amendments to the Public Health Act become law. The sanitary state of the city is daily attended to : a number of men being constantly employed to sweep and cleanse the channels, cab and cart stands, throughout the city, where no sewers are laid; also to remove any matter of a filthy nature that may be deposited on or upon any street or public place, which is not unfrequently the case. A number of old holes used as privies, rarely emptied, as the ground soaks up the filth, have been discontinued, and boxes fixed instead, which must be emptied regularly. A contractor, with an efficient staff of workmen and plant, attends to the removal of all such matter. The number of boxes now fixed within the city in privies, for the month ending April, 1876, is 1,200. Por the corresponding month of 1875 there were 900. These boxes are continually replacing the old cesspits. With the expectation of a large supply of pure water being shortly introduced into the city, I fully believe the advantages will be great, and that the health of the city will continue to improve, if persons who are or may have been suffering from a highly infectious or contagious disease can be kept out of the city. I have, &c, The Chairman, Local Board of Health, Auckland. Geo. Goldie, Sanitary Inspector.

2.—Kaeangahape. Office of the Local Board of Health, Sib, — Karangahape District, 17th May, 1876. In reply to your circular of the 15th instant, I beg leave to inform the Central Board of Health that our district is in a clean, healthy, and flourishing position. I have taken every opportunity of looking after the sanitary condition of the district. Having a large stake in it myself, I consider it my duty to look after its cleanliness and prosperity. I have, Ac. Thomas Baenes, Vincent E. Eice, Esq. Chairman, Local Board of Health.

3.—PONSONBY. Sib,— Auckland, 19th May, 1876. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your circular dated the 14th instant, requesting, in terms of the 15th section of "The Public Health Act, 1872," a concise report of the "health, cleanliness, and general sanitary state" ofthe " Ponsonby and, or Dedwood" District. In reply, it affords me much pleasure to state that, during the term of office of the present Local Board of Health, the health and general sanitary condition of that district has been so eminently good and gratifying that my report is therefore necessarily concise. Nevertheless, I must not omit to record the fact that the Local Board has appointed Mr. Prancis Humphreys Heighway to act as local Sanitary Inspector for the due carrying out of the provisions of Part 11. of the above Act, and who has from time to time rigidly inspected the whole district; and though the local population is rapidly increasing,

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