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New Plymouth. Population, 5,147. Infectious diseases reported : Scarlet fever, 2 ; enteric fever, 5 ; diphtheria, 8; tuberculosis, 5. The septic tank has been completed, and is now working in a fairly satisfactory manner since the effluent-pipe has been made to dip below the surface of the stream receiving it. There is much need to extend the sewerage system to the more outlying parts ot the town, and it is to be regretted that th° Council did not co-operate with the Public Works Department when the latter was laying down the prison drainage, as a large number of houses could have been connected to the proposed new sewer. An analysis of the town supply made early in summer showed the water to be in a satisfactory condition. Sanitary Inspection. The system of having Inspectors for combined districts is working so well that it might be made compulsory on the local authorities, somewhat after the method in vogue in England. At present a local body may for various reasons withdraw from the combination, and if, as was the case with Masterton during the past year, it is a considerable contributor to the Inspector's salary it may upset the scheme for a large district. The value of this system was well established in the case of Feilding, where, but for the observations of Inspector O'Brien and the subsequent exhaustive tests made by Mr. Schauer, a considerable amount of very defective sewerage would have been installed. The importance of supervision by independent and trained* men over all such work cannot be too much emphasized. Negotiations are now in progress with the Nelson Borough Council towards the establishment of the system there. . The following changes took place in the staff : Inspector Middleton was given leave ot absence to enable him to return to England to further study in sanitary science : it is satisfactory to learn that he has made such good use of his time that he has'gained the silver medal in the Worshipful Company of Carpenters' examination for good work in sanitary building-construction. I regret that we have lost the services of so able a man as Inspector Dolby, who has taken up other work. Inspector Dorizac has been drafted to the Wairarapa District to take his place. Inspector Sargeant has been located at Wanganui, and Inspector Gardiner in the Stratford-Taranaki District. Two additional Inspectors have been appointed, both of whom have, after a period of probation, passed very satisfactory examinations and are now on the permanent staff. With the view to obtaining an accurate record of the work done by the Inspectors I have drawn up record forms, on which details of the various duties performed are noted daily. These records are set in each week.' In addition there is a monthly summary in the form of a table, showing the work classified under the various heads. Hitherto we have not had any systematic record, and I believe this will prove of some value. The scheme has only been in force for six months, therefore I cannot give as complete details as I should like, but the attached table is a fairly accurate summary, and gives some idea of the very large amount of work done by the Inspectors. This table does not include the very extensive list of special work done by Mr. Schauer, Chief Inspector. The following list shows the special inspection? made by the District Health Officer, and of houses reported for condemnation on sanitary defects : — Houses reported for condemnation .. .. • • • • .. 92 Schools .. • • • • • • • • • • • • .. 4 Hotels I Stables . . .. • • • • • • • • • • •• ° Food-shops .. .. •. ••• • • • • • .. 9 At instance of Factory Inspector. . .. .. .. .■ .. 8 Proposed sites for sanatoria .. .. • • ■ • • • .. 8 Nightsoil-depots .. • • • • • • • • • ■ .. 5 Dairies .. • • • • • • • • • • • ■ .. 9 Cemetery-sites inspected (Linton and Pohangina) .. .. .. .. 2 Cases examined for suspected infectious disease .. .. .. .. 16 Applicants examined for sanatorium .. . • • • • • .. 40 Cases examined under the Immigration Restriction Act .. .. .. 3 Materials inspected for condemnation. Improvements in sanitation have been effected at 17 schools, 25 hotels, and 8 factories. SUMMARY OF OFFICE-WORK. The work for the district office is steadily growing, and especially as the scope of the District Inspector scheme increases, which entails a large amount of correspondence : Letters written, 1,922 ; notices served, 305 ; infectious diseases recorded, 714. Special reports have been furnished on the subject of overcrowding, and on the occurrence of cancer at Motueka. For the Education Department a list of simple drugs and their uses has been prepared for use in Industrial Schools.

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