CORRESPONDENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 204, 30 August 1888, Page 8

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE ABATTOIRS.

.(To the Editor.) ; Sik,—With your permission I would like to observe that the agitation''for the removal of the abattoirs from the western• side of the city, must have a very damaging effect upon property in the districts of Newton and Ponsonby, and it would appear to me Mat property owners and residents in these localities must now make up their minds to energetically agitate for their complete removal or be content to see their otherwise prosperous and healthy districts depreciate in value and repute for many years to come. One cannot write of this matter without in some measure stirring up the filth. Only a few days ago, I had occasion to drive round with some friends from Australia via the Chinameu'a gardens past the abattoirs and through Ponsonby, and notwithstanding all the nicely prepared reports recently submitted by the various Sanitary Inspectors,; the smells aB we passed these various pointsi were positively sickening and offensive. Here and' there could be seen icetid lumps of offal and entrails of anidals rotting in the sunj and altogether suggestive of a htipp.v time for the medical fraternity next sumrue'r and 'autumn, but of fearful forebodings for those who are compelled to i reside in proximity to these awful smells. The action of the two Councils concerned is apparently very narrow and I selfish - when we consider the paltry revenue derived from the licenses and compare that with the enormous loss Iby depreciation of property and the fearful j sorrow and suffering likely to be entailed upon the 10 or 12 thousand people affected directly by these smells. Positively sir, these gentlemen have apparently no idea of the great responsibility that rests upon them in this matter. The question has been asked, where would you put them? I would : suggest Waikomiti, Papakura,, somewhere 10 or more miles from town in a locality where for the sake of the manure they will bo appreciated. A recent resolution of the Melbourne City Council decided that their abattoirs should be removed 15 miles from town. In Sydney they are situated upon- an island in the harbpu^.f,Just a word about our water supply. Ifeelsure that the bulk of the population of. this city do not realise ; that there are but a few feet, comparatively speaking, between the city abattoirs and the ponds from which bur water is procured and unquestionably this muse become conlaminated by germs blown across, if not from drainage. Competent medical testimony in the shape of elaborate reports (several of which 1 am told have for obvious reasons been suppressed) all condemn the position of the abattoirs, etc., and predict fearful things if they are1 not removed. Ido earnestly trust, sir, that our City Council, in dealing with this question, will approach it in a very earnest arid decided manner,' and speedily rid the city of these great risks to theMieolth and happiness of the community. Apologising for the length of my remarks,—l am; ; sir, -■* , ••:-:':J". ■■.:■ .",■.'''"■■ .•'.>■■■:= A'StFI?EBEB.^';H