SANITATION

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 212, 4 June 1929, Page 9

SANITATION

CONDITIONS IN THE SUBURBS REPORT OF HEALTH OFFICER Sanitary conditions in Wellington’s suburban area are dealt with in the annual report of Dr. W. F. Findlay, Medical Officer of Health, whose comments are as follow: — Lower Hutt.—Population, 10,725. The standard of sanitation continues to improve in all directions in this borough. The new by-laws are well up to standard, and the work generally of the sanitary staff is efficient. The rate of increase in this borough has been so great that the Borough' Council is in some respects hard put to it to keep pace with developments; especially is this so when it is remembered that the outlying nature of certain portions particularly adds to the difficulties. Sooner or later this borough will require to combine with Petone in the erection of a destructor, somewhere in the neighbourhood of the industrial area' possibly. In time, there will be practically no place available for tipping even if carried out according to the up-to-date English methods. Petone.—Population, 10,190. Sanitary conditions good. The methods of .garbage disposal require attention periodically. The conditions on the Petone Beach have improved. The Gear Company has devoted considerable time in experimentation and the installation of a new save-all. also several self-cleansing screens. These are proving very effective. The gut-works have also adopted similar methods, and have improved and extended their outfall. The Woollen Company is also making improvements. The council is due to nlace before the ratepayers a proposal to borrow £61,000 for larger watermains in the borough, and increased pumping facilities. Eastbourne.—Population, 1960. There is little land available in this borough for new subdivisions. The necessity for water and drainage again became apparent on many occasions. I asked the Board of Health to make a requisition requiring the council to provide . these amenities. A sub-committee investigated and duly reported to the board, which has decided to issue a requisition. The site utilised by the council for the disposal of garbage is not really satisfactory in that many people utilise the surrounding area as a pleasure resort. As soon as possible the council should consider the question of transport of all refuse to an area in the Lower Hutt industrial site. In the future the destructor situated in this region will require to serve Lower Hutt, Petone. and Eastbourne. Upper Hutt. —Population 3050. Recent chemical analysis shows the water supply to be of good quality. New health and sanitation by-laws are now in force. Administration of these should improve several. matters which were not satisfactory in the past. During the year the Borough Council applied to the Loans Board re funds for a drainage scheme. The board refuses to approve of the application at present. The question of drainage' for this borough, in view of its steady progress, must not be lost sight of. Johnsonville. —Population, 1290. The new water supply from the Ohariu Valley has proved most valuable during the dry summer months. •. Makara County.—Population, 4135. Conditions in this county are on the whole good. The by-laws are efficient. Titahi Bay.—The seaside resort of Titahi Bay requires careful supervision as regards sanitation. regard to water supply, Porirua, Titahi Bay and no doubf Tawa Flat will require the services of the Water Board. The council should exercise great care in the layout and town-planning of Tawa Flat. Hutt County.—Population. 7250. The whole of the county is now controlled by the sanitation and health by-laws. In many parts of this county there are areas which are now townships or. will become so in the future... There is at times a tendency for house's to be erected which are not altogether what they should be as regards structure and sanitary appliances. The council must watch this matter carefully. Several of the areas in this county will sooner or later require both water and drainage. With regard to Dav’s Bay, a requisition has been made to the Board of Health that these amenities be provided. The settlement at Point Howard requires water. The problems of this council are some-' what difficult in that it administers rural areas and more closely-settled areas'. A' great onnortunity exists in the county for the of the best town-planning principles, thus removing in some in-, stances serious administrative difficulties in the future.