AN INSANITARY FARM.

Evening Star, Issue 12926, 14 April 1908, Page 3

AN INSANITARY FARM.

ACTTON BY THE HEALTH OFFICER. The District Health Officer (Dr Ogston) notified the North-east Valley Council at their meeting last night that on the 7th :i!6t. lie visited Michael Stedman's promises at Pine Hill. He found a total want '■r cleanliness, and us it would be impossible to do anything to make the piggeries, byres, and henhouses sanitary, or fit to keep animals in which wore "intended for human food, the only alternative was for aim utterly to condemn them and order them, as he did hereby, to be pulled down, the timber burnt," and the ground deep ploughed and mixed with a good deal of lime, standing thus the whole of the winter. The whole place was a nuisance under section 72. subsection (2) and 3). of the Public Health Act, 1900. Taking this letter as the Council's direction from him, the Council had power to act on it by section 11 (1) of the Public Health Amendment, 1903. This case, in his opinion, was urgent, and he therefore requested the Council to take prompt action. He had learnt that butter was made on these insanitary premises and sold to the public. This had to be stopped. Cr Campbell moved that the matter be referred to. tho mayor. the chairman of the General Committee, and tho town clerk, with power to act. It appeared to him that they must act immediately. He did not think that Mr Stedman could deal with the matter, as he was not the owner of the property. He thought the landlord was the proper person to deal with. Tho Mayor (Mr Isaac Green) thought they should deal with the matter as a Council. Tho Health Officer distinctly told mem that the premises were in such a condition that they could no longer remain, if tho health of the borough was to be considered. He thought they should forward a copy of the letter to the parties interested, and ask them to take immediate action. Bishop Nevill, he understood, was tho owner of the property. The Council should order the old buildings to bo pulled down, and if such were not done within fourteen days tho Council should prosecute. He thought that the Council should tako proceedings against the owner of the property. He should receive fourteen days to comply with the request of Dr Ogston's letter, failing which the Council should pull down the buildings, etc., at the bishop's expense. He thought, also, that a copy of the letter should be sent to the bishop and to tho lessee, to 6how that the Council wero not acting harshlv in the matter, but that they compelled to act at tho direction of the Health Officer. He. hoped that Cr Campbell would alter his motion to this effect.

Cr Campbell agreed to this, and it was put to tho meeting and carried unanimously.