BOARD OF HEALTH.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 12024, 10 December 1901, Page 4

BOARD OF HEALTH.

SPECIAL MEETING.

A special meeting of the Borough Council, sitting as a Board of Health, to consider the report of Dr, Finoh, Government Health Officer, on tbe sanitation of Napier, was held last evening. Present —The Mayor (Mr M’Vay), Crs. W. Plowman, G. White, J, C. Westall, C. H, Edwards, J. Spenoo, M. Lasoelles, and A. E. Eagleton. Receiving tanks.—On this subject the Health Officer wrote, "The loss connection there is between the water supply and the sewer the better. This defect can be easily remedied by conducting the overflow over a surface channel for the distance of a few yards before it enters the sewer.”—The Council was satisfied that there was no connection between the sewer and the receiving tanks, as there was Oft of ran through tho open-air before the water went into tho double trap. High Pressure Boservoir.—The passages for the overflow are to bo covered over with a small mesh wire netting to prevent small animals going to drink or dying there, as recommended. Sewerage System.—-The Council concurred with tbe report that tho sewers cannot bo considered efficient until they are regularly flushed. Tho health officer’s suggestion that the shape of the interior of the manholes be altered at the bottom was agreed with. The flushing as at present being temporarily carried out, in accordance with the report, is to bo continued. The overseer is to report upon what drains had been flushed in the intervals between each Council mooting The Mayor pointed out the advisability of going in for a flushing system on tbe flats, and the benefits of having simultaneously a flow of water through the drains, carrying all rubbish away with it, and cleaning tho drains generally. The recommendation that " in tho main sower tho sewage is dammed hack for some distance by the tide at high water. Before the tnrn of tbe tide a sliding door could be let down, and when the tide has fallen to a certain extent the door can be raised. In this way the lower part of tho sower would be well scoured ” was approved, and an experimental flushing door is to be put down at a point just below the Recreation Ground.

Water Flushing.—” A large water-cart or movable tank bolding one to two thousand gallons could bo fitted with a 12 or 15in discharge pipe. Whatever method should be ultimately adopted, such a tank would always bo useful, as it would be impossible to have fixed tanks for every portion of tho sewers that wanted flushing.” Tho Council decided that a movable tank was not at the present time practicable, fio ” A flap valve oan be inserted over the exit pipe in certain manholes, and tho manhole and entering drains be filled with water by a hose from the nearest hydrant. This has been proved to form a most effectual flush in Sale-street, and is preferable to damming back the sewage.” It was resolved to place two flap valves in the sewers running through Byron-street and Browning-street. The Counoil also decided that a plan for permanent flushing tanks be prepared, with estimate of cost, and submitted to tho Board of Health at a future date, at points indicated in accordance with the report of Mr Napier Bell.

House Connection.—The health officer’s recommendation that “ The most important point is that your bye-laws should bo carried out to the letter,” was agreed with.—ln reply to Cr. Edwards, the Mayor explained that it was not compulsory to fix in Mr Waterworth’s trap. Tho health officer is to be asked to report on the traps at present in use.—ito recommendation that the “ sanitary surveyor bo supplied with apparatus for testing drains by the smoke test and tbe water test, and that every new drain be so tested before it is approved. In this way wilful bad work and mistakes oan be readily detected.” An approved apparatus for testing is to be procured from England The recommendation for the abolition of bell-traps was adopted, and notice is to bo immediately served on all persons having such traps, ordering their removal within four months time. Except in oases where specified by the health officer as being dangerous, when they bid to bo removed at once. It was stated that about 400 bell-traps were still in nse in Napier. Pan Closets.— Ro the health officer’s statement, ” In one case tho kitchen of a restaurant ie only a few yards away from tbe pan closet; in the other case the pan closet is only five feet from the window of a bakehouse. In both cases hosts of flies were dividing their attention impartially between the contents of the pan closet and the food which was being prepared in the kitchen and bakehouse ” tho Mayor stated that these cases wore now being dealt with. ■flu dumping down nightsoil on the Greenmoadows-road, and the health officer’s recommendation that pan closets be abolished and water closets be substituted iu their plaoe wherever practicable, Cr. Edwards pointed out that out of 1700 houses in tho borough only 386 were connected with the water carriage system. This left 1315 houses unconnected. During the last 12 months only 80 houses were connected. At this rate it would take them 161 years to connect them all. They were now paying £IOOO a yosr for rubbish removal, and this expenditure should be considered in dealing with the question. Besides the County Council at any time might call upon them to deposit the nightsoil elsewhere, as no doubt they would now under the Publio Health Act. He moved, and Cr. White seconded, that the water closet system bo made compulsory in tho borough within two years, the Overseer to deal with cases which, in the opinion of the sanitary authority, require to have water closets put in immediately.—Cr. Westall said that the pan closet system was made so offensive because people did not carry out the Council’s by-laws in regard to deodorising. It was more tho uncleanly habits of tho people than tho system that pan closets wore so unhealthy.— An amendment was moved by Cr. Plowman that tho compulsory clause apply only to new buildings, (including ail erected within the last 12 months), Cr. Spence seconded. The motion was carried. For-Crs. Edwards, White, Lasoelles, Kagleton, and the Mayor. For amendment—Crs. Plowman, Westall, and Spence. It was explained that the passing of this motion would not affect a previous resolution passed by the Council, by which the Corporation did the work and allowed the payments to extend over a period of flvo years. Mr W. P. Finch, borough inspector, is to be asked to report as to his inspection so far of the public buildings. In regard to the circular as to plague ;>rooautions, the overseer was instructed to start a campaign against rats.