FLOODS AND SANITATION

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 135, 24 May 1911, Page 4

FLOODS AND SANITATION

i Ihe flood of last week has been a most uncomfortable and expensive experience for Napier, but it may j bear much good in its train if the I ! authorities will learn and profit by { j the lessons which it teaches. It has proved, conclusively, that there , is something radically wrong with j our drainage system. Water accumulated in portions of the town which should have been perfectly dry, and it is open to grave question if the lower part of the town wnillrl tnvo knon

-- ~ bv completely had proper drainage facilities been provided. Possibly there may be engineering difficulties in the way, but if so, they should be ascertained so that we may face the position. Another thing we may learn is the lack of wisdom in building low-set houses. In some of the streets the houses built closely to the ground presented most pitiable sights, and the inconvenience and loss to the tenants can be more easily imagined than described. Moreover, the question should be looked at from sanitary point of view also. The Napier Borough spent considerable : time the other evening discussing ' rats and their pernicious influence j upon a community, but in such I houses as we refer to will be found a more fruitful source of ill-health than all the rodents, abroad here

to-day. During the discussion Cr. : , Taylor remarked that as a precau-, tion against insanitary conditions ; all sections should be filled in to a ? certain level before being built upon, and we trust that in time the. council will enforce such a condition upon builders. Houses are ‘ ; not only to be seen with their door- ! steps almost flush with the suri rounding mud, but many, as Cr. ; Tay-lor points out, are built upon = low sections which allow the water ; to accumulate and stagnate under-; 5 neath them, and thus breed insani- | tary conditions. What is the use of health inspectors, rat catchers, .destructors, and sewerage systems if proper building conditions arei not provided for I Further, it is! ■ about time that the Borough Coun- ; : cil considered the wisdom of fram- i ing a by-law making a fair-sized section compulsory. In this enlightened age when hy r gienics are ! receiving such careful attention, : landlords should be prevented from ' jamming two or three houses on to ■ an area not any too big for one. ; Another little lesscin to be learnt! •is from Napier South. It is clear; ! enough now that this portion of; ’ the town is in no danger from; ! floods, but the question of drain-; age has to be faced—not only the! j drainage of Napier South, but of ■ Old N apier—and where united (action is required, a petty- Town: ! Board promises to be a stumbling ! ! block. :