HEALTH FOR HASTINGS.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VI, Issue 340, 27 January 1917, Page 2

HEALTH FOR HASTINGS.

[to the editor.l Sir, —Your many readers will cordially agree with you correspondent “Sariitas’ ” remarks in last Mrednesday’s issue. He has not overstated the unhealthy condition of the main portion of Hastings. It appears to me the Mayor and Councillors do not fully realise’ the great importance oi proper sanitation to a town situated like Hastings. It is of course understood that none of the council have had any experience, in the matter of up-to-date methods of sanitation—this is a sound reason why the Borough Council should make an honest and vigorous effort to keep the main portion of the town clean. The council has had expert advice from Palmerston North on road formation ; it also had the borough accounts audited by an expert. Why not have a sanitary engineer’s advice on the derelict buildings and verandas in the main blocks which are honeycombed with the rot from top to button. Commence at, the Union Bank and go as far as Graham and Gebbie’s on. the one side, and from Roach’s buildings to the Carlton Club Hotel, an inspection will reveal that the majority ol the verandahs are in the last stages of decay, the gutters are sagging down Vith the weight of the accumulations of dirt aiyd dust that has been washed from the roofs of the verandahs for years. It is a notorious fact that numbers of buildings in the main street are a distinct menace to the health of the .town owing to their decayed condition. These buildings have outlived their usefulness and owe their owners nothing. The council should take a firm stand and show some grit, and have these ancient shacks removed, as they are an eyesore to our main street. I heartily agree with “Sanitas” regarding the inspector of nuisances. He is doing trojan work, and in my opinion is one of the few really live men on i the borough staff. I sincerely hope 'the council will give Mr. Lawcett their heartv- support. One of the first steps in the. matter of borough sanitation is clean channelling, ana this v ill never be accomplished until

properly graded, sound channelling is laid in the main street. There has been thousands of pounds spent in laying down the street in the main blocks, and the borough engineer has overlooked the fact that there is not a chain of properly graded, sound channelling in the main street. Stagnant water is alwajs in evidence in Heretaunga street. This proves my statement, that the council and borough officials are lacking in knowledge regarding the, laws of town sanitation. A petition of the bmougl) loans that have beeu frittered away with no results would he well spent, in getting the, services of a sanitary engineer to repoH on the condition of the town, as it is quite patent vital n we are to depend on f ile efforts of the present borough officials we will iieter nave a clean or healtliv town. -1 am. etc.. SANITATION.