THE HOT LAKES CHRONICLE AND Tourists' Journal. WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 1896. THE HEALTH OF THE TOWN.

Hot Lakes Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 179, 6 May 1896, Page 2

THE HOT LAKES CHRONICLE AND Tourists' Journal. WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 1896. THE HEALTH OF THE TOWN.

The local Board of Health has now completed the drafting of the bye-laws necessary in the interests of sanitation and has submitted them to the revision of the Law Officers of the Crown. Having a lively recollection of the delay and the untimely fate which met the bye-laws framed by tLo Town Board some twelve months ngo, we have considerable misgiving as tothelength of time which may elapse before the Board of Health regulations are likely to come into operation. However, we must hope for the best and if, as we understand, their despatch was accompanied by letters to the departmental officers explaining the urgency of the situation, no doubt the revision will be expedited as much as possible. In framing those bye* lawa the local board has had a-rather

arduous task to perform—a task which mieht undoubtedly have been rendered much easier if instructions regulating local boards were issued by the central authority. On beinjr gazetted as a local board, Mr Dansey, the secretary, wrote to the Colonial Secretary's Department asking that the rules and regulations of the Central Board of Health might be forwarded for the guidance of the local body. In reply to this a copy of the Health Act and several copies of the Government Gazette were forwarded along with the information that there were no regulations by the Central Board. That body apparently issues its regulations from time to time in the columns of the Government Gazette and no doubt experience has shown that this is all that is iieeessuy. We think, however, it would bo advisable for the Central Board either to draw up specimen sets of regulations for local boards or issue some specific instructions to show members of these how to proceed on their first being appointed. As it is, after infinite trouble on the part of the local board, a code of regulations, covoring about 40 uages of foolscap, has been produced which wo have no doubt could have been much simplified under proper direction. Tne regulations are necessarily most comprehensive. They provide for the construction of proper cess-pits, closets, ash-pits and so on and foi the proper cleansing of same periodically; the removal of all rubbish from yards; the prevention of any objectionable water or liquid running into the streets or accumulating near promisee; the cleansing of all stables and the banishment of all pigs from out the town limits. Thej' stipulate the manner in which all offensive matter shall be removed, and on whom the cost shall fall ; they give power to the health officers to enter all premises to ascertain if there is any breach of the bye-laws, and provide for the prosecution of anyone obstructing the officers whilst in performance of their duty. They render imperative the reporting of nil cases of infectious disease, and provide for information of existing nuisances being given either by the person aggrieved or by any two householders. This is but a brief outline of the points touched upon, and it is to be fervently hoped that no vexatious de--1 v will interfere with the regulations being put in force. Contemporaneous with these regulations being put in force ought to be the initiation of a proper sewerage system. This is a matter which cannot be too strongly impressed upon the Government. On previous occasions its mention has met with the reply that such a scheme must wait on the levels of the town being ascertained. The levels of the town hav-. since been taken, so that reason for delay is removed, and it is only reasonable that the Government should now send some engineer well versed in drainage matters to report upon the most feasible method of dealing with the sewage of the town. This is a matter which will admit of no further delay if Kotorua is to be maintained as a health resort. Last year, when writing on this subject, we said it was no relief to point to the fact that none of the cases of typhoid in which Europoaus had been affected had terminated fatally. Now. even this poor consolation is denied us, as witness the gaps which have been made in more than one household. As we then feared the tourist traffic has, to a certain extent, been diverted from this place, simply for the reason that reports were spread of the insanitary condition of the town —reports which, unfortunately, could not bo specifically denied. The apathy of all concerned invites a far more alarming condition next season, and unless speedy and concerted action is taken, both by the loc 1 authority and residents themselves, the ranks of the visitors will become more and more attenuated.

The longer wo delay in dealing with this matter of sanitation the greater will be the difficulty in coping with it. During the past, six months no opportunity has l>nfit lust of calling tho attention of the Government to the state of affairs, without obtruding our position too much on the travelling public, so that ignorance of the condition of the town cannot bo pleaded bs a reason for inaction. Wo trust, therefore, that the necessary steps may be at once tiiken so that the ban now falling on the place may be for all time removed.

The annual report of the School Committee which was read at t T jc meeting last Monday week stated thai out of 1 .'3O children ou the school roll the average attendance was only 71'T—a little more than one half. This is a most unsatisfactory state of affairs and one which calls for immediate attention. The outgoing committee regretted the fact and recommended the new committee to take decisive steps in the matter. As the personnel of the management is, with one exception, the same, we may assume that the course pointed out will be taken without delay. Circulars, it appeared, were issued some time ago, hut as these had only a transitory effect it is apparent that some parents will only be influenced by the putting in force of the compulsory clause of the School Attendance Act. The Act is most explicit and only exempts children who may ho under instruction elsewhere, or unable to attend through sickness, or the state of the roads between the child's residence and the school. Various penalties are provided by the Act for non-compliance with its provisions but it is to be hoped that the committee will not he constrained by the contumacy of parents to take decisive action. In regard to native and half-caste children it would appear that the Act did not contemplate their attendance at public schools as the compulsory clauses in relation to them refers only to native schools.