POLLUTION OF WATERCOURSES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12427, 16 February 1901, Page 3

POLLUTION OF WATERCOURSES.

, , TO TUli EDITOR. : ' , ■ Sir,—l do not know whether the new “ Public Health ” Act Ms familiar to ; the great’body of y’our readers.. If not, 1 should like to draw attention to its pro visions, in one particular connection. At the meeting of the City and Suburban Burgesses’ Association the other evening, a letter was read from a Taranaki settler, setting forth at length the state of affairs with regard to the pollution of the water in the stream at which the cows drink, the milk of these same cows being used for dairy purposes.. Myself I wished that the letter could have been published in full (the writer emphatically stating that publicity was his object), but it was long, and, cf course, appertained to matters in a far-off district. Still, it was significant that the man wrote to a Christchurch Society, when struggling to make his very real grievances known. One thing struck me forcibly. A member at the meeting said, “ Oh, the state, of matters round Christchurch is, very little better than ip Taranaki. ” I have been myself actually told by a doctor that a very bad. state of things surrounds us. ; Seeing, that this is so, I think the public should make itself acquainted with the provisions of the Public Health Act, 1 and urge' and encourage; its being brought to .bear in all directions.. I have taken the following from the Public Health Act, thinking it might be found’of interest:— ’. 61. Everj- person commits air offence who in any way (l)defiles or pollutes any watercourse, stream, lake or reservoir forming', part of the supply of the district of ai local’ authority; or (2) permits or suffers (drainage or refuse from his land or premises to flow into or be deposited in such water-’ course, stream, lake, or reservoir.’’ 62. “In any case where, on the report of the District Health Officer, the Governor thinks it expedient in the interests of the; public health so to. do, he may, by notice in the “ Gazette,” place any specified water-; course, stream or lake, ,or any specified’ portion thereof, under the sole control, of anyone specified local authority, notwithstanding that it mayi not be within the district of such local authority, or on land belonging to such local authority, and every: such notice shall, until revoked by the Governor, have full effect.” r 63. “Subject to the provisions of tha last preceding section hereof,, the local -Authority shall, for all the purposes of this Act be deemed to have control of all watercourses, streams and lakes within its district.”

64, “ The local authority having the control of any watcr-cpurso, stream, or lake, may from time to lime, as it thinks fit, and shall whenever the district health officer so recommends',-make by-laws to enforce the cleansing and prevent the polluting or defiling of such water-course,'■stream or lake/’ 7

It seems to me that the making of an Act, even the passing of it is not so difficult as bringing its provisions into force, and this largely on account of the apathy of the people in vital matters. Truly cur educational system might with advantage,' not only be reformed, but overturned, and children might he taught of the realities, instead of wasting brain power on, for instance, arithmetical gymnastics.—l am, etc., ‘-’LOUISA BLAKE.