DRAINAGE FROM THE DISTRICT HOSPITAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 5018, 15 December 1877, Page 3

DRAINAGE FROM THE DISTRICT HOSPITAL.

A well-grounded fear lias arisen in the minds of not a few of the residents in Grafton J»oad and its vicinity, that the health of the district -will be seriously affected by the drainage from the District Hospital, and many complaints on the subject have reached us. It ic certain that sufficient arrangements have not been made for carrying away the drainage from this establishment, and something should at once be dune, or the consequences to the health of the suburbs and city may be very serious. The nuisance is very great, and should be at once abated. The drainage from the Hospital, including the closets, all finds its way into a small "watercourse, which leads down to the large box drain in Stanleystreet. At a distance of about 100 yards.from the Hospital there is a cesspool, and here the heavier portions of the drainage are collcuted, but beyond that there is a horrid-looking deposit of filthy matter, which emits a Btench, aud it is this nuisance which has created the feeling of alarm to which we have referred. In fact, it has been thought necessary to call the attention of the police to the nuisance, and no doubt such pressure will now be brought to bear oil the authorities, that a proper and effective system ot drainage may be established without loss of time. The nuisance was not so much felt at iirsfc, for during the wet season the little watercourse was well Hushed, but now that the drought and heat of summer have set in, there in no water to tiush the drain, aud th*i result is that the pestilent deposit cr> which we have referred remains to fester in the watercourse. This i 3 a subject uii which immediate action should be taken. We presume the Health Oriicer of the district will adopt some measures to enforce the abatement of the nuisauce, and the esiablishmeut of a proper and complete draiuage system frtin the Hospital, and from the temporary Lunatic Asylum and Old M-tii's Refuge.