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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9183, 12 October 1888, Page 4

The question of the abattoirs can hardly be said to have attained finality in the adoption last night of the report of the committee appointed to consider the best means to secure the removal of the refuse, and to thoroughly abate the nuisance. This object is to be effected, according to the report, by the draining of all offensive matter into a cart, and the removal of the cart and its contents to some place live miles or more from the Western Springs. The scheme proposed has the merit of simplicity, but bears on its face the appearance of being intended to be temporary. Whether it will meet the views of those who have been protesting against the continuance of the nuisances with which the Ponsonby and Newton districts are afflicted, remains to be seen. It is very well known that there is nothing in the nature of a slaughterhouse that should make it necessarily a nuisance to its neighbourhood. Indeed, in many cities in the colonies this is shown in the fact that their abattoirs are conducted with such scrupulous cleanliness, that no particular objection appears to be felt to their presence bv those residing in the vicinity ; and if the removal of the abattoirs to a distance is accepted as giving a license to the accumulation of filthy surroundings, the public would not be the gainers ; for if slaughterhouse offal is left to decay and fester around where fresh meat is dressed for market and for the food of citizens, the germs of disease will beyond any doubt be disseminated far and wide. Whether, therefore, the abattoirs are left in their present position, or removed to the country, it is in either case of primary importance that cleanliness should equally surround the place. The carting away of the offal and all offensive substances, as recommended by the committee, would of course, if perfectly carried out, meet the necessities of the case absolutely ; but either the cattle killed will be more limited in numbers than might be expected of the principal slaughterhouse of such a considerable city, or the carting to be done to over five miles distance will necessarily be on a somewhat extensive and expensive scale. For it is to be borne in mind that not merely heavy offal has to be removed, but a thorough and efficient system of sluicing with water must be carried out, the results of which must be provided for, if not by carting, at least by some sufficient system of sewerage, so as to prevent accumulations of what sooner or later must become a cause of nuisance or offence to the neighbourhood. Abattoirs in other places have been free from offensiveness ; but this object has been compassed by appliances much more effective than the City Council are evidently disposed to furnish, if we are to judge from the simple and rather primitive method of removing the offal by carting. Everything considered, it is quite clear that the present suggested means of preventing nuisance can be at the best but temporary, and it is questionable whether it would not be better to do at once what will be done ultimately — removing all slaughtering many miles away from the confines of the city, and having provision made that the meat should be brought into the city in railway trucks properly constructed for the purpose. Of course in making such suggestion we do violence to the feelings of those who no doubt believe that the public slaughterhouse, like every other institution, should be located in Queenstreet, or as near as may be to that great centre and thoroughfare. But in view not only of the present, but of the future, such an institution as this ought to be in the country. Not only is there inconvenience and danger from the driving of herds of cattle to the abattoirs, through the thoroughfares of populous suburbs, but the manner in which the freshly-killed meat is conveyed into the city, is at once a disgrace and an injury to the people of Auckland. If the abattoirs were placed as they will sooner or later be at some place reasonably distant but connected by rail, not only would the 'question ot nuisance—and a burning one it is to those who are suffering—be effectually solved ; but every proper provision could be made by drainage and sluicing for ensuring cleanliness, and not less important, the fresh meat would be conveyed to the city with decency and without being contaminated by exposure. •