THE PUBLIC HEALTH

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7849, 11 July 1911, Page 1

THE PUBLIC HEALTH

PROSECUTIONS ORDERED RESULTS OF INSPECTIONS IN HUTT BOROUGH. At last night’s mooting of tho Lower Hutt Borough Council, Ur Purdy reported tbat he had visited premises at Alicetown. A disgraceful condition of affairs existed. Tho sink discharged into tho back garden nine or ten feet from tho house. An. attempt had been made to construct a drain dov.n to the bottom of the garden, but thero was practically no fall and for all practical purposes tho drain did not exist. Consequently. the state of affairs resulting could only bo described as shocking. Immediate steps mould have to be taken to remove this menace to the public health. Thero was no typhoid feve: there at present, but there was scarlet fover in the near neighbourhood. Councillor Roots said there wero many other places in a similar condition in the borough. It was decided that proceedings be taken against those responsible. BUILDER TO BE PROSECUTED. At the same meeting the engineer brought down a comprehensive report in regard to the state of some, newlyerected buildings. In one the floor joists, studs, ceiling joists and rafters wero quite 75 per cent, sap, and the bark showed on almost every piece in the building. Many of the scantlings were in short lengths nailed together and many of them were worm eaten. The rough lining showed a considerable amount of bark and was full of knots and holes. Old boards were being used for the soffite lining of the esar.vs on tho western side, and some of them were sound and some wero worm oaten. The rusticating alone was of fair timber, but tlais was mostly in short lengths. Tho spacing of the scantlings was in all cases in excess of what was allowed by the by-laws. The floor joists, studs and rafters of another building were not quite so bad. but there was a largo percentage of black and sap and some were worm eaten. The roof was partly covered with bid, rusty galvanised iron. Another of the dwellings under notice was occupied, but there wero no sanitary conveniences and water was not laid on. No permits had been taken for these houses... There, was old iron painted over on one, of the roofs, and worm-eaten' timber was visible. Two houses that were completed and occupied had no sanitary conveniences. . The timber in these, though not first-class, was superior to that which had been put into the others. The works committee recommended tbat the District Health Officer bo requested to report upon the houses referred to. as to whether they were fit for occupation, and that the builder be proceeded against for breaches of the bylaw. The report was adopted.