Visit of Dr. Pomare.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume XIII, Issue 1099, 13 May 1903, Page 2

Visit of Dr. Pomare.

Dr. Poniare, the Government Native Health Officer, carefully examined the various Native settlement^ during his visit and impressed on the people inhabiting them the necessity of more careful attention to .sanitary matters. He told some of the natives that, unless they built better houses and improved the surroundings of them, he would recommend the Government to have the houses destroyed. JEte also said he intended urging on tho Governmont the necessity of connecting the settlements with the Paoroa water supply but they must second his efforts by attending to the sanitation of their kaingas Dr Pomare came here in consequence of a telegram sent by Mr James .Mackay to the Native Minister (Hon. MrCau'oll) stating ,that there Vere cases oi typhoid among the Europeans at Baeroa, an 4 the Maoris at the adjacent settlements. Mr Mackay accompanied Dr Pomare to tfye Maqri kaingas, where they found one bad pasp of typhoid, the subject of which was forthwith removed to the Thames. The parts of the Paeroa township where typhoid cases have lately, occured were also pointed out, and Dr Pomare said it was no wonder there were cases of typhoid in Paeroa; and he was of opinion that but for the water supply the population would be decimated by typh,fli4 We understand Dr Pomare in his' report concerning the Natives, will also draw attention* to* the'insanitary condition of Paeroa. Dr Pomare's thorough examination of the district is much commended, especially contrasted, with, the cursory inspection made by tne European Officer of the Health Department during His recent very brief visit to this township. With reference tq the above question of sanitation we may mention 1 that jn 1900 an Act styled " The Maori Councils Act " was passed under which a Council not exceeding twelve' persons could be elected who hai power to make and from, time to time vary or revoke by-laws respecting all or any of the matter following, that is to say: (1) For tho providing for phe health and personal convenience of tne inhabitants of any Maori village, pa or assemblage of houses. (2) For enforcing tho cleansing of houses and other buiUings in a dirty or unwholesome gtate, (3) For the suppression of common nuisances.

(4) the preyentiou of drunkenness aud sjy-gvog. selfing. . Pie 4'ct" contains m<*ny ofcher useful provisions but we" particularly draw attention to the above, Jt has uot yet been brought into operation in this district but it is very desirable that it should be as speedily "as possible, as the present state of some of the Maori places ia not conducive to the bpaljh ojthe inhabitants and is a danger tb lh& European population also. In Kotorua aad other localities" where the Act has been brought intb force very marked improvement lias made in respect to sanitary matters in the Maori ks'agas (settlements.)