The Pahiatua Herald. with which is incorporated THE PAHIATUA STAR. Published Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays. WEDNESDAY. APRIL 18, 1894.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume II, Issue 137, 18 April 1894, Page 2

The Pahiatua Herald . with which is incorporated THE PAHIATUA STAR. Published Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays. WEDNESDAY. APRIL 18, 1894.

Rumour hath it that an outbreak of fever ha 9 occurred in Pahiatua. Such an occurrence is the natural and only sequence of the laxity, or rather absence, of sanitary regulations within the Borough. Drainage regulations are non-existent; bye-laws for the regular disposal of nigbtsoil are either obeyed or evaded as the propertyowner thinks fit. Ancient cesspit* are allowed to exist along the main street, exhaling noisome gases and poison-laden fumes and disseminating the gi-rms of disease all aronnd. Householders are allowed to set at defianoe the bye laws of the Borough dealing with the mode of disposal of nightsoil ; and to bury on their properties foetid matter, the acoumu'a ion of which muss g rminats the seeds of horrible diseases. Time and again has the danger of inaction in these matters been brought under the notice of the members of the Counoil, but no energetic attempt has been made to improve existing conditions. Resolutions have been pass d affirming the desirableness of dealing quickly and thoroughly with the questions, and sub committees have b en appointed to collect data ; but there the activity ended. The effort apparently exhausted tij? energies of the authorities; and, geyser-like, the temporarily animated forces were allowed'to subside into their previous channel and resume their wonted quieseenoe. And now we see the result. In many parts of the town the well-water is impregnated with the poisons collectsd in it* percolation the earth. The air is laden with the germs of die - • —insidious ill tbr-ir approach end :

deadly in their effect. In fine, thi Borough is in a dangerous and dis graceful sanitary condition, which will admit of no delay if the effeots ui such a state are to be avoided 01 minimised. We admit at once that the Borough Councillors cannot entertain any idea of an expensive drainage system at present; but we maintain that they can do a great deal towards improving the sanitary condition ol the place by insisting upon a rigu observance of the bye-laws affectm; the disposal of nightsoil. We ar aware of the existence of cesspits in the most crowded parts of the t >wu and we are aware, too, that a habit i prevalent amongst householders o burying nightsoil in preference t< employing the Borough contractor Both these practices involve poisibih tics almost too horrible to content plate. Where the latter in thod iresorted to in the higher portion of th town, the drainage of water into the lowlying and morethickly-popula'.ed parts, and its subsequent use for domestii purposes, induce the presence of con ditions fraught with th i greates danger to the health of the in habitants, and with feelings of ab horrence and disgust in the mind of those who have thought at al on the matter. It is, in additim distinctly opposed to tb • letter of th Borough bye-law on the subject. Clause 300 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1386, prohibits, under penalty of a fine not exceeding £lO, the carrying away or emptying of nightsoil by any person without special anthority from the Council ; the fine and cost 3 going to any person who may take action Cesspits within the B trough have been abolished by resolution of tho Council. Therefore that body has ample power to deal with these important matters. If it neglects them and fails to pro perly safeguard the health of thi community it will have neglected on of its most important duties, and will have fully justifi si the opprobrium such neglect will surely entail.