THE BUBONIC PLAGUE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7337, 25 February 1902, Page 4

THE BUBONIC PLAGUE.

THE HEALTH OF THE CITY. The following letter was read from Dr Symes, District Health Officer, at the meeting of the City Council last evening : — " The -Mayor of Christchurch. Sir,— l have the honour to inform you that on account of the revival of plague in Australia, the Hon the Minister of Public Health considers it necessary to revert to the precautionary measures adopted in New Zealand in 1900. I am therefore directed to recommend you to adopt vigorous measures for the destruction of rats, and to cause a special inspection to be mad© of the city. I may state that in Wellington the Corporation has put on five additional inspectors in order to ensure that all rubbish is promptly removed and the city generally cleaned up, as the rubbish often contains waste food", which attracts rats ; the inspectors should request householders to burn such food or dispose of it otherwise. Although the burning of the rubbish at the Sandhills Reserve was discontinued on ac- ; cdjint of the smoke, etc., yet during the present crisis I do. not hesitate to recommend you to renew the burning, in order to diminish the number of rats which congregate there. As regards the preserit condition of the city, I am glad to say that it is vastly superior to the state it was in two years ago, when it was so thoroughly 1 cleaned up. The best thanks of the community are due to Dr Frengley for the efficient manner in which he then rooted out the accumulation of filth, the result of . fifty years of lax administration. In comparison with the scores of loads of dirty refuse then removed, ib would now be difficult to find as many barrow-loads of rubbish. The . principal sanitary defects at present are j due to the bad condition of the closets and • urinals, especially those of the shops and business premises in the closely-built part of the town. lam giving an appendix for the i information of the Sanitary Committee of a few instances which I have met with lately, and Which are only a small instalment of what a more extensive investigation will t reveal. Attention to these matters will improve the health of the town and render it less susceptible to an invasion of plague. In conclusion, I wish to say that the sanitation of the town can never be assured without a higfrpressure water-supply.— l am, etc., W. D. Symes." j The Mayor, in suggesting that the letter, should 'be referred to the Sanitary .Committee to report, said it was monstrous that the city should pay for the rats whiph were caught in the suburbs, as was done at the time of the last plague scare. The letter was referred to the Sanitary Committee, with power to act. . •