DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8246, 26 September 1906, Page 3

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

The following is taken from the ! .•annual report of the Chief Health Officer which has just bsen presented • to Parliament:— MARTINJBOKOUGH. Population, 637. Infectious diseases reported: Scarlet fbver, 9; enteric fever, 1; diphtheria, 2; tuberculosis, ]. The Town Board of Martin borough j has shown some activity in matteru sanitary, aud has established anight* soil service, which was greatly needed. By-laws controlling the service have been supplied by the Department, and as the older pans and privies get replaced by more modern ones the service will prove of great benefit. GREYTOWN. Population, 1,112. Infectious diseases reported: Scarlet fever, 2. The water-supply problem is at present exercising the minds of the Council,' the difficulty' being the familiar one of coat. 'ihe irrigation trenahes are certainly not to be considered as reliable sources uf supply. The Hospital Board is now eu.gaged on the erection of nn infeo 'tious-diseaso hospital— small, hi t quite sufficient tor the average needs of the district. CARTERTON BOROUGH. ■Population, 1,407. infectious diseases reported: Scarlet fever, 8; diphtheria, 1. As a sequeuoe to the installation ■of a water-service last year, the sewerage system is now practically nomplete, with the result that this •borough may be regarded as having placed itself in a satisfactory sanitary position. Drainage by-laws hs.ve been adopted in accordance with the standard suggested by the Health Department. Some little trouble over the site of the septio tank occured during the year, but has been overcome in a satisfactory manner from the point of view of the Oounoil. MASTERTON. Population, 5,003;. Infeotiousdiseases reported: Scarlet fever, 8; enteric fever, 3; diphtheria, 5; tuber'OQloate, 3; blood-poisoning, 1. $ Little progress can be reported in this town, since; owing to the Council withdrawing from the soheme for maintaining a District Inspector, the sunitary inspection .has been done in a very casual manner. For a town of this size something more is required In this direction tbau a few hours a weeK given 'by an officer who has many other duties to attend to. (A Sanitary Inapectorhas now been appointed by ithp Borough Council- Ed. Age.) During December many complaints -arose as to the quality of the watersupply. On investigation these proved well founded, as the lagoon used as an auxiliary water-supply vwas in a very foul condition. The ordinary supply, however, was very satisfactory as regards purity, and the Council has now obtained, in. .plane of the original, auxiliary Water from the gravel-beda on the upper reaches of the river. . This water, like that of the loner intake, passes through a process of >aaturai filtration, and it Is improbable that any further cause for complaint will be found. . PABIATUA. Population, 1j371 Infectious dis•eases. reported: Scarlet fever, 2; diptheria, 33; tuberculosis, 2. The outbreak of diphtheria here indicates the need for improved methods in disposal of drainage. Fortunately the sewera are nearing ■completion, and already some of the .Jbouse-oonreotions have been made. Jduab still remains to be done, and ow|og-to the absence of fail in some -streets many difficulties have to be encountered. The infectious-disease wards are iDOC yet added to . the Hospital, though the lack of them was much felt at the time diphtheria was prevalent. The Hospital Board cannot be congratulated on its energy in ■pushing on this necessary -work. EKEfAHUNA. Population, 703. (Infectious dis'eases reported: Diphtheria, 7. Much trouble has been caused in this township by the absenoe of drainage and, the difficulty experience! in getting the funds necessary for improvement while it remained part ot the country. Eke-, tabona is now a Town Board with independent powers' of lating, and tbo new authorities evidently intend to remove the unhealthy condition as soun as possible. A short sewer is now being laid, whioh will oarry away the waste waters whioh formerly ao"Oumulated in an old -creek bed« This sewer will, shortly b» extended so as to serve all hotels and enable them to have drainage of an up-to date character. A watei-supply will be required, but plans for this have already been prepared by Mr Leslie Reynolds, showing that it can be provided at a 1 fairly reasonable outlay. By-laws for drainage, buildings and sanitary control have been supplied by this Department, and I trust Tjyili Bhortly be adopted.