Sanitary Matters in Featherston.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XVIII, Issue 1665, 26 January 1885, Page 3

Sanitary Matters in Featherston.

Ti Editor of tko Standard. Sib, —It is gratifying to read that all the family of “ Fiats ” have thought upon a subject that ts worthy ot consideration, Perhaps they will forget the gisat they have been straining at, and take cere that they do not swallow the came:. The Town Board is a Board of Health. Now, wbatpioes this mean P Simply that they are entrusted with the health of the iuhabrants, audit is their dutv to do as men do in other places who hold similar positions. In fact, generally speaking, the men who come forward for such positions are those who can devote some time to the public requirement?, and men whose heads are a little advanced beyond the public generally. Have our representatives taken any steps towards removing 'or seeking to abate the abominable stenches that may be almost cut with a knife at times? A person was telling me a day or two ago that on his passing through the street in the early morning he could smell various places one by one as he passed. Can we wonder if fever next sets in ? No cesspool of any kind should be allowed near any dwelling. This the Board have power to enforce. Everyone would do well to have a pipe driven for obtaining water to drink ; even rain water collected in a tank becomes unwholesome in course time, and in a season like the present, drinking water from this source soon spread disease. The water >iost of us drink is more or less impure, and in many cases the wells have a fiat surface, (that is to say, level with the yard), consequently a great deal from the yard drains into it. For certain, some out of the many hundreds of worms we see crawling ; about must find their way down. ; It is certain that the diptheria did not break out spontaneously in Featherston, but was introduced here and can bo almost traced to two sources. Every article of clothing should be disinfected. Sulphur is very cheap ; two or three ozs would fumigate a house. It is said that if clothes worn by, or coming in direct contact with a sick person should be put into a box without fumigation, the seed germs will keep alive for a considerable time, and when the box is opened the germs might light on a sickly subject, and perhaps begin another period of trouble. I recommend caution, upon the principle that “ a stitch in time saves nine.” There is a swamp in Fealherston that must shortly receive a little attention, in a town where cattle are allowed to wander in the public street they will certainly go into this swamp to feed, as it is not to: deep to permit of their doing this, and waea they do they cause a frightfa! stench to arisj. This also will in a great measure tend to foster disease. I am, Ac., G. Featherston, January 23, 1835,