Papers Past | Parliamentary Papers | Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives | 1907 Session I | PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT (ANNUAL REPORT OF THE).

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1907. NEW ZEALAND

PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT (ANNUAL REPORT OF THE).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

Department of Public Health, My Loed — Wellington, 23rd August, 1907. I have the honour to transmit herewith, for Your Excellency's information, the report of the Department of Public Health for the year 1906-7. I have, &c, Geo. Fowlds, XT- -c „ ~ Tl . , TT Minister of Public Health. His Excellency the Right Hon. Baron Plunket, X.C.V.0., Governor of New Zealand.

The Chief Health Officer to the Hon. the Minister of Public Health. Sir '~" Department of Public Health, Wellington, Ist June, 1907. I have again to record my unstinted admiration of the manner in which the various officers of the Department have in their several capacities carried out their duties. The appointment of Dr. Valintine to the high position of Inspector-General of Hospitals, consequent on the death of Dr. MacGregor, has necessitated a rearrangement of the duties of several officers. Dr. Frengley lms been transferred from Auckland to Wellington, and Dr. J. S. Purdy has been appointed to the Auckland Health District. Some of the Inspectors have had fresh districts allotted to them, but there are still several weak points in our armour which must be strengthened. This, I think, can be done without increasing the number of Inspectors. The principle approved by you of subsidising local authorities whose size or revenue precludes their being able to offer sufficient monetary inducement for properly qualified Inspectors to take up the work is good, and is in accordance with colonial necessities and the procedure in older lands. The function and intention of the Department is mainly consultative. Where a lorough is large enough to need the whole time of a Sanitary Inspector the borough should unquestionably provide the Inspector's salary, but where such factors do not obtain I consider it wise that the Department should supplement in some measure the salary of any such officer appointed. To assume the actual work of effecting the abolition of all insanitary conditions throughout New Zealand would be an undeserved reflection upon the local authorities and an unfair burden upon the Central Government. To persuade, to instruct, and to help in every possible way the bringing-about of sanitary conditions is truly the work of the Department, but that it should shoulder responsibilities which have by law been cast upon the local authorities is, in my opinion, wrong.

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Subsidies to Local Authohities towards Salaries of Sanitary Inspectors. For some time past it has been evident that a redistribution of the Sanitary Inspectors would make for greater efficiency and economy. At present we have no officer stationed north of Auckland. Owing to repeated small outbreaks of infectious disease on the west coast it has been necessary to send an officer from Auckland. This involves a considerable expense for locomotion and travelling-expenses. It is proposed to station an Inspector in or near Whangarei, and another at Thames. In this way the Auckland Health District will be fully equipped and the cost of administration lessened. An Inspector has been placed in charge of the Nelson District, and as soon as it is convenient I propose to station another on the west coast of the South Island. In no case is it proposed that these officers shall interfere with the function of the local authorities. Where local authorities arc desirous of availing themselves of the services of the departmental officers, either in part or in place of an officer of their own, it is proposed to ask that local authority to contribute such portion of the officer's salary as would be measured by the time given. I have notified the District Health Officers of your willingness to consider the question of subsidising the salaries of Sanitary Inspectors to local authorities whose size and population do not warrant their paying an adequate salary. I have informed them that in no case will subsidy be pai-d to any local authority -whose size is such as to require the whole time of a Sanitary Inspector, nor in any case shall the subsidy be more than £30 per annum. That preventive medicine is taking its proper place in the estimation of the medical profession as well as the general public is evidenced by the greater interest which is being taken in purely sanitary matters. Speaking at Preston recently Sir Frederick Treves, the celebrated surgeon, said lie felt safe in the prophecy that the time would come when hospitals for infectious diseases would to empty and not wanted. Very little, however, could be done by the Legislature, but everything by the progress of medical science and the intelligence of the people "and the interest they took in it Men and women must recognise the saying that '" Every one must eat a peck of dirt before he dies " was erroneous, and see that dirt was undesirable. Preventive medicine was founded vipon hard facts, prudence, and common-sense. The mystery of the ancient doctor, his use of long names, and his extraordinary prescriptions were passing away. The multitude of shelves full of bottles which surrounded the doctor was also passing away, ar.d being replaced by simple living, suitable diet, plenty of sun, and plenty of fresh air. The tight of the present day was against millions of microbes, and the weapons were the sanitary regulations of municipal government, the sanitary inspector, and the medical officer of health. Tubercle at this moment was killing fifty thousand per annum, not one of whom need die, for the disease was preventable. It could not be dealt with by physic, but by fresh air, sunlight, and suchlike. Consumption and similar diseases could be cured by very simple methods, which would be efficacious as soon as the education of the people on matters of this kind was complete. These methods were notification of diseases, isolation, disinfection, and, lastly, preventive or protective treatment. He looked forward to the time when people would leave off the extraordinary habit of taking medicine when they were sick. Referring to the discoveries of bacteriological science and to the great results which had been achieved in the reduction of mortality from infectious disease, he said he looked forward to the time when it would be as anomalous for persons to die of scarlet fever, iyphoid, cholera, and diphtheria as it would be for a man to die of a wolf's bite in England. This good time can only come when every citizen takes a hand in the game. I am pleased to say that the relationship between the Department and the local authorities is of the most cordial nature, and it says a great deal for the tact of the Health officials that this is so. More important to my mind, however, is the fact that the public has come to look upon the Department's officers as the final court of appeal on all otherwise unsolvable matters of sanitation. Not now do we direct —we are consulted. Vaccination. Once more I draw attention to the lamentable disregard of the law relating to vaccination. The introduction of the so-called conscientious clause into the English Act in 1897 made it difficult for the believers in the efficiency of vaccination to insist on its being made compulsory under " The Public Health Act, 1900." To grant a certificate of exemption because a parent simply states that he conscientiously believes that to vaccinate his child would be to injure it is practically to leave the matter in the hands of the parent entirely. He may know nothing about the question —that matters not. He is not required to show even an intelligent appreciation of the pros and cons of the position. He has simply to say before a Magistrate, " I believe it will injure my child," and the child troes unprotected. The law has made that parent's path easy enough, one would think; but no,

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there are many who do not even take the trouble to comply to this extent with the law. What happens? The Registrar proceeds against the parent, and even when the Magistrate has made an order it costs the parent £2—only that and nothing more. Until the child reaches the age of four years no further action can be taken to protect it against smail-pox. Last year out of 24,321 children born, 4,186 were vaccinated, 2,964 were exempted, leaving 16,871 unaccounted-for. It will be seen that over 81 per cent, of the children born in 1906-7 are unprotected against small-pox—a deplorable state of things. But that is not the worst aspect of the question. Apparently a large section of the community are passively breaking a law passed by the Legislature, while a noisy few are actively opposing it. To prosecute 69 per cent, of the parents is impracticable; not to carry out the law is demoralising to every one. My instructions generally are to prosecute rich and poor, taking a few cases at a time. The time has come when all parents who have not had their children vaccinated, or obtained a certificate of exemption, should be brought before the Magistrate, or—and 1 say it with the deepest regret—alter the law so that even the semblance of compulsion shall cease. If this were done, our children would not be less protected than they are at present, and this absolutely futile system of pretended compulsion would cease. The present generation of parents have, most of them, little knowledge of what a fateful disease small-pox is, and that passing discomfort which attends vaccination easily makes the other scale kick the beam, even when they take the trouble to calmly consider the matter. It may be said that some parents are induced to have their children done under the present regime who would not if all semblance of compulsion were removed. Ido not think the number is large, and in any case the inducements the law, as it now stands, offers to defeat itself are such as to cause even believers in the protective value of vaccination to pause and consider the whole question calmly. To make vaccination entirely optional except in the services, institutions, and prisons may seem a retrograde step, but to keep upon the statute-book a law which is so flouted seems to me dangerous and mimical to the best interests of the community. There is little need, judging from past experiences in New Zealand, to resort to compulsion when small-pox is close at hand, and every endeavour must be made to protect the people at such times. When small-pox was present in Christchurch in 1904, 11,120 people were voluntarily vaccinated in three months. The standard of " interference with the liberty of the subject "is rarely raised at such a time. The unfairness of expecting the officers of the Department to control an outbreak of small-pox when the weapon they most rely on is denied them may be passed over; but the fact remains that many who now assume an academic calmness, or the few who rail against vaccination, will inevitably join hands in condemning the Department should the colony ever be unfortunate enough to suffer as did Tasmania in 1903. That danger seems far off is true, but owing to our constant intercommunication with the Eastern ports it is nevertheless real. Everything, therefore, would have to be in readiness in case of attack, and as every unvaccinated person is a danger not only to himself, but to all who come in contact with him, power should be given when small-pox is present to draw a circle round the point of infection and'require all within that zone to submit. If this were done, more effective protection would be brought about than exists at present, while the humiliating spectacle of an unobserved law would be removed. Cerebro-spinal Meningitis. ' In view of the occurrence of a large number of cases of this disease in America and Britain, it was decided to place it upon the list of notifiable diseases. So far, lam glad to say, only one case has occurred in Australasia; but in view of the high mortality which this disease always exacts, and the rapidity with which it spreads when once it obtains a footing, it is well to be prepared According to Fagge and Pyesmith, the first epidemic appeared in Geneva in 1805. In 1806 it broke out in the United States. From time to time, down to 1850, it was observed in several towns of France, Italy, Algeria, Spain, and Denmark. In 1854, and for seven years afterwards it raged in Sweden, and destroyed more than four thousand people. From 1861 to 18b4 i< showed itself in various parts of the United States. In 1863 it broke out in Germany. In 1864 it made its appearance ir. many of the workhouses of Ireland, and in 1866-68 a very fatal type of it prevailed in Dublin. Small epidemics have taken place in Britain. Last year and this year a considerable number of cases occurred in England and Scotland. It is unlikely to obtain a foothold in the colony even should a case be landed. The disease is due to an organism discovered by Weichselbaum in 1887. There is no doubt it is an infectious disease, but it would seem to require dense population and consequent close contact before it can be spread. Hydatids. There has been a gradually increasing number of cases amongst human beings in the colony, and at the suggestion of Dr. Barnett, Lecturer on Surgery at the Otago University, this disease

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has been placed upon the list of those required by law to be notified. The dog is the main disseminator of the disease, and much could be done to check its spread if a few simple precautions were taken. It is proposed to issue a leaHet on the subject. The disease known as hydatids really represents one stage in the life-history of a special kind of tapeworm, which only reaches its maturity in the dog. All tapeworms in the course of their development have to pass through an intermediate host before they reach maturity. Man, unfortunately for him, forms a suitable environment for this particular worm. The ova or eggs are spread about by means of the excrement of the dog. They get carried into the water-supply or blown upon such vegetables as watercress, and in this manner reach the stomach of man. They soon take on the characteristic bladder-like shape. They may attack the liver, kidney, lung, brain, or other part. Occasionally they may remain quiet, but more frequently they cause great injury to health, and often death. Bearing in mind that it is mainly through the dog that harm comes to man, there are certain simple precautions which if taken would go far to check this disease. Many of the lower animals suffer from tapeworm, and therefore no unboiled offal or meat should be given to dogs. They should not be allowed to wander about killing-places. Great care should be taken to destroy—preferably by burning—the faeces of the dog. They should not be allowed, as so often is the case, to lie upon the surface of the ground, because as they dry the tapeworm eggs may get blown into the drinkingwater or upon vegetables growing near by. Dogs should not be allowed to lick children, and every care should be taken to see that dishes used by dogs are properly scalded and cleaned. Dogs should not be allowed in the vicinity of a water-supply or tank. All vegetables, more especially those to be eaten uncooked, should be most carefully washed. Medical Attendance on Maoris. The transference of the control of the medical attendance upon the Maoris to this Department has, I feel certain, resulted in greater efficiency and economy. This statement must not be taken to imply censure on those gentlemen who previously controlled this Department of the State. There are many difficulties in the way of a layman assessing the value and nature of the work of a medical man, and it is not difficult to see that there is a likelihood of a better standard being set up when the service is controlled by the Chief Health Officer. There are thirty-eight medical men throughout the colony who are paid set sums from £25 1o £100 per annum for attending to indigent Maoris. While the men in no instance can be said to be overpaid, there is need of rearrangement and adjustment. The Natives in some cases have altered their location, and in consequence the work in one district lias become less while in another it has become greater. When the arrangement was come to between you and the Hon. the Native Minister it was estimated that £3,000 would largely cover the cosl of salaries to medical men, medicines supplied to Natives, medicines supplied to Native-school teachers, special disbursements in order to check epidemic disease, and Dr. Te Rangi Hiroa's salary. Only by the strictest economy have I been able to keep near this figure. The medical attendants now report quarterly as to the work done, and much valuable data with respect to the ailments of the Maoris are being obtained. The Native-school teachers, who in many districts act as medical advisers, are now required to requisition ahead for the drugs, &c, which they consider they will need. A large amount of good work is and has undoubtedly been done by these teachers on behalf of their scholars, and no reflection is intended to be cast upon them in requiring all demands for drugs to be submitted to either Dr. Pomare or Dr. Te Rangi Hiroa. Some dissatisfaction has been occasioned amongst the Natives at the decision that only those who are unable to pay should receive free medical attendance and medicine Unless there be some special agreement which here and there is vaguely hinted at by the demagogue of the pa, I see no reason why any one, be he Maori or pakeha, should receive free attendanse and medicine from the State if he is able to pay. The Maori is not entirely to blame for this propensity to lean against the pillar of the State. He sees his paler brother do it, and naturally asks why should not he. I am glad to say, however, that after explanation most of them have come to see that it is unworthy of a chief to accept help which in the case of the pakeha is only given to the poor. Effort has also been made towards getting those sick Natives who cannot be looked after in their own homes admitted into the general hospitals. There are two factors which operate against this. First, the Maori has an idea that all such institutions are only suitable for the treatment of pakeha mate — that is, the white man's ailment: This idea is gradually breaking down. The second factor is the disinclination on the part of some Hospital Boards to accept Maori patients. This, as every one conversant with New Zealand knows, is due to no racial dislike; it has its basis on purely monetary grounds. The Maori in many districts does not pay rates, and naturally those who do offer some objection to providing for Natives in the rate-supported hospitals.

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I cannot help thinking that the solution of the difficulty lies not in refusing the Maori admittance to the general hospital, but in requiring him to do as his whiter brother does—pay rates on all property held. From an intimate knowledge of Maoris throughout the colony, I am certain that they would welcome this recognition of brotherhood, provided equal rights were given. It is no business of mine to suggest alterations in policy, but I feel certain (hat many causes of irritation would be removed if all distinction between Maori and pakeha ceased to exist. The salvation of the race lies in its coming closer and closer with the other members of the community. While I can confidently say that no other country acts more liberally or with a greater evidence of brotherhood towards its Native population than does New Zealand, still, if the remnant is to be raised to its proper position in the body politic, all discriminating laws must be abolished. With the attachment of Dr. Te Rangi Hiroa to the staff of the Department a more intimate supervision of the health and sanitary conditions of the Maori has been possible. Dr. Pomare has been placed in charge of the South Island and that portion of the North as far as the Wellington and Hawke's Bay provincial districts. Dr. Te Rangi Hiroa has been stationed at Auckland, and, although his area is smaller, he has plenty of work, inasmuch as a large portion of our Native population reside north of New Plymouth. Illicit Practice of Medicine and Sale of "Patent Medicines." There was passed last year a modest and unassuming amendment to the Postal Act which, under the administration of my old and valued friend the late Mr. Gray and his successor in the responsible position of Secretary to the Post Office, Mr. Robertson, has effected an unexpected amount of good. The law reads as follows: — "9. (1.) If the Postmaster-General has at any time reasonable ground to suppose any person in New Zealand or elsewhere to be engaged— "(a.) In receiving any money or valuable thing as the consideration for any assurance or agreement, expressed or implied, to pay or give any money or valuable thing on any event or contingency relating to any horse-race or other race, fight, game, sport, or exercise, or as the consideration for securing the paying or giving by some other person of any money or valuable thing on any such event or contingency as aforesaid; or " (b.) In promoting or carrying out any scheme connected with any such assurance or agreement, or any lottery, scheme of chance, or unlawful game; or " (c.) In receiving money under pretence of foretelling future events; or " (d.) In any fraudulent, obscene, immoral, or unlawful business or undertaking; or " (c.) In advertising in direct or indirect terms the treatment of diseases of the sexual organs,— then the Postmaster-General may, by notification under his hand in the Gazette, order that no postal packet addressed to any such person (either by his own or any fictitious or assumed name), or to any address without a name, shall be either registered, forwarded, or delivered by the Post Office. "(2.) Such notification shall specify every such name, whether real, fictitious, or assumed, and every such address in respect of which such order is made. " (3.) Until such order is in like manner revoked no such postal packet shall be registered, forwarded, or delivered, nor shall any money-order be issued in such person's favour, or be paid to him. "(4.) This section is in substitution for section twenty-seven of the principal Act, which section is hereby accordingly repealed." In virtue of the power given in subsections (d) and (c), most of the vultures who fattened on the fears of the misguided youth or the simplicity of the elderly man about town, have, so to speak, been warned off the course. Their letters breathing the most tender solicitude and interest in their clients have ceased to reach their victims, and in consequence many of them have sought fresh pastures and fields anew. It can be readily understood what efforts have been made by these bleeders of the neurotic. Faced with the possible exclusion from operating in such valuable seams as undoubtedly exist in all countries, they have used such weapons as might be expected. Newspapers have been threatened by loss of revenue, the cry of medical oppression has been raised, while some have even stooped to bribery; yet, despite it all, lam pleased to place on record the fact that any paper of standing in the colony has agreed not only to accept the Postmaster-General's ruling gladly, but has endeavoured in every possible way to throw out advertisements which were

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demonstrated to be proclaiming wares or services which were not in the best interests of the State. 1 have no hesitation in saying that in no part of the world could a cleaner advertisement part be found than in the daily papers of New Zealand. Many of the operators have left the colony, and the reasons assigned for departing are as curious as they are varied. Because his New Zealand clients have become so numerous, he has determined to administer his business from Sydney, is the reason offered by one firm ; and because his reputation is so great he asks his New Zealand patients to send their letters to another address and inscribed to another name. No one is foolish enough to imagine that quackery and fraud can be stopped entirely, but the inclusion of section 9 of the Post Office Act Amendment amongst our laws has satisfied me that much can be done. I have pleasure in reporting that there has been no epidemic of any serious nature during the past year. Measles appeared during the early part of this year in the South Island; but, fortunately, there were not many deaths. Scarlet fever has again broken out, but so far the number of cases has been small compared with past years. Provision for the isolation of infectious disease has been made in all the large centres, with the exception of Dunedin. The long-standing difficulty with respect to the selected site has been settled, and soon the chain will be complete. The effective isolation of the first cases is of the utmost importance, and in many instances l iiit for the fact that adequate provision had teen made for the institutional treatment of these cases the few might easily have blossomed into an epidemic. There are several points worthy of careful consideration in reference to the question of hospital accommodation for persons suffering from infectious diseases. The initial cost of such an institution by reason of its nearness, to use an illustration from optics, occasionally assumes such importance in the eyes of the ratepayer that it blots out or prevents his being able to see anything behind it. A marble placed within a few feet of the eye of the observer is able to prevent his seeing the sun. We must look past the marble, so to speak, in order to estimate the value of scenery beyond. So with all matters of preventive medicine. Some experts have drawn attention to the futility of setting up large and expensive institutions for such ailments as scarlet fever. There is no doubt that in some countries money has been wasted in attempting to provide for the housing of all or nearly all of the cases. This mistake has not been made in New Zealand. As 1 have pointed out in previous reports, unless the first cases are segregated there is little or no use in sending the later cases into hospital. An epidemic cannot be averted by this means. It is absolutely necessary, of course, that, in addition to the provision necessary for these first cases, the hospital should be large enough to take in all cases occurring in hotels, boardinghouses, and places where foodstuffs are prepared or sold. The economic waste attendant upon keeping a case of scarlet fever in a house where isolation of the patient cannot be obtained is evident. Take the case of a shop where milk is sold. Should scarlet fever break out in such a family every one lias to cease earning money unless the patient can be immediately removed to hospital. We are apt to forget that this loss of wage-earning power is not only an individual, but a communal, privation. The wealth of a nation is the sum total of the wealth and wage-earning power of its units, and if these be prevented from working, the loss is as much the State's as the individual's. This aspect of the value of preventive medicine is frequently overlooked. The principle has been accepted that no individual must die of starvation or want. If he be not kept in a hospital he must be kept—that is, supported—outside. Apart altogether from the wrongness of keeping capital unemployed —in the case of the working-man his labour is his capital—harm results to the individual by the enforced abstention from work. This much in answer to the small band who continually ask us to view the initial cost, to the obscuration of the future benefit. I am pleased to say that nowhere have we met those who object to the setting-up of such hospitals. There is usually entire agreement on the central factor, but infrequently they are better able to see that the obligation to provide rests on the shoulders of some other body than the one requisitioned. I consider it one of the best tributes to the common-sense and tact of the officers of the Department that our relations with local bodies from one end of the colony to the other are of the most cordial and helpful nature. Infectious Diseases among Sciroor,-children. Several of the common infectious diseases, such as scarlet fever, measles, diphtheria, &0., arc acknowledged to be in a large measure diseases of early life. This ought to be an effectual answer to the mother who, objecting to sanitary restrictions, says, " Johnnie has it; all the others are bound to have it. What is the use of bothering? Mix them all up, let them all have it, and then I'll be done with it." Every year added to the child's life diminishes its chance of contracting diphtheria or scarlet fever. Surely, then, it is worth while to try and protect them during their more susceptible period.

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As soon as a scholar is suspected of suffering from an infectious disease he should be sent away from school. Most Committees and schoolmasters understand this; but this equally important fact is not so well appreciated : that unless some disinfection of the room which the patient occupied is made, the danger to the other children is not removed by prohibiting the suffering child from coming to school. Whenever a case of infectious disease appears in a school the earliest opportunity should be taken by the Committee of disinfecting everything with which the child has come in contact. Most teachers, Committees, and Education Boards are willing to admit this; the difficult}' lies in the carrying-out of the best counsels. This question lias been repeatedly referred to me, and the best answer is to be found in the system of medical inspection of school-children which I have had the honour of laying before you. Medical Inspection of Schools. By the authority of the Hon. J. McGowan (then Acting Minister of Public Health), I submitted the suggested system of inspection to the Education Department, and all the Education Boards, School Inspectors, school-teachers, the medical, and the dental professions. In every instance the scheme was approved. As I have pointed out, to establish such supervision was to follow in the footsteps of most of the older countries. It was no fresh experiment, but an absolute necessity, if we were to pay that regard to.child-health which it is our duty to do. The private schools in England and Scotland have long done more than is suggested should be done under the proposed system. The colleges in New Zealand carry it out. As far back as 1860 Germany instituted these examinations, and they obtain in Belgium, France, Switzerland, and the United States. Our most recent ally, Japan, lias more Medical Inspectors of Schools than the whole of the Old World put together—6,soo. I have had many conversations with the various Inspectors serving under the Education Boards, and in every instance I have found them fully alive to the importance of the sanitation of the schools; But they have one and all expressed their desire for expert help in bringing about the reform they have deemed necessary. It may be advantageous to set out briefly again the scheme suggested. With a sparsely populated country such as ours it would be unwise to attempt to set up a system of medical inspection such as obtains in Belgium, Germany, France, America, or England. On the Continent of Europe, in addition to inspection during school life, all children are carefully examined before they are allowed to begin their studies. That this is of the very greatest value is attested by the fact that last year about 11 per cent, of the children about to begin school were referred back for periods varying from one to more years. Such a system of inspection would not be impossible here; but I suggest that we should begin in the manner least likely to entail a large initial or annual expenditure. Again, in nearly all of the countries where medical examination obtains all children attending school are examined by the medical officer. I have suggested that, instead of the medical inspector sorting out the abnormal from the normal, this should be done by the teacher. It may be said that the teacher cannot do the work as well as an expert. That must be admitted, and here again the sacrifice of efficiency is done solely to lessen the cost. After all, the number of cases that will be missed by the teacher will be small. I have found throughout the colony that the teachers, with few exceptions, do take a great interest in the physical welfare of their pupils, and as a matter of fact many of them are actually doing the work which I suggest should be done by them under the suggested scheme. It is proposed that the schoolmaster should keep a list of all his pupils who, in his opinion, are below normal in health. The child who complains that he cannot see the figures on the blackboard, the scholar who always turns one ear to the teacher, who sits with open mouth, who complains of frequent headaches, suffers from constant toothache, who coughs, suffers from a rash, who mopes or limps about the playground, or who suggests in any way that he is not well, should be placed upon the list. This list would be given to the Medical Inspector at his visit. Thus, instead of having to examine the whole school, his time would be spent over, say, some 10 or 12 per cent. With this reduced number it would be possible, I think, for four or five officers to examine all the schools in the colony. There would certainly be plenty of work for them to do; but, at any rate, the scheme might be begun with such a staff. Contkol op Mile consumed in the Colony. The relation between infantile mortality and impure milk has been acknowledged by sanitarians the world over. It is<an. interesting fact that while the birth-rate has been decreasing the death-rate has gradually been lowered. But for this the shrinkage in population would have caused- more alarm. Speaking of this, the Health Officer for Liverpool makes the following statement: —

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"As a result of a most careful and patient personal investigation, an inquiry extending over several years, and supplemented and checked by the experience of members of the Liverpool Medical Institution, it is found that the mortality amongst equal number of infants below three months of age fed during the three months, July to September, upon cow's milk with artificial foods as well as breast-milk is fifteen times as great as it is amongst those fed on breast-milk alone. Twenty infants out of every 1,000 below three months of age fed on breast-milk alone die from infantile diarrhoea during this season ; but no less than 300 die out of every 1,000 fed upon cow's milk and artificial foods, but who do get some breast-milk. If, however, they are fed on cow's milk and other artificial foods only, the deaths of those under three months of age during this season increases from 20 to 440 per 1,000 —a number almost incredible. " The year 1903 had the smallest death-rate ever recorded in Liverpool. The infantile mortality showed that out of every 1,000 born 159 deaths occurred during the first year of life. On the other hand, the average infantile death-rate for the previous three years was 178 per 1,000. It will be known by those most interested in this question that the most frequent causes which contribute to high infantile mortality are atrophy, diarrhoea, convulsions, and similar causes—diseases which tend to show that nutrition is interfered with." " The main reasons which appealed to the Health Committee of Liverpool Corporation in establishing these infants' humanjsed-milk depots is this enormous mortality amongst those infants wtio, from one reason and another, cannot be suckled, but require to be artificially fed. Every summer and autumn the sacrifice of life amongst this class in the great cities is deplorable. The Health Committee of the Liverpool Corporation felt that if something could Ije done to do away with the noisome and injurious contents of the feeding-bottles by substituting a food as near as possible to what Nature intended, a great step would be made towards lessening this melancholy loss of life, and we have in the humanised sterilised milk the nearest approach which it is possible to get to human milk. The cost is no greater than the ordinary food, and it is hoped to increase the facilities for obtaining it. "It is advisable that parents who apply for the humanised milk should be told how to give it, and from time to time they require to be visited in order to be sure that they are using it properly." Here is the standard used: —

City of Liverpool. — Humanised Sterilised Milk.

oz. cream, l|oz. sugar, |oz. salt, to each gallon of mixture.) Where a municipality takes up the question, (1) the children should be weighed regularly, (2) and there should be a woman inspector to visit the houses and watch the children. As has been pointed out, gastro-enteritis, diarrhoea, enteritis, gastritis, fee, are very often the resultant of the imbibition of impure or unsuitable food. In a country such as this there should be no difficulty in so arranging matters as to place milk outside the circle of contaminated or depreciated food. The reverse, 1 am sorry to say, is the case. Great care, energy, and skill is exercised in seeing that our customers oversea get none but the best butter and cheese; little, if any, is expended upon the milk consumed by our own people. In previous reports attention has been drawn to this matter. Something has been done, but until the Pure Food Bill has been placed upon the statute-book our efforts to secure that this most important article of diet shall come to the consumer in a clean and wholesome condition must fail. When one contrasts the manner in which a small country like Denmark manages such things with what obtains in New Zealand one feels ashamed. The ideal conditions would embrace some of the following: Healthy cows, sanitary byres, clean milkers, suitable dairies, proper pans, insulated cool railway carriers, expeditious delivery, storage (where necessary) in cool-chamber, and delivery to the householder in clean glass bottles. Alas ! nearly every one of these is wanting in many instances. The milking-sheds are bad: there is no cool-storage at the farmer's; the cans are often of such a form and material as

Age. Single Quantity. Dilution. Number of Bottles. Quantity of Pure Milk. 1 to 2 weeks 2 „ 8 „ 2 „ 3 months 3 „ 5 5 „ 7 „ Over 7 months Oz. 1* 3| 34 6* 7 1 to 1 1 „ 1 2 „ 1 2 „ 1 8 „ 1 3 „ 1 9 (I 9 i) 9 7 Oz. 6f 134 20f 30 36 36

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cannot be properly cleansed; the milk is carried in ordinary luggage-vans, and very often manipulated on the open station or public road. Assuredly we are very far from perfect in our handling of milk. To supply a city like London with clean, fresh milk, when it has sometimes to be carried hundreds of miles, may offer a task of some difficulty, bin, surely we could manage it in New Zealand. If the people would only withdraw their eyes from Timbuctoo and cease the manufacture of flannel waistcoats for people who can never wear them, they would see in the Present treatment of milk a most important work. It is idle to fight for theoretical excellence while those who should be our future citizens are poisoned through carelessness. To see, as can be seen any day at Thorndon Station, milk being transferred from can to can, open to all the dust and dirt that blows about, to witness the feeble efforts made to wash the cans with a quart or s° of water tumbled from one can to another, ought to be enough to touch the heart of every father and mother. Children depend, or ought to depend, almost entirely upon milk for their food. Milk, of all foodstuffs, is the most susceptible of deterioration, and yet the conditions under which a large quantity of the milk is handled are such as to prevent any possibility of its reaching the consumer in anything like a pure state. lam glad to say that many public men are beginning to take an interest in this matter. The Christchurch City Council went to great trouble to consider the question of establishing a municipal clearing-house or the vesting of the control in the hands of a company such as I advocated in a previous report. But for the fact that they considered that fresh legislation was necessary in order to make the scheme a success, the first municipally controlled milk-supply would have been an accomplished fact. It Lβ idle for a municipality to erect cool-chambers, screening, filtering, and pasteurising apparatus, if any milkman is permitted to sell within the municipal area. Power ought to be given to municipalities to say that no milk can be sold in their districts unless it has passed through the appointed conduit. The Mayor of Auckland, Mr. A. M. Myers, has gone carefully into this matter, and I anticipate that great good will result. His Worship the Mayor of Wellington and his Councillors have been considering, along with the question of a municipal market for perishable foodstuffs, the matter of establishing the municipal control of the sale of milk. If I may be permitted, I would like to mention the names of Councillors Murdoch, Frost, and Godber in this relation. My idea would be, as I set out in a previous report, that in all towns of, say, 4,000 inhabitants or over the municipality itself should set up a clearing-house for milk or hand over their power to a company, and should prohibit any milk being sold in their district which had not passed through the clearing-house. I see no reason why the procedure so ably carried out by the Stock Department with respect to meat should not obtain with respect to the milk consumed by us in New Zealand. Why should not every town large enough to have a market for perishable foodstuffs not do as is done on the Continent? Let fish, fruit, milk, vegetables, he, be sold only from properly constructed buildings and under proper supervision. Last year 70 out of every 1,000 male children born, and 54 out of every 1,000 female children died liefore attaining the age of one year. That is, lin every 14 boys born, and lin every 18 girls died within twelve months of their birth. Now, though this infant-mortality is low compared with England and Wales (138 per 1,000), France (144 per 1,000), Italy (168 per 1,000), or Hungary (with 212 per 1,000), yet an analysis of the ailments which bring about the deaths of these seventy boys shows clearly that ill feeding is at the bottom of a large majority. Diarrhoea, convulsions, enteritis, and marasmus accounted for 589 deaths amongst children. With a pure milk-supply and proper care on the part of the parents most of these deaths would have been averted. The scheme of supplying humanised milk in Dunedin, which has been brought about by the enthusiasm and agency of Dr. Truby King, has been productive of very great good. I hope to see companies, if not municipalities, in each of the large centres take up this work pending the adoption of a scheme which would enbrace the whole milk-supply. Pure Food Bill. The necessity for bringing the laws regulating the sale of foods and drugs into accordance with the standards set by other countries, such as Great Britain, America, Germany, France, and Belgium, and some of the States of the Commonwealth, has been obvious to all interested in this most important matter. The draft Bill submitted is the result of the careful consideration of several recent Acts passed in various parts of the world. Special use has been made of the excellent Act passed by Victoria last year. While no honest trader should be hampered or interfered with, the safety and interest of the consumer must be conserved. If a lin of alleged " Finest Pepper "con-

ii—H. 31.

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tains 50 per cent, of flour, this fact should be stated clearly on the label. The words " mixed with farina " should not so simulate an ornamental border as to be undecipherable unless with the aid of a magnifying-glass. A tin labelled " Ham and Chicken " should at least contain some ham and some chicken, and not scraps of mutton and beef flavoured with some sauce, but for which the compound would be unsaleable. "Coffee and Chicory" should at least have equal proportions of coffee and chicory, or it should be labelled "Chicory and Coffee." There ought to be some definite standard as to what is meant by " Pure Vinegar." Peas should not owe their verdant colour entirely to chemical agents, nor should cream of tartar be composed solely of the elements which enabled Italy to assume such worldwide importance in the eyes of sculptors and palace-builders. Power should be given to deal with exhausted cocoa or tea at its point of entrance to New Zealand. It should not be necessary to wait until such articles come into the retail market before their sale can be stopped. Nor should any legal difficulties be placed in the way of securing that the purchaser knows exactly what he pays for. Easpberry-jam should not consist of apple-pulp and a few raspberryseeds. Alcoholic beverages should be of assured purity, and easily ascertained penalties should be attached to the sale of adulterated articles of food or drink. The fact that manufacturers of foodstuffs throughout the colony have asked for such legislation is evidence of the fact that they do not fear anything from stricter laws. No country takes greater precautions with regard to the intrinsic value of the foodstuffs exported than does New Zealand. Why, therefore, should we ask our own people to buy and eat inferior articles? Regulations of the most drastic nature have been put in force to secure that all butter, cheese, meat, &c, must be of the very best before it can leave our shores for the outside world. The time has come when the people of the colony should be able to place the same implicit reliance upon the goods offered for sale within New Zealand as our customers oversea do with respect to the foodstuffs exported. There are many phases of this food question which the Pure Food Bill you have introduced wil! affect. The various loose ends which exist in regard to the control of milk in towns have been gathered up. No longer will it be possible for a dairyman to use a public footpath for the manipulation of milk. Cambridge Sanatorium. From the report of the Medical Superintendent, Dr. Roberts, it is quite evident that the good work begun in 1902 is being continued. After several years' most faithful service in the institution, Miss Dumns resigned the position of Matron in . During her term of office I had many opportunities of assessing her work, and I can only say that she never spared herself in any direction. Miss Brigeman was appointed Matron, but resigned after a few weeks' service. By a fortunate series of events we were able to secure —at lease for a year—the services of Miss Rochfort, our first Matron, who had returned from eighteen months' study in Great Britain. While in England Dr. Roberts and she had collaborated in their work of investigation of the various sanatoria in England. The benefit to "Te Waikato " has been great. During Dr. Roberts's absence in England Drs. Reid and Edmonds carried on the work between them. I have to record my complete satisfaction with the manner in which they discharged their duties. Several very necessary works in connection with the outside working of the institution have been carried out. This Sanatorium year by year more nearly approaches one's ideal of what a hospital for patients suffering from consumption should be. Vital Statistics. I have again to express my thanks to the Registrar-General (Mr. E. J. yon Dadelszen) for this important feature of my report. The classification of diseases considered at the last conference of Australasian statisticians has been carefully gone into by our Registrar-General. I understand that he proposes to make some alteration in the method of grouping diseases next year. When this is done the value of the data submitted will be greatly enhanced. Let me again remind you that the figures set out by the Eegistrar-General embrace the period January-December, 1906, and that the Health Reports cover from the 31st March, 1906, to the 31st March, 1907. Figures are not usually looked upon as interesting reading, and therefore I desire to draw your attention to one or two concrete statements born of a study of the RegistrarGeneral's tables. Cancer. —In common with most other parts of the world, an increase in the rate of mortality from this disease has to be recorded. In 1906 cancer caused 9 per cent, of the deaths from all causes, The disquieting aspect lies not so much in the actual number of deaths which the disease.

EBB AT A. Pack x, paragraph headed "Cambridge Sanatorium," line 8, for "Miss Duffins " read "Miss Dutlin the position of Matron in March, 1900 " ; and in line 5, for " Miss Brigeman " read " Miss Bridgman." On page 7G, in second paragraph, line 1, for " 114" read " Hβ," and for " 155" read "91 " line 2, after " were discharged " read " and 10 died " ; line 5, for " 107 " read " 43."

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has occasioned, as in the fact that it is steadily increasing year by year. Time itself would seem to be not less relentless than the steady ereeping-up of this ailment to the front rank as a cause of death. Cancer is essentially a disease of the degenerative period of life, and I should be glad to be able to convince myself that some of the increase was due to the greater care which is taken to preserve the less healthy and those of advanced years. That this and better diagnosis plays a part cannot be denied, but I wish I could assure myself that these factors were solely responsible for the snakelike advance of this terrible disease. Consumption still makes its heavy yearly toll, and, though our death-rate is lower than that of any other country, it still claims 621 per cent, of the total deaths. The measures taken by the Hospital Boards in various parts of the colony, the public themselves, and the Department, have done much to lessen the spread of the disease, but there must be no resting on our oars in the face of such an annual exaction of life. Sixty-one per cent, of those who died of phthisis last year were New-Zealand-born. This is a fact which must cause us concern. The census of 1906 showed that the New-Zealand-born formed 68 per cent, of the population, so that we have a death-rate from phthisis of 5 - 51 per cent. This would seem to indicate that the New-Zealander's power of insistance against this disease was greater than that of the whole population. I have said so much re previous reports with respect to the necessity of offering a never-ceasing warfare against this disease that I fear further repetition may bring that disregard which constant exposure to fierce fire is said to cause amongst soldiers. Great and good work is, however, being done, and I am still hopeful that the day will come when this absolutely preventable disease will be prevented. BIETHS. The number of births registered in the colony during 1906 was 24,252, or 27 - 08 in every 1,000 persons living. The number of births is 750 in excess of that for the year 1905, an increase of 241 per cent. From 1882 until the year 1899 there was a regular fall in the birth-rate. The number of births registered in a year reached 19,846 in 1884, and, after falling to 17,876 in 1892, has risen to 24,252 in 1906, as stated above. The figures for each year from 1882 are worthy of notice, especially in connection with the subsequent particulars given as to marriages solemnised and the growth of population :—- --v Number of Rate per 1,000 v Number of Rate pei 1,000 Year ' Births. of Population. * ear- Births. of Population. 1882 ... ... 19,009 _32i22 1 ERRATA. Page x, paragraph headed -Cambridge Sanatorium," line 3, for "Miss Duffins " read "Miss Duffin the position of Matron in March, 190G " ; and in line 5, for " Miss Brigeman " read " Miss Bridgman." On page 7G, in second paragraph, line 1, for " 114 " read » 110," and for " 155 " read " 91 • line 2, after " were discharged " read " and 10 died " ; line 5, for " 107 " read " 43." ■ The marriages have increased numerically, and the population of the colony also. SSSS.- ftfig*. >~ SSK *=£?' 1882 ... ... 3,600 509,309 1895 ... ... 4,110 692,417 1883 ... ... 3,612 529,292 1896 ... ... 4,843 706,846 1884 ... ... 3,800 552,590 1897 ... ... 4,928 721,609 1885 ... ... 3,813 573,362 1898 ... ... 5,091 736,260 1886 3,488 582,117 1899 5,461 749,984 1887 3,563 596,374 1900 5,860 763,594 1888 ... ... 3,617 605,371 1901 ... ... 6,095 777,968 1889 ... .. 3,632 612,716 1902 ... ... 6,394 797,793 1890 ... ... 3,797 620,780 1903 ... ... 6,748 820,217 1891 ... ... 3,805 629,783 1904 ... ... 6,983 845,022 1892 ... ... 4,002 642,245 1905 ... ... 7,200 870,000 1893 ... ... 4,115 661,349 1906 ... ... 7,592 895,594 1894 4,178 679,196 The average number of children to a marriage may be ascertained by comparing the number of legitimate births for a series of years with the marriages, but commencing with the marriages in the year preceding that for which the first number of births is taken.

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The figures for the twenty-year period 1887-1906 show a decline in the proportion of births to every marriage in the preceding year from 5"31 to 3-21, as below : — Proportion of Births Y ear Marriages. 6 Marriage solemnised rsirins. in the p reoe( ii n g Year. 1886 3,489 1887 3,565 18,518 5-31 1888 3,617 18,325 5-14 1889 ... ... 3,632 17,845 4-93 1890 3,797 17,675 4-87 1891 3,805 17,635 4-64 1892 4,002 17,283 4-54 1893 4,115 17,514 437 1894 4,178 17,824 4-33 1895 ... ■ 4,110 17,711 4-24 1896 17,778 4-32 1896 4,843 1897 ... ... 4,928 17,911 . 370 1898 5,091 18,154 3-68 1899 ... -. ••• 5,461 18,006 3-54 1900 5,860 18,640 341 1901 6,095 19,554 3-34 1902 6,394 19,734 323 1903 ... ... ... 6,748 20,835 3-26 1904 6,983 21,737 3-22 1905 7,200 22,600 3-24 1906 23,120 3-21 If the average result be taken out for the ten years 1887-96, it will be found to represent 4-67 births to a marriage. Dealing similarly with the figures for 1897-1906 the result is an average of 338, so that regarded annually or decennially there is a decided fall to be observed. In the Australian States a similar decrease is noticeable. New Zealand had in 1880 the highest birth-rate (40-78) ; in 1900 the case was reversed; but in 1906 the New Zealand rate was higher than that of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. The movement over ten years is calculated as under : —

Birth-rates per 1,000 of Population.

This table shows that although New Zealand had in 1900 the lowest birth-rate in Australasia, the rate in this colony for 1906 was higher than that of New South Wales, Victoria, and some others. A declining birth-rate is noticeable in many civilised countries, and attention has been drawn by Btatisticians°and political economists to the serious consequences that may result. That fertility among women in New Zealand is decreasing, from whatever causes, further facts will tend to show. Taking the number of married women in New Zealand at what may be considered the childbearing ages (i.e., from 15 to 45 years, inclusive) as shown by each census since 1878, and for the same years the number of legitimate births (excluding plural) registered, the birth-rate per 1,000 married women of the above-stated ages is easily found, and is shown to be steadily declining. In 1878 the rate was 337 per 1,000, in 1896 it had fallen to 252, in 1901 to 244, and in 1906 to 228; or, in other words, in 1878 one married woman of the ages specified in every three gave birth to a'child, while in 1906 the rate was less than one in four. The figures for each census year are given below.

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State or Colony. I 1897. 1898. 1899. 1900. ! 1901. 1902. 1903. 1904. 1905. 1900. I 1 Queensland Jew South Wales Victoria iouth Australia Vestern Australia Tasmania lew Zealand ... 29-92 28-42 2659 26-97 25-82 27-73 25-96 28-28 2744 25-72 24-98 29-35 26-24 25-74 I 27-31 30-21 27-10 27-43 26-71 25-82 25-51 25-78 3064 31-46 25-98 28-25 25-12 25-60 28-28 27-60 25-77 25-39 30-32 28-40 26-34 27-68 27-17 2523 24-85 30-09 28-95 25-89 24-71 27-12 25-28 ; 26-73 24-46 : 24-65 23-43 24-70 30-27 30-34 28-61 29-59 26-61 26-94 25-92 26-73 24-83 23-82 30-30 29-32 27-22 26-31 27-04 25-14 23-54 30-02 29-52 27-08

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Birth-rales (Legitimate) per 1,000 Married Women at Child-bearing Ages for each Census Year, 1878 to 1906. Number of u,,™i,o» Birth rate Married Women . f l "™- \ to per 1,000 Year (Census). between of Legitimate Married Women . of£» «* « 1878 ... ... ... 50,995 17,196 3372 1881 ... ... ... 57,458 18,003 313-3 1886 ... ... ... 62,704 18,532 295-5 1891 ... ... ... 63,165 17,455 2763 1896 ... ... ... 69,807 17,596 2521 1901 ... ... ... 79,406 19,355 243-8 1906 ... ... ... 98,211 22,352 2276 And another table is given, showing for a period of twenty years the numbers of married women at the quinquennial periods of age belonging to the full term 15 to 45 Iγ ears, with the proportions that those numbers bear to every 100 married women living at 15-45. These proportions are found to have diminished appreciably at the earlier] ages, 15-20 and 20-25; but the numbers of the living are much smaller at those ages than at ,the higher ones, 25-30 and onwards to 40-45, and the effect of this lesser number of wives at the lower ages in reducing the birth-rate would" not be so much as might at first be thought probable. It is, however, undoubtedly a fact that to have a growing proportion of wives at the earlier productive ages is the best position, but it is not the one which obtains at present in New Zealand.

Married Women under 45 Years of Age, given according to Age-groups, as at the Censuses of 1881, 1891, 1901, and 1906; with the Proportion in each Group for every 100 of the Whole.

A further table shows the declining birth-rate, and the increase in the marriage-rate, in the United Kingdom. Birth and Marriage Bates in the United Kingdom, 1886, 1891, 1896, 1901, 1903, and 1905. Births. Marriages. Mean Rftte P er Rate P er Year- Population Number. 1,000 of Number. 1,000 of Population. Population. 1886 ... 36,313,582 1,145,577 31-5 241,180 6-6 1891 ... 37,802,440 1,148,259 30-4 275,970 7-3 1896 ... 39,599,072 1,152,144 29-0 296,089 7-5 1901 ... 41,550,773 1,162,975 280 313,351 7-5 1903 ... 42,371,219 1,183,601 279 316,415 7-5 1905 ... 43,221,145 1,163,506 26-9 315,063 73 The above figures are taken from the report of the Eegistrar-General of England (67th number) published in 1907. The birth-rates for ten years in Great Britain and certain countries of the European Continent are also given from the same source. The rates in England and Wales, and in Scotland, are higher than those in New Zealand, but the rate for Ireland is lower. France has the lowest rate of all quoted

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Married Women under 45, excluding Chinese. Age-groups. Numbers at Census. Proportion per Cent. 1881. 1891. 1901. 1906. 1881. 1891. 1901. 1906. 15-20 20-25 25-30 30-35 35-40 40-45 1,233 8,996 13,133 12,656 11,811 9,629 750 8,862 14,540 14,576 12,959 11,478 777 10,053 17,923 19,617 16,854 14,182 928 12,153 24,030 23,025 21,453 16,622 2-14 15-66 22-86 2203 20-55 16-76 1-19 14-03 2302 23-08 20-51 18-17 0-98 12-66 22-57 24-70 21-23 17-86 0-95 12-37 24-47 23 44 21-84 16-93 Totals 57,458 63,165 79,406 98,211 10O00 100-00 100-00 10000

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Birth-rates in European Countries, 1896 to 1905.

From the year 1895 marriages have shown an increase in New Zealand, the rate being then 5-94 per 1,000 of population. In 1906 the rate rose to B'4B, the highest record since 1875, when it was 8 - 94 per 1,000 of mean population. The number of marriages solemnised in 1906 was 7,592, an increase of 392 on the number for 1905. Marriage-rates in Australasia per 1,000 of Population for Five Years. 1902. 1903. 1904. 1905. 1906. Queensland ... ... ... 631 572 5-93 604 6-73 New South Wales 7-53 6-86 7-21 742 7-63 Victoria ... ... ... ... 702 6-29 6-80 7-24 7-28 South Australia ... ... ... 6-61 6-25 ' 6-85 7-00 7-05 Western Australia ... ... ... 9-77 9-33 8-83 8-48 8-70 Tasmania... ... ... ... 7-47 7-57 7-55 7-61 7-74 New Zealand ... ... ... 8-01 8-23 8-26 8-28 8-48 In March, 1901, New Zealand bad 88,806 children living under the age of five years, and in April, 1906, the number was 102,745, an increase of 15,939, or 18-35 per cent., although the population at all ages increased in the quinquennium by only 1499 per cent. Between 1891 and 1896 the increase was only 455 or 055 per cent., while between 1886 and 1891 the children living under five years actually decreased in numb°r by 3,624, the increase of population of all ages (833 per cent.) being less than between 1891 and 1896 (12-24 per cent.), 1896 and 1901 (9-96 per cent.), or 1901 and 1906 (1499 per cent.). The number of children under one year to the total population at all ages, according to the results of five censuses, was : — Children under Total Population One Year. (all Ages). Census 1886 ... ... ... ... ... 18,355 578,482 1891 ... ... ... ... ... 16,443 626,658 1896 ... ... ... ... ... 17,070 703,360 1901 ... ... ... ... ... 18,381 772,719 1906 ... ... ... ... ... 22,289 888,578 Thus, in 1886, with a population of 578,482 persons, there were 18,355 children under one year, against 21,286 children of that age in 1906, with a population of 888,578 persons. The births registered in 1885 were 19,693, against 23,682 in 1905. The birth-rate fell from 34-35 per 1,000 of the population in 1885 to 27-22 in 1905. Deducting 1,599, the number of deaths of children under one year registered in 1905, from 23,682, the number of births for that year, leaves 22,083, or within '206 of the living children under one year at the time of the last census. Twin Births. There were 211 cases of twin births (422 children), and triplets were registered in four instances, in 1906. The number of children born was 24,252 ; the number of mothers was 24,033; thus, on an average, one mother in every 114 gave birth to twins, against 97 in 1905, 93 in 1904, and 97 in 1903. Illegitimacy. The births of 1,132 children were illegitimate : thus, 47 in every 1,000 children born were born out of wedlock, against 46 in 1905. The following table gives the rates of illegitimacy in Australasia. The rate in 1906 in New Zealand was less than in any of the Australian States except South Australia :—

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Number of Births per 1,000 of Mean Population. Countries. 1904. 1905. 1896. 1897. 1898. 1899. 1900. 1901. 1902. 1903. Hungary ... Austria Italy German Empire Netherlands Scotland ... Norway ... England and "Wales Belgium ... Sweden Switzerland Ireland 40'5 380 347 36-3 32-7 30-4 30-4 29-6 99-0 27-2 27-9 23-6 22-5 40-3 37-5 34-6 36-0 32-5 300 30-0 29-5 290 26-7 28-1 23-5 22-3 377 362 33-4 361 31-9 301 303 293 28-6 27-1 28-4 232 21-8 39-3 37-1 33-8 35-8 320 29'8 30-9 29-1 28-8 264 28-9 229 21-9 39-3 373 32-9 356 31-5 29-6 30-1 28-7 28-9 26-9 28-6 22-7 21-4 37-8 369 32-6 35-7 32-3 29-5 29-8 28-5 29-4 27-0 291 22-7 22'0 38-8 370 33-3 351 31-8 29-2 291 28-5 28-4 26-5 28-7 23-0 21-7 36-7 352 31-5 339 316 29-2 28-8 28-4 27-5 25-7 27-7 23-1 21-1 37'0 35-4 32-6 341 31-4 28-7 28-1 27-9 27-1 25-8 27-7 23-6 20-9 357 32-3 30-8 28-1 27-4 27-2 257 27-4 234 206 France

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Proportion of Illegitimate Births in every 100 Births.

These figures show the proportion of illegitimate births to every 100 births for this colony to be very steady for the period 1897-1906; the difference amounts only to 026 per cent, on a comparison of the first and last years. The total number of births registered was 19,135 in 1887 and 24,252 in 1906, while the illegitimate births rose from 617 to 1,132. The causes that led to the fall in the birth-rate certainly did not greatly affect the number of illegitimate children. The number of spinsters in the colony between 15 and 45 increased during the ten years from 85,101 (census 1896) to 110,428 (census 1906), or at the rate of 2976 per cent., while the illegitimate births increased from 834 to 1,132, or at the rate of 3573 per cent. It would therefore appear that the larger proportion of illegitimate births now obtaining cannot with any certainty be taken as indicative of increased looseness of living on the part of the people.

The following figures, showing the rate of illegitimacy per 100 births in Australasia and in the United Kingdom, are based on statistics for a period of five years in the former and ten years in the latter: —

Of the total number of children born in Australasia during the five years ended 1900, 5-67 per cent, were illegitimate, as compared with 4-42 per cent, in the United Kingdom for the same period.

The figures in the next table, which give the percentages of illegitimate births in a number of foreign countries, cover in most cases a period of five years.

For England and Wales the proportion of illegitimate births to the total births in 1905 was 4 per cent., having gradually diminished from 7 per cent in 1845. The average proportion of illegitimate births in Scotland in five years was 6-3 per cent., but in Ireland the extremely low average of 2-6 per cent, obtained,.

I ; " Year. Queensland. I Ne^° s uth Victoria. South Australia. Western Australia. Tasmania. New Zealand. 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 6-02 6-04 5-97 6-40 5-93 6-04 6-76 6-89 7 00 7-68 6-58 6-93 7-15 7-01 7-16 6-60 6-71 7-12 7-37 7-04 5-42 5-29 549 5-91 5-58 5-51 5-73 5-74 5-61 5-58 8-53 3-62 3-95 4-24 3-98 4-36 4-18 4-01 4-37 4-00 5-27 4-99 4-91 4-82 3-88 3-96 4-69 4-36 4-19 4-78 5-74 509 6-08 543 5-94 5-36 5-61 5-82 5-52 5-78 4-41 4-23 4-40 4-63 4-57 4-46 4-55 4-52 4-57 4-67

Country. Illegitimate Births per Cent. Country. Illegitimate Birtha per Cent. New South Wales... Victoria ... Queensland South Australia Western Australia... 7-0 5-6 69 4-2 4-4 Tasmania New Zealand England and Wales Ireland ... Scotland ... i 5-6 4-5 4-2 2-6 7-2

Country. Illegitimate Births per Cent. Country. Illegitimate Births per Cent. • Germany... Prussia ... Bavaria ... Saxony ... Austria ... 908 7-68 13-43 12-89 14-20 913 Prance ... Belgium Netherlands Sweden ... Norway... Italy i 8-82 7-67 2-60 11-13 7-43 6-45 Hungary ...

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XVI

The Legitimation Act. An important Act was passed in 1894, entitled the Legitimation Act, which makes provision for the legitimation of children born before marriage on the subsequent marriage of their parents. Under this Act any child born out of wedlock, whose parents afterwards marry, is deemed to be legitimised by such marriage on the birth being registered in the manner prescribed by the Act. For legitimation purposes Eegistrars must register a birth when called upon to do so by any person claiming to be the father of an illegitimate child; but such person is required to make a solemn declaration that he is the father, and that at the time of the birth there existed no legal impediment to his marriage with the mother of the child. He has also to produce the evidence of his marriage. It will thus be seen that in cases dealt with under the Act registration becomes the test of legitimacy. In the December quarter of 1894, 11 children were legitimised ; in the year 1895 the number was 68 ; in 1896, 56; in 1897, 48 ;in 1898, 59; in 1899, 41; in 1900, 62 ; in 1901, 47; in 1902, 96; in 1903, 65; in 1904, 87 ; in 1905, 84; and in 1906, 125 ; making altogether 849 legitimations since the passing of the law. " The Infant Life Protection Act, 1896." By this statute it has been rendered unlawful for a person to take charge, for payment, of an infant to maintain or nurse for more than three days without holding a license as an infants' home keeper. The house of such a person must be registered as an infants' home. The administration of this law is a matter entirely managed by the police. The licensed homes are periodically inspected, and the results have shown that licensees generally comply with the required conditions, the homes and infants being well looked after. The Commissioner, in his report for the year ended 31st March, 1906, writes :— ; ' During the year there were 557 registered homes throughout the colony, representing 862 infants, against 528 homes and 728 infants in 1904. " Twenty-one deaths occurred in the homes during the year, against twenty-one in the preceding year. Four licensees were prosecuted for breaches of the Act, and three were convicted, against five prosecutions and five convictions in 1904. No licenses were cancelled, and no neglect by licensees was disclosed at inquests." Births and Birth-rates in the Four Chief Cities. The total number of births registered as occurring in the four chief centres and suburbs in 1905 was 6,335, as against 5,970 for the previous year. There is increase in the births for the four chief cities and suburban boroughs found on comparison with figures for 1904. The birth-rates for 1905 were :— Birth-rates per 1,000 of Mean Population. Auckland City 30-06 „ and five suburban boroughs ... ... ... 27 88 Wellington City ... ... ... ••• ••• ' 29-70 „ and two suburban boroughs ... ... ... 29 38 Christchurch City ... ... ... ... •■■ 2970 „ and one suburban borough ... • ... ... 29-63 Dunedin City ... ... ... ■•• ••• 2390 „ and six suburban boroughs ... ... ... 23-97 By the inclusion of the suburbs the rate is raised at Dunedin, but lowered at Auckland Wellington, and Christchurch. It will be observed that Christchurch has the highest rate, Wellington'next highest, Auckland and Dunedin following with intervals. The difference between the Christchurch rate (29-63) and the Dunedin rate ('2397) is considerable. The birth-rate for the whole colony last year was 27-22 per thousand. Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch are thus over the average, and Dunedin below it. The birth-rates for three of the central boroughs last year show a rise when compared with 1904. In Auckland the rate fell from 31-08 to 30-06 ; but it rose in Wellington from 26-77 to 29-72, in Christchurch from 27-53 to 29-70, and in Dunedin from 2240 to 2390. The rates for five years, 1901 to 1905, are :— , Births per 1,000 of Population. , 1901. 1902. 1903. ' 1904. 1905. Auckland (without suburbs) ... 3000 30-80 31-67 3108 3006 Wellington „ ... 26-35 25-29 29-22 26-77 29-72 Christchurch „ ... 24-12 25-84 26-59 27-53 29-70 Dunedin „ ... 2204 19-96 19-54 22-40 23-90 Deaths. The deaths in 1906 numbered'B,339, being equivalent to a rate of 9-31 in every 1,000 persons living, as against 9-27 in 1905. The lowest rate experienced since the year 1887, when the deaths were 10-29 r per 1,000 of the population, was that for 1896 (9 - 10).

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Comparative Death-rate for the Period 1896 to 1906.

In this statement New Zealand is conspicuous as showing the lowest death-rate. The rates for the principal Australian States are a little higher, but, generally speaking, far below those for the United Kingdom or the European Continental States mentioned in the table. Perfect accuracy in comparing one country or colony with another can only be attained by the use of what is termed an " index of mortality." The proportions of the living vary in regard to the different age-groups, and the ordinary death-rate—which is calculated on the population as a whole—does not afford a true means of judging of the relative healthiness of the places compared. But by taking a population like that of Sweden, and applying the percentage at each age-group to the death-rates, a standard of health or index of mortality can be arrived at. This has been done for New Zealand, in accordance with a resolution of the Statistical Conference held at Hobart in 1902, and the result is expressed in tabular form.

Index of Mortality in New Zealand for 1906.

A similar calciilation for the States of the Australian Commonwealth has been made for 1904. The results, when compared with the actual rates, exhibit to what degree the age-constitution of the population affects the death-rate. The figures for New Zealand are also given. Year 1904. Index. Actual. Queensland... ... ... ... ... ... 1323 10 01 New South Wales ... ... ... ... ... 1410 10-62 Victoria ... ... ... ... ... ... 1429 11-92 South Australia ... ... ... ... ... 13-32 10-22 Western Australia ... ... ... ... ... 15-60 1191 Tasmania ... ... ... ... ... ... 1436 11-01 New Zealand ... ... ... 1204 9-57 (1905) ... . 11.85 9-27 Deaths and Death-rates of the Four Principal Cities and their Suburbs. In the earlier annual reports on the vital statistics of the four chief towns the central boroughs alone were dealt with, particulars respecting the suburbs not having been obtained. But this omission was held to be a grave defect, as the suburban death-rate may differ much from the

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Country. 1896. 1897. 1898. 1899. 1900. 1901. 1902. 1903. 1904. 1905. 1906 New Zealand Queensland New South Wales Victoria South Australia* Western Australia Tasmania England and Wales Scotland Ireland Denmark Norway Sweden Austria Hungary Switzerland German Empire ... Netherlands 9-10 12-10 12-30 13-35 11-48 16-45 11-63 17-0 16-6 16-6 15-6 15-2 15-6 26-4 28-9 17-7 20-8 17-2 20-0 24-0 9-14 11-33 10-88 12-90 n-24i 16-97 11-53 17-4 18-4 18-4 16-5 15-3 15-4 25-6 28-5 17-6 21-3" 16-9 19-5 21-9 9-84 12-66 12-48 15-94 1306 16.05 13-51 17-5 18-0 18-1 15-5 15-3 151 24-9 28-0 18-2 20-5 17-0 20-9 22-9 10-241 12-071 11-82| 14-28! 12-14 13-76 12-25 18-2 18-1 176 17-3 16-9 17-7 25-4 27-2 17-6 21-5 17-1 211 21-8 9-43 11-73 11-16 12-75 1064 12-92 11-05 18-2 18-5 19-6 16-9 15-9 16-8 25-2 26-9 19-3 221 17-8 21-9 23-8 981 11-88 11-68 13-22 11-11 13-36 10-45 16-9 18-0 17-8 15-8 14-9 160 24-2 25-4 180 20-7 17-2 201 21-9 10-50 12-08 11-95 13-40; 11-79 13-63 10-84 16-2 17-2 17-5 14-6 13-9 15-4 24-7 ! 27-0 17-2 I 19-4 I 16-3 19-5 22-1 10-40 12-38 11-59 12-90 10-71. 12-601 11-92 15-4 16-6 17-5 14-6 14-8 151 23-8 261 17-6 ! 20 0 15-6 19-2 22-2 9-57 10-11 10-62 11-92 10-22 11-91 11-01 16-2 16-9 18-0 141 14-3 15-3 23-7 24-8 17-8 19-6 15-9 19-4 20-9 9-27 10-47 10-13 12-10 1014 10-83 10-23 15-2 159 17-1 150 14-8 15-6 9-31 9-56 9-89 12-42 10-34 11-87 11-13 27-8 17-9 France Italy 15-3 196 21-7 ' Excluding the Northern Territory.

Ages. Estimated Mean Population, 1906. Number of Deaths, 1906. Deathrate per 1,000, 1906. Percentage of Index of Population Mortality in of Sweden, 1890 New Zealand (Standard). per 1,000. Under 1 year 1 and under 20 years ... 20 and under 40 years 40 and under 60 years 60 years and upwards... 22,479 329,400 338,624 141,862 63,229 1,506 886 1,329 1,435 3,183 66-99 2-68 ' 3-92 1011 50-34 2-55 39-80 26-96 19-23 11-46 1-71 107 1-06 1-94 5-77 Totals 895,594 8,339 9-31 10000 1155

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death-rate at the centre. Steps were therefore taken early in 1895 to collect statistics of the suburban boroughs as well as of the four chief cities. As regards Auckland and Christchurch, the whole of the area usually recognised as suburban has not yet been brought under municipal government, and the statistics given below do not deal with such portions as still remain in road districts. The omission, however, is not very important, for there are in either case quite enough suburbs included within borough boundaries to give a fair idea of the death-rate of Greater Auckland and Greater Christchurch. As further boroughs are formed the vital statistics will be made to include them. The total number of deaths registered for the four centres in 1906 was 2,480 —viz., 2,066 in the cities and 414 in the suburbs. By including the suburbs the death-rate for last year is lowered at three of the four centres. The rates for the year are : — Death-rates per 1,000 of Mean Population. Auckland City ... ' 1251 „ and six suburban boroughs ... ... 9-90 Wellington City ... ... ... ... ... 945 „ and three suburban boroughs ... ... 9-19 Christchurch City ... ... ... ... ... IM2 „ and one suburban borough ... ... 11-25 DunedinCity 1270 „ and six suburban boroughs ... ... 11-35 If the number of deaths of infants under one year be excluded, the mortality among the rest of the population is found to have been for 1905 and 190R in the following ratio to the 1,000 living:— 1905. 1906. Auckland (including suburbs) ... ... ... ... 7 - 96 7-63 Wellington „ ... ... ... ... 7-38 723 Christchurch „ 8-25 915 Dunedin „ 8-51 9-39 The degree of infantile mortality is perhaps best shown in the proportion of deaths of children under one year of age to every 100 births. For 1905 and 1906 the proportions at the chief centres are, — 1905. 1906. Auckland (including suburbs) ... . ... ... 9-15 858 Wellington „ ... ... ... ... 962 7-19 Christchurch „ ... ... ... ... 8-90 7-44 Dunedin „ 6-71 7-26 Again, the percentage of deaths of children under 5 to the total deaths is—Auckland, 28-13; Christchurch, 23-00; Wellington, 24-03; Dunedin, 22-27. Mortality at Four Centres, excluding Suburbs. Excluding suburbs, and dealing with the deaths at all ages in the four cities or central boroughs only, the rates for 1906 are found to be lower than in the previous year at Wellington, but higher at Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin. The figures for five years are given:— , Deaths per 1,000 of Population. . 1902. 1903. 1904. 1905. 1906. Auckland (excluding suburbs) 17-21 12-97 11-11 12-15 1251 Wellington „ 12-58 11-30 1075 10-55 9-45 Christchurch „ 12-24 11-39 10-50 1076 11-12 Dunedin „ 11-86 14-77 13-59 11-13 12-70 Omitting the deaths of infants under one year, and calculating the rate on the population of one year of age and upwards, Wellington again shows a lower rate for 1906 than for the previous year. Deaths per 1,000 of Population, excluding Infants, (under One Year of Age). 1902. 1903. 1904. 1905. 1906. Auckland (excluding suburbs) 1286 9-45 924 9-39 984 Wellington „ 9-54 8-84 8-42 780 7-68 Christchurch „ 9-03 883 7-87 8-46 9-34 Dunedin „ 1035 13-61 1190 964 1076 Subjoined is a table showing the rates of infant mortality in the four cities for each of the past five years, together with the mean rates for the period. Deaths of Children under One Year to every 100 Births. 1902. 1903. 1904. 1905. 1906. j^y"^, Auckland (excluding suburbs) 15-41 1208 6-93 10-13 9-92 1089 Wellington „ 12-97 9-28 955 10-02 7-11 9-79 Christchurch „ 13-32 10-49 10-36 8-60 7-24 1000 Dunedin „ 8-60 7-27 8-74 7-21 7-76 7-92

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XIX

Causes of Death at Four Centres, including Suburbs. While treating of the death-rates at the chief cities and surroundings, it is desirable to refer to the causes of mortality, which is done in the remarks that follow. The deaths for the whole colony, classified according to their cause, are treated of at length a little further on. Specific Febrile and Zymotic Diseases (at Four Chief Centres). The mortality from these diseases was lower at three of the four centres in 1906 than in the previous year. The total deaths in this class were 115 for 1905 and 133 for 1906. Deaths from Febrile and Zymotio Diseases. 1905. 1906. Auckland and suburbs ... ... ... ... ... 45 42 Wellington „ ... ... ... ... ... 34 22 Christchurch „ ... ... ... ... ... 27 23 Dunedin „ ... ... ... ... ... 9 46 Totals ... ... ... ... ... 115 133 Of the above, influenza caused most deaths in 1906 at the four centres taken together, the total number being 33 ; diarrhceal diseases came next, with 29 deaths ; typhoid fever, 14 ; whoop-ing-cough, 12 ; diphtheria, 13 ; scarlet fever, 4 ; measles, 10; and other zymotic complaints, 19. Comparison of the deaths for each city, including suburbs, shows, — „ .. . n - Auckland. Wellington. Christchurch. Dunedin. aa., diseases. lgQg lgQ6 _ lgos 190g _ lgog _ 190g lgos lg()6 Diarrhceal diseases ... 21 16 12 2 9 8 2 3 Influenza ... ... 3 11 3 6 4 9 3 7 Typhoid fever ... 7 5 2 ... 1 ... ... 5 Measles ... ... ... 10 Scarlet fever ... 2 2 3 1 ... 1 Diphtheria ... ... 3 2 4 5 ... 2 14 Whooping-cough ... 1 ... 1 12 Other zymotic diseases 9 6 10 4 12 3 2 5 Parasitic Diseases (at Four Chief Centres). Hydatids were fatal at Dunedin (1 death). Dietetic Diseases (at Four Chief Centres). These numbered 25, 6 being due to want of breast-milk, scurvy, or malnutrition, 6 to alcoholism, and 3 to delirium tremens. Constitutional Diseases (at Four Chief Centres). The deaths at the four towns numbered 511 in 1906. The first in importance of these diseases, and of all causes of death, is tubercle. The figures foi 1905 and 1906 show 211 and 232 deaths for each year respectively. Phthisis and other Taberoular Diseases. Other Other Phthisis. Tubercular Phthisis. Tuberoular Diseases. Diseases. Auckland and suburbs ... ... 37 12 40 12 Wellington „ ... ... 28 14 49 11 Christchurch „ ... ... 44 10 28 14 Dunedin „ ... ... 47 19 59 19 156 55 176 56 The mortality from tubercular diseases for 1906 is 9-3 per cent, of the total deaths at the four boroughs and their suburbs from all causes. Deaths from cancer rose at the chief towns from 191 in 1905 to 217 in 1906. The latter number is 9 per cent, of deaths for the year from all causes. The number of deaths from cancer at the four chief towns and their suburbs for each of the last five years was as under : — 1902. 1903. 1904. 1905. 1906. Auckland and suburbs... ... 44 37 45 35 49 Wellington „ ... ... 37 47 44 47 53 Christchurch „ ... ... 25 33 38 49 60 Dunedin , 59 62 57 60 55 Totals ... ... 165 179 184 191 217 Diabetes shows 36 deaths in 1906, against 32 in 1905.

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Developmental Diseases (at Four Chief Centres). There were 285 deaths in this class, of which 125 were from premature births, 151 from old age, and 9 from other causes. Local Diseases (at Four Chief Centres). Deaths in this class were 22 more than in 1905, the figures being 1,297 against 1,275. Diseases of the circulatory system were the most fatal of this class, amounting to 334, being heartdiseases, &c. Diseases of the nervous system show 235 deaths—B2 from apoplexy. Diseases of the respiratory system show 297 deaths for 1906, against 279 for the former year. Bronchitis, pneumonia, congestion of the lungs, pleurisy, and allied diseases form this group. Under the head of " Diseases of the Digestive System " there were 263 deaths at the four centres, including 99 from enteritis ; peritonitis, 23 ; gastritis, 21 ; cirrhosis of liver, 14 ; jaundice and liver-disease, 15 ; and dentition, 5. From appendicitis 20 deaths are particularly noted. Diseases of the urinary system caused 115 deaths—6s from Bright's disease. The remaining deaths were : 1 disease of organs of special sense, 9 of the lymphatic, 33 of the reproductive systems, 7 of the organs of locomotion, and 3 of the integumentary system. Violent Deaths (at Four Chief Centres). There were 134 violent deaths, 109 of which were classed as accidental. Twelve of these latter were caused by fractures, and 17 by falls. In 12 cases deaths resulted from the deceased being run over by a cart, tram, train, &c. Twelve deaths were from burns or scalds, 16 by drowning, 13 by suffocation, "4 by poisoning ; besides 5 from accident at birth, and 18 others. Two deaths were classified as homicide. Of 23 suicides, 8 were by shooting, 6by cutting throat, 4 by poison, 4 by hanging, and 1 by drowning. Vital Statistics of Australasian Cafitals, 1906. The vital statistics of the chief cities, with their suburbs, of Australasia, show that the deathrate in Wellington (N.Z.) for 1906 was lower than that of any other of the principal towns for the same year.

* Ten mile radius. AVERAGE AGE AT DEATH, AND EXPECTATION OF LIFE. The average age at death of persons of either sex, in each of the ten years 1897-1906, was as follows : — Males. Females. Males. Females. 1897 ... 38-80 years 34-77 years. 1902 ... ... 41-07 years 34-88 years. 1898 ... 39-29" „ 35-69 „ 1903 ... ... 39-56 „ 35-43 „ 1899 .. 37-73 „ 33-54 „ 1904 ... ... 41-47 „ 38-44 „ 1900 40-31 „ 3614 „ 1905 ... 43-03 „ 39-13 ~ 1901 ... ... 41-64 „ 37-68 „ 1906 ... ... 43-39 ~ 39-35 „ The average expectation of life at each year of age has been compiled from a table given in a paper on the rates of mortality in New Zealand which was published by Mr. (ieorge Leslie. This is the best and most up-to-date information procurable, but it is not guaranteed by the authorities of the Government Life Insurance Department. The table shows, on comparison with New South Wales figures (Coghlan's) that at birth the expectation of life to the male infant in New Zealand is considerably greater than in that State, the figures being 55-44 years (N.Z.), against 49-60 (N.S.W.), and for females 57-26 and 52-90. At 21 years of age the expectation in New Zealand for males is 43-77 years, against 41-35 (N.S.W.), and for females 45-59, against 4362. At age 45 the comparison is, for males, 25-23 years (N.Z.), 23-27 (N.S.W.); females, 27-46 years (N.Z.), against 25-34 (N.S.W.). At the age of 70, the limit of normal life, the figures for New Zealand are—males 9-48 years, females 10-23, against 8-64 for both sexes in New South Wales Throughout the comparison is in favour of this country.

Biiths. Deaths. Estimated Excess of Capital Cities (including Suburb-). Mean Population. I I Total Number. Rate per 1,000 of Population. Total Number. Rate per 1,000 of Population. Births over Deaths. Melbourne Sydney ... Adelaide... Brisbane" Perth Hobart ... Wellington 521,000 534,200 174,438 131,102 53,300 34,920 64,302 12,373 13,984 3,815 3,211 2,011 1,097 1,759 23-75 26-18 21-87 24-49 37-73 31-41 27-26 7,083 5,703 2,078 1,311 892 604 591 13-60 10-68 11-91 10-00 16-74 17-29 9-19 5,290 8>281 1,737 1,900 1,119 493 1,162

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Expectation of Life in New Zealand.

ORPHANHOOD OP CHILDBEN. New Zealand statistics give detailed information on this subject, which appears to be unique In a paper read by Mr. H. W. Manly, actuary of the Equitable Life Assurance Society, on the 27th April, 1903, before the Institute of Actuaries at London, under the heading "Children's Benefits," he stated that in order to ascertain the ages and the number of children left by a married man at his death he had to go to the same source as Mr. King did when he constructed his table of " Family Annuities"—viz., the "Statistics of the Colony of New Zealand." And, further, after announcing his intention of making very considerable use of the information, he gave the tables, ■grouping five ages together. ("Journal of the Institute of Actuaries," October, 1903.) Although the subject is not one of general interest, it may be excusable to draw attention here to the tables published for the year 1906 and the experience of the quinquennial period as shown in the " Statistics of New Zealand." The first table shows, for the year 1906, the total number of men who died at each year of age from twenty upwards; the number of married men stated in the registers as having died (a) childless, (b) leaving children ; and the number and ages of the children living at the time of the father's death. The next is a similar table, but giving five years' results for all ages of the fathers. A condensation of the table is shown.

New Zealand, 1902 to 1906.

A table has also been prepared showing, for the year 1906, a ratio of the deaths in each eiass to the 1,000 births during the year

Age. Average Duration of Life: Years. Age. Average Duration of Life : Years. Male. Female. Age. Average Duration of Life : Years. Male. Female. Male. Female. 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 54-444 59-102 59-169 58-626 57-924 57-167 56-396 55-606 54-791 53-956 53 094 52-212 51-315 50-425 49-539 48-663 47-803 46-960 46-139 45-336 44-551 43-775 43-005 42-235 41-463 40-684 39-899 39-108 38-319 37-526 36-736 35-949 35-165 34-384 33-605 57-260 61-214 61-220 60-647 59-934 59-148 58-343 57-520 56-680 55-825 54-953 54-069 53-180 52-294 51-415 50-515 49-690 48-847 48-016 47-198 46-393 45-593 44-803 44-021 43-244 42-474 41-708 40-946 40-187 39-431 38-678 37-928 37-181 36-438 35-695 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 32-829 32-054 31-282 30-511 29-744 28-979 28-220 27-465 26-715 25-971 25-231 24-499 23-773 23055 22-344 21-636 20-932 20-231 19-530 18-836 18-150 17-478 16-822 16-183 15-560 14-949 14-348 13-754 13-170 12-600 12-046 11-512 10-994 10-486 9-981 34-954 34-215 33-475 32-734 31-990 31-243 30-493 29739 28-981 28-221 27-458 26-694 25-927 25163 24-399 23-640 22-885 22-135 21-392 20-655 19-926 19-202 18-485 17-776 17-077 16-386 15-705 15-037 14-386 13-752 13-135 12-534 11-954 11-365 10-792 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 9-481 8-988 8-504 8-035 7-586 7-160 6-758 6-379 6022 5-683 . 5-362 5-055 4-765 4-489 4-229 3-982 3-747 3-525 3-313 3110 2-914 2-723 2-525 2-323 2-101 1-843 1-553 1-247 0-960 0-677 0-500 10-227 9-673 9-130 8-604 8-095 7-614 7-164 6-742 6-349 5-982 5-636 5-312 5 005 4-714 4-439 4-180 3-935 3-705 3-487 3-283 3-089 2 905 2-731 2-564 2-400 2-238 2-082 1-931 1-774 1-600 1-424 1-195 0-889 0-500

Ages of Married Men at Death. Number of I who Carried Men lied Number and Ages of Living Issue. Childless. Leaviug Children. nder 5. 6 to 10. 10 to 15. 16 to 21. 21and J N . 0 ' over, specified. Totals. 20 to 30 30 „ 40 40 „ 50 50 „ 60 60 „ 65 65 and upwards 84 164 158 193 128 666 164 653 943 1,417 1,034 4,563 256 728 596 238 45 59 38 681 953 696 149 182 1 293 1,036 1,056 • 366 501 45 ... 910 288 1,891 3,271 948 4,187 1,386 !21,271 13 80 184 409 236 1,247 308 1,827 3,997 7,461 5,931 24,643

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INFANTILE MORTALITY. Subjoined is a classified statement of the deaths of infants under one year during 1906, with the ratio of the deaths in each class to the 1,000 births during the year:—

Seventy out of every thousand of male children born, and fifty-four of every thousand females, are found to have died before attaining the age of one year. The mortality is thus one in fourteen of male children and one in eighteen of females, even in New Zealand, where conditions are far more favourable to infant-life than in Australia, at least as far as relates to the cities. It will also be seen from the figures that the chances of living during the first year of age are far greater for female than for male infants. Thus, during the year 1906 there were— 100 deaths of males to 77 deaths of females under 1 month of age; 100 „ 68 „ from 1 to 3 months of age ; 100 69 from 3 to 6 months of age ; 100 „ 96 „ from 6 to 12 months of age ; 100 „ 77 „ under 12 months of age. The rates of infantile mortality—that is, the proportion the deaths of children under one year of age bear to the births —are higher in the Australian States than in New Zealand. Dealing with the results for ten years, the deaths of infants under one year are in the large proportion of three-fourths of the total deaths under five, as might be expected, the first year being the tenderest period. (See notes to tables.)

Deaths of Infants under One Year, and Proportion to Births.

Deaths of Children under Five Years, and Proportion to Deaths at all Ages.

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Year. Sex. Under 1 Month. i 1 and 3 and under 3 under 6 Months, j Months. under d 12 Total under Months 2 12 month, 1906 I Male { Female Number of Deaths. 413 150 304 97 147 97 155 143 865 641 Deaths to the 1,000 Births. 1906 ... ( Male I Female 33-21 12-10 25-64 8-18 11-86 8-18 12-50 12-06 I 69-77 54-06

Deaths if Infants under 1 Year of Age. (Totals for sach Year, and Means of 10 Years.) Total Births registered in each Year, and Mean of 10 Years. Proportion . of Deaths of Infants under 1 Year to every 1,000 Births. Year. 3 Months 6 Months Total and under and under i under 6 Months. 12 Months. 12 Months. Under 1 Month. 1 Month and under 3 Months. 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 512 573 619 607 610 665 692 669 714 717 240 289 389 288 272 344 346 260 285 247 269 306 378 293 392 313 367 356 290 244 333 342 420 281 289 390 365 331 310 298 1,354 1,510 1,806 1,469 1,563 1,712 1,770 1,616 1,599 1,506 18,737 18,955 18,835 19,546 20,491 20,655 21,829 22,766 23,682 24,252 72-3 79'7 95-9 75'2 763 82-9 81-1 710 67-5 624 Means of ten years ... 638 296 321 336 1,591 20,975 75-85 Note.—The total number of deaths of infants for the period included in the table is 15,905.

Deaths of Children under 1 to 5 Yc ars of Agu. (Totals for each Year, and Means of 10 Years.) Total Deaths at all Ages for each Year, and Mean of 10 Years. Deaths under 5 Years Per Cent. of Mortality at all Ages. Year. lYeer ' 2 Years 3 Years , i Years γ^t' and under ! and under and under and under veawe 2 Years. 3 Years. : 4 Years. 5 Years, j r u " " Under i 1 Year. I 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1,354 1,510 1,806 1,469 1,563 1,712 1,770 1,616 1,599 1,506 187 200 291 205 208 307 275 169 17.6 177 84 91 111 93 85 118 126 83 97 87 69 72 74 64 68 92 111 63 61 58 38 47 56 58 52 61 64 43 46 37 1,732 1,920 2,338 1,889 1,976 2,290 2,346 1,974 1,979 1,865 6,595 7,244 7,680 7,200 7,634 8,375 8,528 8,087 8,061 8,339 26-26 26-50 30-44 26-24 25-88 27-34 27-51 24-41 24-55 22-36 Means of ten years 1,591 217 98 73 50 2,031 7,774 26-13 Note.—The total number of deaths included in this table of children under 5 year: is 20,309.

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Although 15,905 infants (under one year) were lost to the colony by death during the decade, and including those 20,309 children under five, the third table shows much more satisfactory results for this colony than for New Sonth Wales or Victoria in the matter of the preservation of infant life. Dealing with averages of five years, in New Zealand only 76 infants under one year are found to die out of every 1,000 born, against 97 in New South Wales and 96 in Victoria.

European countries show still higher average mortality of infants than the principal Australian States : England and Wales, 138 (under oue year) to every 1,000 births ; France 144 ■ Italy 168 • Hungary, 212. Sweden (99) and Norway (83) are notable exceptions. The principal causes of mortality in children under one year for New Zealand are given, with the numbers of deaths for five years from such causes. Premature birth stands first in order of importance, marasmus or debility coming next.

Deaths under One Year. — Principal Causes.

A table is added to show that higher mortality obtains in the large towns than in New Zealand as a whole and two States of Australia.

Proportion of Deaths of Infants under 1 Year of Age to every 1,000 Births. Year. New Zealand. New South Wales, Victoria. 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 76-3 82-9 81-1 71-0 67-5 103-7 109-7 110-4 82-4 80-6 . 102-9 108-6 106-4 77-6 83-3 Means of five years ... 75-8 75-8 97-4 97-4 95-8

Principal Causes of Deaths of Infants. 1 1903. 1904. 1905. 1906. Miasmatic diseases Diarrhceal diseases Premature birth Convulsions Bronchitis, pneumonia, pleurisy Enteritis 92 176 303 82 235 154 294 191 122 301 103 241 167 270 36 152 291 95 149 231 273 20 92 360 96 208 193 258 43 65 337 90 170 167 267 Marasmus, &c. ...

Wellington and Si hurbs. Sydne; and Sui lurbs. Melboun ie and Si iburbs. Year. in s a a ij O T-f i~3 I ss cc O •2JU h fl h H 4* 4S I o cq O •2§2 n a n CM ■5 g 3 ca 1 "a . J i—i CO *-> is O Cm •2|o iH 3 3 2 p to t-t Q 3 L901 .902 .903 .904 .905 1,326 1,321 1,520 1,479 1,715 133 172 141 141 165 100-3 130-2 92-8 95-3 96-2 12,601 13,002 12,749 13,215 13,769 1,517 1,457 1,483 1,300 1,230 1204 112-1 116-3 98-4 89-3 12,375 12,498 12,012 11,886 11,944 1,536 1,590 1,493 1,102 1,133 124-1 127-2 124-3 92-7 94-8 JeartR of five years 1.472 150 102-2 13,067 1,397 106-9 12,143 1,371 112-9

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XXIV

CAUSES OF DEATH (THE WHOLE COLONY). The deaths registered in the colony during 1906, arranged in the several classes according to their assigned causes, give the rates as follows: —

Causes of Death. Males. Females. Number of Deaths. Proportion to Total Deaths. Males. Females. Total. § I Q OJ — O Hi o" o ®^c Qj OS iH Total. ilass I. —Specific febrile or zymotic disPer Cent. 3-10 0-97 002 Per Cent. 3-53 1-44 Per Cent. 3-27 1-16 001 1-98 1-47 eases,- — Order 1. Miasmatic diseases „ 2. Diarrhceal diseases „ 3. Malarial diseases „ 4. Zoogenous diseases „ 5. „ 6. Septic diseases ... 153 48 1 120 49 273 97 1 3 05 1-08 0-01 9 18 8 40 17 58 0-18 0-37 0-23 1-17 0-21 0-70 019 0-65 0-32 0-72 Total Class I 229 217 446 4-64 6-37 5-35 4-98 4-49 ilass II.—Parasitic diseases 10 16 0-20 0-15 018 0-17 018 'lass III. —Dietetic diseases 49 16 65 0-99 0-48 0-78 0-72: 0-60 Ilass IV.—Constitutional diseases ... 821 717 1,538 16-64 21-06 18-44 17-17 16-52 ilass V. —Developmental diseases ... 574 402 976 11-63 11-81 11-70 10-90 11-25 !lass VI. —Local diseases, — Order 1. Diseases of nervous system „ 2. Diseaes of organs of special 506 3 357 4 863 7 10-25 0-06 10-49 0-12 10-35 009 9-64, 0-07 10-49 015 senses „ 3. Diseases of circulatory system „ 4. Diseases of respiratory system „ 5. Diseases of digestive system „ 6. Diseases of lymphatic system „ 7. Diseases of urinary system „ 8. Diseases of reproductive system, — (a.) Of organs of generation (b.) Of parturition „ 9. Diseases of locomotive system „ 10. Diseases of integumentary system 729 578 413 7 270 401 398 368 24 112 1,130 976 781 31 382 14-77 11-72 8-37 014 5-47 11-78 11-69 10-81 0-70 3-29 1355 11-71 9-37 0-37 4-58 12-62 10-90 8-73 0-35 4-27 11-66 11-26 8-98 0-48 4-31 32 22 093 0-38 0-36 0-46 *18 76 11 76 29 0-37 2-24 0-32 0-91 0-35 0-84 0-32 0 91 0-16 7 6 13 0-14 0-17 015 014 015 Total Class VI 49-01 2,531 1,789 |4,320 51-291 52-55 51-81 48-24 'lass VII.—Violence,— Order 1. Accident or negligence „ 2. Homicide „ 3. Suicide... „ 4. Execution 456 8 71 108 3 12 564 11 83 9-24 0-16 1-44 3-17 0-09 1 0-35 676 013 099 6-30 0-12 093 5-98 0-06 102 001 Total Class VII ... 535 123 658 10-84 361 7-89 7-35 7-07 ]lass VIII.—Ill-defined and not-speci-fied causes Grand totals 186 135 321 377 3-97 3-85 3-58 3-53 4,y35 3,404 8,339 100-00 10000 10000 9311 92-65

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XXV

The next table shows, for either sex, the number of deaths from each cause registered during the year 1906 :—

Causes of Death.

iv—H. 31.

I.—Specific Febbile ok Zymotic Diseases. Class. o o O CD o> 3 a> K p O Itlfti § : : : o O CD Ol If : I o O a> g CD : : : 5 o O — CD co a> cw a> O Eco : : 5 fe! o err o a> bo : : : ft o O a> g „ S- g- cq *> ?P° "g * I i... I 9 o ft) OB bO to (-> CD I 00 to en I CD I bO I !-■ I ' ' I- 1 I 00 I to co co Cn I CO I : co * .... : : to -3: : : : Cn Cn i— i Males. to -] I O I I—» h-* '. 00 CD CO 00 I 00 I I co l co c> co I to I O I : : i— >: hci: : : : h-» Cn *- -J CO -q_' Females. O> I 00 I i—" co : 00 I—* CD 1-^ I— i to o I _J I H I— ■ I CO 00 I -J I OS 1O ~3 to J L__coj J_s_ : : co to co: : : : i—' oj i— 1 o> to co to i— ■ Total. VI. —Local Diseases. V.—Developmental Diseases. IV. —Constitutional Diseases. III. —Dietetic Diseases. II. —Pabasitic Diseases. ' Class. *e a> "? o ere -s cr a" 02 2 5" i ? ?cT o CO s> 2 i § " 3 OQ 5- ft- P-j a> CD . CD P CD SO . . jy- : 2. b-s> : : t;CD K CO Q CO CD I— I OO > CD H eotcOWS) h>2. ?o2 3b 111 1 Hi III" : I o — g> S g> a 2. S- - o Q CQ I—! 3. „ cT o : g CD a> »-fd III II CD : : : : : an , ... o 0 DO I— I I— I a o> • tc ffi o> . Sj g> : CD i_j g> . Cβ CD Cβ J3 CD 5: co a> g is CD CD 2 CD ■"! 3 : : 3 ! O s> o> bo )*■ O 00 Or K^ CT CO h- 1 00 hf*. I—' h- CD tO -j o> cotocno >-> I Or to CO to Cn 00 to hf". CO CO ~q CO o co I-" CO 4=* CO i-' I o 1 o Males. CD to to to to an o> I to to t-» -j i— > a> *— * i- 1 to ~j -j i O< CD !-■ CO bO CO Or Oi CD co O> to • • p-" oo : . I I- 1 m*- oo I o> g> —' -j to 1 en tf>- >-■ Females. to to Cn to co p— 1 CO 00 CD Oi CO Oi 00 bO H* CO CO 00 bO to O> -3 -3 00 I—' I- 1 (f^ I—" o> CX> O5 o> bO tO h-' 1—' C33 H CO O CO CO K) M <1 I Oil h-'CDOD co en 1 h^ Total.

H. 31.

Causes of Death —continued.

XXVI

VI. —Local Diseases — continued. Glass. elO lHUllpli GD m -< "S T-: : : m : : " «5. o o OS <pS -era £. cDtyn ff. o ill: fV ■ I. If; -*|s If I § I IP ?::•":::: S. : S "5, o CO to O teJO O 8g:2.1-i:gp$>i S? 8 3- .-3.1 o O CD h- 1 eg. gg| SSL.! t| ?! 8.: S: ; : ? • 3 I O 3, a So* Q i i GO to hJ CO -3 CD tO CO OJ O 1O O _jf^jt^-q I tO to h- 1 tO to bO co bO 00 1 OJ I to GO I 1— : o to CO O* bO 4s> rfx Males. CO CO CD I I—" I—' bO bO ~J OS os bo o bO CO CD Ot l—* Ot to CJi tO C-i to -q J ' rf^ I CO I -J 1 to: -q ' *- bo : PtOOl Fern al les. -q CO co 1 O I CO CO I—" CO CD CO 00 CD CD I-* to _jo_05_o -q CO to ~q -3 GO OS I co 1 GC' GO bo '■ O n^ t—' GO GO to Ox -q Total. Class. VI. —Local Diseases — continued. I III O CD Pill Illflfl Iifl||-i- 5 |iiV 31 s <? 5.: : : : : : •$> o O CD OS ll ft Hi || Pit l : : : 5 g^ 1-3 o O CD ill pK| I fill I I ?:?:::::: ?'?'?'■'■?: F: : : : 3 o 3 CD S o a ! O I I— 1 o> 05 I— i OS b0__O: -~l 1-3 tO h-' bO bO 1 co 1 co co h-»: h^.: CO I— ■ O OS Cn to co Ox 1— L Or CO to GC 00 Males. to ! to i- , : t— 1 CO 05 I GC I to CD OO CO GO_t- O5_ H CO to -q I— I GO h- 1 I—'HliJH h^ Pemal les. -q -q i—" CO bO CO CO CTa O 00 I GC to CD rf^ CO *-^ 1 I GO GO to CO -q co bO O2 O CD co if>- co i- 1 --5 -3 00 to C5 to CO OS CO CO CD H^ Total to -q

H.—3l.

Causes of Death —continued.

MORTALITY FROM FEBRILE AND ZYMOTIC DISEASES. The deaths in 1906 from specific febrile or zymotic diseases amounted to 446, a proportion of 4-98 in every 10,000 persons living, and an increase of 55 on the number of deathsin 1905, when the proportion was 4-49. As in 1904 and 1905 a feature of last year's mortality is the comparative freedom of the colony from some of the epidemic diseases most fatal to children —viz., measles, scarlet fever, scarlatina, and whooping-cough—the total deaths from these causes being only 56, against 478 in 1903. The diseases in this class that have caused the greatest mortality during the past ten years are stated in the table that follows. Of these, diarrhoeal complaints were by far the most fatal, causing 2,045 deaths in the decennial period. Influenza comes next, with 1,362 deaths ; typhoid fever third,

XXVII

VI. —Local Diseases — continued. Class. o i— i o E. o CD O "Si: i S: g: | L ?::::::? «2 o^ O CD CO § CD CD «S •■ g= : ?^ o O CD GO If Hi 1 ft! 1 ' {I OB Cg^S=S- K O Cβ as i o 9 Sq" ro SB CD cr bo CO μ-l I -3 I I—* >—' en ' I GO I O CO i ' I I Malee. oo co I Oa i μ-i μ- i CO ' μ-i I >-■ μ-i I CD I co *- μ-i μ-' μ-i: μ-i (DO !-■ !-■ Females. g> >-■ « bO I—' GO co O CO t-L tO 1O ' CD ' h-i co μ-i »— 1 '. cp O Total. ~ I—* LO O VIII. —Ill-defined and Notspecified Causes. Class. VII. —Violence. CD CD o P—l l— l S» $ : : : b : : Pj i ... CD •• o I— I Wo b'w I" o O CO 111 1 ill O - | : : : : g J g CO |: E. o to α-gl o o cd M : : : : : : c o "§ k. ■ B B s a :::::::: °° 2 O 3 B BB O l> pa CO h-> CO CD CO I I : O CO I en h-i. . : -3: co : : : : : co : bo : to co co I -J I- 1 bO bO CD CO CJi O O tfrI bO I I-* h-* LO Ca tO ' ___ _CD_ _J CO I CO I ' CO oi bObocRi-': to toco o i- 1 h-i to : to: bo ICOICObOCOCO ~] I— i to Males. Females. oo i co . co co ! bo CO ! I- 1 CO-μ- , ~j I en : Qo h-» μ-i bo bo I I—' F μ-i Ol t— bO en co co co >— > : en bot—' Total.

S.—3l.

with 762 deaths; whooping-cough fourth, with 1,581 deaths; measles fifth, with 516 deaths; diphtheria next, 433 deaths ; scarlet fever, with 242 deaths ; and puerperal fever, with 209 deaths : —

The mortality from measles for 1897 and 1898 was not great, but rose to 137 deaths in 1899, falling again to 9 deaths in 1900 and 6 deaths in 1901, again rising to 134 in 1902, and further to 143 deaths in 1903. During 1904, 1905, and 1906 this disease was not epidemic in the colony, and caused only 10, 8, and 12 deaths respectively. From scarlet fever and scarlatina there were only 18 deaths last year, as compared with 131 in 1903. The mortality from diphtheria, which was 49 deaths in 1897, fell to 35 deaths in 1906, the figures for the intervening years not presenting any striking features. Whooping-cough in 1897 and 1898 caused 8 deaths. In 1899 the mortality sprang up again to a total of 123 deaths, against 90 in 1900, 9in 1901, and 83 in 1902. In 1903 the mortality was heavy, the number of deaths being 204, but in 1904 only 35 deaths are recorded from this complaint, while in 1905 the number was further reduced to 3 deaths. Last year there were 26 deaths from this cause. The deaths from influenza numbered 132 in 1906, as against 70 in the previous year. The figures for the eight previous years tanged from 56 to 219, the last being for the years 1898 and 1901. From diarrhoeal complaints the deaths in 1906 were 97, against 128 in 1905; while in 1896 the mortality reached the height of 334 deaths, and in 1889 was even higher (355), with a much smaller population than in 1906. Enteric or typhoid fever was slightly more fatal in 1906 than in 1905, the figures being 48 deaths, against 45. The highest mortality during the decennium was in 1898, when the deaths numbered 120 for the colony. BUBONIC PLAGUE. The year 1900 saw the outbreak of the disease known as the bubonic plague in Sydney and other parts of Australia. In that year there was one death from plague in New Zealand, which occurred in Auckland. None happened in the year 1901, but three deaths from this cause, all males, were registered at Auckland during 1902. No deaths from plague were recorded in 1903, but one death occurred in 1904. Last year no deaths were ascribed to this cause. The Public Health Department is taking every possible precaution. [In no instance has the disease spread beyond the single case.] VACCINATION. The vaccinations registered for the last ten years are as under :— Total Proportion of Vacoinations v. m ™.n^ D Successful Vaccinations of registered fpi ° Number of , Year. of Children 0I „'i° Births Children under Children under under 1Vm ...... registered. 14 Years of Age 1 Year of Age to 14 Years of I xearotAge. to Total Births. Total Births. Age. Per Cent. Per Cent. 1906 ... 3,602 1,810 24,252 1485 7-46 1905 ... 3,818 2,079 23,682 16-12 8-78 1904 ... 18,368 2,323 22,766 80-68 10-20 1903 ... 11,683 5,566 21,829 5352 25-50 1902 ... 8,763 2,611 20,655 42-43 1264 1901 ... 3,768 1,984 20,491 18-39 968 1900 ... 4,525 3,151 19,546 2315 16-12 1899 ... 5,133 3,379 18,835 27-25 1794 1898 ... 10,349 5,507 18,955 54-60 29-05 1897 ... 12,440 6,162 18,733 6641 32-89 The number of successful vaccinations of children registered in 1906 was 3,602, against 3,818 in 1905. The fall prior to 1902 was consequent on the alteration of the law relative to vaccination in England, and subsequently in this colony, while the increase shown for the three years 1902-4 was no doubt due to a slight visitation of small-pox from abroad, which caused one death in 1903. Seven children out of every hundred born in 1906 are shown to have been successfully vaccinated in that year. This is a falling-back to a position even lower than that which obtained in 1901 as regards vaccination of infants. Thirteen thousand eight hundred and forty-six exemption certificates were issued from the 13th October, 1900, when the Act came into force, to the end of the year 1906. Of these 2,667 belong to the year 1906, when, as before stated, the successful vaccination of children under one year of age amounted to 1,810, or 7 - 47 per cent, of births.

xxviii

Diseases. 1897. 1898. J 1899. 1900. j 1901. 1902. 1903. 1904. 1905. 1906. Measles Scarlet fever and scarlatina Diphtheria Whooping-cough Influenza Diarrhceal diseases Enteric or typhoid fever... Puerperal fever 1 2 49 2 120 257 106 18 56 2 45 6 219 275 120 19 137 58 123 135 298 93 15 9 10 63 90 181 199 68 24 6 17 44 9 219 139 95 20 134 39 54 83 117 275 53 25 143 131 23 204 56 184 61 28 10 13 27 35 113 193 73 21 8 10 35 3 70 128 -45 21 12 18 35 26 132 97 48 18

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XXIX

PAKASITIC DISEASES. There were 15 deaths from parasitic diseases, the proportion per 10,000 living being 017 Deaths from hydatids numbered 14 in 1906. DIETETIC DISEASES. Under the class " Dietetic diseases " are included 47 deaths from intemperance. But these cannot be said to represent the full extent of the mortality really caused by the abuse of alcholic liquors. Many deaths of intemperate persons are attributed to diseases of the liver, kidneys, &c, in the medical certificates. CONSTITUTIONAL DISEASES : PHTHISIS, CANCER, ETC. At the census of 1906 the New-Zealand-born were shown to be 68 per cent, of the population, which would give the approximate average number of the same in 1906 as 611,300. The deathrate from phthisis amongst these persons was, judging from the numbers in the table annexed, 551 per 10,000 living. The death-rate from phthisis in the United Kingdom is stated by the Eegistrar-General to be at the rate of 11-40 per 10,000 living for the year 1905.

Deaths from Phthisis, 1906. Table showing the Number of Persons who died from Phthisis in the Colony during the Year 1906, classified according to Age, Sex, and Length of Residence in the Colony.

In Australasia the rate is materially increased by the deaths of persons who have come from other countries either already suffering from phthisis or predisposed thereto. There is no reason for believing that this circumstance has more effect on the death-rate in Australia than in New Zealand.

Age at Death. Length of Residence in the Colony. 0 rH O 1O 2 O o s s o 3 1C CO B 10 o i o< U I §1 ■3 Males. Under 1 month 1 to 6 months 6 .to 12 months 1 to 2 years 2 to 3 years 3 to 4 years 4 to 5 years 5 to 10 years 10 to 15 years 15 to 20 years 20 to 25 years 25 years and upwards Not known Born in colony 2 2 1 i 1 3 1 4 1 1 4 6 4 47 1 1 2 9 3 1 11 6 26 1 2 "i 3 1 3 8 13 9 ' 6 ... ... 1 1 3 3 3 4 2 9 12 7 16 59 23 154 i i ... : • •• i i i 17 1 3 i 10 2 2 1 • 5 4 7 56 Totals i 5 4 7 61 74 60 47 23 1Q lo 3 297 Females. Under 1 month 1 to 6 months 6 to 12 months 1 to 2 years 2 to 3 years 3 to 4 years 4 to 5 years 5 to 10 years 10 to 15 years 15 to 20 years 20 to 25 years 25 years and upwards Not known Born in colony ... ... ... ... ... i 1 2 2 1 1 ... j 2 2 2 1 3 2 1 j "a i i ... .. 3 3 2 3 3 4 5 2 2 11 32 6 183 1 ... ... ... 1 i 77 ... 5 7 2 53 i 3 7 1 31 i 2 10 1 14 i 4 4 1 3 ... 1 ... 4 I I Totals 86 79 45 30 5 5 259 Totals of both sexes 5 12 147 153 105 77 28 18 3 556

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XXX

From other forms of tuberculosis the deaths in 1906 were 164 or 1-83 per 10,000 of population. Thus, a large addition has to be made to the deaths from phthisis to appreciate the full mischief done by tubercular disease. Deaths from all Tubercular Diseases. The mortality from all forms of tubercular disease, taken together, has been at the average rate of about 10 persons per 10,000 living for the last ten years. This rate is far lower than that which obtained in England during the year 1905, when the proportion was 16-32 per 10,000 living. A table is supplied showing the results for each of ten years in New Zealand. Besides the death-rate from tubercular diseases, it also shows the percentage of deaths by tubercle to those from all causes, which was from 8-63 to 11-57 per cent, for the decennial period 1897-1906. Decennial Table, 1897-1906, showing the Death-rate from Tubercle per 10,000 Living, and Percentage of Total Deaths. Number Percentage of 1897 ... .. ... 721,609 763' 1057 1157 1898 ... ... ... 736,260 769 10 44 10-62 1899 ... ... ... 749,984 795 1060 10-35 1900 ... ... ... 763,594 752 9-85 1044 1901 ... ... ...-777,968 775 9-96 10-15 1902 ... ... ... 797,793 802 10-05 958 1903 ... ... ... 820,217 769 9-38 9-02 1904 ... ... ... 845,022 799 9-46 9-88 1905 ... ... ... 870,000 678 7-79 8-41 1906 ... ... ... 895,594 720 8-04 8-63

Decennial Table, 1897-1906.—Deaths (Persons) from various Tubercular Diseases registered in New Zealand, specifying the Number under and over Five Years of Age.

Nine deaths from " lupus " recorded during the decennium have not been included in the above table. They were all deaths of adult persons (3 males and 6 females), excepting 1, aged 13 years. Two deaths of females, aged 13 and 69 respectively, were registered as from this disease in 1905. It will be seen that the term "tubercular diseases " includes "phthisis," "tabes mesenterica," "tubercular peritonitis," "tubercular meningitis," "acute hydrocephalus," with other forms of tuberculosis (scrofula, &c). Of these the mortality from phthisis forms by far the greatest part of the whole. Thus, in 1906, there were 556 deaths from phthisis out of a total of 720 deaths from all tubercular complaints. Of 556 deaths by phthisis, only 8 were of persons under 5 years of age. Examination of the next table, giving the full series of ages of persons who died from tubercular disease during the year 1906, shows that of 20 deaths from tabes mesenterica, with tubercular peritonitis, 8 were of children under 5 years. Also that, of 66 deaths from tubercular meningitis, with acute hydrocephalus, 35 were of persons under 5 years, and 23 from 5 to 20 years. Under "other forms of tuberculous" (excepting phthisis) the greater numbers of deaths are at ages under 30 years. The mortality from phthisis is heaviest at 20-30 years, being 184 deaths out of 556 of all ages, but large numbers are found in the columns as far as that for the advanced term of 65 to 70 years, at which the deaths of 1906 were 9, and 12 deaths from this cause are of persons of 70 years and upwards.

Tal Mesem Tubei Peritc bes tericn, :oular mitis. Tubercular Meningitis, Acute Hydrocephalus. Phthisis. Other t ( Tuber Sere J orms Total Deaths SSS?" , Tuberculosis. in <v "S O Year. gi - B O Cβ 1O -I u £ 1O OQ TO iO 1C , 1C >o o 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 35 87 43 20 30 26 22 17 15 8 9 12 19 20 22 19 28 18 19 12 33 37 32 24 30 36 39 44 37 35 32 38 40 55 31 30 35 44 38 31 7 10 10 13 10 5 9 5 4 8 589 587 583 564 586 612 561 593 492 548 13 11 12 9 14 8 11 12 8 10 45 37 56 47 52 66 64 66 65 68 H8 95 97 66 84 75 81 78 64 61 675 674 698 686 691 727 688 721 614 659 763 769 795 752 775 802 769 799 678 720

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XXXI

Table showing the Number of Deaths (Persons) from Tubercular Diseases registered in New Zealand during the Year 1906, arranged in Groups of Ages.

To show the mortality from tuberculosis in various parts of the colony, a table giving the deaths in the various provincial districts is added, which, however, only show's that the mortality is distributed very much according to population. The deaths in the North Island, are, however, found to be 20 fewer than those for the South Island, or 370 deaths and 350 deaths for those divisions respectively.

Table showing the Number of Deaths (Persons) from Tubercular Disease registered in each Provincial District of New Zealand during the Year 1906.

Cancer. The deaths from cancer during the year 1906 were 623. There were more deaths of males than of females, the numbers being—males 337, females 286. The rate of mortality per 10 000 living was 696. The apparent increase in deaths from this disease is shown further on and compared with that of England. It is certain, however, that out of a total of 8,339 deaths from all causes in New Zealand during 1906, 623, or 7-47 per cent., were caused by cancer. The death-rate from cancer is not so great as that from tubercular diseases, but is nevertheless a most alarming matter, not only on account of the number of deaths, but because of its progressive increase. A decennial table shows that the deaths from cancer per 10,000 persons living rose from 547 in 1897 to 710 in 1903, 6-76 in 1904, 6-51 in 1905, and 6-96 in 1906; and that whereas 5-99 out of every 100 deaths were attributable to cancer ten years ago, the proportion had grown to 7-47 last year.

i i 1 a> <u i b I O r-t d "3 "S \ a S 5 >-, >s ■" o >ra nJ i-J io ih ri >O O O O lO en cc -^ o o o o o -*3 43 +3 -13 +3 o »o o io o <N CM CQ CO rH § C Iβ O tO Iβ CO CO 2 ° 2 O iO O in >ra O iO O fc- fc- 00 5 5 S S g S 00 1 I a 1 I 09 E Cβ a •! -** n rn <v bo ■9 S 3 p & Tabes mesenterica, 6 £ tubercular peritonitis Tubercular mening- 15 35 itis, acute hydrocephalus Phthisis 5 8 Otherformsoftuber- 7 10 culosis, scrofula Totals ... 33 61 4 1 1 12 20 12 14 4 1 21 66 5 3 12 8 57 L0 94 8 59 8 58 8 47 3 48 4 29 16 12 9 1 4 1 ... 9 3 I 548 556 68 78 26 25 72 100 108 71 66 50 53 31 20 13 10 9 4 659 720 I I

Provincial District. Tabes Mesenterica, Tubercular Peritonitis. Tubercular Meningitis, Acute Hydrocephalus. Phthisis. I Other Forma of Tuberoulosis, Sorofula. Total Deaths from Tuberculosis. Auckland Taranaki Hawke's Bay ... Wellington Maryborough Nelson Westland Canterbury Ocago 5 3 2 3 11 1 5 12 1 2 16 18 137 16 23 112 4 28 5 78 153 20 4 3 16 2 1 9 23 173 24 31 142 4 34 8 107 197 4 3 Totals ... ■20 66 556 7H 720

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XXXII

Table showing for each of the Ten Years 1897 to 1906 the Number of Persons registered as having died from Cancer, the Proportion of Deaths from Cancer per 10,000 living, and the Percentage of all Deaths attributed to Cancer.

To exhibit how cancer affects the different parts of the human body in respect of each sex, the experience of five years (1902 to 1906) is shown in a succeeding table. Of any single organ affected, the stomach is the one most liable to be the seat of cancer among males, while the mouth, lips, tongue, and thioat, taking all these organs together, show a large number. Next to the stomach, the liver is with males the organ which is most often attacked, to judge by mortality records, and next in order comes the intestines and rectum. Afterwards follow the kidneys, bladder, and urethra. Amongst the females, the organs of generation —ovaries, uterus, and vagina—as a group, show most cases of mortality from cancer ; but, as with the males, the stomach is, of any single organ, the one most affected, the breast, liver, intestines, and rectum following. Females do not contract cancer in the mouth (judging by the returns of deaths), tongue, lips, and throat to nearly the same extent as prevails among males. Whatever may be the cause, the figures are remarkable, being only 76 out of every 100 deaths from cancer among females, against 29-6 out of every 100 of males dying from the same cause ; or, expressed in numbers, 89 deaths of females occurred against 434 of males from cancer in the mouth, &c, in a five years' experience of mortality.

Deaths from Cancer, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, and 1906.—Table showing the Number of Deaths of Males and Females from Cancer during the Years 1901 to 1905, classified according to the Part of the Body affected.

Year. Estimated ' Mean Population. Deaths from Cancer. Total Deaths from Deaths, all ' Cancer per 10,000 Causes. , of Living Persons. I . I Percentage of Total Deaths due to Cancer. 897 .. 898 ... .899 ... 900 ... 901 ... 902 ... 903 ... 904 ... 905 ... .906 ... 721,609 736,260 749,984 763,594 777,968 797,793 820,217 845,022 870,000 895,594 395 471 468 430 515 536 582 571 566 623 6,595 7.244 7,680 7,200 7,634 8,375 8,528 8,087 8,061 8,339 5-47 640 6-24 5-63 6-62 672 7-10 6-76 6-51 6-96 5-99 6-50 6-09 5-97 6-75 6-40 6-82 7-06 7-02 7-47

1902. 1903. .904. 1905. 1906. Part affected. Is |1 a •Iα i°i !<3i!°i CO fl is a O T3 t! „. -~c g.°'S 2 S. 11 IS 'ale. Per Per Cent. Cent. 32-46 79 26-69 Per Cent. 94 3102 Per Cent. 24-14 Per Cent. 33-56 Mouth, lip, tongue, throat, neck, &c. Stomach Intestines, rectum ... Liver Kidneys, bladder, urethra, &c. Leg, foot, &c. Lung 63 112 32 38 12 42-91 12-26 14-56 4-60 99 96 35 35 17 4 9 32-54 11-87 11-87 5-76 1-35 305 99 107 34 42 13 7 3 3508 107 3615 11-15 29 9-80 13-77 49 16-55 4-26 25 8-45 2-30 4 1-35 0-98 3 1-Oli 79 107 29 49 25 4 3 94 104 35 44 18 5 3 104 34-33 35 11-55 44 I 14-52 18 j 5-94 5 1-65 3 0-99 4 1-53 Not specified 261 35 10000 295 30 10000 305 ■ 18 10000 296 17 10000 303 34 100-00 Totals 296 325 1323 313 337 ''emaL Sβ. Mouth, tongue, throat, &c. Breast Stomach Intestines, rectum ... Kidneys, bladder Ovary, uterus, vagina Liver Gall-bladder, spleen, pancreas... Lung, spine, thigh, shoulder ... L6 33 43 33 8 4 1 33 3 2 [Per Cent. 7-44 15-35 20-00 15-35 3-72 20-46 15-35 1 40 0-93 21 33 51 28 5 48 38 4 4 Per Cent. 905 14-23 21-98 12-07 216 20-69 16-38 1-72 1-72 12 25 55 82 4 58 35 1 10 Per Cent. 5-17 10-78 23-71 13-79 1-72 2500 1509 0-43 4-31 L9 38 51 84 7 49 27 4 6 PerCent. 8-09 16-17 21-70 14-47 2-98 20-85 11-49 1-70 2-55 21 38 42 32 3 68 42 5 Per Cent. 8-37 15-14 16-73 12-75 1-20 2709 16-73 1-99 Not specified 215 25 10000 232 25 10000 232 16 100-00 235 18 100-00 251 35 10000 Totals 240 257 248 253 286

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Considering the numbers of persons dying at the different age-periods, the following table of ten years' results shows the age of 30 years to be the time of life at which deaths from cancer begin to be numerous (it is really 35 for males and 30 for females). The maximum of deaths is reached at the period 60 to 65 for males, and 55 to 60 for females. These remarks are given without reference to the numbers of persons living at the various ages. Deaths from cancer, it will be observed, are very rare among children under 5 years, and not frequent in those above that age.

Deaths from Cancer.—Decennial Return.—Table showing the Number of Persons (Males and Females) at Different Ages registered as having died from Cancer in New Zealand during the Ten Years 1897 to 1906.

The number of deaths of persons from cancer in each provincial district are given in another table, according to age-groups, but the result merely shows the disease to be one found everywhere throughout the colony—at least, there is no sufficient evidence of climatic conditions affecting the mortality to a great extent in any particular part of the country.

Table showing the Number of Deaths from Cancer registered in each Provincial District of the Colony of New Zealand during the Years 1903-6.

The death-rates for cancer in respect of each sex are given for each of ten years, selected to show the position as from 1886 to 1906: — Deaths from Cancer in every 10,000 Persons of each Sex living in New Zealand. Year. Males. Females. Year. Males. Females. 1886 ... ... 3-69 3-67 1901 ... ... 648 677 1890 ... ... 4-72 4-79 1902 ... ... 705 6-35 1894 ... ... 6-65 5-27 1903 ... ... 7-51 6-63 1898 ... ... 6-77 5-98 1904 ... ... 723 6-23 1899 ... ... 6-85 5-56 1905 ... ... 679 6-18 1900 ... ... 6-12 5-09 1906 ... . ... 710 679 The mortality was higher among the males than among the females (with the exception of 1890 and 1901), which is the reverse of English experience, where the rate was 7 56 per 10,000 of males and 1005 of females for the year 1905. In the United Kingdom, however, the rato of increase is so much higher among males than with females that the Registrar-General calculates equilibrium will be reached in about the year 1932, and thereafter the rate among males would exceed the rate among females.

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Year. If Under 1 Year. g ! si 1! 1! I • "1 "a L S JL o o »-4 CM s m in s S p <e CO Ea H O o rH 8 S 1C .s s S S 9 BBS S S S5 3 s o o »n o »c o »ri o m *a to to t- t- 00 0000000 -tJ -W -+J 4= -*s 4J +J m o 10 q iQ o m ■* H IS 25 cj5 t- ci l__ DO l| I 10 o < i 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1 1 .. , .. i .. 1 1 1 [•• 1 2 1 1 1 : . 3 2 1 2 1 ] 3 2 1 4 3 2 2 3 1 2 6 4 3 2 8 3 3 1 5 1 2 5 5 6 ■2 1 3 ..I 7i 10 5 ! 8 17 4 6' 15 a 6 1 7 s' 8: 20 5 7 22 10 9: 20 9 6 15 9 10: 15 9 8 ! 25 22 36 21 16 31 35 37 25 26 29 41 42 71 74 49 35 29j 47 47 77 79 69 35 So! 42 48 82 64 87 45 271 40 35 75 78 59 51 31 53 60 65 80: 74 63 33: 49 50| 72 88| 86 67 81 47 68! 69 87i 96 72 38i 35 57 72' 99| 99 79 3l| 39 58 67 84| 96 99 381 48 57 7O1O2'1O7 82 50| 8 9 19 20 11 15 15 33 19 26 392 395 469 471 467 I 468 j 428 430 j 514 515 536 536 1 581 582 569 571 565 566 619 623 i 1 1 1 2 1 4 I* .'. i 1 .. j i i 1 *2 i ; I

1903. 1904. 1905. 1906. Provincial Districts. &.J™--Under 5 Years. Under 5 Years. Over 5 Years. Total. Under 5 Years, i Under 5 Years. ; Oer S Years. Total. Auckland Taranaki Hawke's Bay Wellington ... Marlborough Nelson Westland Canterbury ... Otago 1 117 21 26 107 6 28 35 105 136 117 21 26 108 6 28 35 105 136 1 114 21 25 113 5 32 16 109 134 115 21 25 113 5 32 16 109 135 110 20 16 106 6 25 10 112 160 110 20 16 106 6 25 10 112 161 2 127 25 33 122 15 26 19 114 138 127 25 33 124 15 26 19 114 140 1 i 2 ; Totals ... 581 582 569 571 i 565 566 4 619 623 iriuuu

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The increase in the numbers for the sexes together for England and New Zealand is represented in the proportions below: — Deaths from Cancer in every 10,000 Persons living. Year New Zealand. England. j Year. New Zealand. England. 1881 2-69 520 1899 ... ... 6-24 8-29 1886 '.'.'. ... 368 5-90 1900 5-63 8-28 1891 ... 4-68 6-92 1903 7-10 8-71 1896 ... 5-50 7-64 1905 ... ... 6-51 8-85 ■ The actual number of deaths of persons of either sex and all ages registered in New Zealand during the last sixteen'years was :— Males. Females. Totals. Males. Females. Totals. 1891 ... 154 141 295 1900 246 184 430 1892 173 134 307 1901 265 250 515 1893 188 144 332 1902 296 240 536 1894 240 168 408 1903 325 257 582 1895 "' !!'. 208 175 383 1904 323 248 571 1896 ... 205 184 389 1905 313 253 566 1897 ... 210 185 395 1906 337 286 623 1898 ... ... 263 208 471 1899 271 197 468 Totals ... 4,017 3,254 7,271 MORTALITY FROM DEVELOPMENTAL DISEASES. The total of deaths from developmental diseases was 976, or 1090 per 10,000 persons living. The mortality from premature birth comprised 337 deaths, and that from atelectasis, cyanosis, and other congenital defects 51 deaths. The proportion of deaths from premature birth varies from 11 to 15 out of every 1,000 births, and that from congenital defects from 2to 4 per 1,000 births. Particulars for ten years exhibit the annual rates : — Number and Proportions per 1,000 Births. Deaths from Premature Birth. Deaths from Congenital Defects. „ , Proportion Proportion Year. Number. Number. pi / 1)0oa 1897 ... ... 211 11-26 ... 52 2-78 1898 ... ... 251 13-24 ... 54 285 1899 261 13-86 ... 4=7 2-50 1900 ... 276 1412 ... 55 2-81 1901 ... 264 12-88 ... 63 3-07 1902 303 14-66 ... 79 3-82 1903 301 13-79 ... 67 307 1904 . ... 291 12-78 ... 58 2-54 1905 . 360 15-20 ... 41 173 1906 337 13-90 ... 51 2-10 Elating the result in another way, there was one death from premature birth to every 72 births in 1906, and one death from congenital defect to every 476 births. In England the proportion of deaths from premature birth to every 1,000 births was as high as 20-31 in the year 1905. OLD AGE. Deaths from old age in 1906 numbered 588, against 578 in 1905. MORTALITY FROM LOCAL DISEASES. Deaths by diseases of the nervous system were 863, or 10-35 out of every 100 deaths from all causes, and 964 out of every 10,000 persons living. Of the 863 deaths, 272 were due to apoplexy, 108 to'convulsions, and 138 to inflammation of the brain and its membranes. Paralysis, including hemiplegia and paralysis of the insane, caused 176 deaths, and locomotor ataxia 8 deaths. Paraplegia, with diseases of the spinal cord, caused 21 deaths. Deaths from nervous diseases (excluding convulsions of children) numbered 755, or 8-43 per 10,000 persons living. Diseases of the circulatory system resulted in 1,130 deaths, being 13-55 out of every 100 from all causes, and 12-62 per 10,000 persons living. Of the total number in this order, endocarditis and valvular disease of the heart contributed 732 deaths. From angina pectoris there were 32 deaths, from syncope 181, from aneurism 34, and from other forms of heart-disease (hypertrophy, fatty degeneration, and pericarditis) 71. Diseases of the respiratory system show 976 deaths, of which 798 were attributable to bronchitis and pneumonia. Taken together, these two complaints were the cause of more deaths than was phthisis; and adding 61 from pleurisy, 10 from croup, 9 from laryngitis, and 98 from other respiratory diseases, the mortality in the order is found to be 11-71 per cent, of the total deaths, and 10-90 per 10,000 of the population. ..,„»- Deaths from diseases of the digestive system also formed a large proportion of the whole (9-37 per cent.), the number being 781. Enteritis was most fatal, showing 226 deaths, liver-disease (113), gastritis (109) coming next, while 69 deaths were due to appendicitis. Of 382 deaths from diseases of the urinary system in 1906, the deaths from Bright's disease of the kidneys (albuminuria) numbered 196,

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XXXV

Of the groups (a) and (b), constituting the order styled " Diseases of the reproductive system," the greater mortality is found under (b), " Diseases of parturition." In considering the deaths of women in childbirth the number from Order 6, Class I, under the designation "Puerperal fever, pyaemia, septicaemia," have also to be dealt with. As the figures are highly important, a special comparative statement has been made out, giving, besides the number of deaths of mothers, the proportions in every 10,000 children born. These proportions, taken over ten years' comparison, fluctuate irregularly, the extreme limits being 38.37 per 10,000 births in the year 1900, and 58-64 for the year 1903.

Women dying in Childbirth.

* Stillbirths are not registered. But any conclusion drawn from the above figures must be held as qualified by the remarks touching the matter of diminished fertility of wives at the child-bearing ages. VIOLENT DEATHS. Deaths by violence form a large item in the total mortality. In 1906 the proportion per 10,000 of persons living was 735, the total number of deaths having been 658. Of 535 males who died violent deaths, 71 were suicides. The deaths of females by violence were far fewer than those of males, amounting to 123, and out of these only 12 committed suicide. A table given previously states the full list of deaths from external or violent causes for the year 1906. Accidental deaths numbered 560—males 456, and females 108. Of the total male deaths, 185 resulted from fractures or contusions, and 162 from drowning. Of the female deaths, 23 were due to drowning. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient servant, J. M. Mason, M.D., D.P.H., Camb., Chief Health Officer for New Zealand. The Honourable Geo. Fowlds, Minister of Public Health, Wellington. PATHOLOGICAL REPORT. Department of Public Health (Pathological Laboratory), Wellington, 7th August, 1907. Memorandum for Dr. Mason, Chief Health Officer. I have the honour to submit the following report on the work done in the Pathological and Vaccine Laboratories during the past year. The work of the Pathological Laboratory shows a steady increase, the total number of examinations being 1,287, as aginst 1,006 last year, and 776 the year before that. The specimens examined at the Health Department Laboratory have increased 50 per cent.; but, owing to Mr. Gilruth's absence from the colony, a smaller proportion was examined at the Wallaceville Laboratory. The preparation of media, however, has been carried on there as heretofore, under the able guidance of Mr. G. H. Barker, whose assistance in this, as in other matters, I wish specially to acknowledge. Some 750 tubes of media were sent to the Sydney Street Laboratory. I have in another report made mention of the excellence of Mr. Hurley's services, in the execution of which he shows an enthusiasm and self-sacrifice beyond all praise.

Year. Deaths o In Childbirth. Deaths of Women in each Year. jf Women in each Y From Puerperal Fever, &o. Deaths of Mothers to every 10,000 Children Born.* Total. 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 * 77 64 72 71 51 70 85 100 85 79 10 18 19 15 '24 20 '25 as 21 21 87 82 91 86 75 90 110 128 106 100 46-74 43-76 48-01 45-66 38-37 43-92 53-26 58-64 46-56 42-23

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XXXVI

Examination of Water-samples. In all, forty-two samples of water were bacteriologically investigated. Owing to the larger part of my time'being taken up with the Wellington District office-work, I was unable to carry out the systematic examination of the water-supplies of all the principal towns, as it is impossible to do this in a satisfactory manner without visiting the place in person. The following supplies, however, were thus specially examined: — Wellington Industrial Farm, Levin, Wanganui, Burnham, ' Onehunga, Palmerston North, Hamilton Hospital, Auckland, Hamilton. A special visit was made to Hamilton to investigate the outbreaks of typhoid there, and many samples of water from various parts of the river above the intake of the borough supply were examined. Now that 1 have been relieved of the district work I shall be able to devote more time to this subject, Taking them generally, the public supplies in "the colony are mostly of good quality from the bacteriological standpoint. Vaccine Laboratory. The attached table summarises the work done during the year in connection with the manufacture and distribution of vaccine lymph.

Return of Vaccine Lymph issued for Year 1906.

Thirteen calves were vaccinated, and about 2,000 c.c. of glycerinated lymph prepared. Of this amount 8,420 tubes were issued to Public Vaccinators and medical men throughout the colony and 150 to the French Government at Tahiti. The recipients of lymph are somewhat lax in reporting their results, although a special report-form is issued with each parcel of lymph. Thus, of the 8,420 tubes issued we only received reports on 2,742. These returns show the proportion of successful vaccinations to have been 912 per cent., the insertion success being 849 per cent. This can only be classed as "fairly satisfactory," the results obtained by the English Ixxsal Government Board Laboratory being about 98 per cent, of case-successes; but there the lymph is withdrawn after two months. I have been withholding the lymph from use till it is absolutely free from all extraneous organisms, and, as, from various causes, largely climatic, this involves keeping it in a cool-store for sometimes as long as eight or nine weeks, a certain falling-off in the effective value results. Other causes of failure are at work which are more difficult to check, due largely to the treatment the lymph receives after it leaves our hands. It is impossible otherwise to account for failures by careful and competent vaccinators with a lymph which in other hands gives perhaps 100 per cent, of successes. It is probable that a lymph kept after glycerination for over two months becomes very sensitive to such influences as sunlight and heat, and very readily loses its potency. It is satisfactory to note that no cases have been reported where the reaction was unduly severe. Now that I have more leisure to attend to this branch of my work, I hope to be able to test aome of the modifications of the glycerination method, which may enable me to issue a germ-free lymph at an earlier period after manufacture.

Remarks. Number of Tubes issued. Primary. Eevaccination. Number of Scarifications to which Lymph was applied. Number of Vesicles obtained. Series. Cases done. Cases successful. 9 10 11 12 13 15 16 21 979 553 892 784 1,220 630 1,174 2,188 281 95 252 312 607 301 326 526 8 '2 3 4 8 8 7 7 722 268 612 1,018 1,969 912 959 1,416 582 210 552 907 1,736 838 761 1,102 289 97 255 316 615 304 333 533 253 81 246 294 579 295 291 462 8,420 2,700 42 7,876 6,688 (84-91%) 2,742 2,501 (91-21%)

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Health Department Labouatori. The following table summarises the pathological examinations made at the Health Department Laboratory: —

Table showing Result of Examination of Pathological Specimens.

Urines Examined.

Animals examined. Rats, for plague ... ... ... ••■ ■• ■•• • ■■ 10 Fleas from rats, for plague ... ... . . ... 6 Guinea-pigs inoculated ... ... ... •■■ ••• ••■ 20 Vaccine Laboratory. Vaccine ••• •■• ■■• ••• ••■ •• ••• 13 Vaccine-cultures ... ... ... ... ••• ■• • 130 Glycerine ... ••• ••■ ••■ ••• ••• ••• 2

XXXVII

Material. Objeot of Examination. Positive. Negative. ! Total. Sputum tt • • • • • • • ' * For tubercle „ hydatids „ influenza bacillus „ other organisms ... Ill 1 5 26 246 2 1 5 357 3 6 31 if ' * * " • " * ' * Total sputa examined 397 Purulent and other discharges of fluids Ditto For pyogenic organisms 3 0 3 „ tubercle „ gonococci „ plague ... „ parasites „ other conditions ... „ hydatids 1 7 0 2 10 1 9 26 3 7 6 1 10 33 3 9 16 2 If • • ■ •«• V Total discharges examined 76 Blood For typhoid (Widal's) „ leprosy... „ other conditions ... 3 0 9 12 0 3 15 0 12 a •■• •*• ••* Total blood-samples 27 Throat-swabs For diphtheria bacillus „ other conditions 26 2 37 10 63 12 Total throat-swabs examined 75 Tissues examined by section ... n ' • • For malignancy „ tubercle bacillus... „ other conditions ... 85 7 31 71 3 7 156 10 38 it Total tissues examined 204

Method. What sought. Positive. Negative. i L Total. iacteriologically licroscopically Ihemically ... Tubercle H '" Deposits Albumen Sugar Melanin Other conditions Urea Sugar Albumen 2 10 25 13 4 1 21 4 7 1 5 18 5 12 15 0 2 0 0 0 7 28 30 25 19 1 23 4 7 1 Ihemical estimations)... it • * * ir ''' Total uriuesjexamined 145

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Miscellaneous Specimens. Water-samples Mineral water Milk ... ... ••• •■• •■• ••• ••• •" 9 Condensed milk ... Foodstuffs — Peaches 1 sample Patent food 1 ~ Corned beef 4 samples 9 Rabbit 1 sample Oysters 1 ~ Biscuits 1 ~ . Maori medicine ... Filters ... ••• ••• ••• ••■ ■• ••• 3 Blood and other stains on apparel ... ... ••• ■•• ••• 19 Vomit Catgut ... £ rug " ::: v Fseces Growth in septic tank Gall-stones Classifying the tumours examined according to nature and anatomical position, we get the following results: —

Table showing Results of Examination of Tumours.

In the list of rats examined for plague I have omitted those examined at the various centres Thus, at Auckland Laboratory two hundred or more rats were examined by the District Health Officer, any doubtful samples being forwarded on to Wellington, while I paid several visits m respect to this branch of investigation. " R. H. Makgill, M.D., D.P.H., Bacteriologist.

Digestivi System. Eespiratoi 'y System. ieproduotive System. Tongue, Lips, and Mouth. Stomach and Intestines. Larynx. Lungs. Uterus. Ovary. Breast. Testicle. Carcinoma ... Sarcoma Simple tumours 12 *9 6 1 1 7 20 1 1 3 17 1 12 1 1 8 Urinary System. Organs of Special Sense. Sympathetic System. Integumentary System. Looomotive System. Total. Kidney. Bladder. Eye, &c, Nose, and Glands. Ear. Skin. Muscles, Bones, &c. Carcinoma ... Sarcoma Simple tumours 1 1 2 6 1 3 8 2 3 3 14 4 12 7 69 19 75

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APPENDIX. REPORTS OF DISTRICT HEALTH OFFICERS. AUCKLAND DISTRICT. Department of Public Health, Auckland Health District, 22nd July, 1907 J. Malcolm Mason, Esq., M.D., Chief Health Officer I have the honour to submit the seventh annual report of the Auckland Health District—that for the year from the Ist April, 1906, to the 31st March, 1907, the third year the District Health Officership has been held by me, and the last, in view of my accession to the District Health Officership, Wellington, and the incoming to Auckland of my successor, Dr. J. S. Purdy. VITAL STATISTICS. In making a comparison as to the position of Auckland City, and Auckland together with the suburban boroughs, with regard to the birth-rate and death-rate, and as to infant mortality, 1 have only made use of the Registrar-General's returns which cover the period Ist January to 31st December, 1906, whereas the general data in this report are for the departmental year Ist April 1906, to 31st March, 1907. ' To realise the force of the statistics to be furnished it must be borne in mind that Auckland City possesses 2094 per cent, of the mean population of the four chief cities in 1906, and that Auckland and its surrounding boroughs possess 2729 per cent, of the mean population of the four chief cities, with their surrounding boroughs. Where the term " four centres " occurs, this means chief ci'tics with their surrounding boroughs. The populations treated are the mean for the year 1906, as follows: — Auckland ... ... ... ... ... ... 38,677 With surrounding boroughs ... ... .. ... ... 65,381 Wellington ... ... ... ... ... ... 59,058 With surrounding boroughs ... ... ... ... ... 64,302 Christchurch ... .. ... ... .. ... 50,439 With surrounding boroughs ... ... ... ... . . 53,339 Dunedin . . ... ... ... ... ... 36,458 With surrounding boroughs ... ... ... .. ... 56,557 By reason of its having adopted municipal government, the extensive and populous district of Mount Eden is for the first time included in Auckland centre (Auckland and surrounding boroughs). The increase in the figures afforded thereby is an advantage in providing a wider basis for the comparison of data, with consequent greater accuracy in the conclusions and deductions made therefrom. BIFTH-RATE. An increase in the birth-rate in this district has been commented upon in my two last reports, and Auckland City for the fourth year heads the column in the return for the chief cities in this respect. Birth-rate per 1,000 of Mean Population. Auckland City ... ... ... ... ... .. 2996 Wellington ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 27"85 Christchurch ... ... .. ... ... .. ... 28-19 Dunedin ... ... ... ... ■■ ■■ ... 2896 The mean for the whole colony was ... ... . ... 2708 The rate for Auckland and suburban boroughs was . ... ... 26 - 36 The mean for the four centres (chief cities and their suburban boroughs) was . ... -.. .-.. • ■■ ■• ■■• 2722 It is a little remarkable that by the inclusion of the surrounding boroughs the birth-rate in Auckland centre is so greatly lowered. I refer again to this further on. The birth-rate of Auckland and suburban boroughs represents a natural increase of population of 17-32 per 1,000, that for Auckland City of 17-45, and the mean for the whole colony 16-83. The average birth-rate for England and Wales for the period 1901-5 was 28"1, and the natural increase of population 12*10. Death-hate. The death-rate in Auckland City is 12-51, and with suburban boroughs 9"90. The figures for the past five years are: — Auckland Auckland and Average of City. Suburban Boroughs. Four Centres. 1902 . ■•• 1721 15-27 1274 19 03 ... 12-97 12-23 11-73 T904 .. 11-11 10-20 10-73 | 90 5 ... 12-15 1052 10-43 1906 12-51 9-90 10-42 Mean of five years ... 1319 H62 U2l

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The average death-rate for England and Wales for the period 1901-5 was 16. Excluding the deaths of children under one year, the death rates for the corresponding period Auckland and Average of Suburban Boroughs. Four Centres, lono ... ... 11-10 956 8-57 9-14 111 l ;;: ;:; :::■ ::: β-n 8- 30 905 ... ■■• 7 9 6 B ' o2 IS ::: :: - 763 8 - 35 Thus, Auckland centre exhibits for four years a steadily improving condition in the matter of the death-rate of persons over one year. In the matter of Infantile Mortality, however the waste of infant life in Auckland, which has been commented upon both by my predecessor ami myself as being a lamentable feature in Auckland, still holds sway. The following is the comparative table of deaths of children under one year to every 100 births: — Auckland p Auckland and Avorage of City Suburban Boroughs. Four Contrea iqO2 ... 15-41 14-07 11-94 ,g o o . .. 12-08 12-15 9-42 ion* '.'.''.'. ■• 6-93 7-01 9-03 iq os ■• 10 1 3 9 1 5 8 5 9 1906 '.'. '■'■ '■'■ ■■ ■■ 9 9 2 B ' sB 7 6 2 10-89 10-19 9-32 Auckland's position in this respect, in relation to that of the other centres, and to the mean for five years past, is as follows:_ Mean for Five OUujJtae 0-W Years - Years. Auckland (City) 9 92 10-89 Wellington Ml 9-79) Christchurch .. •• 7-24 10-00 9-24 Dunedin 7-76 7-92 J Thus Auckland shows an improvement as compared with its mean of five years, but its mean for five years exceeds the mean of the other three centres by 165, and its 1906 deaths exceed the mean of" those of the other three centres for 1906 (7-37) by 2"55 per 100 births. The births in Auckland were 1,159;- so 29"5 deaths of young infants occurred in Auckland in excess of what would have occurred had those births taken place under the conditions prevailing in the other centres of the colony. t A writer in the Nineteenth Century and After, for December last, 'adduces figures to show that, though the birth-rate in England and Wales has declined, yet there is a natural increase of population greater than that which occurred when there was a larger birth-rate, and argues against the race suicide theory alleging further that excessive fertility is Nature's effort to overcome adverse conditions, which effort declines as the necessity for its exercise is removed. Are we to take it that the greater fertility observable in Auckland is evidence rather of "'last efforts ot life devoted in the slums and dark places of Auckland " to the maintenance of species than to the preservation of the individual," to quote the writer referred to? The lowering of the birth-rate by the inclusion of the suburbs seems to lend colour to the theory; and the further fact that the deaths of children under one year per 100 births were more by 4'oB in Auckland City than in the surrounding boroughs discounts the possible argument against it—that the natural increase in population is greater in Auckland City than in Auckland with its surrounding boroughs. The actual particulars are thai in the year 1906 the deaths under one year were 115 out of 1,119 births, or 992 per cent, in Auckland' City, and in the suburban borough 33 deaths out of 565 births, or 5"84 per cent. Causes of Deaths. Deaths from Zymotic Diseases. The incidence of deaths from zymotic causes for five years in Auckland, with its surrounding boroughs, and the proportion which these bear to the total of the four centres, is thus shown : — Deaths, Total of Auckland, Auckland Four Proportion Centre. Centres. per Cent. IQft9 165 356 46 jam " .... 86 256 33 904 " '.'. ■'■'■ ■ 52 202 26 !qos " 45 115 39 iSoe :: :: ™ 5 Mean for five years .. • • • • 78 212 35

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AUCKLAND HEALTH DISTRICT. CHART A.— Showing Typhoid, Temperature, and Rainfall Curves, April, 1906, to March, 1907.

NOTE. —The Typhoid and Temperature Curves follow the figures in the right hand column. The Rainfall Curve follows the figures in the left hand column. The average Rainfall and Temperature for previous years are marked in dotted lines. The average number of Typhoid cases per month is shown by the curve thus : -t- -»- -*—*- -+-

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Auckland's mean is still adversely affected by the heavy mortality of the first two years of the quinquennium. Excluding those, Auckland still has a mean of 46 cases out of a mean for the three remaining years of 150 in the four centres, or 32 per cent,, which, as its population is but 2729 per cent, of that of the four centres, is abnormally high. The 133 deaths from zymotic diseases are classified as follows:— Deaths Auckland Auckland in the Four p^'*™ 1 Centre, Propor- ,,. , ~. Centres. tion per Cent. lJiarrhceal diseases .. .. .. 29 16 55 Influenza .. .. .. .. .. 33 11 33 Typhoid fever .. .. ~ . . 14 5 36 Scarlet fever .. .. .. .. 4 ■ 2 50 Diphtheria .. .. .. .. .. 13 2 15 Whooping-cough .. .. ..... 12 Measles .. .. .. .. .. 10 Other zymotic diseases .. .. .. . . 18 6 33 133 42 32 While 1 have to remark here that Auckland centre maintains the improvement in the rate of deaths from zymotic diseases, which I noticed in my last two reports, still the above table shows that the figures are far too high under the heads of diarrhceal diseases, scarlet fever, and typhoid fever, deaths from the former being more than those occurring in the other three centres combined. The table for the atmospheric conditions during the departmental year is as follows: Rainfall. Mean Temperature. 1906. Average. 1906. Average. April ... ... ... ... 310 305 588 61-4 May... ... ... ... ... 4-60 4-21 55-4 57-1 June... ... ... ... ... 1-54 483 51-9 53-8 July... ... ... ... ... 6-80 4-86 517 520 August ... ... ... ... 1-76 4-22 52-1 524 September ... ... ... ... 4-32 339 533 54-8 • October ... ... ... ... 097 3-34 572 570 November ... ... ... ... 5-62 323 598 60-4 December ... ... ... ... 1-77 2-78 635 64-4 1907. 1907. January ... ... .. ... 745 259 67-5 67-1 February ... ... ... ... 5-79 3-50 67-0 67-4 March ... ... ... ... 0-97 2-34 668 643 44-69 42-34 588 59-4 I am indebted to T. Cheeseman, Esq., of the Auckland Museum, for the foregoing figures, and for the following brief record of the meteorological characteristics of each month: — 1906: — April. — Rainfall spread fairly equally over seventeen days. Mean temperature low. May. —Two heavy falls of rain occurred—on the 4th about 1 in., and on the 31st about in. ; otherwise equally distributed. Mean temperature below the average. June. —Rainfall much below the average—on eleven days only. Temperature low. • July. —Rainfall on twenty-six days —heavily on the Bth. Temperature normal. August. —Light rainfall —on eleven days only. Temperature normal. September. —Rainfall above the average, falling on fourteen days, chiefly as heavy showers. Mean temperature below. Ihe average. October. —Very light rainfall —much below the average. Temperature normal. November. —Rainfall, which fell on twelve days only, much above the average, but heavy rain on the 10th and 15th accounting for half the total. Temperature normal. December. —Rain fell on seven days only: on the sth o'B4in., and on the 10th 0 - 70 in. were recorded, accounting for nearly the total. Temperature low. 1907: — January. —An extraordinarily wet month, with heavy floods in country districts: most of the rain fell between the Oth and 16th (on 14th 2 - 15 in., on 15th I'B2 in.), but there was heavy rain at other times. The wind was almost uniformly North-east, which, with normal temperature, produced close unwholesome atmospheric conditions. February. —Again a very wet month, with heavy rain on the 14th (232 in.) and on the 15th (1*42 in.): thus more than the average for February fell on those two days. Temperature normal. March. —Less than half the average rain fell —on seven days only; while the mean temperature was for the first time for more than two years materially in excess of the average. Notwithstanding the light rainfall, the atmospheric condition was, thanks to the still prevailing north-east wind, moist and depressing.

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A Table giving an Analysis of the Deaths in the Departmental Year 1906-7.

Hv this is shown that during the departmental year Auckland City Las a death-rate of 12-70, and Auckland and the suburban boroughs 10-60, compared with 1165 as the mean of the four centres Auckland and the suburban boroughs have 44 deaths from zymotic diseases, being 208 per cent of those in the four centres. This is a great improvement relatively, but not so much that Auckland has fewer deaths from those causes as that the other centres (or some of them) have more. A remarkable feature is that no deaths from zymotic diseases are recorded in September or October, 190 G. Reference to the climatic conditions during August, September, and October shows that those conditions were very favourable. In the general infant mortality column the final result is a very favourable one for Auckland, so far as comparison with the total of the four centres is concerned, which relative result is due to the exceptional mortality occurring in Christchurch, January to March of this year. Deaths from Phthisis and other Tubercular Diseases. The total deaths are : — . Auckland and Total in Auckland, Suburban Four Proportion Boroughs. Centres. per Cent. 1906 ... ••■ •■■ ••• B2 '232 22-4 The mortality from tubercular diseases is S'2 per cent, of the total deaths from all causes. Deaths from Cancer. The total deaths are: — . . . , Auckland and Total in Auckland, Suburban Foui-f! Proportion Boroughs. Centres. per Cent. 1906 49 217 22>6 The deaths in Auckland centre are above the average of the past five years. N B From this point the statistics are those covering the departmental year —Ist April, 1906, to 31st March, 1907. INFECTIOUS-DISEASE NOTIFICATIONS. (Whole health district.) The total of the cases of infectious diseases as notified over the whole district does not materially vary from that of the previous two years. ■ The number of cases of each disease, compared with that of the previous year, is as follows:— 1 • Increase or Decrease, 1905-6. 1906-7. Present Year. Fnteric 172 153 -19 Sarlet lever" 240 268 4-28 Diphtheria .. .. 9 ? 103 + 6 Tuberculosis.. .'. ' 86 96 +10 Blood-poisoning •• ■• •• •• ' A 1 ~ 2 Suspected plague .. .. •• •• •• A + 3 616 642 + 26

Total Mortality Death-rate per 1 ,000. Zymotic De: Diseases : iths. Infant M deaths undei rtality : Five Yea: Auckland and Suburban Boroughs. Auckli Suburban mi I and Boroughs. Auckland Auckland. |™. 0-74 0-64 1-38 106 111 0-94 1-01 0-82 1-14 1-09 0-77 0-78 1-32 102 0-95 I 0-78 0-79 0-76 m 1-64 1-21 0-79 0-65 106 ; 0-85 Mean of Four Centres. Under Over Five Five Years. , Years. Total for Four Centres. Proportion per Cent., Auckland and Suburban Boroughs. Acute Intestinal Inflammatory States. Total for Four Centres. Proportion per Cent., Auckland and Suburban Boroughs. Total. 1906. April May June July August September .. October November .. December .. 1907. I 0-73 j 2 1 0-90 i 4 1 0-91 1 1 0-95 i 1 1 107 1 4 103 I .. 0-98 0-96 .. 9 0-77 ' 1 4 7 7 11 5 12 10 14 22 15 42-9 71-4 18-2 40-0 41-7 ' 6 7 5 1 4 2 2 3 1 13 22 13 11 20 10 13 12 7 38 59 47 31 58 74 58 51 37 34 37 28 35 35 14 22 23 19 40-9 33-3 January February .. March 1-23 < 4 3 118 .. 3 0-94 i 2 1 34 49 31 20-6 6-1 9-7 9 11 9 19 13 25 92 126 101 21 10 25 totals 1270 10-60 11-65 16 28 217 20-3 60 178 772 23

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The following table indicates the distribution of the cases:—

Summary of Infectious Diseases notified from the 1st April, 1906, to the 31st March, 1907.

Monthly Table of Same Notifications.

City, Suburb, or County. Enteric. Scarlet Fever. Diphtheria. ~><>- Plague. Total. Auokland Birkenhead Borough Devonport Borough Grey Lynn Borough Mount Eden Borough Newmarket Borough Onehunga Borough Parnell Borough Arch Hill Road District .. Avondale Road District Eden Terrace Road District Epsom Road District Mount Albert Road District Mount Roskill Road District Mount Wellington Road District .. One-tree Hill Road District Point Chevalier Road District Remuera Road District Bay of Islands County Hobson County Hokianga County Kawhia County Mangonui County Marsden County Manukau County Ohinemuri County Piako County Raglan County Rodney County Rotorua County Tauranga County Thames County Waikato County Waipa County Waitemata County Whakatane County Whangarei County Hamilton Borough Thames Borough Waihi Borough Rotorua Township Shipping Auckland Hospital 27 4 7 98 2 8 12 7 7 16 15 5 1 7 6 7 2 2!) :t 2 3 3 1 2 1 4 i i.d 3 175 4 19 24 24 12 23 26 7 3 15 11 18 2 1 10 4 10 33 2 8 2 1 1 16 29 ,'i 2 6 1 2 8 10 8 17 22 8 Iβ 18 24 'I 6 2 9 1 1 6 4 2 4 3 1 4 5 7 2 1 :s 8 2 1 5 1 1 " 26 4 4 8 6 i i 1 2 i 2 1 2 1 3 5 i 6 5 3 1 2 2 16 2 2 i 3 i i i 2 :s 3 3 ; 1 10 4 5 6 1 7 Jl 1 2 1 7 ii 7 8 2 1 1 5 4 13 4 1 1 6 1 1 4 2 3 Totals 153 268 103 !l(i Id 642 City of Auckland Suburban boroughs Suburban road districts Country districts Auckland Hospital and shipping .. 27 13 18 93 2 98 67 35 66 2 20 33 12 35 3 21! 14 15 41) 4 4 5 1 9 :s 175 132 81 24a 11 I Totals 153 268 103 96 10 642

Enteric. Scarlet Fever. Diphtheria. T ~- j I'laguc. Total. 1906. April .. May .. June .. July .. August September October November December 21 20 17 9 5 4 8 5 10 3d 24 23 26 27 16 25 19 16 10 9 13 8 9 8 12 5 7 7 1 6 4 7 8 17 3 3 1 74 55 59 47 49 37 64 35 36 1 3 2 3 i 1907. 14 16 24 17 19 21 7 5 12 17 10 13 1 5 4 50 55 75 January February March i 1 153 I ___ j 268 103 90 19 3 642

Enteric Fevir. The Qotificstious of cases of enteric fever recorded throughout tne health district for the past live years have been— 1902-3 ... ... ... ■■• ■ • •• •• ••• 217 1903-4 231 1904-5 ... . . ... ••■ ■•• ■•■ •■■ ... 180 1905-6 ... ... ... ■•• ••■ •■• ••• ■•• m 1906-7 ... ... ... ... ... ••■ ■•■ ■•• 153 1 have again to express satisfaction with diminishing records now extending over three years. There has usually been some locality where during the departmental year an outbreak of enteric occurs to swell the list. This year there was such an outbreak in Bay of Islands County (twentysix cases), again in Whakatane County (ten cases), and to a lesser degree at Hamilton. Otherwise the record is a very satisfactory one, aud the result, as exhibited in the accompanying charts, ia a very regular curve, showing a larger case-record December to June, with a maximum in April, and low figures July to November, with a minimum in September. The atmospheric conditions to note in this regard present a somewhat difficult problem. Reference to the meteorological tables appearing earlier in this report shows that, unlike the previous year, when the continuous record of low rainfall and low temperature was held to account for fewer cases of enteric, this year exhibits rainfall a little above the average, and mean temperature but slightly below the average. But if the tables referred to be studied, it is observed that low temperatures prevailed during the first three months of the departmental year, that in no part of the year did high temperature and drought occur, and that though the average rainfall was exceeded this took the form frequently of heavy rain over brief periods, which had the effect of washing away accumulations of germ-laden matter." The higher temperature and heavy rains of January and February, 1907, might be expected to result in a heavier enteric case-rate, and this, as the record for March shows, has been so. Still, results seem to indicate that the work of the Department, supplemented by that of the local authorities, and exhibited in awakened public interest in sanitation, is bearing fruit. The accompanying Chart A exhibits in graphic form the curves made by the rainfall, temperature, and enteric case-rates, with their averages for comparison. Chart B shows how the case-rate for the year is above or below a. line indicating the mean ot the previous five years in the whole district, and in Auckland City alone. Distribution op Cases according to Locality. Auckland and Suburb*. The notifications (40) vary only slightly from the previous year, the record of which was exceptionally low as compared with previous years. The deaths (5) exhibit a very low death-rate per J 000 living In Auckland City lam glad to note that, however much or little may result from departmental and local effort, the following satisfactory progress is observable:— 1903-4 ... ... •■■ ••• •• ••• " 1904-5 ... ■■ •■• ••■ ••• ••• ■•• ■•• zr 1905-6 ... .. ■■• ■•• •• ••• •" 6 Jt 1906-7 ... ■■■ ■■■ ■■■ ■• '•• ■•• ■■■■*' I am again able to adduce the example of Devonport as showing how this progression towards an ideal may be helped forward by a complete and modern drainage system. Devonport in 1902-5 bad 10 cases'of enteric. After installation of its drainage system its record has been : — 1903-4 ... ... - - f 1904-5 ... ... .- 1905-6 ... gg--1906-7 ... mi - Us population is 5,073, or for those four years 20,222 persons enjoying the benefit of drainage have experienced only 2 cases. At this rate Auckland's 38,677 persons should have less than 4 CaeM CSfaglin h L a S Tease (and that not arising in the borough) in three years. Mount Eden.— The record here is distinctly bad :— 14 1901-2 (part of) • • • • • • • • "' g 1902-3 .. •• •• •• •• •• " 8 1903-4 5 1904-5 .. •• •• •• •• •• " 2 1905-6 .. •• ■• •• •■ •• 7 1906-7 Situated as Mount Eden is, much of it on high scoria ground, exposed to healthy southern and wester vinl and with a well-to-do population, this ought not to be. It is to be feared, too, that Z c"ire fever record does not fully express the mischief arising from lack of drainage. with 2 oases" of enteric-an improvement to no small degree effected by the enerizv of the local Sanitary Inspector. has 5 cases, which number is out of proportion to its population Here again W€ can slfeh- anticipate a Devonport-like diminution once the drainage so long talked of is inaugurated.

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AUCKLAND HEALTH DISTRICT. CHART B.—Enteric Fever.

Auckland Health District. Table showing Enteric cases per month, April, 1906, to March, 1907, above or below a calculated mean throughout five years of seventeen and a half cases per month.

Auckland City. Table showing Enteric cases per month, April, 1906, to March, 1907, above or below a calculated mean throughout five years of five cases per month.

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Country Districts. Bay of Islands. —The 26 oases occurred in two distinct outbreaks—one in the early part of the year at Rawhiti Bay, some ten or twelve miles from Russell. This outbreak accounts for 17 of the cases notified. Later the disease cropped up in the neighbourhood of Waimate North, reappearing in December, January, and February, accounting for 9 cases. The first outbreak was traceable to the congregation of Natives at the obsequies of a Maori eventually buried in an advanced state of decomposition. Mongonui County has escaped altogether this year—a notable variation from its 15 cases during each of the preceding two years. Ohiine/inuri' a improvement noted last year continues. The Borough of Waihi escapes with 8 cases, as aginst 18 in the last year. Kotorua. —l am glad to note a great improvement in the Township and County of Rotorua. Together they have but 3 cases, against 27 in the preceding year. Whakatane has 10 cases, 8 of these being Natives. Hamilton Borough.- —This year Hamilton's record has risen to 11 cases. Careful investigation of the cause of this large number has been made by the Bacteriologist (Dr. Makgill) and myself. The water and milk supplies received special attention, but no source of infection could be found common to all cases developing the disease. I anticipate a marked decrease in enteric-fever cases when the denser portion of the borough is sewered. This is being done as quickly as possible. Cambridge maintains its reputation, not having had a case for six years. Thameis Borough has the heavy record of 7 cases, and the county of 5 cases, of which 3 were in "Block 27," adjoining the borough. Efforts are being made to impjove the drainage of the borough, but as long as such good intentions fail to be in accordance with the principles of sound sanitary engineering, they must be futile; indeed, it is not unlikely that two of the cases reported have had their origin in the -defective and unsafe character of the new attempts to remedy the sewerage of the borough, Scarlet Fever. The lessening in the incidence of scarlet fever last year, which I noted as being probably temporary and accidental, proved to be so, and this year I. record a return to something like the figures of previous years. The cases for the past five years are: — Auckland „, , Country Hospital and m. , City. Suburbs - Districts. Shipping. lotaL 1902-3 . 86 94 138 .. 318 1903-4 .. .. 110 112 145 .. 367 1904-5 .. .. .68 93 112 .. 273 1905-6 .. .. .47 86 107 .. 240 1906-7 .... 98 102 66 2 268 Auckland City lias more than double the number of cases of the preceding year. Grey Lynn (12), Newmarket, (7), Parnell (15), and Onelnmga (16) each have a disproportionate number. A disease so readily communicable quickly affects contiguous areas, so we find that almost all the suburbs have been affected: Epsom, 5; Remuera, 8; Mount Albert, 7, are heavy figures. In the country districts scarlet fever has, with the exception of Waihi (13 cases) and Hamilton (5), only made occasional appearances. For Hamilton and Waihi heavy records now extend over three years. Diphtheria. The outbreak of diphtheria affecting the city and suburbs in the first nine months of 1902-3 was followed by a period of comparative freedom. During the last two years, however, the disease shows renewed activity in the suburbs. The following is the quinquennial table: — Auckland „ , , Country ,„ , , City. Suburbs - Districts. lotal - -1902-3 .. .. .. 68 49 34 151 1903-4 .. .. .. ..18 24 29 71 1904-5 .. .. .. ..28 24 11 63 1905-6 .. .. .. 26 43 28 97 1906-7 .. .. .. ..20 48 35 103 Devonport (7), Mount Eden (7), Parnell (9), Eden Terrace (6) are the suburbs suffering most. Ohinemuri County, with 16 cases, and Whangarei County, 7 cases, are heavy records. The Ohinemuri County cases all occurred within an area of some twelve by four miles, extending from Paeroa to Waikino, and including Karangahake, Waitekauri, and Waitewheta. One case was notified from Waihi Borough. Of the Whangarei cases 5 occurred within the borough. Tuberculosis. The records for Auckland City for five years are 31, 38, 23, 18, and 23 cases. Mount Albert has so many as 8 cases, 2of these being in one family. Of the Whakatane cases (11) 9 are of Maoris. Six cases are from Thames. I am unable to say how many (if any) of these may be directly or indirectly due to miners' phthisis. Two deaths occurred there during the year from miners' phthisis Four cases reached the port of Auckland "oversea." Necessarily, the notifications of tuberculosis are a very unsatisfactory index of the prevalence of this disease.

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Blood-poisoking. Twenty cases have been reported; of these 3 are known to have been puerperal septicaemia— Mangonui County, 1; Mamikau County, 1; Waitemata County, 1. Of the city cases 1 was eventually diagnosed as acute pulmonary tuberculosis, 1 resulted from a mosquito-bite and dirty surroundings, and 1 from a cut at engineering-work. Plague. There is no case of plague to record The returns show 3 cases, these being cases of which there was a reasonable suspicion. In two instances the patients were removed to the observation cottage at the Hospital, and every precaution was taken as though the cases were bubonic plague. Fortunately, the eventual diagnosis did not support the earlier suspicions. The suspected cases, of which one occurred in May, one in August, 1906, and one in March, l!>07, were all within the City of Auckland. LOCAL SANITATION. Auckland City. The appearance of last year's report was followed by some necessary attention being devoted to the sanitary delinquencies of the city. Little result has, however, Keen obtained, as the following will show :— Last year I reported on the absence of any effort to deal with the housing question. A scheme for the provision of workmen's dwellings was put before the City Council and the public by His Worship the Mayor, but failed to receive favourable recognition, and was allowed to drop. The Ponsonby reservoir has now been renovated, and altered so as to exclude dust as much as possible. Everywhere surprise was expressed that so manifestly necessary a precaution was not taken as far back as 1902, when it was first brought under the notice of the City Council by my predecessor. No further action has been taken to insure the "cleanest salt water possible," as stipulated by me, being obtained for the city baths. Frequenters have still to be satisfied with an intake than which few worse places exist in Ihe harbour. Smoke nuisance: The City Solicitor has, I understand, received instructions from the City Council to proceed against offenders, and no doubt prosecutions will result should the nuisance continue unabated. Sanitary service: Every adverse criticism made in past years might perhaps be repeated again. The system seems to go from bad to worse. The terms of the contract are sound enough, but the City Council appears powerless to enforce compliance. The City Engineer now suggests that the City Council shall exercise direct control over the cleaning-works and disposal-ground at Hawkins Point. This was the outcome of a conference between the City Council's committee, the contractor, and myself, consequent upon my having taken legal action against the contractor, the result of which is tabled below Beyond further deferring, nothing has been done to insure a steam disinfector for the city. While I have to report an increased use being made of properly covered metal dustbins, yer the collecting-carts still perambulate the city with a pretence for a proper covering in the form of old tarpaulin, scrim, or some such material. Tarn informed that a sample cart, devoid of this and other defects, is in process of building. The drainage scheme has been advanced a stage by the issuing of a general report on the main drainage of the City of Auckland by the City Engineer. The Engineer safeguards the possibility of a nuisance arising from direct discharging of sewage into the harbour, and subsequent depositions on the foreshore, by advising the City Council to acquire 60-80 acres of land near the proposed point of discharge at Okahu Point, " in order to allow, if it ever becomes necessary, of the construction of tanks and bacteria-beds for the partial purification of the effluent before discharge into the sea, and of sufficient capacity for an ultimate population of 200,000 persons." An aspect which does not appear to have received equal attention is the, to my mind, urgent necessity of ascertaining the condition of all drains and sewers put down in the olden days. Observations such as have been made of these ancient fitments draw one to conclude that most -ire in a condition far from according with public safety, not to mention modern sanitary requirements. The abattoir in course of erection at Otahuhu is nearing completion. The question of the water-supply was under reconsideration this year. Ultimately a source of supply was obtained which should leave no doubt as to the buildings having good, uncontaminated water, ample in quantity. My hopes as to the erection of a proper morgue, containing a post-mortem room, mortuary, coroners-inquest room, waiting-room and accessories, were doomed to non-fulfilment. Last year I wrote, " The site selected and approved is at the corner of Union and Patterson Streets." In accordance with the provisions of the Public Health Act, this site was approved by me, and in the belief that it had already received the sanction of the City Council. At the eleventh hour, however, it was found that some' informality had arisen while the matter was before the Council, necessitating and resulting in a seemingly endless endeavour to obtain a site which shall satisfy all whom it may concern. While the construction and sanitation of the proposed building remove any possible risk to public health, and its architecture incites no harrowing memories, it is beyond me to explain why the harmless dead, at temporary rest in that building, should be an object of so much dread, and of so much desire for its relegation to a place out of sight and out of mind. Little advance has been made as regards a crematorium for Auckland. Its votaries are, however slowly, quietly advancing their cause

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Mere inspection of nuisances, involving the ready removal of obvious offences to the visual and olfactory senses, did not appear to me to receive adequate attention. I consequently advised His Worship the Mayor of this need, and offered my support of the. City Engineer's request for an additional Inspector. The terms of the new appointment, since made, do not, however, satisfy me that the object in view will be obtained. Actual experiences during the year show me that a little of the attention given to the —shall I say, " nicer " parts of the city inspectorial work, might well be devoted to plain and simple nuisance-removal. Food-inspections. Inspector Grieve has made detailed reports on the butchers', pork-butchers', and fish shops in the city; also restaurants and eating-houses, apart from licensed hotels. The latter report shows, generally speaking, very unsatisfactory and primitive conditions. In the absence of any legal powers as regards these establishments, beyond the removal of obvious nuisances, I do not anticipate many beneficial results being obtained by mere inspection. As regards the butchers' establishments, I made recommendation to the City Council under the heads—(l) exposure of meat, (2) opportunity of washing hands, (3) conveyance"to and from shops, (4) wrappings used, (5) preservatives, (6) general sanitary condition. The Council was unable to support my contention that the system of open dust-catching shop-fronts was antiquated. I note, however, that in Wellington District the newer principle—the glazed front —is gaining ground. Auckland Suburbs. The '' Greater Auckland has been rejected; the sewerage scheme for the city is still in the report stage; the city sanitary service is manifestly far from satisfactory. Whether as a consequence of these three points or not, it has to be reported that little or no advance from the sanitary standpoint has been made by the suburban bodies immediately adjoining the city, with the exception of Parnell. These local authorities urgently require the efficient and satisfactory removal of all household waste waters and proper means for the removal of nightsoil, be it by the water-carriage system or the sealed-pan system. As long, therefore, as there is a hope, possible of fulfilment, of a Greater Auckland, or other means by which these wants may be jointly secured, so long will there be delay in the improvement of the sanitary standard of the suburban boroughs and road districts. Country Districts. Thames. —A curious anomaly in the attitude of local authorities towards drainage schemes may here be noted. In Cambridge one saw the Council rejecting lines of pipes, because joints were not properly cemented, the concrete bed was not according to specification, ami because the drain so formed did not stand a " water " test. In Thames, incredible though it may seem in a borough, and in the year 1906, one saw pipes in one of the main streets, intended to carry all house-hold-waste waters, including kitchen-sink filth and bedroom-slops, being laid with "clay" joints, and on a " made-up " bed of mullock. I drew the Borough Engineer's attention to this now, fortunately, unusual method of sanitary engineering, and understood that he would abide by your decision, which on receipt was that cement joints should be used. lam informed, however, I was under a misapprehension in this regard. Later I reported to the Borough Council at length, suggesting obtaining the opinion of a consulting engineer, or an appeal to the Supreme Court, under section 80 of the Public Health Act," and subsequently that the District Engineer of the Public Works Department (Mr. Vickerman) be asked to advise. The Borough Council decided to remain satisfied with the opinion of its Engineer. Briefly, the latter holds that the method— joints caulked with tarred hemp and then closed with clay, so as to insure a perfectly watertight joint—is eminently satisfactory; and, further, that no "sewage" enters the pipe-line, because nothing conveyed by underground pipes is " sewage " unless it contains nightsoil. The latter point is ingenious, if not convincing, as no dictionary and no authority lias previously propounded this notion ; further, the River-pollution Commissioners, England, have made it clear by elaborate investigation that the a-ddition of nightsoil does not appreciably affect the nuisance-content of sewage. The first point is utterly untenable from a sanitary-engineering standpoint. The urgent need for the Government exercising some supervision and control over sewerage or drainage schemes is here shown. Until a nuisance is clearly demonstrable nothing can now be done. It has, however, to be noted that two cases of enteric have occurred in establishments fronting the street where this dangerous work lias been established. Waihi.— Enteric fever is here far too rampant. No steps have been taken to remove this stigma by the installation of a modern sewerage system. Hamilton. —The services of Inspector Middleton, of this Department, have been retained for the borough by a contribution on a basis of £15 per thousand of population. The Inspector in return devotes a definite amount of time per month to the borough's interests. So far nothing bur satisfaction with the system has been expressed. Rapid progress is being made with the sewerage Scheme. Cambridge. —As already stated, in contrast to Thames, the Borough Council is here desirous of having only the best work in its scheme. The unscrupulous action of a Clerk of Works caused much annoyance to both Council and ratepayers, and brought upon the scheme a needless amount of odium. Inspector Middleton gives a portion of his time to this borough, as for Hamilton. Botorua. — I have submitted 'a draft of drainage by-laws to the Town Board, and the Town Solicitor has read and put this in proper legal form. Pending the decision as to the control of the town by the Tourist Department, the Board seems in some dbubl as to the advisability of incurring expense in this regard,

2—H, 31,

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Wfuinr/arei. —Two sewerage schemes have been submitted to a vote of ratepayers during the year. The first was rejected; the second, intended to remove the hypothetical defect of the first —that it was not wide enough in scope—was also rejected. QUARANTINE REGULATIONS. In the matter of the s.s. " Agda," reported as having beriberi amongst the crew, I had the assistance of Dr. de Lisle, District Health Officer, Hawke's Bay, who visited Mangonui and made an inspection of the ship and crew. At the request of Dr. Sharman, Port Health Officer, on five occasions I have consulted with him. The decisions upon the illnesses of the patients in question did not necessitate any unusual steps being taken. INFECTIOUS DISEASES HOSPITAL. Auckland Hospital District. The buildings intended for the reception of scarlet-fever and diphtheria patients, and the nurses thereof, are almost completed. I have suggested to the Hospital Board that the buildings now in use for these purposes be moved to Point Chevalier, there to be used as occasion may demand. Decision was postponed till after the 31st March, 1907. Upon the recrudescence of plague in Sydney this year 1 took steps to be ready tor any possible cases- provision to be for four cases at the observation cottage on the Hospital grounds, extra provision to be temporarily made at Point Chevalier in the extremely unlikely event of Auckland ever having more than four plague cases at one time. The Board expressed its thanks for the report and the steps taken, and agreed with the provision suggested. . Thames Hospital.— Sites for an annexe for the treatment of consumption, especially the miners phthisis form, have been under consideration. It is difficult to arrange this provision with due regard to a minimum cost for erection and maintenance. LECTURES. During the year lectures on " Home Sanitation " were delivered at Waihi and Dargaville, and to the Auckland Agricultural and Pastoral Associations.

PROSECUTIONS UNDER THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND ALLIED ACTS.

SEIZURES OF FOODSTUFFS FOR DESTRUCTION.

Defendant. Bβ. Results. 1906. August 3, before Mr. Dyer, S.M. E. F. Fruit-pulp in tina, and jams unfit for human consumption Defendant fined £5, with £2 9s. costs. Material seized by D.H.O. directed by Magistrate to be destroyed. Fines inflicted totalling £60, and £2 16s. costs. Nineteen pigs condemned, and directed by Magistrate to be destroyed. Fines inflicted totalling £6, and £3 53. costs. August 10, before Mr. Dyer, S.M. J.R. M. Having animaU (pigs) fed on raw horse-flesh in preparation, and unfit, for human consumption Feeding pigs on raw slaughterhouse offal Vugust 10, before Mr. Dyer, S.M., in conjunction with Inspector of Stock )itto .. D.N. N. A. Feeding pigs on raw horse-flesli, and having animals (pigs) in preparation, and unfit, for human consumption Unsound oranges and bananas .. Fines inflicted totalling £35, and £2 16s. costs. Eight pigs condemned, and directed by Magistrate to be destroyed. September 24, before Mr. Kettle, S.M. K.T. Prosecution failed, on the plea that the " bad " fruit was not offered for sale for human consumption. Withdrawn in consequence of decision in the E.T. case. Ditto .. E. A. P. 1907. tf arch 15, before Mr. Dyer, S.M. )itto .. F. J. Depositing filth in Auckland Harbour Carrying on an offensive trade without tho consent in writing of the District Health Officer Defendant fined £100, with costs £9 16s. Adjourned, pending efforts being made by tie Auckland City Council to obtain the control of the sanitary service.

Premises where seized. Goods. Result. 1906. May 17 ... December 3 E. A. P. (held on behalf of J. D. B.) E. A. P. (held on behalf of J. R., Te Aroha. 2 sides of bacon ... 24 hams ... Destroyed. Sent to Destructor. 1907. January 21 February 25 T. and H. (at their request) L. D. N. and Co. (at their request) 20 sacks of apples ... 1,8001b. red Alaska salt salmon Destroyed. Sent to Destructor.

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LABORATORY-WORK. The following is a summary of the record of specimens submitted to this office for bacteriological or other examination:—

OFFICE-WORK. The daily routine of the office, including as it does the reception and despatch of correspondence—l,s36 letters upon various subjects having been sent out —the keeping of records, and the hearing and recording of multitudinous inquiries and complaints, has further involved the following: — 135 orders for admission of persons to the hospital for infectious diseases. 51 applications for admission to Cambridge Sanatorium were dealt with. 504 notices in regard to cases of infectious disease have been sent to local authorities. 712 tubes of vaccine lymph have been distributed to medical practitioners and Public Vaccinators. Mr. Symons, senior District Clerk, has not spared himself in endeavouring to overcome this large amount of office-work. Ultimately, as encroachments were being made on his after-office hours, I asked for additional aid. Mr. Boylan is now junior clerk, and has done very satisfactory work. Mr. Symons will, I trust, be now better able to devote some of his attention to the special work upon which he has already been encouraged to enter by 1113' predecessor and myself, and for which he is so ably suited. As in former reports, Mr. Symons has compiled the statistical figures in this, for which I record my thanks INSPECTORIAL STAFF. Inspector Middleton, on being transferred to this district, was placed at Hamilton, with supervision over the Waikato generally. I highly appreciate the work done by this able officer, who, as a Sanitary Inspector, probably holds the highest qualifications in the colony. Inspector Winstanley has been engaged mainly in country district work outside the Waikato. Excellent work has been done by Inspector Grieve. He especially shows a forte in the inspection of foodstuffs, and is only hampered in his good efforts by the want of up-to-date legislation in this regard. Jos. P. Frengley, M.D., F.E.C.5.1., D.P.H., District Health Officer. HAWKE'S BAY DISTRICT. Sin, —- Department of Public Health, District Office, Napier, Ist April, 1907. I have the honour to lay before you the sixth annual report of the Hawke's Bay Health District. I am pleased to be able to report that there has been a steady advance in sanitary matters in this district almost " all along the line," and matters are shaping in several centres in such a manner that I am justified in the hope that next year I shall be able to report an equal and perhape a more satisfactory advance.

X umber of Specimens. \ Specimens. Suspected Condition. ] ltesult of Examination, or Disposal. 3-"> 7 7 17 1 1 9 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 I 1 Sputum Urine Throat swabs Sputum Tubercular General abnormality Pus Tubercular Diphtheritic Pneumonic bacilli .. Tubercular Plague Gonorrhceal Mucous colitis Tubercular Free HOI. Hydrocele Positive. Negative. . , General report-Pus-cells negative. Negative. Positive. Negative. Pneumonia diagnosed. Negative. ..! >.< >.i Spermatozoa ; probably ez-testicle with retention cysts. Negative. »» • • Bubo-juice .. Pus-smear Fseoes Pleuritio fluid Vomit Fluid 1 1 Serous exudation Pus Smear Breast Mass from sc.Jp Mass from uterus Actinomycosis Gonorrhoeal Malignancy General Epithelioma General .. I I Sent to Bacteriologist, Wellington. Water Sent to Colonial Analyst. ., 163

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1 am, further, glad to report the entire absence of friction in the carrying-out of my duties, and record with appreciation the courtesy I have received from the local authorities and the public generally. The popularity of the Department with the inhabitants of this health district, which 1 alluded to in my last report, has not diminished, and though I am not in a position to affirm that it has increased, Vet if it maintains its present level the District Health Officer may be assured of a very pleasant time in the carrying-out of his responsible duties. And though some of the local bo-die's have shown less energy in carrying out my recommendations than the interests of public health demand, it must be borne in mind that it takes time to educate the public to the fact that money spent in the preservation of health and the prevention of disease is a sound investment yielding high interest, that it pays to be clean; and the public fail to grasp the fact that these measures are all for their own good, but are apt to hold the reverse opinion, as the schoolboy did when they flogged him. When we consider the conditions that existed prior to the Health Department coming into existence —the defective plumbing-work, sewer-gas carefully and scientifically laid on to dwelling and bath-rooms, drains imperfectly jointed, laid in defiance of the laws of gravitation, or following such a tortuous cour.se that a snake's back would be broken if he attempted to crawl through them, ventilating-shafts either absent or placed where incompetence or ignorance advance is enormous and gratifying. The plumbers are now educated, capable, generally trustworthy, and their work can be relied upon. The drain-laying is supervised by competent persons, the work is tested before the trench is filled in, and excellence is insisted on. But though much has been done and the Department has made enormous strides, there is still more to Ik- done before the Department can take its ease and permit the wind to blow it whither it listeth. For many years to come the public must expect us to be up and doing, waging aggressive warfare against the many enemies of public health that flesh is heir to and that still exist in our midst. Up-country settlers and many others on the outskirts of the towns continue to seek my advice with reference to the disposal of their drainage and the general sanitation of their premises, and have shown a commendable disposition to act on the advice they receive. In all these cases the work lias been carefully supervised by Inspector Mnnro, and efficiency of construction insisted on. The local architects have shown their "sympathy with this movement by inserting in their specifications that the work must be completed in accordance with the requirements of the Napier by-laws. 1 regret to say that some of the builders have not shown the same spirit, and when intrusted with the erection of a building where no architect is employed have given no information to this office, and have constructed the sanitary arrangements in a manner that is not laid down in the textbooks on public health. When I have been able to hear of these cases 1 have made it my business to inspect the work at the first opportunity, and where, as is frequently the case, the work has been carried out in defiance of sanitation have insisted on a complete reconstruction. Even where architects are employed, and the specifications clearly lay down the manner in which the work is to be completed, there have been builders who have scamped their work, and endeavoured to complete it in an inefficient manner. They have always been hoist by their own petard by having U> reconstruct the work at their own expense. Owing to the distance of many of these places from the railway-line, and the time necessarily involved in travelling, Inspector Munro and myself are often hard pushed to keep abreast of the work. The following infectious diseases have been notified during the year : — Scarlatina- -Napier, 43; Hastings, 25; Woodville, 1; Gisborne, 12j other districts, 19: total, 100. Measles. —Woodville, 1 ; other districts, 2: total, 3. Erysipelas and Blood-poisoning. —Gisborne, 1 ; other districts, 2: total, 3. Diphtheria.— Napier, 5; Hastings, 14; Wairoa, 3; Gisborne, 15; other districts, 6: total, 43. Tuberculosis and Consumption.— Napier, 2; Hastings, 1: Dannevirke, 2; Wairoa, 29 (14 of these being Maoris); Gisborne, 2; other districts, 10: total, 46. " Enteric or Typhoid Fever. —Napier, 3; Hastings, 5; Dannevirke, 1; Wairoa, 9; Gisborne, 10; other distriots, 23: total, 51. For purposes of comparison 1 give the number of cases notified in the two previous years:- — 1905.—Scarlatina, 31 cases; diphtheria, 44; tuberculosis, 67; enteric or typhoid fever, 43. 1906. —Scarlatina, 25 cases; diphtheria, 44; tuberculosis, 73; enteric or typhoid fever, 55. Analysis of the above. —It will be observed that there are four times as many notifications of scarlatina as there were last year. This has very little sanitary significance. Few of the acute infectious diseases are influenced in their spread by sanitation. It it true that when they attack a community living under insanitary conditions the cases are more severe, and as a consequence the death-rate is heavier. But let a case be introduced where there is segregation, an epidemic will occur amongst the majority of those who have not been rendered immune from a previous attack. Of erysipelas and blood-poisoning, the cases in each year are too few to have any significance. Diphtheria is in statu quo: there have been 43 notifications this year, and 44 during each of the two previous years. Tuberculosis and consumption show a distinct drop—46 cases this year against 73 in 1906 and 67 in 1905. I hope that this drop is real and not fallacious, due to less careful notification. Enteric or typhoid fever remains about the same in this district—sl cases this year, against 55 in 1906 and 43 in 1905. Napier can boast of having had a record year, the smallest number of cases for more than thirty years —3. In 1906 there were 12, and in 1905, 6. I hope the day is not far distant when the number of cases notified in Napier during the year will be represented by a " duck's egg." Wairoa and Gisborne are at the other end of the scale with 9 and 10 cases respectively. Though Gisborne has one more case than Wairoa, in proportion to population the latter place takes the unwelcome " cake."

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Deaths. Yot the whole of the district, 163. In 1906 there were 469; in 1905, 432; in 1904, 414; in 1903, 452. Though the population has increased and is still increasing, the number of deaths remains much the same. It will be observed that in 1907 there are 11 more deaths only than in 1903, and with the increase of population it is a proportional decrease. The deaths from the more important diseases during the past year are: From cancer, 45; tuberculosis, 52; scarlatina, 3; typhoid or enteric fever, 3; diphtheria, 5; erysipelas and bloodpoisoning, 4. This is twice as many as were notified. The Registrar at Wairoa has returned 2 deaths from this cause, but none were notified. The number of deaths from cancer are more than double those of last year (22), and almost double those of 1905 (26). There is also a large increase in the number of deaths from tuberculosis (22) in 1906, but they are four less than in 1905, when they amounted to 56. The deaths from the various zymotic diseases show very little change. The case-mortality from scarlatina is only 3 per cent.—a very small death-rate—indicating that the epidemic was of a mild type. The case-mortality of diphtheria is 11*6 per cent. Such a low case-mortality could never have been hoped for only a few years ago, and shows the triumphal advance of our art. Antitoxin has robbed diphtheria of most of its terrors. Napier. —Deaths from all causes, 146—4 less than in 1906, and 6 more than in 1905; from cancer, 15—2 more than in 1906, and 1 more than in 1905; from tuberculosis, 12—there were 15 in 1906, and 29 in 1905; from scarlatina and diphtheria, each 2; from typhoid fever, erysipelas, and blood-poisoning, none. There were 3 deaths from typhoid fever in 1906, and none in 1905. Hastings. —Deaths from alt causes, 55; in 1906 they were 57; in 1905, 61; and in 1904, 65. This decrease in the death-rate with a rapidly increasing population is very satisfactory. From cancer, 3; there were 2 in 1906, and 3 in 1905: the death-rate from cancer remains about the same, though the population is increasing; but it is probable that some of the cases go into the Napier Hospital, swelling the death-rate from that cause there, and reducing it in Hastings. From tuberculosis, 8: there seem to have been none in 1906, and the same number (8) in 1905. From typhoid fever, 3. From other zymotic diseases, erysipelas, and blood-poisoning, none. Dannevirke. —From all causes, 63: there were 41 in 1906, 31 in 1905, and 38 in 1904. lam afraid that this is a proportional as well as an absolute increase, for though the population of Dannevirke is increasing, it has not increased sufficiently to account for this augmentation of the death-rate. It may partly be accounted for by the opening of the new Hospital, which has attracted severe cases from surrounding parts. Woodville, for instance, has a phenomenally low death-rate, but the inhabitants of Woodville may have helped to swell the Dannevirke death-rate. As there have been neither notifications of nor deaths from any zymotic disease in Dannevirke during the past year, it is difficult to account for the increased death-rate in any other way. Woodville. —From all causes, 11; from cancer, 1; and from tuberculosis, 2. There is a decrease in the number of deaths in Woodville—there were 15 in 1906 and 1905, and 23 in 1904, and the population has increased somewhat. Wairoa. —From all causes, 25; from tuberculosis, erysipelas, and blood-poisoning, of each 2; from the various zymotic diseases, none. The deaths from all causes have been 9 more than in 1906. It is difficult to account for this, as there has been no epidemic, and the population has not increased to any extent. Gishorne. —From all causes, 109: 3 more than in 1906, 6 less than in 1905, and 18 more than in 1904. Considering the enormous increase in the population of Gisborne, these figures may be considered as very satisfactory. From cancer, 3 ; from tuberculosis, 8; from scarlatina, 2 ; from diphtheria, 1 ; from other zymotic diseases, none. The remainder of the District. —From all causes, 35; from tuberculosis, 18; from diphtheria, 1 ; from cancer and zymotic diseases not mentioned, none. Vital Statistics. — Death-rate per 1,000 in Principal Centre*. Combined district, from all causes, 1096 : Napier, 112, Hastings, 9-16; Dannevirke, 15-75; Woodville, 4-7; Wairoa, 1336; Gisborne, 10-88. From cancer: For the whole district, 1065; Napier, T22. From tuberculosis: For the whole district, T23; Napier, 099 ; Hastings, I*6 j Dannevirke, 1-0; Woodville, 074; Wairoa, 0"9; Gisborne, 0-77. From all zymotic diseases: Erysipelas and blood-poisoning, 066. Houses condemned. One in Waipukurau, 1 in Napier, 1 in Taradale, 3 in Cook County, and 1 in Gisborne. Special Inspections made and reported on. Napier, 25; Hastings, 29; Taradale, 13; Waipukurau, 12; Waipawa, 6; Takapau, 7; Danut'virke, 4; Woodville, 2; Norsewood, 3; Gisborne, 9; Cook County,_ 7 ; Wairoa, 8. Most of the sanitary defects have been remedied on my recommendation, and tlie others are receiving attention. There have been only two prosecutions in this district during the past year. One Chinaman was prosecuted by the Napier Borough Council, at the instigation of the Department, for keeping bis shop in a dirty and insanitary state. A conviction was obtained and a fine imposed. The other was undertaken by the Hastings Borough Council, at the instigation of the Department, against a householder who had not complied with the notice to connect his premises with the sewer.

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He entered a plea of " Guilty," and was fined. Several persons have been threatened with prosecution, but the threat has had the desired effect, and the nuisances have been abated. Same of the hotels in the outlying parts of the district are in a shocking state, and others are far from satisfactorj-. Representations have been made to the Licensing Committees calling their attention to the necessity of having , alterations and repairs carried out. A very watchful eye has to be kept to prevent the erection of slum buildings provided with insufficient air-space, and I have had to interfere to prevent the erection of some buildings on an insufficient curtilage, and to insist on the restriction of others the completion of which in accordance with the original design would have traversed section 352 of " The Municipal Corporations Act, 1900," and section 12 of the Municipal Corporations Amendment Act. I regret that some of the local authorities are not sufficiently alive to the necessity of insisting on a sufficient air-space, and 1 have to reiterate my demands more than once to get them to act in this important matter. Napier. In my previous reports I have alluded to the cleanliness and sanitary excellence of this borough. It is sufficient to say that it has in no way deteriorated during the past year, and continues to be a credit to the inhabitants who have interested themselves in its sanitary welfare, and an example to many larger centres in other parts of the world. The work of connecting houses with the sewer is being proceeded with as fast as circumstances will permit, and the plumbers and drain-layers in the town are kept fully employed. The nightcart is being rapidly improved off the street, but I regret to say that it still pursues its unsavoury if restricted path. * In this connection Mr. Archer, the Sanitary Surveyor and Engineer to the Napier Borough Council, writes in reply to my inquiry: — " Napier Borough Council, Overseer's and Sanitary Surveyor's Office, "Deak Sir,— " Napier, Bth April, 1907. "In answer to your letter of the 2nd instant, I have the honour to inform you that between the Ist April, 1906, and the 31st March, 1907, there were 185 connections with the sewers. On the 31st March there were 77 houses to instal the W.C. system. Of the 77 houses left to instal W.C.s, 17 will have to have new main sewers laid before they can connect, and about 14 of them have taken out permits to do the work, and it is now in hand. " I estimate that it will take three months to get the premises that can connect finished, and about five months before all are completed " Tours faithfully, "James Archeb, Sanitary Surveyor." The reclamation of the swamp is nearly completed, and it is estimated that by next August the ground will be surveyed, cut up into building-sites and small farms, and offered for sale. The opening-up of this land "will act as a safety-valve for Napier, and do much to help to relieve the congestion that is fast becoming acute. The removal of the weir that was erected by the syndicate to aid in the reclamation will create a danger with the effluent of the Napier drainage. The river is a tidal one, and the sewage will be carried up when the tide is in flood, and deposited on the banks left by the ebb tide in the vicinity of dwellings. It is imperative in the interests of public health that the effluent be treated before being allowed to enter the river. I have written to the Borough Council pointing out the danger, and recommending that the advice of a sanitary engineer be taken. My letter has been referred to the Sanitary Committee to report on, but though the Committee has met, it does not appear to have devoted any attention to the matter, and no report has been issued. I shall bring this matter to the notice of the Council again, and insistently, as I feel confident that apathy will be severely punished by an augmentation of cases of typhoid and possibly diphtheria; that Napier will find that the light of other days has not quite faded ; and that there will be outcry from the ratepayers that, notwithstanding the augmentation of the rates for sanitary advancement, there is still so much preventable disease in their midst, with the unwelcome trouble and expense that it A deplorable example of "man, proud man, dressed in a little brief authority" occurred during the year The meter that was attached to the Lands Office registered a larger amount of water than could possibly have passed through the pipe. The Council insisted on charging for the amount of water that the meter registered, and the Lands Office as obstinately refused to pay Ihe Council then cut the water off, and as a consequence closets and urinals remained unflushed. The matter was referred to me, and I wrote to the Council pointing out that it was the duty of a local authority to abate, not create, a nuisance, with the result that the water was restored for a short time, when it was again cut off. This culminated in a Supreme Court action, in which the Council came oft second-best. . . . , ~ In Napier and other centres I have been able to effect some improvement in food-delivery. The wrapping of meat in newspaper or second-hand paper is prohibited, and the returning of bread from the houses of customers is not permitted. I regret that milk is still delivered in the old objectionable method of baling it out at the customers' doors. I have written to the Borough Council repeatedly, but the same-reply to my communications, "Received, comes with dreary monotony. As stated by you in the last annual report, the consumers have much to blame themselves for They are careless as to the manner in which they receive the milk; and as long as the milk-suppliers please their customers their ends are accomplished. When the public are alive to the importance of clean milk, properly delivered, we shall have a change m the present method, but not till then.

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Clive, Meeanee, and Taradale. These townships are progressing in every way, both in size and cleanliness. In the latter there was much room for improvement in the first-named of these places, and perhaps a little less in the second. Tarndale has always been a neat and reputable-looking little township, and it has been improved by the efforts of the Department, seconded by the intelligence of the Town Board. Its pretty suburb, Greenmeadows, is rapidly increasing in size and importance, and finds more and more favour with people who desire pleasant suburban residences, and pretty villas and cottages ornefs are springing up everywhere. Havelock. This township continues to improve, and owing to the fact that the hills at the back form a protection from the cold southerly winds, coupled with the excellent climate that Hawke's Bay is to be congratulated on, Havelock should in time become a favourite health resort. Land is rapidly being acquired on these hills, and buildings are being erected everywhere. The town is still without water or drainage; no effect has yet been given to the scheme for both prepared some years back by Mr. C. D. Kennedy. The residents on the hills have their own water-supply.from the numerous springs about, and have sufficient land round their houses for the disposal of their drainage. It is probable that in a short time a Town Board will be formed, and some movement in the direction of water and drainage be gi.ven effect to. Hastings. (Population, 4,500.) This town is increasing by leaps and bounds, but owing to the large size of the borough (nearly 6,000 acres) it is free from congestion. Even close to the centre of the town there are many open spaces, and the private residences have plenty of air-space. Hastings is fast outgrowing the sanitary arrangements that were provided some twenty years ago. The extension of the sewer is urgently needed, and lam glad to report that the Council seem inclined to consider the matter. I fear, nevertheless, that there may ba some difficulty in getting the ratepayers to consent to a loan for the purpose. Those ratepayers who have now the sewer in proximity to their premises will oppose taxation that will not directly benefit them, but will give others the convenience that they at present enjoy, and residents outside the proposed extension will be in the same boat. Some persons residing or having business premises in the sewer area have not taken advantage of the convenience; but during the past year, as a consequence of my representations, connection is being enforced on those situated within a reasonable distance, with the result that there have been sixty connections made during the past year, twenty-four being private houses, and the rest 'business premises. Hastings runs neck-and-neck with Gisborne in the number of cases of diphtheria—fourteen for the one and fifteen for the other. As Gisborne has the larger population, the number of cases in Hastings is in greater proportion. Hastings lies in the centre of the Heretaunga Plains. The land around is practically flat for miles, and in man}' places the subsoil is clay, hence many of the houses are situated on damp ground in wet weather. Unfortunately, the majority of the older houses are built with the ground floor in too close proximity to the surface of the soil, precluding sufficient ventilation beneath, and facilitating the ingress to the building of ground-air, which is always foul air. Ever since I have held this appointment I have consistently preached that the floors of the houses should be raised well above the surface—a minimum of 2 ft., and i ft. if possible. lam glad to say that my efforts are beginning to bear fruit, and that most of the houses that are now being built or have been built late.ly are in accordance with my recommendations. As the poison of diphtheria seems to hang about damp soil, I am led to hope that when the more sensibly built houses are in the majority the number of sufferers from this complaint will be greatly curtailed. Hastings has now increased to such an extent that the duties of Borough Engineer and Inspector of Nuisances, which have hitherto been combined under one head, have become too arduous for one person to carry out effectively, and the necessity of appointing- some suitable person to give his whole time to the inspection and reporting of nuisances is becoming acute. One'of the Councillors proposed that the Council should find the remuneration for such an official, who should be appointed by and responsible to the District Health Officer, but the suggestion did not find favour with the majority of the Council. This is much to be regretted, for it is to the interests of the inhabitants of Hastings that such an appointment should be made. An Inspector of Nuisances was temporarily appointed by the Council, and he sent in several adverse reports concerning many residences and business premises ; but his services were soon dispensed with. In the opinion of a large number of the ratepayers, trop de tile on the part of the Inspector was the mainspring of the Council's action in dispensing with his services. His short reign was not without its beneficial effect. Hastings is much in need of a high-pressure water-supply for fire-extinguishing purposes. Here again a difficulty arises in obtaining the money to defray the cost. Each house has its own supply of excellent water from an artesian well, and the individual ratepaj'er will not interest or tax himself for what may never concern him. A scheme has lately been brought forward by one of the Councillors, but very little interest was taken in it, and when the poll was taken only a few of those who were adverse to the scheme took the trouble fo vote. It may seem to be a far cry from public health to water for fire-extinguishing purposes, but not so in Hastings, as in the absence

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of other water it is the custom of the fire brigade to utilise the contents of the sewers. No reprobation can be too strong for such a filthy procedure, and if there were an earnest desire on the part of the Council water could be obtained for the purpose, but till that is done it is a case of " needs must when the Devil drives " ; and, perhaps, as a precedent they may quote Gulliver's action when with the Lilliputians; but sanitation was in its infancy in Gulliver's days. At the Tomoana Freezing-works, just outside the Borough of Hastings, several cases of diphtheria occurred in the families of some of the employees, who inhabited a row of cottages in connection with the works. The drainage of these cottages was found to be very defective, constructed many years ago, when these matters were very happy-go-lucky in Hawke's Bay, and probably other parts of New Zealand as well, on an entirely wrong principle. On representations being made to the proper quarter the matter was promptly taken in hand, and up-to-date drainage was installed under the superintendence, and completed to the satisfaction, of the Department. Kaikoba North. This pretty little township is favourably situated on a slope, lies well to the sun, the houses me far apart, the township is healthy, and requires very little attention from the Department. Waipawa. In my last report I wrote, " The present Town Board seem alive to the necessities of sanitation. Several connections have been made with the sewer during the past year, and schemes are being discussed for a public water-supply, which seem likely to eventuate in this desirable end." lam now able to report that the scheme has now passed the " discussion " stage, as will be seen by the perusal of the following letter frbm the Town Clerk : — " Dear Sir, — " Waipawa Town 'Board, 22nd April, 1907. " In reply to your memo., I am directed to state that the Waipawa Town Board have undertaken a water-supply by pumping water from a properly designed and constructed well to a reservoir upon one of the hills near the north-west end of the town, and laying a pipe service from this site to all the streets within the town area. " I have, &C, "J. C. Taylor, Town Clerk." The introduction of pure water into Waipawa will be a great acquisition, and must lead in the near future to water-borne sewage, and the abolishing of the unsavoury night-cart. When this becomes an accomplished fact, the outfall of the sewer, known locally as "the shooting gallery," will have to be extended and carried further away from the iown, and the sewage will have to be treated before being allowed to discharge into the river. The action of the present Town Board in this matter is gratifying and encouraging, and a marked improvement on the apathy of some former Town Boards in sanitary matters. Waipukurau. This pretty township is still moving ahead. The Town Board seem keenly alive to their respon-i-ibilities. I wrote in my last report, "It seems that it will only be a matter of a little while when money will be raised to improve the defective condition of the sewers." With this end in view the Town' Board are introducing twentieth-century gas, which they intend to sell to the householders, and from this they expect to make sufficient profit after lighting the streets of the town to enable them to intal a water-supply scheme and improve their defective drainage system. I, in common with all well-wishers of Waipukurau, wish them every success in their undertaking. Ormondville, Makotuku, and Norskwood. These are scattered and open townships, standing at a high elevation, rejoicing in pure mountain air, and possessing good natural drainage. As a consequence there is very little sickness. Three nuisances have been brought to my notice in Norsewood —one in connection with the schoolhouse —all of which have been remedied. Matamau. Owing to an outbreak of diphtheria, I visited this township, and found that a nuisance existed in connection with the closet attached to the district school, and to this I attributed the outbreak. On making representations to the proper quarter the nuisance was abated. Dannevirkk. The drainage-works designed by Mr. Leslie Reynolds were completed last November. The first house connection was made on the 6th December, 1906, and up to the 31st March forty-eight properties had been connected. An unfortunate hitch occurred in the progress of the drainage-works. Mr. Leslie Reynolds was laying down Kielberg pipes, and a doubt arose as to their suitability for drainage purposes. The work was hung up for a time pending a report on the pipes by a commission of sanitary engineers appointed to go into the matter. There has been one notification of enteric fever during the year in Dannevirke. The town lias always had a fairly clean bill of health in this particular, and when full advantage is taken of the newly installed drainage system I hope and believe that there will be a reduction in the small number that: have been notified in past years. The new abattoirs are fast approaching completion, and long before the time for the next annual report conies round they will be in full working.

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WOODVILLE. There has been no change in the sanitary condition of this small borough. The new drainageworks, designed by Mr. Metcalf, are still in abeyance, and in reply to my inquiries on this subject the Mayor, Mr. Burnett, writes, — " Dear Sir,— " Woodville Borough Council, Town Clerk's Office, 4th April, 1907. " I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 2nd instant, re drainage scheme for Woodville. " Some time ago we employed Mr. H. Metcalf, C.E., of Auckland, to advise us as to drainage, and formulate a scheme. So far the Council have not felt justified in proceeding with the matter. The question is being kept steadily in view, and when a favourable opportunity occurs the work will no doubt be proceeded with. " One reason for the work being hung up is the heavy expense involved. To carry out the drainage of the borough would cost from .£14,000 to £15.000, on account of the scattered population of the borough. The town is steadily progressing, and in a year or two will be more able to bear the financial burdeii involved in drainage-works. " I am, &c, " The District Health Officer, Napier." " Hubert Burnett, Mayor. With the exception of one case of scarlatina and one case of measles, there have been no notifications of infectious disease from Woodville. Gisborne. The borough is rapidly increasing in population, the centre of the town is becoming congested, new buildings are going up everywhere, and, considering the almost entire absence of sanitary arrangements, it is much healthier than it -deserves to be. I attribute Gisborne's comparative immunity from disease to its broad well-laid-out streets, which are well swept by the crisp sea-breeze, and the large amount of sunshine the town receives. The more I see of and study Gisborne do I feel justified in the opinion that I expressed in my first report when I inspected it in 1900, that, given good water and drainage, it should be one of the healthiest places in the colony, and the only death-rate should be from accident and old age. There have been a larger number of cases of diphtheria and enteric fever in Gisborne than in any other centre in my district. But it must be allowed that fourteen cases of the former in Hastings, and nine cases of the latter in Wairoa, to ten in Gisborne is in a larger proportion to the population of those two places. The scheme to supply Gisborne with pure water, designed by Mr. Hay, C.E., of Dune-din, is rapidly approaching completion, and Mr. Townley, the Mayor, informs me that by August next the water will be available. The Borough Councillors express themselves as being anxious to proceed with the drainage as soon as the water scheme is completed, and it is a consummation much to be desired that their intentions be carried out promptly. The rapidity with which Gisborne is increasing in population renders complete and up-to-date sanitary measures an earnest necessity, and if they are long I fear that, notwithstanding its many natural advantages, the town will have a rude awakening. The scheme of drainage designed by Mr. Mestayer seven years ago will probably be the one adopted. In my last report I mentioned that Gisborne was seriously considering the erection of an isolation ward, for which there is urgent need. I regret to say that during the past year there has been a great deal of backing and filling not very creditable to some of those concerned. Owing to the lack of such a ward more than one grave scandal has occurred in the town during the last year, to the inconvenience and augmentation of the suffering of the patient, and danger to the community. lam glad to report that the end of this scandal seems to be in view: plans are out for.an isolation hospital, a site has been definitely decided on, tenders have been called, and I hope that the building will be completed before long. In Gisborne, as in many other places, it has been the usual custom to build the houses with the floors an insufficient height off the ground. This evil was pointed out in the report I made on Gisborne in 1900. I have referred to the matter on several occasions since, and now, perhaps being wearied by my importunity, the Borough Council are considering a bylaw dealing with the matter. Such a measure, if honestly adhered to, must have a beneficial effect on the health of the community. TOLAGA. This township continues to grow in size and importance. Owing to the flat ground on which it is situated, it will require a great deal of attention when it becomes thickly built over. There has been one case of enteric fever in the township this year, the resident doctor being the victim. I have planned a visit to Tolaga on each of the last occasions that I have been in Gisborne lately, but the place is rather inaccessible. The roads are none too good in fine weather, and in wet shocking. As I have been unfortunate in my weather during my last visits to Gisborne, a trip to Tolaga would have involved more time than I had at my disposal. Mr. Thelwall, the Sanitary Inspector of the Cook County Council, informs me that there are several matters requiring attention in Tolaga. Tokomaru, Waipiro, Tqparoa, and Waincti. I have had no occasion to visit these places during the present year, an-d have received no communication from them. No news may be considered good news. Owing to the distance they lie from the centre, and to the fact that they are only accessible by buggy or saddle, visits of ceremony are out of the question.

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Tβ Puia. This place lies close to Waipiro, and possesses hoi springs of great medicinal value, which are beginning to be known and talked about. When they are better known, given good access, and better accommodation provided, 1 feel sure that the place will become a favourite health resort The site of the springs is at a good elevation, some 800 ft. above sea-level, commanding magnificent scenery, and lying well to the sun c aguuu-eiu As some of the hotels in Cook County are in a very delapidated condition, not at all creditable to those concerned I have represented the matter to the Licensing Committee, and have no doubt that the representations will bear fruit after the next meeting of that body At the beginning of the year the Cook County Council appointed 'Mr. Thelwall as Sanitary Inspector. He has proved himself capable, earnest in the discharge of his duties, and manifests a desire to work amicably with the Department. Clyde, Wairoa. The town is well situated, and ought to be healthier than it is ; but sanitary reform moves slowly here Many of the buildings are old, and most of the building-sites small. Several nuisances that existed have been reported on and abated. There have been nine cases of enteric fever notified in and around Wairoa. It has three times as many cases as Napier, with about one-eighth the population. It has only one less than Gisborne, with about one-fifth the population—and in sanitary matters Gisborne can hardly be considered a pattern for imitation There have been twenty-nine notifications of tuberculosis, fourteen of them being amongst the Maoris These are lessthan in former years. I hope that it indicates that the sanitary education of the Native is beginning to bear fruit. The Committee of the racecourse placed conveniences near the grandstand, and proposed discharging untreated sewage into a creek that runs past, and close to a Maori pa, and ultimately finds it way into the river. I prohibited this, and proposed a better plan of dealing with the sewage. My advice was taken and the plan adopted. A water-supply and a drainage system for the front of the town is a great disideratum The scheme would not be a very expensive one, but I fear that a considerable time will elapse before the I own Board will consider the matter seriously. The desire to keep down the rates is with them and many other local bodies, of the first importance. NtJHAKA. There have been five cases of enteric fever notified during the year in this small and scattered township. The place has lately developed a dairying industry, mcwt of the milkers being Maoris Dr. Somerville, of Wairoa, informs me that there had not been a case of enteric in Nuhaka prior to the development of the dairying, and he attributed the cases to the insanitary conditions of the milkmg-sheds. I can testify from my own observation that the milking-shede are the reverse of inviting. I was further informed by another authority that, owing to the carelessness of the milkers and want of attention to the cows, 90 per cent, of them are suffering from mammitis. MOHAKA. There have been two cases of enteric fever notified from this township, which seem to have arisen in the Maori pa. One Maori who developed the complaint was taken to the Wairoa Hospital His friends, considering that he did not get the attention or food that ho needed, took him out of the institution and back to Mohaka, a distance of twenty-two miles, nursed and dieted him as their kindness and ignorance suggested, with the inevitable result as far as the patient was concerned. Happily, no other cases arose from this action. A new schoolhouse is now in course of construction in Mohaka. This has been much needed for a considerable time. REMARKS AND SUGGESTIONS. I am convinced that nga tangi Maori are frequently fruitful sources of the spread of infectious disease. Frequently the bodies of persons who have died from some virulent complaint are kept above ground for a month or more while the tangi is proceeding. The segregation of Maoris from all parts, some of whom are suffering from tuberculosis, and others suffering from one of the various infectious diseases, is fraught with danger to themselves and the members of the surrounding community. lam aware that it is a serious matter to interfere with the conventions of a people- but if the clerical missionary interferes for their moral well-being, may not the medical missionary interfere for their physical ? Surely the keeping of a body above ground, though it be encased in a coffin, might be prohibited. I regret that some of the local bodies are not so ready to act upon my suggestions as I would like, or the public health of the community demands. In this connection I would like to quote some of the remarks that appeared in a leading article in one of the local papers: "Local bodies are not so willing to co-operate with the Health Department as they ought to be. We have no necessity to go outside Hawke's Bay to find local bodies who seem anything but disposed to help the Health Officer. It is a matter of common remark that it only requires the Health Officer to report that a property is insanitary to insure a strong conviction on the part of the local body that the Health Officer is a meddler and does not know what he is talking about, and that the property reported on is a credit rather than otherwise to those concerned in its condition. In other parts of the colony this tendency is noticeable. Is an old building reported on as requiring destruction ? Then the sequence of events can be decided on beforehand with almost absolute certainty. The local body concludes that the building is on the whole a very good building: it has a roof on it, and does

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not appear in imminent danger of falling down; it is let to a tenant who has not complained; the rights of property have to be respected ; it may be old, very old, but old age is not an offence; if the place were very bad people would not pay rent for it; and so on." This article may be a little more forcible than the occasion demands, but there is much truth in it. Probably local bodies do as well as they know how according to their lights. But moonlight is not daylight, and meaning well is not always doing well. As time goes on, and the public becomes educated to the fact that dirt spells disease, or at any rate diminished health; that the one involves expense, coupled with an inability to earn, perhaps death, and the other means reduced comfort and diminished earning-power, we shall then be able to get better attention paid to our representations, and shall find our efforts more appreciated. I have, &c.,, Feed, db Lisle, District Health Officer. J. Malcolm Mason, M.D., D.P.H., Chief Health Officer, Wellington. WELLINGTON DISTRICT. Sir, - Department of Public Health, District Office, Wellington, 14th June, 1907. I have the honour to present my annual report on the work of the Wellington, Nelson, and Marlborough Districts during the year ending the 31st March, 1907. Save for a few weeks towards the end of the year, after Dr. Valintine's return from England, and prior to his appointment as Inspector-General of Hospitals, I have had to undertake the whole of the district work, in -addition to my laboratory duties, with the result that there have been too many calls on my time and attention to admit of much satisfaction or thoroughness in the work. The transfer of Dr. Frengley to the Wellington District should enable me to devote more attention to the scientific work, and the change, I trust, may be justified by results in this branch of the Department, as it certainly will in the sanitary supervision of the district. It is a pleasure to be able to report that all the staff, clerical and inspectorial, have worked faithfully and well, despite the lack of personal supervision, and by their efficiency in each branch of our varied duties have enabled the year's work to proceed without serious hitch or oversight. While it is possible to make such a general satisfactory report, I must make special mention of the work done by Mr. Hurley in the laboratory, Mr. Schauer as Chief Inspector, and' Mr. Steward as Chief Clerk. To Mr. Hurley's work it is impossible to do justice in a few words, and were it necessary one could, I am confident, obtain enthusiastic indorsement from the many medical men with whom he comes in contact, and who alone can appreciate the skill, time, and patience he devotes to the pathological investigations. It is to be regretted that this appreciation does not extend far enough to receive adequate recognition at the hands of the Department. Much of the district work has devolved on Mr. Schauer, who has thus had many occasions for displaying his technical skill in sanitary problems and his tact in dealing with men and affairs, and has in every instance acquitted himself well. I would specially refer to the work he has done, and is doing, in connection with the sanitation of hotels. The system of co-operation with the licensing authorities in this direction must be largely set down to his credit—a system which will, I believe, be productive of very great improvements. The clerical work of the Wellington District Office is very great, and increases yearly, so that our very limited staff has to be both efficient and energetic to overtake it. Under Mr. Steward's management it has been effectually and those who understand what this means will recognise that higher praise cannot be given. VITAL STATISTICS. As I have formerly pointed out, our data are far from satisfactory; but, such as they are, the following relate to the Wellington District: — Birth-hate. The birth-rate for Wellington during the year 1906 was 2726 per 1,000 of population. This shows a decrease on that for 1905, which was 2972, but it remains higher than for the year 1904, when it was 26"16. The average in the four centres for this year was 2718. Death-rate. The death-rate for Wellington City, and for city including suburbs, was, during 1906, the lowest recorded in the last five years, as the following table shows: — Death-rate for the whole of the Colony per 1,000 Population. Average for [Wellington Wellington Four Centres City. and Suburbs. including Suburbs. 1902 ... ... ... ... 12-58 12-24 12-74 1903 ... ... ... ... 11-30 10-93 11-73 1904 ... ... ... ... 10-75 10-43 10-73 T905 ... ... ... ... 10-55 10-21 10-42 1906 ... ... ... ... 9-45 9-19 * 10*35 Mean for five years ... ... 10-92 106 11-19

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This is satisfactory —the death-rate having steadily declined since 1902—the more so as this year the drop is chiefly due to a decline in the infant-mortality, sis the following two tables indicate : — Death-rate, excluding Children under One Year. Wellington Average for and Suburbs. Four Centres. 1902 ... ... ... ... ... ... 8-86 9-56 1903 ... ... ... ... ... ... 8-27 9-14 1904 ... ... ... ... ... ... 7-89 8-30 1905 ... ... ... ... ... ... 7-38 8-02 1906 ... ... ... ... ... ... 7-23 8-35 Mean for five years ... ... ... 7"92 8 - 67 Infant Mortality (to every 100 Births). Wellington Wellington Mean in City. and Suburbs. Pour Centres. 1902 ... ... ... ... 12-97 13-02 12-08 1903 ... ... ... ... 928 9-27 9-61 1904 ... ... .. ... 9-55 9-53 8"94 1905 ... ... ... ... 10-02 9-62 8-66 1906 ... ... ... ... 7-11 7-19 7-61 Mean for five years... ... 9-79 972 9-38 It is also satisfactory to note that, while there has been a marked drop in the general infantmortality within the four centres of population in the last year, the rate for Wellington in 1906 was below the average for other centres —contrary to the usual state of affairs. Zymotic Death-rate. Only 22 deaths from zymotic diseases were recorded this year in Wellington and suburbs, making the rate to general deaths 17 per cent., a very low proportion and highly satisfactory, and this in spite of the fact that scarlet fever has been somewhat prevalent. The mean for the previous five years was 61 deaths. Deaths in Total of Proportion of Wellington Four J^XS, and Suburbs. Centres. cfnt 1902 ... ... ... ... ... 108 356 30 1903 ... ... ... ... ... 52 256 20 1904 ... ... ... ... ... 65 202 32 1905 ... ... ... ... ... 34 115 29 1906 ... ... ... ... ... 22 133 17 Mean for five years ... ... 56 212 26 The zymotic rate in other centres was slightly higher than last year, but yet is law throughout the colony. Causes of Death from Zymotic Disease. Diarrhoea. —That only 2 deaths should have occurred from this complaint this year is very striking. Last year there were 12, and the previous year 30. This diminution accounts for the very low zymotic death-rate. It is perhaps too soon to express a hope that this great decrease is due to the attention lately drawn to the importance of pure milk and proper diet in the upbringing ol' 'infants. Certainly there is no such proportionate improvement in the milk-supply, although the conditions under which it is collected and distributed have been to some extent bettered. It is, however, necessary to add 33 deaths from gastritis and enteritis, which are not classed us zymotic diseases in the Registrar-General's returns. Twenty-seven of these were in children under five years. Last year the same number of deaths appear under their headings, so that the diminution shown under the heading of diarrhoea is actual, and not due to difference in notation. The total of deaths from diarrhoea in the four centres was 29 this year, as against 44 last, the bulk of this diminution therefore being due to the low death-rate in Wellington. Measles. —No deaths have been registered as from this cause during the last two years. Diphtheria, with 5 deaths, shows an increase over last year, with 4. There were 13 in the four centres; therefore, Wellington shows as before an undue proportion. There were 45 cases ol this disease notified; the case death-rate was, therefore, 11 per cent. Though the number of deaths has increased, the actual number of cases notified has decreased from 65 in 1905 to 45 this year. The increased mortality is not perhaps worthy of comment, for, with such small numbers for one's data, the probable error is very great. Scarlet Fever was the notified cause of death in but 1 case, as against 3in 1905. This is low, especially as the number notified this year showed an increase of 72 over the previous year. The other deaths from zymotic diseases are as follows: — Enteric Fever. —Four, as against 3 in 1905. Influenza. —Six, as against 3 in 1905. Other Zymotic Diseases. —Four, as against 10 in 1905. Whooping-cough. —For the fourth year no deaths are recorded as from this cause. As regards diseases other than zymotic, we find: — Cancer has increased from 47 in 1905 to 53 this year. Tubercle has increased from 42 in 1905 to 60 this year. From the latter cause there was a marked drop in 1905, 68 having been recorded in 1904.

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Notification of Infectious Disease. The following table shows the number of infectious cases notified throughout the district:—

Scarlet Fever. Enteric Fever. Diphtheria. Tuberculosis. Bloodpoisoning. Totals. Boroughs Wellington.,» .. Palmerston North Wanganui New Plymouth Pahiatua Petone Masterton Marton Carterton Feilding Lower Hutt .. Hawera Patea Eltham Waitara Stratford Inglewood Onslow Karor Greytown 135 20 no 8 4 16 111 16 5 18 10 5 . J 15 1 8 9 24 7 4 3 3 6 i 45 16 12 7 3 9 8 7 1 52 9 13 2 i 4 5 9 2 4 3 5 1 1 261 53 80 13 15 27 135 21 9 28 15 7 2 19 1 15 9 4 2 1 4 7 1 1 3 2 3 2 2 i i ~~ Town Districts — Featherston .. Bull's Halcombe Manaia Eketahuna Martinborough Johnsonville .. 434 66 103 107 7 717 I 1 9 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 2 1 13 6 1 1 4 5 4 1 1 2 O 2 5 3 1 Counties — Kiwitea Rangitikei Taranaki Oroua South Wairarapa Pahiatua Horowhenua .. Hutt Manawatu Wanganui Masterton Eketahuna Stratford Akitio Hawera Patea Mauriceville .. Kairanga Woodville Pohangina * * i 16 5 14 3 4 4 1 1 3 I 6 9 1 2 4 2 2 1 1 1 - 2 9 6 1 2 1 1 1 1 2 3 1 14 2 2 9 6 6 17 5 5 1 7 I 7 17 1 8 5 8 9 2 3 10 1 6 1 13 2 1 1 34 1 1 1 1 1 4 8 2 12 1 1 1 1 1 70 16 28 10 28 3 133 Sw, unary. Boroughs Town districts .. Counties 434 16 76 66 2 16 103 107 9 6 28 10 7 . 717 1 34 3 133 Totals 526 84 140 123 11 884

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It will be noted that there is a great increase over last year, chiefly due to scarlet fever. Scarlet Fever has increased from 309 cases in 1905 to 526 this year, principally in the boroughs, although counties and town districts also show a slight increase. Of boroughs, the greatest contributor was Masterton, with 111 (as against 8 last year), which, with increases of 32 and 20 at Wanganui and Wellington respectively, accounts for the greater part of the rise. Martou, with 16 cases, and Feilding, with 18, were also contributors. There has been, however, a fairly general epidemic of the disease, almost all the counties and town districts showing a few cases. The only notable diminution is in the Borough of Eltham, which has but half the number notified last year; also in the Town District of Maryborough, with no cases, against 9 previously. Apparently a great deal of scarlet fever was spread through unnotified cases and careless exposure of infected persons in public places. In six instances we were able to substantiate our suspicions, as will be seen in the return of prosecutions towards the end of the report. In these cases the patients travelled, or' were allowed to travel, in public vehicles while suffering from an infectious disease. The outbreak in Masterton began in July and remained for five months. There is a probability that the infection originated in some unrecognised cases, and was disseminated chiefly by direct contact by persons visiting infected houses, and in the schools. At no time, however, was it necessary to close any of the schools, as the number of infected children attending any one school was never high. There was doubtless a good deal of carelessness as regards isolation. We were fortunately able to take action in one such case, and obtained a fine with costs. This, I believe, had a very beneficial result. At Wellington there was oniy an average number of cases throughout the year until March, when a definite and widespread outbreak began, and is yet continuing. The most noticeable feature is the wide dissemination, no particular school or street being specially affected, and no milksupply markedly involved. The outbreak, however, is confined to the town, the suburban boroughs of Miramar, Karori, and Onslow completely escaping, while Petone shows a reduction over last year. At Lower Hutt there is a slight increase. lam inclined to believe that the disease is being spread largely by direct contact in trams, and in the patients' own homes. At Feilding and Palmerston North, during May, two slight outbreaks occurred, under circumstances pointing to school infection. The affected schools were accordingly closed and disinfected, when the outbreak stopped. At Wanganui, in October, a limited outbreak occurred among the boarders in a girls' privatt school. The boarders were isolated and the day scholars kept apart, with the result that the epidemic spread no further. A slight outbreak occurred at Featherston at the end of the year, probably from an unrecognised case going to school. The disinfection of the school and public buildings is now in hand. Enteric Fever. —This disease shows a diminution, as this year only 82 cases have been notified, as against 119 in 1905. This diminution is greatly marked in the counties and town districts, which have little more than half last year's number. In Wellington City there has been a satisfactory drop from 33 to 24, while at Wanganui only 4 cases are recorded, as against 30 last year, when there was a widespread outbreak of milk-borne origin traced to an unregistered dairy. This year a like source was proved to be responsible for 3 cases in Wellington, and the dairy was closed, and action taken by the Stock Department on our representations. The only notable increase shown in typhoid returns is at Stratford, where 7 cases occurred, us against no cases in 1905, and also in the Martinborough district, where 15 cases were notified during the month of June. These latter were all traceable, directly or indirectly, to oysters supplied by a Maori, who subsequently developed the disease. An inspection of the whare occupied by this Native showed it to be in such an insanitary condition as to allow of no doubt that the outbreak had its origin from these premises. Elsewhere the number of cases has diminished, and this is the more satisfactory when we consider the very dry, hot autumn—meteorological conditions which are generally favourable to the spread of this disease. Diphtheria was notified on 140 occasions this year, a diminution of 36 on the return of 1905. The decrease is chiefly in the boroughs, the counties and town districts remaining much as last year. The greatest diminution is at Pahiatua, where this year only 7 cases arose, as against 33 the previous year —a satisfactory result foretold in my last report, and due, doubtless, to the gradual substitution of modern drainage for the older and more primitive methods of disposal. In Wellington City 45 cases occurred, being 10 less than last year, chiefly in the older parts of the town, and, as before, without any discoverable cause, although one cannot but suspect the presence of so many small, illconstructed stables crowded among dwellinghouses in the manner so specially to be seen in this city. In the counties the returns are, as usual, low, the only notable outbreak being in the Hutt County, due to an epidemic at the Upper Hutt. Here the population is increasing too rapidly for the sanitary facilities, and the combination of foul cesspit and shallow surface well cheek by jowl is too common. A pure water-supply is here required. At Palmerstou North, during May, a limited outbreak occurred, when 8 cases arose among the children attending one school. There is a probability that the cause was to be found in the excavation-works for the new sewer in a neighbouring street, old polluted soil having been turned up. The school was closed and disinfected. The other notifications do not call for comment.

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i • GENERAL SANITARY MEASURES. Infectious Diseases. The evidence obtained from our inquiries into_the outbreaks of infectious disease, more particularly scarlet fever, showed that there is a great deal of carelessness on the part of persons suffering, or in charge of those suffering, from infectious complaints, as regards the use of trams, cabs, trains, and other public vehicles. Accordingly, the Inspectors have been on the look-out for breaches of the Public Health Act in this respect, with the result that we have instituted proceedings on eight occasions, six being for breaches of the law re travelling in public vehicles. In all but one we were successful. This one case occurred in Wellington. The notifying medical man had diagnosed diphtheria, but the case failed owing to a second medical opinion having thrown doubt on the accuracy of this diagnosis, the Magistrate holding that this doubt did not enable one to say that the patient "to his own knowledge was suffering from the disease." As, however, the patient had travelled in a public vehicle (a tram) before this second opinion was obtained, there was evidently a moral breach of the Act if not a legal one, for the patient travelled in the vehicle immediately after being told by the medical man she was suffering from diphtheria, and before she was in a position to cast any doubt on this opinion. It would seem necessary that there should be an amendment in the wording of section 32 of " The Public Health Act, 1900," so as to prevent this sort of thing being repeated, as it is evidently not desirable that where two medical men differ as to diagnosis the patient should be able to voluntarily adopt the view that his case is not infectious, and travel about immune from punishment. If the words " to his own knowledge " were omitted it would strengthen the hands of the Department in such cases; and it would make the matter more clear if a clause were added somewhat as follows: " Any person concerning whom a registered medical practitioner has issued the notice in section 26, subsection (4), of this Act, shall be deemed to be suffering from the infectious disease specified, until he can produce satisfactory medical evidence to the contrary." Such a clause would also make the position more definite when dealing with convalescent patients. Infectious Diseases Hospitals: At Mastertov the necessary legislation to enable Hospital Boards to build on lands held by Hospital Trustees unfortunately was not enacted, thereby occasioning more delay in the necessary provision of accommodation for infectious cases in some of the country districts. During the recent epidemic of scarlet fever at Masterton the cottage which the Trustees had secured some time before for use as an infectious-disease hospital was dangerously overcrowded for considerable periods, and the need for better provision was amply demonstrated. It is satisfactory to report that the Hospital Board has found the necessary funds, and a beginning has been made on the erection of an infectious ward, in brick, in connection with the new hospital. At Pahiatua the lack of legislation has caused much vexatious delay. A site has been chosen and approved by Dr. \ 7 alintine (the Inspector-General of Hospitals) and myself, in the grounds of the present hospital. It has been proposed to make this a brick building, but this I consider would be a most unnecessary waste of money, as a small four-bed building of the type erected last year at Greytown, at a cost of £400-.£500, would serve amply for a long time. At Wellington the present epidemic of scarlet fever is straining the accommodation for such diseases to the utmost, and it has been necessary to refuse admission to some cases. It is reasonable to exercise a good deal of care in selecting the cases for hospital treatment during an epidemic of scarlet fever, for the evidence in English towns goes to show on the whole that no great benefit to public health is to be gained by an attempt to provide hospital isolation for all cases ; indeed, some hold that, from the point of view of the patient, such segregation is undesirable. However that may be, in the majority of cases in Wellington sufficient isolation ami suitable medical attention can be secured in the homes of the patients; and the cases where such home treatment cannot be secured are, during an outbreak, always sufficient to more than fill the thirty to forty beds available at the district hospital. On these grounds the Department is endeavouring to exclude any but the more necessitous cases, in accordance with the representations of Dr. Ewart, the Medical Superintendent, who finds the present accommodation for infectious cases unsatisfactory. Indeed, considering the position and aspect of the present isolation wards, the safety of the general hospital wards must be a matter requiring the exercise of much anxious supervision, and it is very evident that a properly equipped fever hospital is urgently needed. There is some difficulty in finding a suitable site near enough to the General Hospital to allow of economy in administration, indeed, excluding part of the Asylum grounds, the only available spot is the Old Men's Home, and it would be a desirable matter for the Trustees to enter into negotiations for an exchange. It should not be difficult to find a spot equally suitable for the old pensioners, whereas it is well-nigh impossible to get any other place for the infectious wards. Quarantine. Nothing of the nature of dangerous infectious disease has occurred in the district during the year, and no infectious cases from overseas have arrived, with the exception of one or two cases of tubercle, for which suitable bonds have been received and provision made before a landing was permitted. Some attention has been paid to the question of the excessive cost to the Department of the tender used by the Port Health Officer in his work. Investigation has shown that a much more economical plan would be to obtain an oil launch. The interest and sinking fund, on the initial cost, together with the working-expenses, would be very greatly under what is at present paid yearly in steamer-hire. If the Customs Department were to co-operate, the expense would be very small for the two Departments. This matter has been the subject of a special report.

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Sanatoria for Consumptives. The supervision of the admission of patients to Cambridge Sanatorium is now done at Head Office, but prior to this 149 applications had been dealt with, 74 being from the Wellington, Nelson, and Marlborough Districts, while 34- patients were physically examined at the District Office. There has been, as usual, a good deal of congestion as regards our list of applicants, and so far the policy of establishing local annexes throughout the country has not been productive of much result. However, the annexe at the Wellington District Hospital was opened on the 14th November, and the fourteen beds thus provided have been kept full ever since, chiefly with patients too advanced in the disease to gain great benefit from open-air treatment. With the Otaki Sanatorium very slow progress has been made, mainly owing to the frequent alterations in design made by various members of the Hospital Board. These alterations are doubtless excellent, but they have greatly extended the scope of the operations, and incidentally the cost of the building, the original estimate being practically doubled. Presumably the Board has ample funds to meet this extra call, though, in view of the already large expenditure in hospital rates, it might have been advisable to keep to the lowest cost compatible with efficiency. At Pnlmerston North a considerable amount of money has already been subscribed for a hospital annexe. Unfortunately, a good deal of trouble has arisen over finding a suitable site. The spot favoured by the Hospital Board is close to the General Hospital, and though the establishment of the consumptive ward there would result in great economy of administration, it cannot be said to be a suitable site, owing to the damp, cold, clay subsoil. A very excellent site offered itself on the .astern bank of the Manawatu River, above the Cliff Road. This site was suggested by Mr. Rutherfurd, Secretary to the Board, in whose company we visited it, and were satisfied with its general suitability. At a meeting of local bodies and those interested in the question it was pointed out that the site is close enough to the General Hospital to admit of much economy in administration, and is so placed as to be free from any objection from landholders round about, as it is isolated between road and river, and is well placed as regards sun and view. However, many difficulties seem to have arisen as to its acquisition, and the scheme for an annexe for Palmerston North seems to be indefinitely delayed. At Wanganui the consumptives are at present treated on the verandahs at the Hospital. 1 suggested that the diphtheria ward, which is never used, and is situated in an ideal spot for openair treatment, should be converted into an administration block, and a couple of three-bed shelters erected beside it. The cost would have been very small; but the Hospital Board has in hand other work entailing large expenditure, so this question has been deferred. At Picton Hospital it is proposed to erect a single-bed shelter by private subscription. Plans for such a building were furnished at the request of the Board. The construction of a model shelter at the Christchurch Exhibition on experimental lines was approved and an opportunity thus afforded me to try some of the schemes for obtaining the maximum amount of open wall detailed in my last annual report. The construction was much delayed owing to the difficulty in finding some one able to carry out part of the work, which was novel to be within the sphere of the average builder. However, the building was finally completed, and proved instructive. 11. will ultimately be transferred to one of the larger sanatoria, where it can be put to practical use. Four styles of wall were shown—(l) that in use at Cambridge; (2) that planned by Mr. Clere for Otaki ; (3) canvas screens running on upright rods, with an arrangement for making the whole weathertight when it becomes necessary to close the wall in bad weather ; (4) wooden roller shutters in two parts, one rolling up under the eaves, and Lhe other down into a box below the floor. This latter plan is undoubtedly the most effective, but has the disadvantage of being more costly than the others. The canvas wall is cheap, and effects its purpose, and, with a few minor alterations, should be capable of wide application. I have to thank Mr. Campbell, Government Architect, and his staff for their assistance in working out the details of the scheme, and in supervising its erection. Private Hospitals. At the beginning of this year the Private Hospitals Act came into force, so that the Health Department no longer lias the supervision of these places: a matter to be recorded with satisfaction by the overworked District Health Officer. From the Ist April, 1906, to the 31st December, 1906, thirty-three licenses were issued. Habitations. Condemnation certificates were issued during the year for sixty-eight buildings, distributed as follows : —

Buildings, &c., Condemned.

Houses. Stables. Outbuildings. Factories. Hotels. Totals. Wellington itaki ... lfredton Vanganui leikorangi 'etone ... 11 3 2 18 1 1 1 wing 27 4 r ; l 30 1 5 12 1" "a 16 5 Total 27 4 Hi 2 1 68

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One is frequently confronted with a difficulty as regards enforcing these condemnation certificates when the property is a leasehold —a long lease which perhaps expires in a few years. In such conditions it is somewhat hard on the lessee to make him pull down his building, as it is evident it will not pay him to rebuild for the few remaining years of his lease. In such cases it is necessary to be content with a few repairs, to make the place as sanitary as possible till the term of ownership expires. At the present day building by-laws are more strict than formerly, and this, with the gradual elimination of the older haphazard styJe of building, should simplify matters for the District Health Officers of the future. Where, however, the local authority has neglected to make by-laws it is difficult to stop the perpetration of crimes of the jerry-building type. It would be desirable were the Health Department enabled to exercise a general supervision over the erection of all habitable houses. Thus, we frequently find ruinous houses being removed from a city and re-erected in a suburban district where by-laws do not exist. If the house has been condemned we have power to interfere under section 11 of " The Public Health Amendment Act, 1903," but if it has been pulled down voluntarily by the owner our powers seem vague; and when we find a builder using decayed and filthy material from such a house we can only wait till the building is complete and then issue a condemnation certificate, which seems rather a roundabout way of securing our object. One such instance occurred during the year at Johnsonville, but in this case the owner has agreed to our representations, and the defective material is to be eliminated. However, it would be a simple matter to give the District Health Officer power to condemn any unsuitable material about to be used for building purposes. Where the local authority had good building by-laws, and enforced them, there would be no need for the Department to interfere. Then, again, it should be within the power of the Department to demand a satisfactory watersupply for every habitable house. We have no powers as to this whatsoever, yet in England, where the Public Health authorities are not supposed to be in as strong a position as we are, the medical officer of health can prohibit the use of a house which is not satisfactorily supplied with water. As regards overcrowding, I need only refer to my report of last year, in which I suggested that general standards should be fixed by Act of Parliament, of general application, the limitation of area being graded according to the sanitary equipment of the district. Of course, such laws could only be made to apply to future subdivisions, and not to already thickly populated places. This was the subject of a special report supplied to you during the year, and model by-laws referring to the same matter have been drawn up and supplied to various growing towns. As regards the size of sleeping-rooms also, I suggested a general standard to prevent overcrowding, ' one which was to take special cognisance of floor-space. One frequently has to combat a popular error that a lofty room is necessarily a well-ventilated one. Several local bodies have, with a commendable zeal for sanitation, made the error of placing too much emphasis on the height of the stud, but have neglected to ask for adequate window-space or other means of ventilation. I do not think the minimum from floor to ceiling should be fixed so high as 10 ft. One knows ot many rooms no higher than 8 ft. 6 in. or 9 ft., which no one could possibly consider cramped or ill ventilated Indeed, such low-ceiled rooms are generally preferable from the artistic point of view All that is required is that the window-area should be ample, that both sashes be hung, and that the top of the window come to within 12 in. of the ceiling. An excellent demonstration of the value of ample open window-space was obtained during the observations I made at Collegiate School, on behalf of the Commission of Inquiry which was held during the past year, in this school the dormitories, though old-fashioned in type, and with a cubic space per head just within the accepted standards, are remarkably well ventilated-the percentage of carbonic acid, even after some hours' occupation, being in most cases little higher than that of _the outside air. The secret of this is that there are plenty of windows, and these are kept open all night. Sanitation of Hotels. ' The sanitary supervision of licensed houses has hitherto been one of the many burdens borne by the Police Force; but a police officer, though doubtless well able to report on genera cleanliness and forth i s not necessarily an expert in matters of plumbing and other techmcal questions. Accordingly ' an attempt is being made to utilise the officers of the Health Department by coieratinf with the Police and Licensing Benches in this direction. The proposal emanated I SKarszES K^= e ftS,s ass isrste t^ SSnofThe Committee. You thereupon circularised all the licensing authorities in the have been furnished on certain hotels in Wellington City and Upper Hutt. DIUINAGE-WOBK AND DISPOSAL OF REFUSE.

4-H. 31.

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At Palmerston North and at Feilding the work of extending the present system is in progress, and plans for a large extension at Masterton have been submitted and reported on. Some attention has been paid to the working of the septic-tank method of disposal of sewage at the public and private tanks in the district, with a view to ascertaining whether a standard of purity for the effluent can be fixed, a matter which has been especially engaging the attention of Dr. Finch, District Health Officer, Christchurch, to whom our results were sent. So far as the installations serving towns are concerned, the results are on the whole satisfactory, although many of these require more constant attention than they receive. One source of trouble which we have met with is the rapid growth of fungoid filaments in the tank effluent, which, washing down, tend to choke the surface of the filter-beds. This probably is unavoidable in warm climates, and suggests that the conduit from tank to filter should be as short as possible. Certainly this trouble is most marked at Eltham, where the conduit is of considerable length. At Palmerston the tank receives an undue proportion of ground-water, considering the comparatively small number of houses yet connected. However, the system has worked well on the whole. The new installation at Carterton is interesting, in that the nightsoil from the unsewered parts of the town is carted to the tank and flushed into it by means of a special sluice arrangement. This makes a very concentrated sewage, yet the result of treatment is satisfactory so far as smell and appearances are concerned. After all, the chief object to attain is a non-putrescent effluent, for the evidence before the Royal Commission on sewage-disposal most clearly shows that so far we cannot hope to obtain an effluent free from all suspicion of carrying the germs of disease, no matter how chemically satisfactory it may be. If this be kept in view, it is evident that the possibilities of sewage-disposal by this system are somewhat more limited than is popularly supposed to be the case. _ As regards the analysis of private-tank effluents, the results are certainly discouraging, ihe sewage is in the first place very concentrated compared to town sewages, and the solid matters are not broken up and emulsified in the same way. Then, the flow is very intermittent and liable tc sudden flushing, quite out of proportion to the capacity of the tank. I am strongly of opinion that it is useless to try to obtain an effluent from these private tanks which will come within the limits of even the least strict standard of purity, if such standard is to be of any value whatsoever. The most satisfactory solution of the difficulty appears to be to distribute the tank-effluent by shallow subsoil pipes, and permit the natural soil to effect the purification. This system was adopted at the Mount View Asylum for the disposal of pig-sty drainage, and so far has given satisfaction, in spite of the somewhat severe nature of the test. Inspection of Food. The following list shows the amount of foodstuffs condemned by the Department during the year: — 64£ cases fruit 2 cans lard 7 bottles fruit 16 tins fruit 8 jars fruit 154 boxes fruit 1 barrow fruit 1 cartload fruit 2 tins meat 2 pieces meai 4£ dozen sausages 2 pieces meat 88 jars paste 12 fowls 134 jars pickles 6 tins paste 13 cases fish 15 jars vegetables 12 sacks fish 26 tins fish 6 packets maizena 20 bottles jam 3 cans milk 301 gallons milk 12 sacks potatoes 12 cases tinned milk 14 siphons ) aara , oA 17 cases onions 74 doz. bottles 2 (killed) calves 66 gals, in casks j As this list indicates, we have made a special effort this year to exercise more supervision over the quality of food-materials offered for sale in the shops and markets, while a reference to the list of prosecutions undertaken by, or at the instance of, the Department shows that on five occasions we prosecuted on account of the sale of uasound food, and in three instances the owners of unclean dairies were dealt with by the Stock Department at our instance. One prosecution was undertaken by the city authorities, on our representation, for the sale of calves, the carcases of which had been "blown." An aerated-water factory, the sanitary condition of which was defective, was closed down, and the contents of the bottles condemned. The material sold in the auction marts has been the special object of our attention, and, when other duties permit, one of our Inspectors attends these sales and reports if any defective food is present It is satisfactory to note that the auctioneers have themselves assisted us in every way possible It must be confessed, however, that we have but touched the corner of the subject. Special legislation and a special staff are required to deal with so important a matter. As an instance of the manner in which we are at present handicapped, we are unable to deal with the receptacles and means of conveyance of milk, meat, «fee, for distribution. A milk-cart may be in a filthy condition, vet we can only.deal with the milk, condemning it as unfit for consumption, if we are able to prove that such is the case—not always an easy matter. So too with butchers carts, in regard to which we have attempted to put a stop to the use of the same vehicle for the distribution of meat to the consumer and the carriage of offal to the boiling-down works. Our powers are, however, too vague for strenuous action; and this applies also to the conveyance of foodstuffs on the railways, as mentioned in a previous report.

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" Producer "-gas Plants. In a special report dated September, 1906, I called attention to the possible dangers from the use of what is known as " producer "or " suction " gas as a source of energy. This gas can be manufactured at a very low cost, and is in many ways useful, so that it is already in pretty general use. It consists chiefly of carbon-monoxide, produced by driving steam through glowing coke. A very small escape into a closed space, therefore, might be followed by serious consequences to those breathing the air so polluted, and, as this gas is odourless and accumulative in effect, no warning of danger might be experienced by the sufferer, who might breathe the.atmosphere for some time, and be overcome in the end quite suddenly. Even so low a proportion "as 0 - 4 per cent, may prove fatal if breathed for an hour, and so dangerous has it proved when used in the form known as "water-gas " as a diluent for ordinary illuminating-gas that stringent regulations as to the percentage addition permissible have been enacted by the British Home Office. lam not aware that it is in use in this country as a diluent for illuminating-gas, but it would be well if regulations were made restricting its use in this form, and also enabling one to supervise the construction and use of " producer "-gas plants, so that any danger can be avoided. An instance of its fatal powers has already occurred at Gisborne, and from inquiries made I have heard of other cases where ill effects followed on tbe careless running of these engines. By-laws. A considerable amount of time has been occupied in the framing of model sanitary by-laws for the guidance of the smaller local authorities, which are unable to secure expert advice on such matters as building and drainage regulations. Dr. Frengley and I have collaborated in preparing models for drainage and plumbing regulations, and the District Health Officers of other districts have been asked to assist by criticism and advice on these and other efforts. 'So far models have been completed for—(1) drainage and plumbing; (2) building, for small local bodies; (3) nightsoil services; (4) suggested by-laws dealing with overcrowding; (5) general sanitary regulations for small townships. Rough drafts of these hare already been printed and sent to the Crown Law Officers for revision ; others are in course of construction, but owing to the time they occupy and the lack of opportunity for continued work at them, their completion is very slow. By-laws have been supplied to the following places: — Building By-laws to Eketahuna, Levin, Johnsonville, Picton, Eltham, Rangitikei, Taihape, and Hunterville. Nightsoil By-laws to Picton and Johnsonville. General Sanitary By-laws to Taihape, Rangitikei, Hunterville, Eketahuna, and Levin. By-laws regulating Stables to Stratford.

Legal Actions. The following is a list of the prosecutions undertaken by the Department during the year:—

The following were undertaken at the instance of this Department: —

No. Date. Particulars. Fine and Costs 1 2 3 4 5 1906. May 5 Aug. 26 „ 28 „ 28 ■ 28 Exposing unsound fruit for sale (two informations) Scarlet-fever patient travelling in public vehicle £ s. a. 10 16 0 3 10 0 4 18 3 4 18 3 2 13 4 tt it n "' Scarlet-fever case not notified by householder ... „ conveyed by cabman, who did not have cab disinfected afterwards Diphtheria patient travelling in public vehicle ... Exposing unsound fruit for sale 5 14 0 5 17 0 6 7 Sept. 3 . 17 1907. Jan. 11 „ 18 . 23 Feb. 11 Mar. 1 , 11 8 9 10 11 12 13 Scarlet-fever patient travelling in public vehicle Selling condensed milk deficient in butter-fat ... Scarlet-fever patient travelling in public vehicle Unsound condensed milk used in manufacture of sweets... Using leaking milk-can stopped with soap Diphtheria patient travelling in public vehicle ... 16 0 4 10 0 0 5 0* 11 17 6 4 10 0 t *And oosib. f Lost through defect in Act.

0. Date. Particulars. Fine and Costs. 1906. June By Corporation (non-compliance with condemnation certificate) ... Bemoval order granted. Fine and costs 1 2 3 Sept. 11 Oct. 8 1907. January By Stock Department (unclean dairy) „ (keeping unregistered dairy) „ (selling underweight calves), and by Corporation ("blown" carcases) a 4 it

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Sanitary Inspection. The scheme in vogue for the past three years of having inspectors stationed in the various districts, whose salaries are partially paid by the local authorities, has worked so well from the sanitary point of view that one cannot but regret that it has been decided that the system is too expensive to the Department. There is no doubt that in some of the districts we might reasonably ask more support from the local bodies, as, for instance, in Wellington City and suburbs, where we do all the work of disinfection, occupying the whole time of one, and during epidemics two, or even three, Inspectors, without receiving any subsidy whatsoever. The system has proved of the greatest benefit to the country districts, and in most cases their subscriptions have amounted to a reasonable proportion of the Inspector's salary. The cost to the Department in the Wellington District, with nine Inspectors, has amounted to £37 per 1,000 of population, to which must be added travelling-expenses amounting to <£l - 97 per 1,000. The average cost in the other health districts in which the scheme is not in force, and in which therefore the local bodies contribute little or nothing, amounted to £3"3 per 1,000 of population, with travelling-expenses reaching £I' 7 per 1,000. The difference in cost, therefore, is not so striking, in spite of the fact that we have so much larger a staff, while the benefits derived from the combined scheme no one who has worked under both conditions can deny. Wellington has a larger population than any other district, and it is only fair to expect a greater expenditure on inspection. The travelling-expenses of each Inspector are also greatly diminished by his being placed in the centre of his district, and there is no question that the position of these men, who can act on behalf of the local authorities, and at the same time, being departmental officers, are free from local influences, is infinitely stronger than that of an Inspector entirely the servant of the local authority, while their position as representing the local authority gives them much freer powers, and brings them in closer contact with their work, than the Inspectors who are entirely departmental. This question has been the subject of several special reports. The following alterations in our staff have taken place: Mr. Brownlie having resigned, Mr. Bennett, who already holds the Sanitary Institute ceitificate, has been appointed to the Wellington District, where he has done much excellent work. Messrs. Hickes and Miller presented themselves for examination and passed satisfactorily, and were appointed to the staff. Mr. Miller was drafted to the South Wairarapa district, where, owing to the drainage-works in progress in Pahiatua and Carterton, and the epidemic of scarlet fever at Masterton, the work was too great for Mr. Dorizac to overtake single-handed. Mr Hickes has gone to the Taranaki District pro tern. Mr. Green has passed his Inspector's examination with credit, but has meanwhile been appointed to the staff of the vaccine laboratory, where he has shown great aptitude for the work. Mr. Carlisle, who already holds the certificate of the City and Guilds, has been added to the staff, and has been on duty at Christchurch during the extra pressure of work there. ' The newly formed Eltham Council has joined the combined scheme, and has agreed to pay a subsidy of £20 towards the salary of Mr. Gardiner, whose excellent services in the Taranaki District are being appreciated by the local authorities there. It will indeed be a loss to the local bodies if they are to lose his services and those of such men as Messrs. Sargeant and Wilson, not to mention others of our staff who have all done excellent work, as the list at the end of my report shows. The system of subsidising local bodies towards the cost of the Sanitary Inspector has been extended to the Boroughs of Masterton and Hawera. At the former place the Council asked our assistance in the choice of an Inspector, and, after examining the applications, Mr. Cairns was selected as being the most suitable, on condition that he passed a practical examination to the satisfaction of this Department. This he did, and a subsidy of £30 per annum was approved. The negotiations with the Nelson City Council have so far not resulted in any satisfactory conclusion as regards the appointment of an inspector. The following list indicates to some extent the enormous amount of work done by the Inspectors during the past year. The use of monthly-report forms, introduced last year, enables one to give accurate details as to this:— , - , , Inspections made in connection with complaints, 475; infectious diseases, (49; food-shops, 2,523; houses, 3,719; miscellaneous, 5,230: total, 12,696. Special Inspections made by District Health Officer. Factories • J3 Houses .. ... ■■ ■ .103 Schools ... •. ■•■ ••• ••• ■■• * Stables ... •■■ ■•■ ••■ ■• l Z Nightsoil depots, &c. Drains ... • ■ •■• ■•■ •■■ ••■ ::; ■;; n Dairies ... ... ••'■ ■•• ■■■ ■•• ••• Hotels ... .-. ■• ••■ il Nuisances • •. • • • ■ ■ ■ ■ • • • • • • ■ • • ■ ■ * Shops ... ••• •■ l ° Privies ... ••■ ■■• ■■■ ••• ■■■ "' Abattoirs ... ••■ ■■■ ••■ ;•■ •■■ "■ i* Auction-rooms ■ •• ■■■ ••■ ■•;• • \ Sanatoria ... • •■ •■■ ■•■ ••■ :;■ ••■ Unclassified ... ■'•■ ••■ ■•■ lb Total ... ■■■ ••• 2M

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SUMMARY OP OFFICE-WORK. Some idea of the heavy clerical work devolving on the district office can be obtained from the following summary: — Letters written (District Office) ... ... ... ... ... 1,951 ~ (laboratory) ... ... ... .. ... 912 2,863 . Circulars sent ... .. ... .. ... ~. ... 149 Requisitions served on — Local authorities ... ... ... .. .... .. 227 Individuals ... ..-. .. ... ... 36 Via Factory Inspector ... ... ... ... ... 5 ~ Licensing Bench ... ... .. .... 24 On other Departments ... ... ... ... .. 34 326 Applications for private-hospital licenses ... .. ... .. 42 Applications for admission to sanatorium ... ... ... 149 Condemnation certificates issued ... .. ... ... .. 68 By-laws dealt with .. ... . ... ... ... 22 Prosecutions ... .. ... ... ■ • ■ ■ • • 17 Special Re-ports have been furnished on the following subjects: — Plans and cost of launch suitable for the Port Health Officer work. Preservation of milk (Dr. Finch). Dangers of " producer "-gas plants. Cost of sanitary inspection. Medical insjtection of schools. Standards of purity for septic-tank effluent. Filter-beds for water-purification (Education Department). Duties of Public Vaccinators (circular). Pasteurisation plants (Masterton Borough Council). Jiemoval and disposal of refuse (Wanganui Borough Council). Hamilton typhoid outbreak. Physical Examinations have been made as follows: — Applicants for sanatorium treatment ... ... ... ... ... 32 Cases suspected, infectious disease ... ... ... ... ... 31 Others ... ... ... ... ■•• ... •■■ ... 12 Total ... ... ... ... ... ■• ... 75 The pathological and scientific work is dealt with in another report. SANITATION OF THE VARIOUS DISTRICTS. Wellington Citt. Population, 58,565. Infectious diseases reported: Scarlet fever, 135; enteric fever, 24; diphtheria, 45; tuberculosis, 52; blood-poisoning, 5. In matters of sanitation Wellington is certainly a progressive city, and I cannot agree with those who from time to time would have us believe that the Corporation neglects its duties in this respect. Frequent examination of the water-supply shows that it is good, and the drainage so far as it goes is excellent. Defects there are, particularly in the matter of the removal of refuse, but this will be remedied when the renewal of the destructor is an accomplished fact. There is much difficulty at present in the matter of offensive-trade products, such as accumulate particularly in fish-shops. I understand that special provision is being made for such matters as an adjunct to the new destructor, and also that a steam disinfecting apparatus will be added, which should make a great difference in the incidence of such diseases as scarlet fever, it being at present impossible to insure thorough disinfection of bedding and other heavy materials. A small but much-needed bit of drainage has been put in at Evans Bay, by which the oysterfattening beds are now protected from pollution by house-drainage. Great advances are being made in the matter of extending the water-supply to the outlying suburbs. The enlargement of the Karori high-pressure reservoir is in hand, together with a special reservoir to supply the higher pants, such as Kelburne. Following, of course, on the provision of a water-supply, drainage will be laid in the outlying parts, and the insanitary conditions at present too frequently found in Kelburne, Kilbirnie, and Island Bay will be finally removed. As indicating the influence of such conditions on the incidence of dirt diseases, such as typhoid and diph-

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theria, I may mention an outbreak of the former —fortunately limited to three cases—which arose in consequence of lack of drainage facilities in a group of outlying houses in Newtown, one of which was used in a small way as a dairy. There is no doubt that in this case the milk was the cause of spreading the disease. There is a diminution in the cases of enteric and diphtheria this year, but the latter disease is too prevalent yet to enable one to be sanguine as to the prospect of stamping it out. It is disappointing, too, to find that it is in the central parts of the city, where drainage is good, that the majority of cases arise. We have been unable to connect it with the milk-supply, and, as before, 1 am inclined to blame defective refuse-removal and insanitary stables. Much trouble has arisen in the latter connection over a manure-heap in the Asylum grounds, which was a source of annoyance in the view of the neighbours. lam inclined to believe that the trouble was more the carting of the manure from various stables to this heap, which itself was a reasonable distance away from habitations. However, the Asylum authorities have decided to remove any possibility of causing annoyance, and will shortly arrange for the disposal of the manure in a position where, with no stretch of imagination, could it be regarded as a nuisance. It is with regret we have to record a recrudescence of scarlet fever at the end of the present year. This, however, cannot be attributed to insanitary surroundings, although, of course, overcrowding has an influence on its spread. This question of overcrowding remains the principal sanitary problem in the city, and it is a matter for speculation how far the encouragement to build on every available area, given by the system of rating, counterbalances any possible advantage such a system possesses. I cannot subscribe to the complacent attitude of Mr. Doyle, Chief Corporation Inspector, on the question of slums, the existence of which he denies. Certainly we do not possess slums such as are found in some of the cities of the Old World, but the elements are present —collections of degraded buildings, too cramped together for this country and climate, and too crowded inside to make for the hygienic welfare of the inhabitants. The overcrowding inside the houses is an outcome of high rents, and the provision of cheap dwellings must be regarded as Wellington's most pressing need. The Government workers' homes do not supply the remedy, the rents being comparatively high, and the number of dwellings a mere drop in the bucket. In considering the remedy one cannot but ponder over the fact that the waste land, known as the Town Belt, offers suitable sites for many hundreds of workers' homes, in positions which at present are of no value as recreation-grounds, and are of no public utility. The belt was set aside as a public asset for health and recreation. How better could it serve the former object than by diverting such useless parts of it to the relief of the congestion from which the city suffers, especially if in so doing the Council were to secure for ever}' acre of this reserve so alienated a like area in other positions which could be utilised as playgrounds? To the Town Clerk and City Engineer and their respective staffs I must once more offer my grateful thanks for their kindly courtesy and co-operation during the year. Wellington Suburbs. The suburban borougha have been wonderfully free from infectious disease, and there is little to record beyond my remarks in last year's report. Wadestown. —In the addition of Wadestown to the city, a solution is being found to the sanitary troubles of that district. Already arrangements have been made for the much-needed nightsoil service, and shortly the Goldie's Brae area will be connected to the city sewers. Karori. Here there has been no advancement in the matter of drainage. Possibly the increase of population, which the introduction of the tram-service must bring, will force the subject on the attention of the Council. Miramar has so far withstood the influence which would repeal the salutary by-law limiting the number of houses per acre to four. Shortly the population will be sufficient to enable water and drainage to be introduced, when the building-area can be reduced, although even then it would be desirable to keep a reasonably high limitation if the borough is to retain its salubrious reputation. At Lower flutt the drainage scheme is developing. At Petone a scheme for complete drainage is being considered. Certainly the population of the borough demands something better than a partial slop-water service. Improvements in the water-supply are being effected. Rural Boroughs. The majority of the country boroughs have now been provided with a good high-pressure water-supply, and the beginning of a modern sewerage system. Matterton.— As already noted, Masterton has had the misfortune to suffer from a severe outbreak of scarlet fever. This cannot be laid against its sanitary condition, however, which in the sewered parts of the town is good. One beneficial effect has been to hasten on the provision of a hospital for infectious cases. A very extensive scheme for enlarging the drainage system has been drawn up, by which the low lying districts will be sewered also, and its adoption will be a great boon to the town. It entails a large expenditure and a long length of main sewer to get a suitable outfall j but the

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abandonment of the present defective treatment-beds is much to be desired, as there is evidence of serious pollution of the river by the effluent. The appointment of an Inspector, partly under this Department, is noted elsewhere. (Jarterton. —The drainage system and tank are complete and in working-order, the result being so far encouraging. When a greater proportion of the houses are connected up an even better result may be anticipated. Greytown has not yet been able to attain to a water-supply, but this doubtless will soon come. Eketahuna is now a borough, and already the Council is taking advantage of its new powers to inaugurate drainage for the hotels and other parts of the town where it is most needed. This would have been done sooner but for the delay in obtaining the necessary funds, which were not available while the town was still under the Town Districts Act. At Pahiatua the drainage system is now in operation. Some complaint has been made as to the working of the septic tank, which is perhaps not in as isolated a position as might be desired, but analysis failed to show serious pollution of the stream into which it discharges. Levin is now a borough, and the Council has established a good nightsoil service. There is much need for a water-service and a sewerage system, as there are already congested areas in this township, which do not lend themselves to the more primitive sanitary methods. The use of shallow wells here is certainly dangerous. . Palmerston North.—An analysis of the water-supply here showed that it was satisfactory. There has been much delay as regards completing the drainage scheme, owing to financial troubles, but the work—which is very costly, owing to the depth necessary for the sewers and the amount of ground-water met with—is now steadily progressing. The septic tank has given as much satisfaction as could be expected where the sewage is diluted by a great excess of ground, water and waste from engines, &c. As the sewage grows stronger more uniform results may be obtained. Some trouble has been occasioned by the boiling-down works in connection with the abattoirs. This probably can be easily remedied by the provision of scrubbers to deodorise the vapour from the digester. Feliding is extending its drainage system. The tank is said to be working well, but I have not had an opportunity of inspecting it. Marton remains vn statu quo. It is perhaps the least progressive of all the towns in the Wellington District. Drainage is required, and better supervision of back yards, and so forth. The railway-station septic tank has been completed, and has worked well so far. Wanganui. —The Borough Council is, I trust, at last seriously taking up the question of systematic refuse-removal, on which subject I furnished it with a detailed report. Under Inspector Sargeant's ever-watchful eye many improvements have been effected in the condition of various premises, and a fair number of ruinous houses have been removed, though in this matter more vigour might have been shown by the Council. The drainage of Durietown, Aramoho, and St. John's Hill is a matter requiring attention. These suburbs might well be taken into the borough, and a " Greater Wanganui " formed, which would be a satisfactory solution of most of the present difficulties at these places. The filtration of the Okehu water-supply has not yet been attended to, the Council considering that the use of Virginia Lake as a settling-pond was sufficient. Analysis made after heavy rain, however, does not bear this out, in addition to which Virginia Lake is so situated as to be liable to pollution by drainage from the main road, and therefore should not be used as a source of supply. ■ Hawera being somewhat too distant to be included in Inspector Gardiner's district, it was arranged that the local Inspector, Mr. Macpherson, be permitted to act on behalf of the Department, a subsidy being paid to the Council for his services. Reform in the matter of plumbing by-laws is required here. Eltham, Stratford, and Ingle-wood are in a satisfactory condition. The drainage system at the latter place is now complete, and many houses are connected. Stricter building by-laws are required. Waitara. —Some efforts have been made to secure a water-supply. There are certain objeciions to the one proposed, but possibly these can be removed. New Plymouth has been very free from infectious disease this year. The septic tank discharging into the stream has not given any great offence, but much depends on the continuous flow of water. Were it to get so low as to expose the end of the outfall, objectionable odours would certainly arise. Town Districts. Nothing worthy of note has arisen at any of these places. Martinborough shows a general improvement in sanitary condition since the nightsoil service was installed. At Kaponga, unfortunately, no one could be found willing to undertake the nightsoil service, and, being'a town district, the borrowing-powers of which are limited, some difficulty arises as to obtaining the money necessary for a water-supply and sewerage system. The hotel, which was the source of the typhoid outbreaks here, is to be replaced by a more satisfactory structure.

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Counties. As regards the counties little need be said. In the Hutt County most of the places which offered sanitary problems have become independent authorities. At Upper Hutt, however, the repeated outbreaks of diphtheria indicate a need for better sanitation. Shallow wells and cesspits in close proximity is the probable cause of much of this disease. MARLBOROUGH DISTRICT. I have been able to pay but one visit to this district, which I did in consequence of the outbreak of typhoid, due to polluted oysters, which has already been mentioned. A good deal of work has been done in connection with the hotels. At Blenheim the need for a drainage system is evident from the difficulty in the way of proper disposal of slop-waters. At Picton a move is being made in this direction, and plans have been drawn up by Mr. Leslie Reynolds and approved. These provide for a temporary septic-tank treatment without filtrationbeds, the outfall into the harbour being unlikely to be productive of trouble for many years to come. The appointment of Dr. Redman as Acting.District Health Officer was made during the year. Mr. Johnston, our Sanitary Inspector, has done much good work. NELSON/DISTRICT. My time has been too fully occupied elsewhere to enable me to pay a visit to this district. Work on the drainage system has been begun, and the septic tank is nearing completion. So far no agreement with the Borough Council has been reached as regards sanitary inspection. I append a short report by Dr. Bett, Acting District Health Officer, which shows that diphtheria is somewhat too prevalent. R. H. Makgill, M.D., D.P.H., District Health Officer. Department of Public Health, Nelson, Ist April, 1907. Dueing the year ended the 31st March, 1907, there has not been much infectious disease in Nelson and surrounding districts, only 52 cases having been notified. The total was made up as follows: 28 diphtheria, 6 enteric fever, 1 measles, 1 puerperal fever, 1 scarlatina, 8 tuberculosis. The great majority of these occurred in the country districts, only 14 being notified as residing in Nelson. Of these, 4 were diphtheria, 4 enteric fever, 1 scarlatina, and 5 tuberculosis. It is greatly to be regretted that no appointment of a Sanitary Inspector has been made so far. It is possible in the town to exercise supervision of infectious cases, but in the country districts little can be done at present in the way of inspection of infected houses and districts. It is urged that steps should be taken at an earty date to remedy this defect. The new drainage scheme of the City of Nelson is being carried out, the septic tank having almost been completed, but the system of reticulation has not yet been commenced. F. A. Bett, Acting District Health Officer, Nelson District. CANTERBURY DISTRICT. Department of Public Health, Christ church, 13th May, 1907. Dr. Mason, Chief Health Officer, Wellington. J have the honour to submit to you the annual report of the Canterbury Health District for the year ending the 31st March, 1807. INFECTIOUS DISEASE. In Table No. 1 every case notified in every house has been counted; in the other tables only one case has been counted to one house when two or more have been notified from the same house.

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Table No. 1.—Infectious Disease.

5—H. 31.

i I t-l o > o is a I o .S3 -t-j & s b a> EH 3? .2 Amuri County .'. Akaroa County Akaroa Pigeon Bay ... Ashburton County Ashburton and suburbs Lyndhnrst ... Kakaia Methven Winslow Windermere... Ashley County Bangiora ... Kaiapoi Woodend Amberley ... ... "... Cust Sefton Fernside Springston ... Cheviot County Domett GeraWine County Geraldine Temuka Kaikoura County Kaikoura Levels County ... Timaru Pleasant Point Cave Baineliff Mackenzie County Fairlie Selwyn County Christchurch Woolston Avon Biccarton Heathcote Papanui Halswell Spreydon New Brighton Sumner Lyttelton Belfast Prebbleton ... Templeton ... Tai Tapu Islington Little Biver ... Leeston Waimate County ... Waimate Hakataramea Waitaki County Oamaru Herbert Deborah Alma Totara Weston Kurow Duntroon ... ... .... Glenavy 1,142 4,267 15,652 15,574 1,120 s',571 l','76o 12,496 1,642 "2 "] "l 4 2 2 3 "2 1 "lO "5 "l "9 2 '"2 3 15 1 7 '"2 1 2 5 1 1 1 2 1 1 i i 4 2 1 1 4 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 " 1 2 3 3 49 1 1 3 ... 1 1 "2 89,058 66 1 20 2 6 6 "*3 5 4 1 1 1 1 8 1 1 1 1 1 "3 6 2 2 1 "a 14 11 2 1 1 '"2 2 1 "a 1 "2 7,053 i i "5 14,871 ' 2 2 5 3 4 3 1 6 3 1 1 1 Totals ... 32 174 59 120 9 12 Totals for Christchurch and district... 81 24 r>6

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Table No. 2. —Scarlet Fever.

There were 174 cases of scarlet fever in 139 houses, as compared with 184 cases in 148 houses in 1905. In Christchurch and district there were 81 cases in 69 houses, as compared with 40 cases in 32 houses in 1905. The cases have been fairly equally distributed during the period, and there has been no particular epidemic at any one time. In the rest of the district isolated cases have occurred in most of the towns and settlements, and in Kaikoura and the district around Totara, south of Oamaru, there have been small epidemics.

Age and Sex Distribution. In 67 cases out of 81 in Christchurch and district in which the age was known, the following is the age and sex distribution: —

Apl. May. June. July. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Totals. I Christchurch Woolston ... Heathcote ... Eiccarton ... Papanui Halswell ... Spreydon ... New Brighton Akaroa Lyttelton ... Prebbleton... Templeton... Islington ... Leeston Kaikoura ... Eangiora ... Gust Fernside Kaiapoi Belfast Eakaia Ashburton aud suburbs Windermere Temuka Timaru Cave Eaincliff ... Claremont... Makakihi ... Oamaru Deborah ... Alma Totara Weston 7 6 7 5 5 5 1 4 5 4 2 6 56 1 3 8 1 1 1 1 1 5 2 1 1 2 13 4 2 1 2 2 3 9 1 8 5 1 1 1 1 4 1 1 1 1 "i "i 1 1 1 ... i i i l "l i I ... i i ... 1 i i "l 2 "i i i ... i ... ... • •• i ... ! "l i "2 5 2 i 4 2 2 1 ! i ... i i ... i i 2 2 1 '" I i "2 "2 i ... ! ■•■ 1 2 i i 1 "l 1 \"i "2 1 1 i i "i 2 1 1 1 i I I ... i Totals 20 18 15 9 15 8 9 7 7 12 6 14 139 i , Totals for Christchurch and district 8 8 10 6 5 7 5 5 2 5 2 6 69 1 I

Under 5 Years. 5-10. 10-15. 15-20. 20-80. • 30-40. ( Over 40. M. F. M. F. P. M. F. M. F. ST. P. M. P. Jr. P. M. P. ) 5 5 16 3 9 2 8 3 4 11 I j [ 10 5 5 16 In 166 cases out-of 174- notifications, 63 were mules and 103 were females.

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Table No. 3.—Enteric Fever.

The total number of cases—32— as against 31 cases last year is again satisfactorj-. The occurrence of cases in sparsely populated districts where the source of infection cannot be traced to any previous case, and where sometimes this source of infection, direct or indirect, can be positively excluded as far as it is possible to prove a negative, strongly supports the theory held by some authorities that this disease may originate de novo. On the other hand, the two cases in Leeston are instances of infection from previous cases, or from the same causes that produced the infection in previous cases, as cases occurred in the same two houses in 1904.

Table No. 4.—Diphtheria.

There were 59 cases in 53 houses, as compared with 64 cases in 61 houses in 1905. There was an increased number of cases in Christchurch and district: 24 cases in 22 houses, against 15 cases in 11 houses in 1905. Of these cases 7 occurred in July, but no common source of infection could be discovered. Measles. As there was a widespread epidemic of measles in Dunedin and other centres in the Otago District in the earlier part of the year, it seemed highly probable that the disease would spread to this district within a short time. The occurrence of a widespread epidemic of measles in Christchurch during the Exhibition might have had serious consequences in preventing the visits of children and school cadets to the Exhibition, and would have increased the chances of the epidemic spreading, through visitors to Christchurch carrying the infection, to other towns in the colony. Among the first cases notified in Christchurch were two children who came up from Dunedin at the end of August, and were removed to Bottle Lake. A small epidemic occurred in

ay. une. iy■ug. iep ov. toe. an. :ar. Is. Christchurch lA'ttelton ... Kaiapoi Kaikoura ... Leeston Methven Ashburton ... Temuka Timaru ... ! - 1 i i 1 i i i 8 "■" i i "i 1 "i i i 2 2 "i i 6 3 1 2 2 1 2 4 3 1 1 1 2 2 i ... 2 Cave i Pareora Eaincliff ... i i ... i Oamaru Herbert i i "i "i < ■•■ Totals ... i 31 i i 3 l 3 i i 2 7 5

Apl. May. June. uly. Aug. lept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Totals. Christohuroh Papanui Tai Tapu ... Little Eiver 1 . • • * , 2 , 7 3 1 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 18 4 1 1 2 14 1 1 1 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 Sumner Lyttelton ... Amberley ... Kaiapoi Woodend ... Rangiora ... Ashburton ... Temuka Timaru Pleasant Point Waimate ... Hakataramea i l "i "l "i 1 2 2 1 i 2 i ... 1 ... 1 i "i 2 i •1 ... "i 1 ... '" i 1 ... i I ... • •• Totals... 1 2 3 3 13 8 8 6 3 2 4 i 53 Totals for Christchurch and district 1 2 10 2 3 1 I 1 1 1 22

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Geraldine in September, the disease spreading through the carelessness of an hotelkeeper, but it did not spread beyond about half a dozen houses. In December a good number of cases occurred ; u Oamaru, and in January there was an epidemic in the Maori pa at Temuka. The disease did not become at all widespread in Christchureh until March, when a large number of children attending the infants' class at the Richmond School became infected. A circular was sent to the schoolmasters in Christchureh and district drawing their attention to the early s3 T mptoms of the disease, and to the importance of not allowing any children to attend the school who had any symptoms of illness, or in whose family there was any infectious disease. The schoolmasters were also requested to inform me of any outbreak of the disease among the children attending their school that came to their knowledge. As, with the exception of Woolston, I received no replies to my circular, I presume that the disease has not become widespread in other parts of Christchurch. Mortality. The mortality from the above-mentioned infectious diseases lias been slight, there having been 2 deaths from scarlet fever and 2 from diphtheria. Dangerous Infectious Diseases. No cases in the class of dangerous infectious diseases have occurred in the district during the year. Infectious-diseases Hospitals. Bottle Lake Hospital. —This Hospital continues to serve the useful purpose of providing sufficient accommodation and isolation for cases of infectious disease in non-epidemic times. There were 50 cases of scarlet fever and 6 cases of measles treated there during the year, which shows that a considerable proportion of the 81 cases of scarlet fever have made use of the Hospital, in some cases under pressure from this Department, but in an increasing number of cases, voluntarily. Ashburton. —The old building where cases of infectious disease have hitherto been isolated has been reconstructed, and two wards added. The sanitary arrangements have also been made satisfactory. The building is now much more suitable for the treatment and isolation of cases of infectious disease, and more adapted to the needs of the district. Four cases of scarlet fever, ] of diphtheria, and 2 of measles have been treated during the year. Timaru. —There has fortunately been little need to make use of the Talbot Hospital for infectious diseases; 8 cases of scarlet fever were treated there during the year. Oamaru. —No cases of infectious disease were treated at the annex for infectious diseases. Tuberculosis. The number of notifications received during the year from all sources was 120, as compared with 108 last year. Eighty-nine notices of death from tuberculosis were received at this office, and for the year ended the 31st December, 1906, there were 28 deaths from phthisis in Christchurch, as compared with 44 in 1905, and 42 in 1904. Canterbury Sanatorium for Consumptives. " The Public Health Amendment Act, 1906," which was intended to provide for the combination of the Hospital Boards in the Canterbury District for the purpose of the erection and maintenance of the Sanatorium by these Boards, proved on investigation to be useless for this purpose. The South Canterbury Hospital Board have, as far as informal assurances can go, bound themselves to do their share in the erection and maintenance of the Sanatorium, and the Ashburton Hospital Board are, I believe, willing to do their share ; but owing to the defects in the Act the actual combination of the three Boards cannot take place until the Act has been amended, neither can the contributions due from the South Canterbury and Ashburton Hospitals Boards be obtained. The Executive Committee have, however, called for tenders and accepted a (ontract for the erection of the main and sub-administrative blocks, nurses' home, and the laundry, at a cost of £9,268. The foundation-stone of the institution was laid on the 20th March by the Hon. William Hall-Jones, Acting-Premier. During the last 3'ear the site has been levelled and a road constructed; a reservoir had been constructed on the highest portion of the site, and a plant for pumping water up to the reservoir had also been installed. Everything was in readiness therefore for the builder to commence work straight-away. The plans which were finally adopted were the result of many conferences between the architects and the Plans Sub-committee of the Sanatorium Executive Committee. The sub-committee was also indebted to Dr. Makgill for much advice as the result of Ids experience at Cambridge and consumptive annexes in course of erection in other parts of the colony. The amount of money in hand with the subsidy—namely,' £11,500 —although sufficient to provide for the payment of present contracts and expenses already incurred, will not be sufficient to provide the necessary engineering plant, lighting, furnishing, <fec.j but the proportion of money that is due from the South Canterbury and Ashburtou Hospital Districts will, on present calculation, be almost sufficient to provide for those necessaries. It is to be hoped, therefore, that some time before the end of this year the institution will be in full working-order. The patients from the Nurse Maude Camp will then be moved up there. Unfortunately the Managing Committee thought it advisable for various reasons to close the women's camp, so that only the men's camp is now performing the useful function of affording accommodation for consumptives until the Sanatorium is available.

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Statistics re Consumptives. Since January, 1903, 464 notifications of tuberculosis have been received. Particulars concerning the circumstances of these consumptives have been obtained in 209 cases. These particulars have either been obtained by an Inspector of the Department or from the special form on which medical practitioners fill in the particulars when notifying a case of consumption. I should like to take this opportunity of acknowledging the useful assistance that has been given by medical practitioners in obtaining this information. During the same period 366 deaths from consumption have been notified to this Department by the Registrars. One hundred and nineteen of these deaths were visited, and reported on by an Inspector. Notifications of 88 of these cases had been received previous to their death. This leaves 376 notified cases that are presumably still living. I expect that the probable explanation is that the notification of deaths to the Health Department is very incomplete, with the exception of the Christchurch District and one or two others, and that while the majority of the patients are doubtless alive, some proportion are dead and the deaths have not been notified. It is also worthy of remark that 254 cases died without being previously notified, which shows that the Department has very incomplete information about the numbers of cases from the notifications received. There are altogether 328 reports giving certain particulars in connection with these cases of consumption. The possibilities of the same case having been notified twice, and a second report having been made and the notification of death also received, have been carefully eliminated. When two or more cases have been notified, or have died in the same family, the case has only been treated as one for the purposes of these statistics. These statistics only deal with a comparatively small number of cases; and, although, from the somewhat indirect manner in many instances in which the particulars have been obtained, and from the necessity of taking other factors into consideration, the actual conclusions here set out should no doubt be to some extent discounted, I think they are in the main justified. Occupation. Of the 192 males the occupation is given in 156 cases. A sharp distinction cannot be drawn in all kinds of occupations between outdoor and indoor; but, taking outdoor to include all those occupations in which the workman would be exposed to the weather and to sudden changes of tern perature, such as working in freezing-chambers, &c, it is found that the majority (96) followed an outdoor occupation, while the remainder (60) followed an occupation which did not expose them to the above conditions. Among those following an outdoor occupation were 41 labourers, 7 farmers, 7 engine-drivers, 4 blacksmiths, and 3 sailors. Among those following an indoor occupation were 7 bootmakers, 6 cabinetmakers, 5 carpenters, 5 clerks, 4 plumbers, 3 tailors, and 3 drapers. The influence of an outdoor life and exposure to cold as a predisposing cause of consumption is not generally recognised by the public, as the modern outdoor treatment of consumption would give the impression that if a consumptive shop-assistant or clerk was able to follow an outdoor life, his chances of cure owing to change of occupation would be greatly increased. As a matter of fact some authorities at Home are very emphatic on the folly of expecting any good to follow from an indoor worker to change his occupation to an outdoor employment. The points to be emphasized are that the outdoor labourer could in many cases lessen his chances of " catching colds " by taking simple precautions, and that his home life is often lived under insanitary conditions, as the bedroom is usually small and badly ventilated, and the habit of sleeping with a window open is not common. The record of occupations followed by the 136 females does not show anything of great interest; the majority were naturally employed in domestic duties; 23 were employed in factories or shops, but there is no special occupation which seems to have any importance as a predisposing cause. Predisposing Causes. 1. Heredity. —A past history of consumption in the family has been taken to mean that a grandparent, parent, uncle, aunt, or cousin was affected with consumption, but does not include those cases in which brothers, sisters, or children were affected. In only 67 of the 328 cases was there any history of other members of the family having been consumptive. No history was obtainable in 37 cases; in the remaining 224 cases a statementwas obtained from the patient or relatives that there was no history of consumption in the family to their knowledge. From the 67 cases must be deducted 7 cases in which the patient became infected direct from a relative. In 42 cases only one member of the family had been affected previously, in 11 cases two members, and in 14 cases more than two members had suffered from consumption. It is obvious that from the law of averages one would expect to find a family history of consumption in a certain number of eases ; but so many factors have to be taken into account, and information on the matter is so incomplete, that it is useless to offer an opinion as to the percentage of families in which a history of consumption would normally be expected. The percentage must, however, be considerable, as about 10 per cent, of all deaths in New Zealand are due to tuberculosis. The general conclusion that 1 draw from the figures is that heredity might be assigned as a predisposing cause at the most in about 30 of the 328 cases, and that with fuller information about these 30 cases, it would probably be found in about 20 of them that more direct causes than heredity could be found to account for the development of consumption. Heredity is, therefore, of little importance as a predisposing cause of consumption. Further investigations and fuller information may confirm the theory that has already been put forward by an authority on consumption in England, that previous cases in a family cause an immunity from consumption rather than increase the risk of developing the disease.

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2. Gold. —Exposure to oold and wet, constant catching colds, neglected colds, &c, are given as a predisposing cause in 113 cases. Whether a " oold " is the cause or a symptom of the commencement of consumption is of interest from the medical point of view; but the important point for the public to realise is that there i.s a close connection between "constant catching cold," " neglected cold," &c, and the commencement of consumption. '■'). Pleuriiy.—ln 24 cases the patient had had pleurisy. Most cases of pleurisy are tubercular in origin, and pleurisy is generally an early stage of consumption rather than a predisposing cause. It would be well if every.case of pleurisy was treated as a case of consumption. 3. Alcohol. —Seven cases out of the 192 males had made an excessive use of alcohol. This proportion is not probably in excess of the average proportion of non-consumptive males who indulge to excess. 4. Occupation. —ln 8 cases a special occupation was attributed as a predisposing cause; two of these were stonemasons and four were miners, and these undoubtedly had stonemasons' phthisis and miners' phthisis respectively. The cases oi a linotype-operator and a brass-turner being due to their occupation are more doubtful. 5. Insanitary Surroundings. —A note was in most cases made of the condition of the premises and building. In only IV cases was there any special cause for remarking on any insanitary condition in the house or surroundings. 6. Miscellaneous. —In 9 cases influenza, in 7 pneumonia, and in 3 bronchitis was given as a predisposing cause. Direct Sources of Infection. 1. Previous Case.—ln 44 cases the source of infection can be attributed directly to living with an infected relation, and in 12 cases there was a history of close contact with a consumptive friend or workman. In cases where other members of the family besides the patient, such as brothers or sisters, have been affected, there has only been one other member affected in the large majority of instances. For instance, in 63 cases where other members of the family were affected, only one member was affected in 44 cases, two in 14, and over two in 5 cases. 2. House. Inquiries were usually made as to whether any previous cases had occurred in (he same house, but this source of infection was found to be practically non-existent. It must be pointed out that the occupiers of houses are frequently changing, and that fresh tenants would be unlikely to know whether or no any of the previous tenants had had consumption; but if the occurrence of previous cases in a house was frequent source of infection, there would probably be some evidence to that effect. In the large majority ot casts, therefore, the actual source of infection is unknown. Also in (he large majority of case's the infection does not spread from one member of the family to another. The predisposing'causes seem to be of more importance than direct and constant exposure to infection. INFANTILE DIARRHCEA. As was only to be expected in a dry and hot summer, there was a somewhat serious epidemic oi infantile diarrhoea in the months of January, February, and March. In the minds of most medical men it is probable that the terms "infantile diarrhoea," "cholera infantum, and "enteritis" or " gastro-enteritis " are interchangeable as expressing the same disease when it occurs in the summer months. For some reason diarrhoea and cholera infantum are classed in Order 2 of Class 1, which is described as " Specific Febrile or Zymotic Diseases," whereas enteritis and gastro-enteritis are classed in Order 5 wirh Class 6, which comprises " Local Diseases." The result of this arrangement is that notices of death are sent to the District Health Officer when they come in Order 2 of Class 1, but they are not sent when the}' are classified in Order 5, Class 6, and therefore I receive no notices of the occurrence of deaths from enteritis oi gastro-enteritis. ■ For statistical purposes these two terms may be regarded as representing the same disease. In January. February, and March, 1907, there were 68 deaths from infantile diarrhoea and ■ •astro-enteritis in Christ church City and Woolston Borough. Forty of these were classified as diarrhoea and 28 as enteritis or gastro-enteritis. In l!) 04 there were 30 deaths in the same period from the same causes, in 190.5 there were 12, and in .1906 13. The increase this summer in the death-rate was therefore pretty considerable. A fairly direct connection between the increase of deatiis from these causes and a hot and dry summer can generally be traced. In Christchurch the connection is quite obvious. As February is generally the hottest month, and also the greatest number of deaths generally take place in this month from' these causes, the absolute moan temperature in February may be taken as a sample In 1905 the mean temperature in February was 59-3°, in 1906 it was 55-9° (in January, 1906 the mean temperature was 57-9°), and in February, 1907, the mean temperature was 625°. The connection between the deaths and the rainfall is even more direct. It is unnecessary to quote all the figures in this connection, as it is well recognised that the drought this summer was exceptional in Christchurch. In December the rainfall was o'7Bin., in January 0"93 in., in February 1-09 in., and in March 1-80 in. The driest period was between the 18th January and the 16th February. On the 18th January there was 0-4 in, rainfall, but there was practically no more rain until the 16th February. During this period there were 26 deaths from diarrhoea and 13 from enteritis—that is, more than one-half the deaths took place in this period. After nearly an inch of rain fell on the 16th February there was a noticeable decrease in the number of deaths. Inquiries were made in 34 cases of the 38 which were notified to this Department, and the following is a summary of the particulars thus obtained: Of the 34 cases 7 were illegitimate: whereas if the same proportion had been observed between deaths of legitimate and illegitimate children as there is between the births, there should only have been between 1 and 2 deaths, the

9 38]

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percentage of illegitimate births being 44, and the illegitimate death-rate from these diseases being 205. In the whole 'M cases there wore only 2 infants being fed at the breast at the time of illness, and one of these was being brought up under exceptionally insanitary conditions; whereas, excluding those over nine months old, there were 29 infants which should have been fed at the breast at the time. There were, in fact, 22 infants under five months old, 20 of which were not being suckled. Only 1 1 of the total 34 had been fed at the breast at any period. Of those which were being bottle-fed, 12 were using the modern bottle and 14 were using the bottle with the long tube, the sale of which in some countries has been forbidden by law. Ten of the children were delicate from birth and .'j were prematurely born. Unfortunately diarrhoea and such diseases are not diseases that can be prevented from spreading by any campaign being directed against them at the time of their occurrence; they are the penalty that a town has to pay for neglecting such hygienic precautions as an adequate watersupply, underground drainage, removal of refuse, &c. But, apart from this negligence, the most grave responsibility rests on the mothers who, from carelessness, ignorance, or selfishness, do not feed their children at the breast, or, on the rare occasions whe,n this is impossible, do not use the best substitutes in the best way. It is to be hoped that the institution of the St. Helens maternity hospitals, and the effect of the proper training of the mothers who are confined there, and the nurses who are trained there, will in time have a beneficial effect. In the manufacturing districts in England, where women are largely employed in factories, the neglect of mothers to suckle their infants may be understood, though it may not be justified; but in New Zealand where few mothers are wage-earners the neglect is less excusable. With regard to the chief cause of these deaths it is usual to blame the milk-supply, and, no doubt, if all these infants had been supplied with "good " milk the death-rate would have been less. Having regard to the special conditions of Christchurch, I think that the dust and the absenoe of a general water-supply must share some of the blame. In support of this I may add that I have been informed by several medical men that during the latter part of the hot weather there was a considerable number of cases of diarrhoea in adults, and these would not be attributable fco impure milk. STEW ZEALAND INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION. Health Department's Exhibit. As the result of arrangements made by Dr. Valintine, when he was in England last year, with likely exhibitors, a fairly satisfactory and representative exhibit of sanitary appliances was shown. The chief exhibits comprised a steam disinfector manufactured by Messrs. Manlove and Alliott, of Nottingham, which had been purchased by Dr. Valintine for the Canterbury Sanatorium for Consumptives ; brougham ambulance, manufactured by Messrs Wilson and Stockall, of Bury; some excellent models of hospital sinks and sanitary conveniences by Messrs. Doulton and Co.; a model destructor; and various sanitary models. Sanitation. This Department was made responsible for the general sanitary conditions of the Exhibition a day or so before it was opened. The drainage of the main buildings of the Exhibition was connected with the Christchurch sewerage sjstem, and was put in under the supervision of Mr. Cuthbert, Engineer to the Christchurch Drainage Board. This part of the sanitary arrangements of the Exhibition worked satisfactorily throughout the whole period. Unfortunately, the fall of the ground did not permit of the sewers being extended to any great distance beyond the main buildings of the Exhibition, and it would certainly have been preferable to have made arrangements by any well-recognised engineering method of leading all the drainage from the buildings in the Exhibition grounds into the drainage system. It was chiefly in connection with the makeshift appliances that had to be erected outside the area that was drained by the sewers that frequent inspection by an officer of this Department was necessary. Some structural alterations in connection with the drainage from refreshment-rooms and certain stalls in the Exhibition were required ,i[ (lie commencement, and were promptly carried cut. Throughout the period the Exhibition was open, any nuisances that were found existing were promptly attended to on the attention of those responsible being drawn to the matter by this Department. The General Manager also assisted the Department in every way by seeing that any requirements of the Department affecting matters under his control were given effect to. SEPTIC TANKS. Numerous samples of effluents from septic tanks and from filter-beds have been taken and analysed during the past year. In no case was the final effluent up to any standard that has been accepted in England; but it may be pointed out that the Local Government Board have refused to specify a standard for purity of sewage effluents on the ground that all the circumstances of each case should be taken into consideration. As in England, so in New Zealand, the special circumstances must be taken into account. The effluents that may be quite good enough to flow into a fastrunning stream with a large volume of water, which is not used for any domestic purposes and does not flow through or near any closely settled district, may be quite unsuitable for admission into such a stream as the Avon, which, although not used for drinking purposes, flows through the City of Christchurch. A large number of private septic tanks have already been installed with either discharge direct into the Avon or into some tributary thereof. The large majority of these septic tanks are faulty in construction and design, and the effluent is certainly not suitable for discharge into such a river as the Avon. The matter was brought before the Drainage Board, without whose permission the effluent from, no septic tank can be discharged into the Avon or any streams under

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their control. The Drainage Board agreed that they would grant no permission in future for the installation of any septic tank unless the person to whom leave was granted undertook that the effluent should be up to a standard of purity to be fixed by the Health Department. The fixing of the standard of purity presents some difficulties, and is still under consideration, us the results of analyses of effluents from septic tanks in other parts of New Zealand, which you instructed to be taken, are not yet to hand. The chief difficulty in fixing a standard is not to make it so lax that it will still allow of considerable pollution of the river, at the same time not to exclude the installation of septic tanks which are put in on the best known modern principles. If the attention which has been drawn to the matter continues to have the effect which it is having at present, of preventing all sorts of differently constructed septic tanks being put in by irresponsible persons, the chief object will have lieen obtained. MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS. Two persons were examined for, other Government Departments, and 9 for admission to Cambridge Sanatorium. PRIVATE HOSPITALS. Licenses were granted to 16 new applicants to carry od private hospitals, and 40 licenses were renewed. As the Hospitals Department became responsible for the inspection and licensing of these hospitals on the Ist January, 1907, applications for new licenses were held over towards the latter part of the year to be dealt with by the Hospitals Department. PROSECUTIONS. A medical practitioner was fined £2 and costs for failing to comply with the provisions of section 26, regarding the notification of infectious disease. Two owners of private hospitals were convicted and fined 2s. 6d. and costs for carrying on a private hospital without having obtained a license. A conviction was obtained against the owner and occupier of a dwellinghouse for failing to provide a proper privy, and he was fined £5 and costs. The owner of a dwellinghouse was also fined £1 10s. and costs for failing to provide a proper privy. BUILDINGS UNFIT FOR OCCUPATION. Two certificates were issued under section II of "The Public Health Amendment Act, 1903," and 31 under section 349 of "The Municipal Corporations Act, 1900," that buildings were unfit for occupation. In several other cases repairs and improvements were effected to houses by more indirect methods. GENERAL SANITATION OF THE DISTRICT. CHRISTCHtiRCH Water-supply. The City Council is again tackling this important question. Four schemes have been submitted by Mr. Dobson, the City Engineer. The first is a complete scheme for providing a water-supply to the whole city by pumping water from wells near the foot of the Port Hills into a reservoir situated on the hills, from which the water will be supplied to the city. The estimated cost is £132,662, and the working-expenses, including interest and sinking fund, £9,736. The second scheme, which deals only with the Central Ward, is to obtain the water in a similar way from wells at the foot of the hills and pump into a reservoir on the hills. The cost is estimated at £63,550, and the working-expenses £5,360. The two other schemes deal with the supply of St. Alba'ns and Linwood Wards respectively. In each of these two schemes the water-supply would be entirely separate from each other and from the Central Ward and Sydenham, except that the power for pumping will probably be from the destructor plant. Each scheme will comprise separate wells, reservoir, tower, and pumping machinery. The estimated cost for St. Albans Ward is £28,408, and the annual cost £2,148; the estimated cost for Linwood is £18,408, and the annual expense £1,612. It must be remembered that a complete water-carriage system for nightsoil, &c, is impossible without a high-pressure water-supply. It is therefore fair argument, assuming the existence of the sewer;, to put the present annual cost for removal of nightsoil against the annual cost of these different schemes. For instance, the annual cost of the removal of nightsoil in the whole city (excluding Sydenham) is about £4,500, and this deducted from the annual cost of the complete water-supply scheme (excluding Sydenham)— vi/, £9,736— leaves £5,236. Similarly the scheme for the Central Ward would cost £5,360-£3,000- £2,360 ; St. Albans, £2,148-£6 BO = <-\ 468- and Linwood, £1,612 - £781 =£841. There must also be reckoned the cost of sinking iTew wells, keeping old wells in repair, and the cost of the installation of windmills, rams, pumps, &c and the annual cost of keeping these in repair. The greater facilities in providing water for street-watering and for fire-prevention, with the possibility of lower insurance rate, must also be The above deals only with the economical and financial side of the question, which will doubtless be fully presented to the ratepayers by the City Council. The advantages from a sanitary point of view "are no doubt generally recognised even by those who have voted against a water-supply scheme in the past and will again in the future; but it might be advisable to again emphasize the point for the benefit of the waverers, that the universal experience and opinion of those who have made a special study of public health is that, apart from the obvious sanitary advantages of being able to abolish the present insanitary method of nightsoil-removal, and having ample supply for water-closets, baths, <fee, the existence of an abundant water-supply has an indirect influence for good on the death-rate and sickness-rate of a town in many ways which are not usually considered.

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Drainage. i D « Ur laSt yettr the Draina # c Board obtained authority from the ratepayers to raise a loan of i.1 00,000. Out of tins loan several new works had been authorised, including the layintr of sewers in the St. Albans Ward. During the last year 341 houses were connected with the sewers and 353 containing water closets were connected. Nothing approaching the full use is yet being made of the sewerage system. In the Central Ward and St. Aibans Ward most of the houses are connected with the sewer where sewers oxist. In Linwood and Sydenham the reverse is the case • the sewers have been laid for about twenty years, but in one block in Linwood it was found that there were 30 houses connected to 66 chains of sewers, while 82 houses that could connect had not done In another block in Sydenham 4 houses had connected to 36 chains of sewer, while there were 67 houses that were not connected. The same conditions exist throughout Linwood and Sydenham to the same or a less extent. Owing to the Drainage Board laying the sewers, and the City Council not enforcing connection, miles of sewers lie idle, and might just as well not have !>een laid. Household drainage still is unnecessarily discharged into side channels, and thence into storm-water creeks, where it causes a nuisance. Milk-supply. During the year the City Council set up a special committee to inquire into the question of municipalising the local milk-supply. The gist of the report of this committee is that the present dual control of the Agricultural Department and the Health Department is unsatisfactory; that legislation is necessary before milk districts and municipalisation of the milk-supply can be established; and that, "as both the Agricultural Department and the Health Department are now giving their serious attention to this question, and as we understand regulations affecting the question are now before the Cabinet, it would perhaps be best that the Council take no further steps towards the municipalisation of the milk-supply until it is shown that the regulations of the Department are not sufficient to attain the end we have in view—namely, the -delivery of absolutely pure milk." It is worthy of remark that the report contains no allusion to the powers that the City Council already have, or to the powers that they might obtain, under sections 346 and 404 of " The Municipal Corporations Act, 1900." From an ideal point of view I have no doubt that the complete municipalisation of the milksupply would lead to a great improvement in the purity of the milk, if it was carried out under proper expert supervision, and the question of expense did not have to be taken into consideration. There would, however, be considerable opposition from those persons with vested interests in the trade, even if the scheme was to be carried out without any extra cost to the ratepayer or consumer. In any case, however, the actual cost would be a large sum, probably approaching that of a watersupply, and this money could not be obtained without the sanction of the ratepayers. I do not think it is likely, and at all events it would be difficult to prove, that the price of milk would not be increased, and therefore I consider that there would be no chance of obtaining the consent of the ratepayers to the municipalisation of the milk-supply at the present time. The establishment of a depot or of depots under municipal or other control is much more feasible; but if this scheme was tried, I consider that the matter should bo dealt with on the ordinary principle of supply and demand in the first instance, rather than by coercive legislation. If there were three or four depots in Christchurch where a milk-supply could be guaranteed by the controlling authority—that is, the Stock Department, Health Department, or local authority —to be produced, delivered, and stored un-der the best possible conditions, pure milk would be available for infants, invalids, or any persons who desired it. It is possible, but not certain, that this milk would have to be sold at a slightly higher price. If these depots were established, and there was no demand for the pure milk, it would obviously be useless for the local authority to go to the ratepayers for their consent to raise a loan to institute a larger scheme of municipalising the milk-supply. If, on the contrary, the demand for this pure milk increased, and a large number of persons availed themselves of the opportunity of obtaining this milk, it might be advisable to consider the placing of the larger and more expensive scheme before the ratepayers. This matter of making a supply of pure milk available in Christchurch for any one who wished to obtain pure milk was discussed by the Inspector of Dairies (Mr. A. Macpherson) and myself, and I understand that a special set of regulations has been drawn up by the Stock Department. Compliance with these regulations would insure the cows themselves being perfectly healthy, the milking being carried on under the best conditions, and the delivery of milk in town and storage in town being also carried out under the best conditions. It would be open to any dairyman to state his willingness to comply with these regulations, and if he did so comply he could obtain a certificate from the Stock Department or controlling authority that his milk was produced under the best conditions possible: this certificate would be revoked for any serious failure in complying with the regulations. Only a few of the larger dairy-farmers would be able or willing to comply with these regulations, but a supply of pure milk would then be available for any one who wished to obtain it. This scheme of " certified dairies " is no new scheme, and I understand it has worked well in other countries where it has boen tried. WOOLSTON. A considerable improvement has taken place during the last year in the drainage of the Borough of Woolston. A large amount of concrete channelling has been put down, which is a great improvement on the dirty stagnant ditches which were previously abundant. TiTTTKLTOy. The dispute between the Harbour Board and the Borough Council with regard to the drainage of storm-water and sewage into the harbour has at last been satisfactorily settled, and T understand

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that the Borough Council will this year submit a loan proposal to the ratepayers for the carryingout of a drainage scheme. SUMNEB. The sewerage system of this borough was inspected during the year. This drainage scheme is one of those which certainly would not have been approved by the Department if the Department had been allowed to have any voice in the matter. The so-called septic tanks within the main streets of the town were found to be full of deposit. The sewers are not apparently laid at a grade so as to be self-cleansing, and the flushing arrangements are practically nil. Akaroa. The drainage scheme and septic tanks in this borough have been working very satisfactorily, and nearly all the houses in the borough are now connecter! with the sewers. Timaru. New by-laws dealing with house connections, plumbing-work, and general sanitation have been adopted in this borough, but so far steps have not been taken to enforce the observation of the details of these by-laws, consequently insanitary and dangerous plumbing and drainage work continues to be put in. The drainage scheme is again being brought before the ratepayers, and since the closing of the period with which this report deals the loan proposals have been approved by a large majority of ratepayers. Waimate. The water-supply in Waimate was brought into the borough early this year. The previously existing water-supply, consisting of old wells, was becoming very deficient, and it was a good thing for the borough that the works were so advanced as to be able to bring the water into the borough during the dry weather. As great doubt had been expressed about the quantity of water that would be available from Kelsey's Bush Creek during a dry season, it is satisfactory to state that, although this Department is not responsible for estimating or guaranteeing quantities, the supply in Kelsey's Bush Creek never caused the slightest alarm during the dry season. 0 AMARU. New by-laws have been adopted and have come into force. A complete nightsoil service serving every house in the borough is now in full working-order. More attention is also being paid to the removal of rubbish. A good many connections have been made with the existing sewers, the construction of which has generally been carried out under the supervision of Inspector Kershaw. It is to be hoped that a complete drainage scheme will soon be undertaken. H would, at all events, be good policy for the Council to get a report on a complete scheme from a competent engineer, so that all future extensions of the sewers will be made on a recognised plan, instead of on the somewhat haphazard system that prevails at present. INSPECTOR'S WORK. The appended reports show that a large amount of routine work was carried out during the year. The Exhibition caused a considerable amount of additional work for the Inspectors, and for three months Inspector Carlisle was attached to this office specially for inspecting the sanitation of the Exhibition and attending to the exhibit of the Health Department. Hugh E. Finch, M.8., D.P.H., District Health Officer. Dr. Finch, D.H.O. I have the honour to report as follows regarding work done during the year ending the 31st March, 1907: — Christchurch and District. The work done was of an ordinary character. As occasion permitted, inspection of fruit-sales and retail fruit-shops was carried out. A special report was prepared and submitted on the drainage arrangements from dwellings on the Cashmere Hills. Visits were also paid to Akaroa, and the plumbing and drainage work in progress in that borough was inspected, and found to have been carried out in a creditable manner. Timaru and District. Various matters arising in this district have been attended to during the year, and progress made to the extent of the adoption of good drainage and plumbing by-laws, which, however, have not yet been enforced, but no doubt soon will be. Oamaru and District. During the year I have supervised the laying and testing of house-drains, and inspected the sanitary plumbing-work done in this borough. All plumbers and drain-connectors doing work in the borough have been licensed, and the Council have adopted the suggestoin that in future a certificate of competency must be produced before a plumber's certificate will be issued. _ The character of the sanitary work done during the year has been good. As a result of an inspection of butchers' shops in this borough, great improvement has been made in the sanitary conditions in certain cases.

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Plumbing Cf.asses. Classes have been conducted during the year in Timaru and Oamaru, with an average attendance of about fourteen and ten respectively. Two students at Timaru secured partial passes at the 1906 City Guilds of London Examination]! and several students will sit at this year's examinations from both schools Exhibitions of students' work have been held in both centres, and received commendation from the authorities. The following is a summary of inspections made: — Nature of Inspection. Total. Nature of Inspection. Total. Infectious-disease investigations ... 51 j Offensive trades inspected ... ... 5 Dwellings disinfected ... ... 12 Drainage and plumbing inspections ... 199 Schools disinfected ... ... 1 Complaints investigated ... ... 27 Dwellings and premises inspected ... 15 Notices served ... ... ... 5 Private hospitals inspected ... 23 Notices complied with ... ... 4 Butchers' shops inspected ... 6 Water-samples taken ... ... 27 Aerated-water factories inspected ... 1 Sewage-samples taken ... ... 22 Bakehouses inspected ... ... 10 Special reports prepared ... ... 5 Dairy factories inspected ... ... 2 Days in attendance at Exhibition ... 32 Mask Kershaw, Sanitary Inspector. Dr. Finch, D.H.O. 1 herewith submit my report and summary of inspections of the past year. General inspections have been carried out in the following townships and Road Board districts, and special visits made to several of them on account of infectious-diseases cases: Kaikoura, Waiau, Rotherham, Hanmer, Waipara, Mackenzie, Culverden, Kaikari, Hurunui, Amberley, Balcairn, Sefton, Rangiora, Kaiapoi, Oxford, Springfield, Sheffield, Darfield, Hororata, Kirwee, Taitapu, Little River, Southbridge, Leeston, Dpyleston, St. Andrew's, Pareora, Waimate, Geraldine, Ashburton, Chertsey, Temuka, Rakaia, Methven, Studholme, Morven, Glenavy, Fairlie, Burkes Pass, Pleasant Point, Duntroon, and Kurow. A large number of consumptive cases have been visited, reported on, pamphlets left, and, where necessary, the premises have been disinfected. Many complaints have also been investigated and, where sustained, nuisances abated; in many of these formal notices have not been required, the work being promptly done on interviewing owners or occupiers. In other cases requisitions have been served, and where these were not complied with prosecutions followed, fines being inflicted in each case The Exhibition also occupied a good deal of time in unpacking and arranging the exhibits with Inspector Kershaw, and making regular inspections of the whole of the sanitation. The following is a summary of inspections for the year in tabulated form: — Nature of Inspection. Total. Nature of Inspection. Total. Infectious diseases investigated ... 15] Complaints received ... ... 159 House premises inspected... ... 362 General inspections (country) ... 55 Hotels inspected ... ... 84 Infectious-disease outbreaks ... 3 Schools inspected ... ... 32 Dwellings disinfected ... .. 83 Boardinghouses inspected... .... 46 Private hospitals inspected ... ... 9 Bakehouses inspected ... ... 53 Requisitions served ... ... 18 Meat-shops inspected ... ... 45 Requisitions complied with ... 18 Fish-shops inspected ... ... 9 Offensive trades inspected ... ... 17 Creameries inspected ... ... 23 Maori settlements inspected ... 2 Cheese-factories inspected ... 1 Days engaged at Exhibition ... 39 Fruit-shops inspected ... ... 21 Prosecutions ... ... ... 2 Water-samples collected ... ... 15 R. J. McKenzie, Sanitary Inspector. OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND DISTRICT. Department of Public Health, Dunedin, 4th June, 1907. The Chief Health Officer, Wellington. I have the honour to present to you a report on the work of the Otago-Southland District under my charge. Although it represents nothing of startling interest, the duties being almost entirely of a routine nature, it shows, I think, a steady advance in the sanitary character of the district, and a greater appreciation by local authorities of the functions assigned to them by our public health During the course of the year 103 places were visited, several of them on more than one occasion, the visits amounting to 247. Of these I visited 24—namely, Palmerston South, Dunback, Invercar'gill, Balclutha, Waikaia, Riversdale, Queenstown, Frankton, Middlemarch, Bluff, Riverton, Wyndham, Cromwell, Pembroke, Mansford Town, Lawrence, Berwick, Tuapeka West, MHton, Queensberry, Arrowtown, Sawyer's Bay, Port Chalmers, and Green Island; making 30 visits.

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inspector Gladstone visited 38 places—namely Palmei'ston South, Dunback, Invercargiil, Baiclutha, Mansford Town, Lawrence, Berwick, Milton, Sawyer's Bay, Port Chalmers, Henley, Fairfax, Kaitangata, llaiifurly, Mosgiel, Alexandra South, Manorburn, Eariiscleugh, Clyde, Goodwood, Waihola, Titri, Waipiata, Patearoa, Wingatui, Waitati, Burnside, Owaka, Green Island, Inch Valley, Naseby, Evans Flat, Eweburn, Te Anau, Glade House, Manapouri, fiore, and Pukerau; making 72 visits. Inspector Cameron visited 41 places—namely, Waikaia, Riversdale, Gore, Riverton, Wyndham, Blufi, Pukerau, Nightcaps, Woodlands, Winton, Orepuki, Otautau, Kapuka, Mandeville, Lumsden, Waimatuku, Round Hill, AVaianiwa, Makarewa, Wallacetown, Colac, Aparima, Mataura, Gummie's Bush, Tisbury, Waikiwi, Kennington, Fortrose, Waimahaka, Menzies' Ferry, Edendale, Woodend, Wallacetown Township, Thornbury, Drummond, Wakapatu, West Plains, Clifton, Richmond Grove, and Myross Bush; making 145 visits. It will thus be seen that the district has received efficient supervision during the past twelve months. General Summary of Inspections, Examinations, &c, made during the Year by Dr. Ogston and Inspectors Cameron and Gladstone. "' , Dr. Ogston. lector Inspector T j ° Cameron. Gladstone. Nuisances, Various ... ... ... ... 88 347 110 545 Drains, Defective ... ... ... ... 80 68 231 379 Privies, urinals, &c. ... ... ... ... 56 56 228 340 Dirty fowl-runs ... ... ... ... 10 46 42 98 Dirty stables, cow-sheds, &c. ... ... ... 10 40 52 102 Dirty piggeries . ... _ ... ... ... 3 18 39 60 Milk-shops, dairies, factories ... ... ..4 5 2!) 38 Grocers', butchers', bakers', h'sh, fruit, provision shops, and auction-marts inspected ... ... 16 76 183 275 Soap, manure, boiling-down, and freezing works, and slaughteryards inspected ... ... ... 3 II 6 20 Milk-, butchers', bakers' carts, &c, and railway meatvans inspected ... ... ... 50 35 85 Factories, shops, stores, &c, inspected (about) ... 16 100 40 156 Boardinghouses and restaurants inspected ... ... S 21 30 54 Hotels inspected ... ... ... ... 16 14 35 65 Smoke nuisances ... ... ... ... 1 3 2 6 Overcrowding houses, &c ... ... ... 1. 4 7 12 Schools inspected ... ... ... ... 2 15 11 28 Nightsoil and rubbish depots ... ... ... 6 .13 5 24 Pollution of watercourses ... ... ... 6 2 6 14 Special epidemics examined ... ... ...3 1 1 5 Visits in cases of infectious disease (about) ... ... 16 J37 215 368 Schools inspected for infectious disease ... ... 9 9 Premises visited and inspected ... ... ... 89 1,182 2*366 ) And by Extra Inspector Craighead, in house-to-house inspection, 2,382: totalling, I 6,019 premises minutely inspected ... ... ... ... ... ... j Old or dilapidated buildings were examined by myself, or Inspectors Cameron and Gladstone, to the number of 104, and ordered to be either repaired or pulled down. These were distributed over the district, 37 being in Dunedin and its suburbs, the remainder in Invercargill, Riverton, Round Hill, Waihemo, Waihola, Naseby, Queenstown, &c. Letters written. l % By By Inspector By Inspector ,„ . , Dr. Ogston. Gladstone. Cameron. °a' To Chief Health Officer ... ... 41 ... 4 45 ~ Mayors ... ... ... 8 ... ... 8 ~Town Clerks ... ... ... 145 34 72 251 ~ Chairmen, County Councils ... 2 ... ... 2 ~ County Clerks ... ... ... 37 5 22 64 ~ Road Boards ... ... ... 1 ... ... 1 ~ Drainage Boards ... ... 5 ... ... 5 ~ Harbour Boards ... ... 1 ... ... 1 ~ Hospital Boards ... ... 8 ... 5 13 ~ Education Boards ... ... 1 ... 6 7 ~ School Committees ... ... 2 1 12 15 ~ Schoolmasters ... ... ... 7 1 ... 8 ~ Inspectors of Customs ... ... 2 .. ... 2 ~ Inspectors of Police ... ... 1 ... 4 5 ~ Inspectors of Factories ... ... 2 ... 6 8 ~ Railway Engineers ... ... 3 .. 4 7 ~ Stock Department ... ... 4 ... 6 10 ~ Public Works Department ... 1 ... ... 1 ~ Union Steamship Company ... 1 ... ... 1 ~ Secretary, Benevolent Institution ... 1 ... ... 1 * • . ~ Dunodin Master Bakers' Association 1 ... ... 1 ~ Medical practitioners ... ... 23 12 28 63

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CoNFEHENCES. With Town Councils ... ... .'J 5 5 13 ~ County Councils ... ... 3 4 2 9 ~ Drainage Boards ... ... 1 1 2 „ City and County Engineers ... 8 2 26 36 ~ Town Clerks ... ... 20 24 46 90 ~ County Clerks ... ..8 !) 12 29 ~ Mayors ... ... ... 14 7 32 f>3 ~ Chairmen, County Councils ..8 1 4 13 ~ Chiefs, Stock Department ... 6 8 7 21 .-, Factory Inspectors ... ... 3 8 23 34 ~ Chairmen, Hospital Boards ... 4 1 16 21 Special Reports. To Chief Health Officer : — On accommodation-huts, &c, on the Milford Sound Track and Manapouri. On a suspected case of anthrax at Invercargill. On my proceedings re examination of unsound fruit, &c. On pollution of a creek at Berwick by discharge from a flax-mill. On the Postmaster's residence at Alexandra South. On the drainage of part of Musselburgh. To Town and County Councils: — On a house-to-house inspection of Mornington Borough. ~ ~ North-east Valley Borough. ~ ~ Balclutha Borough. >) ~ Kaitangata Borough. ~ ~ Mansfordtown. ~ ~ Berwick. ~ ~ River ton. Oβ water-supplies to communities: — Fort Chalmers water-supply. Found good by Professor Black. Wells at Balclutha for public supply. Found polluted by Professor Black. Public water-supply at Ophir, having broken down utterly. General : — On examination of John Hancock for the Civil Service. On G. Bishop, disabled by accident, for Public Works Department. On school-teacher's husband at Tuapeka West, suffering from cancer of the face, for Otago Education Board. Miss Cox, examination as a teacher. Miss Lindsay, examination as a teacher. On a piece of beef thought to be diseased No case. To medical men on specimens sent for diagnosis (30 in all): — 28 specimens of sputa received. 15 were found to be tuberculous, 7 were simply bronchitic, 5 were pneumonic, 1 was too old and putrid for correct diagnosis. A piece of membrane contained B. diphtheria. Urethral discharge found to be gonorrhceal. Communications with Schoolmastebs. Of Hough llidge School, re precautions against whooping-cough. ~ Romahapa 'School, re precautions against scarlet fever. ~ Henley School, re precautions against infectious diseases. ~ Mosgiel School, re precautions against measles. ~ Owaka School, re precautions against scarlet fever. House-to-house Inspection of Towns. Thanks to your kindness in granting me the services of Mr. Craighead as a temporary Inspector, I have been enabled to proceed systematically with detailed examinations not only in Dunedin and its suburbs, but also in various of the country towns in my district, in addition to the routine work of inspection as things turned up. Thus, I detached Inspector Gladstone from an inspection of Mornington, which he had begun, to some of the country towns which 1 had reason to think required a more systematic examination than we had hitherto been able to give them, and the result justified the means. In Kaitangata he examined some 380 houses, finding 54 defects (14 per cent.); in Balclutha he examined 314 houses, finding 81 defects (25 per cent.); in Mansfordtown he examined 103 houses, finding 59 defects (57 per cent.): and in a partial examination in Mornington he examined some 130 houses, finding 23 defects (18 per cent.). Mr. Craighead's inspection: In Mornington he examined some 827 houses, finding 147 defects (17"7 per cent.); in North-east Valley he examined some 1,045 houses', finding 306 defects (29 per cent.); in Maori Hill he examined some 100 houses, finding 51 defects (127 per cent.). Inspector Cameron's inspection is even more iujfavourable: In Riverton he examined somo 171 premises, finding 143 defects (83 per cent.); in East Invercargill he examined some 244 premises, finding 192 defects (78 per cent.).

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This inspection reveals that of the premises in die Dunedin suburbs 2194 were defective in some sanitary particular; in the three country towns the ratio was 2434 per cent.- —over 2 per cent, higher; but in the boroughs examined in [Southland the ratio of delects was very much higher, being 807 per cent. This difference in East luvercargill may be accounted for in some degree by the absence of any system of drainage in that borough; in Iliverton it has arisen perhaps from the fact that it is an old whaling town which is not advancing. It is true that many —perhaps most —of these defects were minor ones, such as dirty yards, deficient drainage, untrapped or improperly placed gully-traps, and such like; but among those specially calling for nouce were those where, for instance, the overflow-pipe of the rainwater-tank serving the household for all purposes was led directly into a drain—a very frequent and dangerous defect; or where the closets were out of order, ruinous, with no pan, and the fasces falling into a hole in the ground; or, what was frequently encountered, where the pail closet was built into a shed used also as a wash-house with no, or an open-seamed, partition intervening—an extremely dangerous condition of affairs. Another defect to which attention was directed was that many of the houses were built close to the ground without under-floor ventilation, the possibly polluted and generally damp air being drawn into houses, making them more or less unhealthy to the inmates. Disinfection of Premises. This matter has received a good deal of attention during the year, in person, by a member of my staff, or by some one appointed by the local authorities, and instructed by one or other of my Inspectors. In the Southland Sub-district I had an opportunity of seeing how well the scheme worked out by what Inspector Cameron was doing. He got, some time ago, the local authorities of Invercargill and the towns in Southland to unite in securing the services of a man who devotes his time to the disinfection of infected premises for a fixed rate of pay per case. This man was instructed at first by inspector Cameron, and carries out the work thoroughly well, and the local authorities are satisfied with the arrangement. In Dunedin, Inspector (for the City) Donaldson ably carries out this work; but the suburbs have to be occasionally reminded to keep them up to the work, as they have not yet been persuaded u> employ a special man for the purpose. In most of the country localities the towns and counties have united in employing a man for disinfection, but some of them are still hanging back and not doing this work so well as 1 should like; but I am continuing to press for an improvement. Inspector Caineroli reports that in his sub-district 105 households have received attention; and Inspector Gladstone furnishes a list of 109. Besides these, many more have been disinfected by the various local Inspectors, who have been instructed by some one of my staff. The means we employ generally is to spray the rooms, &c, thoroughly with a hot solution of formalin, followed by a good washing of floors, paint, Aβ., with hot water in which some washmgsoda has been dissolved. The wall-papers are then, if necessary, pulied off along with the scrim, and the paint brushed over with turpentine, and the roof whitewashed. It has been suggested by Inspector Gladstone that all public buildings, such as halls, theatres, churches &c, but especially post-offices and schools, should be required to be, say, two or three times a year thoroughly cleaned out and sprayed with formalin. Perhaps a requisition to have schools and post-offices thus attended to, as being under public jurisdiction, might he usefully made. Infectious Diseases. ,V otification of Infectious Diseases. The medical men in my district are now prompt and careful in this duty, except in tuberculosis cases, many of which go unnotified, and it is only when the person has died that we hear of the case in too meriy instances. The appended table shows these sufficiently, and speaks for itself, the numbers being: — „, . . . ... 180 Scarlet fever ■•• ■•■ ••• „„ Enteric fever ... ••• ••• ••• ••• Diphtheria ■■• ■■• ■•■ •■• ■•• gg Tuberculosis Scarlet Fever, which has been present throughout my district for the last few years, appears to be slowly exhausting itself. In Dunedin and the counties surrounding it, cases, which were fair y Numerous in the early months of the year, especially in Bruce County have practically dropped to almost nil- although Vincent County shows an increase, most marked in the last four months of £tfkEd In the Southland County, and in Wallace County adjoining it, the fever keeps mi in an annovine way, with only slight signs of decrease. P EllrTlvS haf been little in evidence, only a few (10) slight cases, several of which were imported from other districts, having occurred in Dunedin and the surrounding counties. The re fot my d trict has furnished only 5 cases, with the exception of the Tuapeka County, where there wafa slight (doubtful) outbreak among the men employed at one ot the construction camps °" bulked very small in my returns, and the cases were mild as a rule, some being ■Wβ had 31 returns; or, with the surrounding district, 47 cases Wefe few cases notified were either erysipelas or were the result of neglected

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Table No. I.—Return showing Number of Notified Cases of Infections Diseases from 1st April, 1906, to 31st March, 1907.

Disease. a s i p i V, D 0 I a & b 1-5 1-3 C q> •< CO ililllllilllilililikill Illlillliliklililill o DuNEDIN. South Dunedin. Caveksham. MORNISGTON. Scarlet lever .. Tuberculosis Enteric fever .. Diphtheria Blood-poisoning 3 ! 1 1 1 1 ■2 3 i .. 1 .. 3 .. 1 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 6 13 5 8 i 1 1 i 1 .. 1 •1 l 4 2 3 :: 'i .. .. 1 .. .. .. .. 1 .. 1 .. ..I ..11 1 ■ :: :: :: :: :: :: ::| :: :: i .. i 1 1 .: 8 2 ■• .. 1 1 • • .. •• .. .. .1 I Scarlet lever Tuberculosis Enteric fever .. Diphtheria Blood-poisoning EOSLYN. St. Kilda. North-east Valley. !ao] :i ILI 1 1 i :: -i 1 1 4 2 1 1 2 1 i i J " :: J i i i 2 2 •• • ■! ..I • ■ .. ■•1 Wj Scarlet fever .. Tuberculosis .. Enteric fever .. Diphtheria Blood-poisoning I ■• 1 I BST Hai R. 1 1 i a i Poet Chalmers. 1 1 1 3 .. 1 .. 1 4 3 3 " 4 i 2 ••I 2 :VEROABGILL. 3 .. 5 .. 1 .. .. 1 1 ■2 2 14 IT 2 i i i 3 Tα; ERI 1 Coi 1 Y. •• i •2 6 1 1 • 2 ■i •• •• • • .. •• .. •• • • •• ■■ .. • • Scarlet fever Tuberculosis Enteric fever .. Diphtheria Blood-poisoning Tlv .peka Cou: •• 1 .. 1 ■2 2 1 2 5 20 14 .. . * 5 3 .. .. 1 .'. * I 9 1 1 Bruce County. 4 2 "I i 57 2 1 Lake County. i i ■2 1 '.'. 17 .. ..1 "1 " " 'ESI ssula County. 1 " 3 2 .. .. • • .. •• Scarlet fever .. Tuberculosis Enteric fever .. Diphtheria Blood-poisoning 2 Mai iototo Co' 2 1 .... 5 4 1 4 3 5 1 Wallace County. .. .. 1 1 i 25 5 Waikou. 3 1 .iti County. .. .. 5 1 3 2 2 SOUTJ 2 3 [LAND COI .. i .. 'NTY. .. 2 ••! ■■ 3 3 .. 1 2-2 10 ■• 1 .. "■• .. .. i .. 4 .. • ■ • • Scarlet fever Tuberculosis .. Enteric fever .. Diphtheria Blood-poisoning 1 1 Vincent Cou: 1 2 .. 1 1 TY. 7 1 i 5 22 1 2 2 3 .. 1 .. 2 3 12.. 'aihemo County. 1 .. " :: .. ll » Clutha County. 1 1 3 8 1 'I , I •■I •■I ••I "■I • 3 s' • • •• • • I .. .. .. _J I ! _J J •■ I

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I append two tables, which, show graphically — In No. II the incidence of the three infectious diseases requiring in certain circumstances provision for them in an isolation hospital; and, alongside them, tuberculosis. The divisions in the table refer to the hospital districts which woidd have charge of these if such provision were in operation. This may be useful for future guidance. . In No. 11l I have made up from our notified records of the past five years a table showing for each year, and for each local authority's district, the number of cases of the four diseases which may be ascribed to an avoidable source, with the average numbers taken as per annum calculated on the quinquennial record. This quinquennial period, on which disease-records are frequently based in the Home-country, may be useful in some time as forming a means of estimating the expected disease-incidence of my district, and as time goes on we may be enabled, as in England, to formulate a disease-ratio for the towns and country districts, and therefore deduce the increase or decrease in the health of the country generally. Such a record has now been formulated for Great Britain, and the increase above the normal of the expected amount of such localised diseases in any particular district is held to call for special inquiry.

Table II.-Showing the Incidence of Three Infectious Diseases for which an Epidemic Hospital would serve in the Various Convenient Sub-districts into which the Otago-Southland District might be divided.

Table III.-Showing the Notified Infectious Diseases mainly arising from Bad Hygienic Conditions —viz., Enteric Fever, Diphtheria, and Tuberculosis, during the Quinquennial Period of Five Years'—l902-3 to 1906-7.

Scarlet Fever. | I Diphtheria. Enterio Fever. Tuberculosis. Dunedin Mornington ... Eoslyn St. Kilda North-east Valley Maori Hill ... West Harbour Port Chalmers Taieri County Bruce County Clutha County Peninsula County Waihemo County Waikouaiti County ... • 11 3 1 1 X 2 57 8 9 "'2 2 1 3 9 1 1 1 • 18 2 4 2 3 1 1 3 (i 2 1 7 5 3 1 96 L7 12 17 Invercargill ... Southland County Lake County 14 1 4 2 1 17 10 7 37 84 Wallace County 25 Tuapeka County i) Vincent County 22 1 3 I Maniototo County 5

1902-3. 1903-4. 1904-5. 1905-6. 1906-7. Total. Average. Dunedin City (Population, 36,075.) Enteric fever Diphtheria Tuberculosis Enteric fever Diphtheria Tuberculosis Enteric fever Diphtheria Tuberculosis Enteric fever Diphtheria Tuberculosis Enteric fever Diphtheria Tuberculosis Enteric fever Diphtheria Tuberculosis 5 13 51 16 3 20 13 2 29 1 9 3 24 1 9 9 18 I 52 30 142 2 10-4 6-0 28-4 0-4 Mornington (Population, 4,150.) 6 1 1 5 1 4 1 2 6 1 1 2 3 1 2 "i 2-2 0-6 1-2 3-6 0-2 1-4 1-0 0-4 0-8 2-2 0-4 Roslyn (Population, 5,439.) St. Kilda ... (Population, 2,580.) "i i 1 4 i 2 2 4 2 ' 2 3 11 3 5 18 1 7 5 2 4 11 2 North-east Valley (Population, 4,379.) i 2 1 Maori Hill ... (Population, 1,887.) "i 2 1 l "i '.T 1-4

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Table III.—Showing the Notified Infectious Diseases mainly arising from Bad Hygienic Conditions —viz., Enteric Fever, Diphtheria, and Tuberculosis, during the Quinquennial Period of Five Years — l902-3 to 1906-7 —continued.

Other infectious diseases which have been present in my district are measles, whooping-cough and diarrhoea; but as I have had notification of only a few cases, lam not aware to what extent they have prevailed. The first seems to have been very rife in Southland, though we have had only a very few cases in Dunedin. When we heard of these, the schools were visited, the children examined, and the sick or suspicious excluded. Diarrhoea prevailed largely, I believe, both in the city and country generally, principally, but not by any means solely, among young children, with no special relation to the milk-supply, but apparently depending on the unusual amount of dry weather we had during the autumn.

Notification by Registrars of Deaths from Infectious Diseases. During the six months since this notification was inaugurated I have received the following returns:—

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)03-4. 1904-5. 1905-6. 1906-7. Total. Average. West Harbour (Population, 1,534.) Enteric fever Diphtheria Tuberculosis Enteric fever Diphtheria Tuberculosis Enteric fever Diphtheria Tuberculosis Enteric fever Diphtheria Tuberculosis Enteric fever Diphtheria Tuberculosis Enterjc fever Diphtheria Tuberculosis Enteric fever Diphtheria Tuberculosis Enteric fever Diphtheria Tuberculosis Enteric fever Diphtheria Tuberculosis Enteric fever Diphtheria Tuberculosis Enteric fever Diphtheria Tuberculosis Enteric fever Diphtheria Tuberculosis Enteric fever Diphtheria Tuberculosis Enteric fever Diphtheria Tuberculosis Enteric fever Diphtheria Tuberculosis 1 1 2 0-4 i i 1 2 4 2 12 0-4 0-8 0-4 2-4 Port Chalmers (Population, 2,120.) 1 3 1 3 1 "2 Peninsula County (Population, 2,460.) 3 '3 Taieri County (Population, 9,227.) 3 3 3 3 1 1 2 4 1 6 1 1 6 1 5 8 5 26 5 7 13 4 1 14 2 0-2 1-0 1-6 1-0 5-2 1-0 1-4 2-6 0-8 0-2 2-8 0-4 Bruce County (Population, 7,545.) 11 1 1 5 3 1 2 6 2 3 2 Clutha County (Population, 7,875.) 1 3 1 1 Waihemo County (Population, 2,524.) 2 1 4 4 1 1 Waikouaiti County (Population, 4,814.) 1 2 1 1 3 1 3 10 2 2 23 13 2-0 0-4 0-4 4-6 2-6 Tuapeka County Population, 7,220.) 14 3 2 5 4 "3 1 1 5 Wallace County (Population, 8,400.) 3 1 18 7 i 2 26 1 1 20 5 29 68 5 22 51 10 4 17 32 3 6 2 1 21 5-2 0-2 0-2 4'0 1-0 5-8 13-6 1-0 4-4 10-2 2-0 0-8 3-4 6-4 0-6 1-2 0-4 0-2 4-2 Invercargill (Population, 11,650.) Southland County (Population, 30,200.) 6 1 1 12 1 7 17 4 4 3 1 3 9 2 15 14 1 6 10 1 1 7 1 10 16 3 5 14 1 5 2 17 Lake County (Population, 3,145.) 3 4 10 1 Vincent County (Population, 5,900.) 1 12 1 16 "5 1 7 3 1 2 2 2 2 Maniototo County (Population, 3,422.) 1 1 7 8 1 5

Disease. Oct. Nov. Deo. Jan. Feb. Maroh. Total. Tuberculosis Pneumonia W hooping-cough Measles Scarlet fever Diarrhoea ... 11 17 3 14 21 9 8 17 6 1 10 8 i 3 "6 65 58 1 3 2 9 "2 8

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We have, however, received these notifications from 18 out of 40 Registrars in my district, leaving 28 who have not sent notifications. Probably in some of these districts no such deaths have occurred since such notices were required; but in several instances I have discovered from other sources, or by the newspapers, that persons have died from infectious diseases, especially tuberculosis, so that some of the Registrars are neglecting this duty. I may mention one thing in connection with the notices we receive from Registrars that is causing trouble and giving rise to complaints from local authorities—that is, tho long period which may elapse since the death and the date at which it is recorded to the Registrar. This sometimes prevents action being taken by our Department or by the local authorities to have the disinfection of clothes, premises, &c, attended to in time to bar reoccupation of infected houses, or the disposal of clothes, furniture, and suchlike after a death. In New Zealand thirty-one days is allowed for the registration of a death, but in England it must be registered within five days, in Scotland within oight days. There seems, now, no sufficient reason for such latitude in registering deaths, since communication is easier than it was in the early days of the colony, when the regulations for the registration of deaths, &c, were enacted, and it would greatly facilitate the work of disinfecting premises and clothing, &c, after death from an infectious disease if the time were shortened to, at least, the English five days or the Scotch eight days. There would be no great hardship in this to the people concerned, and the Registrars could then notify our Department, who might see to the necessary disinfection within a reasonable time, preventing the reoccupation of infected rooms or houses, the wearing or selling of the infected clothing, &c. In one instance recently I heard by chance that the household furniture, &c, of a house in which a man had died of consumption after a prolonged illness was about to be sold by auction, the information just coming in the nick of time to prevent the infected articles being spread broadcast, carrying danger with them to unsuspecting persons. This case had not been notified to me during the party's lifetime. Special Provision for Treatment of Infectious Diseases, I am glad to report that the hospital in Invercargill is now making good progress, and will be in full operation during the year. In Dunedin the matter is still hanging fire, although some further progress has been made. But the Hospital Board is still in a state of suspended animation, and appears unwilling to push the matter on. In the other hospital districts within my district provision exists in the way of annexes to their hospitals—for instance, at Riverton, Naseby, Frankton, Arrowtown, Lawrence, and Cromwell— sufficient for requirements. Vaccination. The vaccination of children in the district having been of late years much neglected, the Registrar of Births for the Dunedin District made a request to Dr. Mason, who happened to be in Dunedin, to be furnished with a circular to be sent to defaulting parents, calling their attention to the matter. This request was granted, and several thousands of the circular, accompanied with a pamphlet showing its advantages, were issued early in January. And, as the result of a talk with the Registrar for Southland, at Invercargill, and with the aid of Inspector Cameron, a number of similar notices and circulars were sent to the Registrars of the Southland Sub-district to be distributed by them. The good effect of this whip-up is shown by the fact that, while in year April to March, 1905-6, vaccine-tubes to the number of 1,837 were supplied to medical men and Public Vaccinators, in the year just ended, April to March, 1906-7, the number has mounted up to 2,813, or nearly one-third more than the former year, causing over or about nine hundred children to be vaccinated who would probably have been neglected had these special circulars not been sent out; and the colony is thus additionally protected against small-pox. Sanitar? By-laws. - Pending the issue of a general scheme of sanitary by-laws of general application for the whole colony, we have been pushing the preparing of these for several of our towns, and I have approved of amended by-laws for Invercargill, Riverton, Queenstown, and Dunedin. Inspector Cameron took a great deal of trouble in this, preparing a very complete and up-to-date set of by-laws, which he got Invercargill to adopt, Riverton also following suit, and he is now pressing several other of his towns to follow this example. Queenstown, at my instance, adopted several amendments, which are now in use; and the City of Dunedin, also at my request, are considering a set of by-laws for the regulation of boardinghouses and of stables situated within the city limits. Inspection op Articles intended for Human Consumption. The following were found to be unfit for human consumption, and ordered to be destroyed : In Dunedin—Pigs' carcases, 24; pieces bacon, 34; whitebait, 78 tins; plums, 106 cases; peaches, 9 cases; peas, 7 cases; peas, 18 bags; cauliflowers, 24; tomatoes, 8 cases; apples, 7 cases ; bananas, 475 cases; passion-fruit, 3 cases, oranges, 262 cases; potatoes, 8 tons; mixed fruit, about 56 lb. In Invercargill— Mixed fruit, about 8 lots, by Inspector Cameron. We are now finding that the receivers of doubtful pigs, fruit, he, are advising us, and requesting us to examine these articles, instead of selling them off at what they would fetch, or waiting till we should find them out for ourselves. In this connection I may mention that I have been trying to have a sort of clearing-house for Dunedin, where all meat-carcases sent in from the, country should be inspected before being allowed to go to the curers to be made into bacon, &c. Much which now we suspect passes us from want of information might then be intercepted. The principal curers are at one with us in this matter, and it only requires the local authorities of the town and suburbs to undertake the matter. Meantime Inspector Gladstone, along with the local Inspector Donaldson, are doing all they can, by frequent visits to auction-rooms, stores, and suchlike, to prevent doubtful food-articles from passing into circulation.

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A few months ago 1 had representations from the Master Bakers' Association that their messengers were frequently forced to take bread from their customers which had not been used, and that the bread returned might have been handled by persons suffering from or coming into contact with disease. They pointed out that in consequence of what inspections had revealed in Melbourne this practice had been forbidden by law, desiring my support in an effort to regulate this practice iv our colony. I gladly did so, and brought the matter before you, suggesting legislation on the question. The first step taken, I think, in this direction in the colony has been in luvercargill, where Inspector Cameron had a by-law adopted forbidding bakers to receive the returned bread. I trust soon to see such a by-law adopted throughout the colony, as the danger of spreading disease by this means is not an imaginary one. Dbainaoe op Towns. Unfortunately, drainage matters in Dunedin are in a state of suspense by the termination of the Engineer's engagement with the Drainage Board, and the reconsideration of the whole scheme; but a little is being done in the way of connecting houses with sewers where possible. In Mosgiel a septic installation has been instituted; but, the foundations of the septic tank being insufficient and iv bad ground, they gave way just as the tank was going to be put into operation, so this too is in abeyance. At Invercargill the Puni Creek, which served as an open sewer for part of the town, is now practically rendered pure by the construction of a drain along its course, an improvement we have been long urging. At Gore, where the drainage system has been completed, the houses are now being gradually connected with the sewer. Water-supply to Towns. In Dunedin the drainage area has now been secured by much land on the slopes of Mount Cargill having been bought up by the city, and several new creeks have been brought into the system, so that the city has now a much fuller supply than formerly—sufficient, probably, for many years. Invercargill is finding its supply insufficient, and the Council are considering means to augment it. Inspection of School-childhen. Dr. Mason took the opportunity of being in Dunedin at the time of the annual meeting of the Otago Educational Institute to address liie teachers on the advisability of supervising the health of the children, and at the close of his address, which was enthusiastically received, it was suggested that District Health Officers in the colony should meet the teachers at convenient times and places to discuss with them the best means of carrying out the scheme he propounded. When I was requested in my district to assist in the matter I gladly consented, and had, with Dr. Mason and two of our School Inspectors, a chat over ways and means. Considering how to carry out my part of the project I consulted a report of the Royal Commission on Physical Training (Scotland), issued in 1903, which has been sent me from Home, as well as a book on medical inspection of school-children by Dr. Leslie Mackenzie, with which I had been supplied, and sketched out a set of notes for my own use. This I submitted to Dr. Mason for approval. It was afterwards printed by the Department, and is to be distributed to the school-teachers through the colony for their guidance. I have now arranged to meet teachers both in Dunedin and at Invercargill at the annual meetings of the respective Educational Institutes, to discuss fully these matters, for which they will be prepared by having perused the pamphlet. These meetings will take place in June or July, and, as the teachers, Inspectors, and Education Boards' officials generally appear prepared to take up the inspection of the children with zeal, I anticipate much good to follow these conferences. I append a table referring to the occurrence of diseases among school-children at Edinburgh common schools, which shows graphically the need of inspection such as you have desired to be undertaken by the teachers.

Table IV. — Facts bearing on the Occurrence of Disease among School-children examined by Dr. Leslie Mackenzie in Four Edinburgh Middle-class Schools.

Frank Ogston, M.D., District Health Officer, Otago-Southland District.

Number of Children sui Eering fn im Dise: ,ses of— Age—Years. X 00 »O J I a a a a in to ■a 3 ro aj a o pa I 40 5 w 6D a u m 1I- - 2 o> EH M.S to 9 { M. F. 100 99 5 1 25 18 4 1 1 0 5 3 4 8 6 10 34 42 52 52 77 71 to 12 I M. F. 101 100 8 1 23 12 2 1 0 0 7 0 \ 8 12 16 41 44 46 50 73 65 .2 to 15 I M. F. 100 100 0 18 15 4 1 0 0 6 5 2 2 12 11 31 44 55 58 70 67 'otals ... J M. F. 301 299 8 2 66 45 10 3 1 0 IB 8 10 8 30 37 106 130 153 160 220 203 'ercentages Both 600 10 111 L3 26 18 G7 236 313 423 1-67 18-5 2-17 0-17 4-33 3-0 1117 39-33 52-17 70-5

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REPORTS OF DR. POMARE, HEALTH OFFICER TO THE MAORIS, AND OF THE NATIVE SANITARY INSPECTORS. Tari Whakahaere Ora mo te Katoa (Department of Public Health), Sir,— Poneke, 11th June, 1907. This year finds me sending you the usual cotnpte rendu, the use of which you and I cannot discern, for nearly all the suggestions contained in previous ones are seldom acted upon. I suppose we must keep on aiming at the moon —we might hit a tree, though it often makes one feel like exclaiming, "He aha te pai o tenei mahi." The plough-handles have been grasped, and there is no letting-go for us. We have burned our whares. " Kua kotia te taitapu ki Hawaiki " (We have passed the Rubicon) —so spoke an aged Maori at one of our meetings, consequently we must keep going. Bark till our masters tell us to stop. Reiterate till our reports become the same year after year. Enough ! The past year has been a very busy one for us, but the acquisition of Dr. Rangihiroa by the Department has helped us to attend more to the sick than heretofore. This has been a wise move, as I am confident Dr. Rangihiroa's transference to the Auckland District will not only relieve a great deal of pressure on our shoulders, but will result in great good by his being able to attend more to detail-work. Other things being equal, and with a sufficient and efficient staff of Sanitary Inspectors and nurses ia all districts, much more cannot be expected for uplifting the Maori from his insanitary and unhygienic ways to those of health. Several small outbreaks of typhoid have occurred during the year, details of which you already have, but, suffice to say, that owing to prompt attention, isolation, and proper treatment, the cases progressed favourably, and the epidemics were stamped out before they had time to spread as in former years. Polluted water-supplies and the pernicious custom of throwing dirty water and garbage out of the back door were generally the main cause of these outbreaks. lam glad, however, to state that the Maori is falling into line gradually but surely —in fact, he is so willing to go to some hospitals now, the difficulty is to gain admission. Diseases. 1. Pulmonary affections. 8. Rheumatism. 2. Bronchitis. 9. Bronchial catarrh. 3. Constipation. 10. Amenorrhoea. 4. Influenza 11. Conjunctivitis. 5. Dyspepsia. 12. Abscess. 6. Eczema. 13. Stomatitis. 7. Colds. 14. Enteric fever. The above list of the common diseases affecting the race I obtained from the medical returns for the past year. They are placed in their order of frequency. The figures, however, are not sufficiently numerous to permit of accurate deductions being made. Space will not permit me to discuss this question extensively, but you can readily see that the pulmonic maladies are by far the most prevalent. This can be easily accounted for because of the prevalent carelessness in dress, exposure to wet and cold, &c. The same causes may be given for the female disorders. Dirt, lack of soap, and communism are the predisposing causes of eczema, scabies, and the usual skin-affec-tions. During the year our leper at Rangiriri, Waikato, died, thus leaving us with but two cases now.

Half-castes, etc., in New Zealand.

1906. 1901. Cei Census Years. insUB Yea 1896. ITS. 1891. 1886. alf-oastes and persons of mixed races living as Europeans alf-castes and persons of mixed races living as members of Maori tribes 2,578 3,938 2,407 3,123 2,259 3,503 2,184 2,760 1,957 2,264 Total half-castes i 6,516 5,530 5,762 4,944 4,221 !aori wives of Europeans 211 196 229 251 201 Years. Total Maoris Half-oastei * nd Total Decrease. Total Inen iase. Total Half-castes. 1867 1871 1874 (first census) 1878 1881 1886 1891 1896 1901 1906 38,540 37,502 45,470 43,595 44,097 41,969 41,993 39,854 43,143 47,731 1,875 2,128 3,189 502 4,221 4,944 5,762 5,530 6,516 24 3,289 4,588

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The whole Maori question has to be one of evolution. It takes time to do all things —Rome was not built in a day, neither can we teach old dogs new tricks. I am certain that with the individualisation of Maori lands independent effort and its rewards will grow; communism with all its accompanying evils will die out. The individualistic idea will be infused till the turning of time and sand into gold will become the absorbing theme, as with the pakeha. With the abolition of communism and the securing of the fruit of individual effort, the Maori will not only become a prosperous tiller of the soil, but his home-life will become more private and moral, till we find him ultimately absorbed in the pakeha. Whenever two communities live together throughout the world, the weaker must tend to become absorbed in the greater and more powerful: this then will be the destiny of the Maori—not extinction, but absorption. This process will take many years, but it is inevitable. The greater decrease in the Maori population since the dawn of civilisation has produced a crop of would-be authorities who assert that the Maori is doomed to utter extinction in a short space of time—in fact, we have been quoted as having uttered this prophecy. To my mind such presumptuous are adverse to fact, because the decrease in the past does not necessarily warrant a continuance, and, further, the decrease of the future will be in the purity of the Maori blood. I would like to prove this to you by actual figures, but, unfortunately, the Government returns being mere approximations in earlier censuses makes it unsatisfactory; however, you can see by even allowing for these fallacies that since 1886 there has been a continual increase of half-castes, till to-day we have 6,516 half-castes in our midst, to say nothing of those hundreds who have already become absolute pakehas, though they are not included in the enumeration. A further interesting fact is that there are 211 Maori women who are the wives of Europeans, besides a few men who are married to European wives. Generally speaking, these women are prolific when mated with Europeans—in fact, much more so than when mated with one of their own. I know families of such unions to range from two to seventeen. Then, again, as we progress the half-caste girls will give more consorts to the pakeha, who is better able to give them the luxuries of life. The half-castes who marry Maoris are lightening the blood in their progeny, and so the process goes on, till in time we shall have a new race. That when the old is past and gone, We still may find its trace In nobler types of human kind, With traits wherein there blend The white man's more prosaic mind, , The poet Maori trend. • The Maori as a Wobker I have rejoiced greatly in the steadfastness of our Maoris in dairying pursuits, because it has not only silenced a great many of our critics in regard to the ability of the Maori to stick to anything for any length of time, but chiefly because of the altered conditions which has been brought about through this industry. This serves as a good example of what can be done with the Maori is he is given opportunity. The filthy surroundings, the low, unventilated whares, the indolence, the poorly fed, ragged children of a few years ago are indeed a great contrast to what we find now, for nearly all the Maoris are living in comfortable, floored, and well-ventilated cottages. There ih no more idleness, but they can be heard each morning singing merrily as they take their milk to the local dairy. The children are tidy and have plenty to eat—the cheque comes in every month. Such is the picture about Nuhaka. We would that the whole Maori population were thus employed. We must not suppose that the Nuhaka Maoris are the only ones who are employed in dairying pursuits. There are Maoris in all districts milking cows. The attached list will give you an idea of the number so engaged, with the approximate number of gallons and number of cows owned by each individual. A great many of these Natives obtained their cows from the factories on shares, and I am pleased to state that they have nearly all paid up their creditors with the exception of two or three. I would like to insert many of the letters which I have received from the managers of the dairy factories, but space prohibits me. The universal cry is individualisation, so that each Native can have some land to run his cows on. The Taranaki Maoris are by far the greatest suppliers, and I am sure if proper measures were adopted in regard to their lands the number would double itself within a year.

List of Maori Milk-suppliers.

As we proceed up the coast we can see that the Maori is rapidly leaving the raupo whare. Hundreds of new houses have been built since the passing of the Public Health Act. We find i through the east coast district Natives as sheep-farmers, more or less under the guidance of my worthy friend Mr. Ngata. We see in this district sheep-runs entirely managed and worked by Natives. Wherever the individual shares are too small to work apart, the owners in a block of land co-operate. A Native manager, with his complement of shepherds and men, are put into active service; then, at the end of the year, if there are any dividends each owner receives his

Province. Number Approximate of Number of Pounds Suppliers. per Month. Approximate Number of Cows. .uokland ... 'aranaki ... [awke's Bay Wellington 58 80 41 33 724,270 1,964,170 420,210 352,940 1,689 4,M5 979 718 Totals 212 3,461,590 7,531

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share according to his interests in the land. This has been worked out with a great deal of success for the last few years, and it would be a good policy to follow in other districts similarly situated, such as Wanganui. The direct result of all this is that no idleness obtains, the homes are much cleaner, more sanitary, children are better fed, the women better clad, and the district much more progressive. Along the Bay of Plenty the Natives mostly cultivate maize, a few go in for dairying, but now the Natives about the Urewera and along the coast are much disturbed by the doings of Rua. This false Messiah is essentially hostile to the pakeha. Large crops were left to rot last winter because of his baneful influence, more of which anon. A few of the Tauranga Natives have started to milk, and so have a few of the Ngatiwhatua. In the Wairoa and all the northern districts we find the Natives as gum-diggers, bushfellers, timber and liax-mill hands. The Maoris in these northern districts should be encouraged to grow grapes and fruit, as we pointed out years ago, instead of letting them eke out a miserable, immoral, and degrading existence on the gumtields. It is time we were doing something practical instead of saying nice things and doing nothing. What the Maori really wants is work—it is the only pathway to health and prosperity. I would give him work, make him work, till he finds he cannot live without work. When this happens, and only then, will the Maori learn the individualistic lesson, and only then the pernicious custom of pantm et circensea will be done away with. He will then have learned the commercial relation between labour and capital. For these many years we have taught the Native the uses and abuses of money without teaching him the moral relation between money and the sweat of his brow—work will do this. The Waikato Natives have been making progress in a small way. The majority of these Natives are landless, consequejitly you find them working as labourers and as flax-mill hands. They should be given sufficient lands to work. Many of them are extremely poor, and live in miserable hovels. If they were given sufficient lands to work I am sure this deplorable state of affairs would cease to exist. I am glad to state here that two Samaritans, Miss Breretou and Miss Heron, have been doing excellent work amongst these Natives. They have been living the life amongst the Natives till the sweetness of their lives has permeated the whole pa. During a recent epidemic of typhoid these two heroines stood by their post till they were both stricken down themselves. Such work deserves all the encouragement we can give, for not only has the moral tone of the pa been elevated, but the example shown by a daily life along hygienic and sanitary lines is bearing fruit. Miss Beetham, at Rotorua, also deserves great credit for the work she has been doing during the past year in looking after the sick and showing the mothers how to look after the babies, &c. These are the kind of workers we need, for they get down to the people, and by practice demonstrate the beauties of a better and healthier life. 1 would that we had a hundred girls being trained as nurses. The attempt to get girls to the hospitals has been a feeble one. Objections were raised byone or two hospitals to the entering of Maori girls to be trained as nurses, because the pakehas would not like the association. This state of affairs in this democratic country must be deplored. One would have thought that when it became a question of humanity the skin would not have mattered, and that the pakeha girls studying in the hospitals, when they were brought face to face with suffering humanity would have had their horizon broadened so as to see only the suffering. Further, all petty and selfish differences in their station and those of their more unfortunate sisters would have suuk into insignificance with the greater work of allaying the pains of suffering humanity before them. When the Great Master calls his own they wiJi be from the four winds of the earth and of all races; it will not be a matter of colour then, but it will be a matter of what the servant has done with his or her talent. There ought to be ten girls in training where there is only one at present. We have long advocated the speedy training of Maori girls as nurses. When 1 see the afflicted and sore-dis-tressed, the sick and dying, without an experienced hand to tend them or give them relief, I grieve and exclaim, " Taihoa, Taihoa, how many murders have been committed, how many homes have been made desolate, how many babes have been made orphans in thy name I " If we are in earnest in trying to save the Maori, then we must get him as soon as he is born. It is the only way and only hope, and in order to do this we must have trained nurses at once to teach the mothers the ways of health. I know the argument that there is no money for this purpose, and I also know the past traditions of the English, and their generous disposition towards the Maori. In the pakeha's hour of need many Maoris did not hesitate to offer their lives, and now since the Maori is also a British subject, wishing to co-operate in the advancement and colonisation of the country, and in the solidifying of the Empire, I know the pakeha will stand by the Maori in his hour of need, and will see that equal advantages are given his daughters to learn the mysteries of life and death in the hospitals, so that they can prolong the days of a race which has ever been generous to the pakeha in the past and Imperial in loyalty to the King. Coming further down the coast, we enter the Taranaki District, which has been a most difficult one to deal with because of its past history. It is needless for me to go into the past—the dead past must bury its dead. What is needed in this district is to encourage the young men to work whenever they break loose from the thraldom of the " prophets." I have conversed with many of these young men, and they have all declared their willingness to work if given an opportunity. The parents were followers of the two " prophets," consequently the children had to go with their parents ; but since the parents died many of the children have lost the desire of spending their time and substance at the feet of the " prophets." When they turn home, however, they find their lands have been leased, and some of them perpetually. There should be some remedy for this undesirable state of affairs. The old Act may have been beneficial when it was passed, but now the times have changed Every Maori who has land should be given an opportunity of utilising that land if he so desire lam sure working the land would be more profitable to the Maori in every way, even if he did not make so very much out of it, than getting peppercorn rents, which he only squanders in gambling and riotous living. We want justice done in this district. At the present the Maori is only the nominal owner of his ancestral lands. He cannot occupy his own property without an

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occupation license, and at the end of some of the leases he cannot take back his land. By looking at the dairy list we find that there are double the number of milkers in this district than in any other; thus we must make provision for these young men who are willing to become dairy-farmers. The time has passed for kid-glove business ;we must do justice to the Maori and his wants. There is no use of beating about the bush if we are sincere in trying to prolong the existence of the race. We must do more than merely writing reports ; we must look at the question in a just, practical, and unbiassed way, carrying out every promise, settling the land question, as all the sanitary and useful reforms rest on the solution of this great problem. It is hoped that the present Native Land Commission, which is doing such good work, will inquire into the requirements of the Taranaki Maoris. Short leases to Europeans would benefit these Natives for the time being till Te Whiti dies and all the Natives return to their own homes. Then we must encourage the Maori to work by seeing that he has sufficient lands for dairying and other pursuits. When we give him every opportunity to better himself like the pakeha, I am sure the constant outbreaks of infectious diseases, the poverty, the misery, the insanitary conditions of the Maori home will disappear as the dew before the noonday sun. TOHUNGAS. We have long waged war against tohungas. Every year brings a new crop of these pests. This undesirable state will continue until the Maori mind has been thoroughly educated to see the absurdities of tobungaism and until a death-certificate is required with the death of every Maori. The compulsory registration of births and deaths has been too often referred to in our previous reports for us to take any more trouble with the question. There is such a thing as being tired. White women and men have posed as seers amongst the Maoris, and the Maori truly say, " Why, the pakeha themselves believe in these supernatural powers; you must be wrong, and are only saj'ing these things because they are against you doctors." I know a white woman, a charlatan, who can diagnose, prognose, and prescribe for a case just by a lock of hair. She made a lot of money out of the poor Natives. The only way I could demonstrate to the Maoris the deception of this woman was by borrowing a lock of hair from a certain Native's dog. I sent the Native with the lock of hair, and she forthwith wanted £5 for some medicine she had to cure an oncoming attack of paralysis. That was two years ago, and I believe my' Maori friend's dog is still wagging his tail, but my lady of the huruhuru is minus one of her followers. 1 know several pakehas who are practising all kinds of incredible things among the Maoris. Of course, you cannot prosecute unless they render themselves liable by some criminal action. All you can do is to try and scare them by bluffing. Hikapuhi and Rua have been the two most prominent figures in the tohunga business this year. Hikapuhi had a religious sort of ceremony mixed with a great deal of the three-star eau-de-vie variety to cure her patients with. Little children attending schools were made to wear small narrow bottles filled with brandy next their skins. From these they frequently took nips during the recesses. This craze has become very popular, becaitse the wine is blessed by the Divinity. The consequenco of this is that old inebriates have taken to drinking again, and many of those who never drank do so now religiously. We prosecuted several of Hikapuhi's followers for supplying liquor to Maori women, but I think the matter should be attacked at the fountain-head. The Rua craze has been taken up by the Hauhau section of our population. His influence has been productive of indolence, mistrust of the pakeha, the stopping of children from going to school, the stopping of cultivation, huddling in camps, the enticing of Natives to desert their homes, the selling of their goods in order to get money for their " prophet " —in fact, the utter disorganization of all things pertaining to a well-regulated kainga. These poor Natives believe that a flood is soon coming; consequently, in some parts of Ruatoki a path has been made to the mountains, so as to give them easy access to safety when the deluge occurs. The flood, by the way, is to sweep all the pakehas out of existence Attached you will find the statements from the Native Sanitary Inspectors. I will again recommend to you the scheme of having Homes for aged Maoris. In conclusion, I may say that the sympathy, tolerance, and careful adjusting of our men has proved successful in dealing with Maori matters. Our feeble efforts have been rewarded by radical changes in the Maori kaingas. The future, weighted with great possibilities, awaits us. And now ends the report of our frail endeavours in fostering and rebuilding the Maori, in giving light amid the glooms of a mysterious destiny. I have, &c, Maui Pomabe, M.D., Health Officer to the Maoris. Dr. J. M. Mason, Chief Health Officer, Wellington. $ IR) Ohinemutu, Bay of Plenty, 7th May, 1907. Salutations to thee. I have the honour to submit my report for this year. The first question I want to deal with is that of the tohunga, and his methods of treatment of the Maori patient. This subject was brought up in last year's report. The tohungas have been busy, but so have we. The doings of such men ought to be prohibited in every part of the colony. This is a great subject to be dealt with by all the Sanitary Inspectors, because they are coming continually in contact with tohungas. These tohungas often delude patients, and so prevent them from consulting qualified men. This plague of tohungaism I have found to have spread to the four quarters, even to Ngapuhi, Waikato, Hawke's Bay, the West Coast, and Wairarapa. There was a woman, 'who in 1905 toured the district of Ngatitoa and Ngatiraukawa. She went to Hastings, and even reached Gisborne. Many chiefs aided her in her work. She even came to the Arawa district, and sent forth a proclamation to bring the lame, halt, and blind to bathe in the Pools of Siloam.' She said she was not a tohunga, but a nurse —" she could cure all." When she was fairly established I discovered that hor remarkable cures were but fables, and that the name "nurse" was only a cloak to hide the preposterous doings of both her and her apostles. At a meeting of my

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Council we passed a resolution to the effect that she was to go out of our district —which she subsequently did. She has been the cause of a great deal of trouble throughout the district, even as far south as the South Island, which ended in 1905 in a lawsuit. The great evils resulting from her doings are —(1) drinking of intoxicating liquors, (2) the making of the patients haka after imbibing. This leads to drunkenness, and oft-times the patients are found drunk in their whares. Each patient is required to furnish a bottle of brandy, and every one, men, women, and children, must partake thereof. I have known many innocent children and young girls become demoralised through drinking this vile stuff. Even little babies still suckling at the mother's breast are made to drink brandy. There have been other tohungas in different districts who have followed on like lines, and some have been most degrading. All this has resulted in the diminution of our numbers, in the weakening of the race, and in the tarnishing of the faith in the Maker. Any young man or woman can become a tohunga, but the doings of all are a great curse. They have added many pernicious things to the ancieni mode of treatment. Nearly all are in the tohunga business because it pays. Some have become pakeha tohungas, because they practise palmistry, phrenology, and other allied humbugs. The result of these practices is just as bad as that of the tohungas, if not worse. There are many Councils in this Island, but not all have by-laws passed to prevent these evil practices. This is partly due to the fact that many of the members of these Councils are themselves believers in tohungas. A further trouble lies in the unsettled state of the Native Office, because the applications, &c, have not yet been gazetted. I will bring up this subject when we meet in Auckland at the conference of Sanitary Inspectors which you have convened. In bygone days there was but one law which the Maori observed in regard to his body, and that was to be on the alert for any sudden attacks from foes. They built their pas on the hills and mountains, in order to see thejr enemies when they advanced on them. This condition of ever fighting produced a race of men large of stature, healthy, and active. Then there were but two deaths for men—the death of Tv (the God of War) and of old age. Since the advent of the pakeha the Maori has become a prey to every passing disease, in spite of the nice clothes and the fine food introduced by his white brother. The Maori ignorantly grasped the shadow of those things which were introduced, and forgot that there was a law pertaining to the wearing of pakeha clothes, to the breathing of fresh air, the eating of pakeha food, and the drinking of pakeha rum. The seed of education which has been sown amongst the Maori is now his only hope. The Maori ways are done, the road lies before, and they must get acquainted with the road by education—already they are on the way—for many of our sons and daughters have succeeded in obtaining the learning ot the pakeha This has come about within the past twenty years. While on this subject I would like to suggest, and I know you will agree will me, that hygiene should be taught in all our schools, and the terms of Government scholars should be extended from two to three years, and after the expiration of their time suitable employment be found for them. I am certain that, if half of the pension moneys given to the aged Maoris was utilised for the descendants of these old people, much good would result, such as a Native hospital, which the Maoris can never build without aid. Instruction could be given to the young Maori in nursing at this hospital Education is what is needed, so the Maori may be conversant with the laws governing his body and those spider-web entanglements which enwrap his lands. The statement has often been made that the Maori is indolent. Now, this is not so, and the pakeha must not be blinded by this assertion, because indolence is entirely due to the entanglement of the multitudinous laws which govern the Maori's lands. The individualisation of Maori land is the solution of the problem, because it has not only induced Maoris to supply milk to the dairy factories, but it has made them become pakeharised in many things. _ ■ . lam K lad to mention that the past year has been one without its usual crop of infectious diseases However satisfactory this may be, you will see that a great many deaths have occurred, especially among the children.' This, as pointed out in previous reports, is due to ignorance concerning the nursing of children and sick adults — because proper nursing is half the battle in looking after the sick. You will see by the following table that in spite of the great number of deaths, tKe births exceed, though by a small margin only. Deaths and Births for Tear 1906. Tribe. District. Births. Deaths. Puhourangi Whakarewarewa ... 1& t> Hihourangi ... ... Te Puke ... •■• ' Ngatirangitihi] Matata - 9 9 Te Tawera ) Ngatiwhakane ... ... Owhata ) 3 2 Ngatitu ... ■•• Owhatiura J Ngatipikiao ... ... Eotoiti ... ••• ■•• ° Ngatipikiao ... ... Maketu ••• ••• j> £ Ngatiwhakane ... ... Ohinemutu ... ••• *-6 o Ngatiwhakane ... ... Maketu ••• ••• A . (Te Awahou ) g 3 Ngatirangiwewena ... "JTePuke ) Ngatiuenukukopako \ rp e ac ... ... ... 1 Ngatirangiteaorere i Tapuika TePuke ... Ng'atituara ... '••• Horohorome j Ngatiwhaoa ... ••• Ohinemutu [ Ngatitahu ... ■•• Waiotapu ... Ngatiohenga ... ■•• Waiteti Ngatimetetamahika ... Tarukenga 58 41

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Houses.

I am very pleased to be able to report to you of the steady progress that has taken place in regard to the houses. The Maori has become amenable to reason. The unsatisfactory state of his whare has made him ashamed —in fact, it has caused him to dream of ways and means of putting up houses like his neighbours the pakehas. The customs of his ancestors are passing away. The most of the houses in my district have now been ventilated and floored, and the maraes are all set in order. There is but one pa which I should like to see more improved, and that is Ohinemutu, which needs renovating. Nearly all the people have provided water-closets; a few have held back in putting up these necessary adjuncts on account of the uncertainty of the road which has to be put through the pa. As in previous reports, I have again to remind you that these two pas, Ohinemutu and Whakarewarewa, are still in need of pipes to take away the sewage. The Department would do well if they could get the Government to move in the direction of getting these pipes, because it would be of great public benefit. I would not bother the Government if it were not for the fact that the £30 or £40 which my Council derives from dog-taxes is consumed in the salaries' of the Registrars of Births and Deaths and the policeman. The rest has been used for urgent need in different pas, such as water-supplies, drains, &c. This money ought to have been subsidised by the Government under the Act, but, alas! it was not done. I should not be boasting if I said that we should be able to carry out every injunction re sanitary matters if the Government would give subsidies. We cannot do much without subsidies from the Government, because practically our only source of funds is the dog-tax. The Department had better see that more subsidies are given to us. There are many houses that ought to be burned, and some that ought to be renewed ai Miitata, Te Awahou, Te Kahiku, Te Ruato, Owhata, Te Ngae.

List of Houses, Year 1906.

You will see by the above table that the general trend is to build weatherboard houses. lam looking forward to the meeting of the Sanitary Inspectors at Auckland ; I know much good will result therefrom. I know this will be productive of more good than the Council meeting which has been held within the last three years. Much talk was indulged in, a great deal of food consumed, a great deal of money wasted by the delegates to the Council, without any good resulting. This meeting of the Sanitary Inspectors will cause no loss to any one, and we know something practical will result therefrom. I have, &c, Dr. M. Pomare. Raureti Mokonuiarangi . Sir,— Tuhirangi, Masterton, 12th March, 1907. I herewith send you my annual report concerning the homes for the past year: Pas, 56; new houses, 10; houses renewed, 25; houses passed, 196; houses destroyed, 11; W.C.s, 120. Herewith also find statement of deaths and births for the past year. I am sure, if absolute heed had been given to the lectures that were delivered there would have been fewer deaths. These figures I have gathered myself. Owing to the negligence of the Council no records have been kept of births and deaths. There should be a law brought into force to compel the Council to make correct returns. Adults (deaths), 19; children (deaths), 15: births, 57. I have, &c, Taiawhio te Tau, Dr. M. Pomare. Sanitary Inspector. Memorandum for Dr. M. Pomare. Ruatoki, 30th March, 1907. Herewith please receive items of information called for in your memo, of the 7th March, 1907. The amount of information at my disposal cannot be looked upon as satisfactory in regard to many hamlets; it is meagre in the extreme. It is in this wise: During a recent trip round the

B—H. 31.

TWatrict. New Weatherboard Hopses. New Wiwi Houses. W.O.s. Houses burnt. Houses to be destroyed. Ngapuna Mourea Taheke Mokoia Te Ngae Matawera Owhata Ohinemutu .. Maketu Otupango Otukawa Tβ Awahou .. 5 1 1 2 2 1 1 9 2 1 1 I 1 I 2 2 I II 3 3 4 3 4 2 1 1 Tarewa Waiteti Ngongotaha .. ! 4 2 Total .11 6 11 10 II

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district I found many of the Native hamlets deserted of man, the people thereof having removed, bag and baggage, to the Messiah camps, of which more anon. At such places (seven of the principal kaingas) there was no person from whom I could obtain information anent work done, &c. I hoped to obtain such notes from the Council-members at the meeting of the 20th March, but five of the members absented themselves from that meeting. I have frequently asked members to send in reports of work done, &c, when they 'do not attend meetings, of which request not the slightest notice is taken. It is also necessary to explain my inability to visit hamlets with any degree of frequency. I am in receipt of a travelling-allowance of £20 per annum. As I have to pay for horse-hire, horse-feeds, ferries, and my own accommodation when travelling, it means that the allowance will not admit of more than twenty-six days' travelling in the course of the year. Now, out of this at least eight days are consumed in attending Council meetings. In 1906 there were five Council meetings that I attended, besides the election of new members, which occupied two days and a half. These expenses have to come out of the £20. Also any expenses incurred in carrying out instructions from Captain Mair, Mr. Edgar, or others —all have to come out of the same sum. With the balance I am supposed to visit all settlements in the district four times per annum. Comment is needless. Yet again, I am supposed to insist on certain sanitary improvements where needed, and, if necessary, to summon those who heed not. This course I cannot possibly pursue. It is marked "N.S.F." Natives observe this apathy and lack of coercion, and ignore all advice, instructions, &c, in respect to sanitary improvements —hence impure drinking-water, stagnant sloughs, ffiko rauraha and typhoid fever at Tauarau. These people are not superior to or more amenable than Europeans, and should be made to respect and obey such laws as it is deemed advisable to enforce by the same process as is employed in dealing with Europeans. They must be made to keep kaingas decent, to erect and use latrines, &c. It is of no avail to ask or advise them to do these things. Observe that in all such useful work as sanitary improvements I receive no support from the Council. They never back me up in the slightest degree. Registration of Births and Deaths. —You will observe that the numbers have fallen off considerably. This is owing to the number of births and deaths not having been registered. I suspect the Messiah craze to be responsible for this. The situation is not satisfactory, -inasmuch as Natives simply please themselves as to whether they register or not. This law should be enforced. The Messiah Craze. —This peculiar cult is as strong as ever, and will not, apparently, soon fall into innocuous desuetude. A great number of Kua's followers have been for some time past living at large camps —one at Haupapa, one at Te Waimana, and one near Te Teko. All Natives have been warned by Rua to leave their homes, sell all portable property, and go and live on the hills in order to avoid an appalling deluge which is soon to overwhelm all lowlying lands. At Te Waimana I recently found sixty tents full of Natives so living, besides numerous parties living in whares, cottages, &c. Many left Ruatoki, sold horses, ploughs, &c, and are now living at Kekataone, as we term the Waimana camp. These people have ceased to work for Europeans, and are spending their money on food-supplies. You will ere long hear a cry for Government assistance. The influence of these madmen is also seriously affecting the Native schools, and militates against the success of any plans for the betterment of the Natives. Outbreak of Enteric Fever at Buatoki. —This outbreak does not in any way surprise me, for the conditions of life at the Tauarau kainga are by no means of a healthful nature. There is a body of stagnant foul water just below the hamlet, the water used for domestic purposes is bad, and the people will neither build nor use latrines. Those they were forced to build for the meeting three years ago are not used by the people. I have spoken and written to these people about improving their kainga, all of which remarks were treated with the silence and apathy that betoken contempt. It is unfortunate that two Natives here were obliged to desist from taking milk to the loTuil dairy factory owing to this epidemic. The few W T aimana Natives who were milking for the factory have now ceased to do so. The only marked improvement in the building line is in the line of guest-houses or meetinghouses, four of which have lately been erected. Much of the spare moneys has been donated by Natives to Rua, who is utilising it to purchase food for his camp of loafers. The few Natives left at Waikirikiri, Ruatoki, have cut a track from their hamlet up the range near by, through fern and scrub, so as to be able to quickly escape from the predicted deluge when it comes. The sickness at Tauarau has not claimed any more victims the past few days, and may possibly disappear soon. I have had si talk with Numia, of Tauarau, and asked him to help me to get the Natives to improve that place. Elsdon Best, Sanitary Inspector. Russell, Bay of Islands, 27th March, 1907. Dr. Pomare, Health Officer to the Maoris, Wellington. Salutations to thee. Herewith I send my annual report. The people in this district have been alive to the advantage accruing from the possession of proper houses. A great difference can be seen throughout this district during the last few years. Nearly all the old whares have been destroyed, and the order of the day is the " whare pakeha."

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The general health of the people has been excellent during the past year, with the exception of a few children who were stricken with the usual children's diseases, and one or two with typhoid. This is a marked difference from what has happened in previous years. We have effectually stopped all the tohungas in this district. One existed for a short time in the district of Ngatiwhatua. We stopped him from practising his diabolical arts. I am sorry to say that the potato-crops throughout this district were badly blighted. The Maoris have resorted to the growing of turnips, onions, peas, and other vegetables. The Natives will have to depend on these vegetables, kumaras, and corn for this winter. The drinking of intoxicating liquors is now almost stopped. A number of Natives have started milking cows. This is a profitable occupation, and as soon as the land question is settled many more will take it up. The maraes at Tangiteroria, Waihinahina, Te Houhanga, Waimataa, Kaihu, Ripia, and Maropiu have all been renovated since last year. Up to date there have been over fifty new houses built, over forty destroyed, and thirty new closets put up. Waaka te Huia, Sanitary Inspector. Dr. Pomare, M.D., Health Officer to the Maoris, Wellington. Salutations to thee, 0 friend I , May thy days be prolonged as an inspector of health to thy Maori people! Herewith I send my annual report. The pas visited, 7; houses inspected, 95, houses condemned, 9; new houses erected, 26; houses destroyed, 20; water-closets built, 11. All the Maoris in my district are diligent in carrying out instructions which have been given them for the erection of better homes, but those who are poverty-stricken I have been lenient with. The great stumbling-block in the advancement of this district is the noniridividualisation of holdings. This lias kept many people from building new houses. I hope you will be strenuous in agitating the settlement of this great question, because only through its solution will our people accomplish all those things which are desirable in the ways of health. Number of deaths, 16; births, 23. I am sorry to relate that the Council of Hokianga have not yet elected a Registrar of Births and Deaths; consequently lam not able to give the figures for that district. This year has been a good one so far as the health of the people was concerned. Two minor outbreaks occurred at Ahipi'.ra and Hapua, Parenga, but owing to the prompt action of the Department in sending a doctor the epidemics were stamped out. After these no more epidemics occurred of any kind. There are two essential things which ought t» be done immediately for our people—(l) the individualisation of Maori land, and (2) the appointment of nurses to teach the women the proper methods of looking after the children and the sick. Many of our girls who have passed from the Victoria and other schools should be taught nursing. The tohungas are not so numerous in this district as they were. They would not exist if the people kept away from them. I am pleased to say that the curse of playing billiards amongst our young population has decreased rapidly. The passing of the Act concerning the supply of liquor has been productive of much good. It has made the Maoris in this district more sober. Enough ! May God strengthen you in all your undertakings! R. T. Pniiiri, Sanitary Inspector. Dr. Pomare. I am glad to report that during the past year the healih of the people and the improvement in the kaingas have made steady progress as compared with that of last year. Improvements in the kaingas have been most evident, so much so that those who have not improved their surroundings are made ashamed by the diligence of their neighbours. The changes have been so rapid that no more Maori whares have been built, but pakeha houses have taken their places. The progress has not stopped with the building of the houses, but bedsteads have been provided for the inside of them. Were you to visit the towns you would not now see a Native without boots or hat, as in the days of yore Water-supplies have been improved, and the houses have been fenced in to keep the fowls and pigs away. This is general, and good evidence of the practical things which the Maoris are now doing There are really only two evils remaining, and these are the drinking of intoxicating liquors and the needless waste of'money at the racecourses—in fact, more thought and money arc spent on the races than on sick individuals. _ During the month of February an epidemic of gastro-ententis took off four children in Havelock They were, however, in the hands of a duly qualified man. 'Number of new houses. 6; number of houses destroyed, 2; number of closets built, 3; number of births 29 • number of deaths, 8-adults, 8 children, total 16. Excess of births over deaths, 13. There is'one urgent matter that ought to be attended to, and that is the drainage of the rail-road-station" at Pakipaki. Ihaiha Hutana Sanitary Inspector.

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REPORT OF TE RANGIHIROA, ASSISTANT NATIVE HEALTH OFFICER. Silt, Enclosed please find annual report of work on the West Coast, North Island, and the Araiteuru Pa, New Zealand International Exhibition. I remain, &.c, Tβ Rangihieoa, M.8., Ch.B., Assistant Native Health Officer. Dr. Mason, Chief Health Officer, Wellington. The work upon the west coast of the North Island did not have so much of my attention, owing to my transference to Cbrietchuroh for six months to look after the health of the Exhibition Pa. "Maori Councils The raising of the standard of sanitation amongst the Maoris is slow, owing to the Maori Councils, which act as local governing bodies, resembling their European contemporaries in being slow to appreciate the immediate importance of public-health laws, and therefore somewhat tardy in carrying them into effect. However, as stated in my last report, I still have hopes of their realising their responsibilities and rising to them. To insure this, it is necessary that they have wise and capable chairmen and are visited now and again by their Superintendent to ndvise in the thorough organization of these bodies. We can then guarantee to keep the question of hygienic improvement before them. If reform is carried out as a combined movement in which the Councils and the people assist, we feel that it will be more thorough and lasting than if forced upon ?o many isolated units. It is our aim to keep as much as possible in touch with the Maori Councils and attend as many of their meetings as practicable fo as to keep the question of sanitation ever before them and work through them. _ . Sanitary Inspectors.— Much good can be done by capable sanitary inspectors, especially where they are men of standing amongst the tribes, as in the case of the single Inspector I have on the Coast Hori Pukehika. The proposed meeting of Native Sanitary Inspectors in Auckland to get practical instruction in methods of prevention, fumigating, &c, is a good step in the forward direction They are all chiefs with authority, and will in turn diffuse their knowledge for the public good of tie Maori people. It is only when we have a thorough working machinery that we can hope to cope with phthisis, enteric, and other scourges which cause so much trouble m the Nati T«S!f-The people of Taranaki are now in the critical stage when they see that that which they have cherished so long to the sacrifice of tkeir progresses a myth and a delusion The death of Tohu at Parihaka, to whom with Te Whiti supernatural powers were attributed by their follower ha done muci to shatter their faith. These followers include all the Taranaki tribes and naTt of the Whanganuis and Muaupokos of Horowhenua. These people are now clinging to a te 'their two v l™oe S according to the Council by-laws and built them a new church in token of he r emanc pat lo from the thraldom of the prophets. The Ngatihaupoto of Rahotu are asking ttvej aevottu i alimm it of Esmiont for so many years are beginning to lift, for here we see ; ;.' CoSl X. ISd. " '» .Sl S»e"i« Sgiintag to g.in . footlokl in ft. U»d -kero the Lounoii, m<. u> m OlJ p os e<s One of the two prophetic seats at Parihaka has been £2w"*Jd*£ tte hi S .ppo.if.on will „.».■ and the feople ofTar.naki, » against hospitals has ™™"™7 explained by one of their own race in their own tongue their i 'n rrioTelry a N w PlymoutTmight with advantage be converted into a Maori cottage he NativeHosfcOry at A« } mirses S to mmc serious cases, especially in epidemics, is yerv hospital, lhe necessity; r explicit instructions and drugs prescribed great. Serious ~ ( ™ n °L ailed of because there was no one in the house firm by the medical P r«vet itr »»er jwve not w hough without gpe { *k?fe J %£Z - the Maoris do the benefit that would

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accrue to them, I think they could be induced to aid in what financial way they could any such movement. Attending upon confinements and instructing mothers upon the feeding and rearing of children would be two important factors in their duties, and could not fail to diminish the Native-infant mortality, as it is doing with the Europeans. Tangis. —The Maori Councils have done much good for the health of the people in keeping liquor out of the villages, especially in the case of tangis. The tangi for Wi Parata, of Waikanae, which was attended by over a thousand people, was well conducted throughout, which reflects great credit upon the relatives of the deceased. Tohungas. —A stray tohunga, so-called, such as Wereta and Hikapuhi, shoot meteorlike across from the east coast, but the light they shed is very subdued and transient. With the Maori it is a new form of amusement, of which he rapidly tires. The present-day aspirant to the tohunga's tame is only a sorry apology seeking to attain the cheap notoriety of an hour. The tohunga of the past was a man full of learning, skilled in the treatment of. the few ills extant in those healthy days, and he was an absolute necessity in the stage in which the race existed. The present-day caricature, unskilled and unlearned, can only play upon the superstitions of minds in a transitional and unsettled state whereby he brings disgrace upon the once-honoured name of tohunga. However, like other germs, they manufacture their antitoxin, and their life is brief. The Exhibition Pα. The Araiteuru Pa at the New Zealand International Exhibition was occupied by the Whanganui pa-builders and the Arawa ca.rvers for some time ere the Exhibition opened. I took charge of the sanitary arrangements about a week before the official opening on the Ist November, 1906. The pa was a faithful, as far as site and circumstances would allow, representation of an old fortified village ere yet the Maori had come into contact with the disorganizing influence of civilisation. The site was too low-lying and accessible to have ever been selected by the ancient Maori, en account of the difficulty of defence. This also involves the question of sanitation, for, in the absence of high hill-top, range, or cliff, the simple but effective sanitary system of old was impracticable. The defence difficulty could lie overcome by the additional strength of the double or triple lines of fencing, witli its watch-towers and the extra vigilance of the defenders; but for the solution of the sanitary difficulty recourse had to be had to the pakeha. When once civilisation has obtained a footing it is impossible to break away from it even for a short space, or even for Exhibition purposes, for here we have even in the mere structure ol a pa, apart from the food, clothing, and life of the inhabitants, the curious anomaly of Araiteuru with its bristling fences, lofty look-out towers, its carved houses unfloored and thatched with rushes, breathing everywhere of the neolithic Maori, yet drained by two systems of earthenware pipes with traps and gratings, and a row of pakeha closets flanking the rear. Owing, however, to the careful laying-out of the pa, these accessories did not obtrude too much upon the notice of the public, the majority of whom, except for an occasional rail or notice for privacy exhibited over the doors of sleeping-houses, would consider that everything was ancient Maori. As far as the visiting Maoris are concerned, it was a great object-lesson to see how the picturesque and artistic in their ancient villages could be preserved, and the modern conveniences of the pakeha in water-supply and sanitation added for the perfecting of the whole. Before leaving the question of sanitation, I may mention that of the two systems of drainagepipes, that laid down by European workmen was thrice blocked owing to faulty and hasty construction, whilst the other laid down entirely by the Maoris discharged its duties without hitch for the whole period of occupation of the pa. Sickness of the Pα. In November influenza, which was prevailing in Christchurch, swept through the pa, prostrating all the inhabitants. It is curious that the Cook-Islanders, who were at the pa at the time, did not suffer except in the cases of two women. The islanders, who numbered twenty-seven in all, felt the change of climate very severely. Nearly all suffered from colds, and much cough-mixture was consumed. The change in the food had also a slight effect upon them at first, but they rapidly l>ecame accustomed to the greater meat diet of the colder climate. I attribute their good health very largely to the care taken by Mr. H. W. Bishop, S.M., in bousing them in comfortable, warm, wooden buildings, floored and lined with rubeioid, and so protecting them as much as possible from the cold to which they would readily succumb. The Arawa Tribe, under the care of Captain Mair, and numbering fifty-six, visited the pa in November, and remained until the 14th December, 1906. There was one case of heart-disease, and many minor cases of colds and sprains. The Natives readily caught colds, being now unused to stripping for hakas and war-dances. One had to exercise constant supervision to make them realise the importance of speedily clothing themselves whilst hot, instead of taking the cool breezes. The usual abdominal cases due to irregularities of diet presented themselves, but the pa dispensary always proved adequate. In December we were visited by the Turakina Girls' School, but their health-sheet was good. One of them sprained her elbow rather badly, and was sent to the Hospital for a night for observation, but got on quite well. The Whanganui Tribe, numbering thirty, visited us in January, but there were no illnesses to speak of. The Ngatikahungunu Tribe, in two divisions of seventy-two and 126 respectively, were the next visitors. A mild form of abdominal influenza prevalent in town affected the pa to a slight extent. The usual coughs and colds were prevalent.

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A return of the Turakina girls was marked by the same good health as on their former visit. During the whole time of the Exhibition there were constant Maori visitors from the South Island and other parts, and a good deal of dispensing was done for them. One case was sent to the Hospital for operation, and was very successful. On the whole, the health of the pa was very good, and the Natives who remained all through the Exhibition are very pleased that no aitua or death overtook any one in the pa. Many of the cases treated could very easily have become serious had there been no medical officer in charge, for the Maori is slow to take notice of first symptoms where he has no one near at hand to go to. Besides there being no deaths, we are pleased to record two births as having taken place in the pa, the newcomers belonging to the Arawa Tribe and Niue Island respectively. Te Rangihiroa, M.8., Ch.B.

REPORTS OF PUBLIC ANALYSTS. Auckland. Sir,— Auckland, 29th April, 1907. I have the honour herewith to forward my report of analyses made in my laboratory under the Food Adulteration Prevention Acts during the year ending the 31st March, 1907. The number of analyses made in this period was forty-nine, the particulars of which are given on the accompanying sheets. During the year I have received no samples of milk. Of nineteen samples of so-called "hop beer," eleven resulted in convictions on account of the high percentage of alcohol. 'Some of the spirits examined were raw, harsh, miniatured alcohol, which is certainly injurious if taken even in moderate quantity, but which cannot be excluded from the colony under our present laws. The use of antiseptics in food seriously requires defining, more especially boric and salicylic acids. I nave , &c, J. A. Pond, F.C.S., The Chief Health Officer, Wellington. Colonial Analyst.

Return of Analyses at the Analytical Laboratory, Auckland, for the Year ended the 31st March, 1907.

Department or person from wbom Sample received. Date received. Nature of Sample. Adulteration suspected, or for wtiat analysed. Kesult of Analysis. District Health Officer Police 1906. April 10 Water from Volunteer camp Hop-beer .. Purity Condemned, unless boiled. District Health Offioer Ditto 10 „ 10 . 27 May 21 July 28 Ginger-ale Vinegar Jam Alcohol Purity Preservatives Proof-spirit, 3-16 per cent. 5-37 4-76 Cider vinegar = real acid 366 per cent.; HCI, H 2 SO 4 , traces; AsCu, nil. Salicylic acid present in large quantity ; HB0 3 nil. Ditto. Salicylic acid present in small quantity; H BO 3 nil. Strongly condemned as potable water. 28 . 28 » • • * • 13 13 Aug. 13 Water Purity Police 13 10 Tree-spraying solutions Ditto O.T. Punoh For constituents Alcohol .. Sulphur in small quantities, arsenic in traces. Ditto. Proof-spirit, 1 per cent.; salicylic acid, large amount. Ditto. Proof-spirit, 13-03 per cent. ; NaCI, 34 grains to the gallon ; total solids, 3-78 per cent. Proof-spirit, 88-18 per cent. ; total eolids, 0-868 per oent. ; ash, 0005 per cent.; CI, H2SO4, nil. Proof-spirit, 84-76 per cent.; total solids, 0-453 per cent.; ash, 001 per cent.; 01, H 2 SO 4 , nil. Proof-spirit, 82-6 per cent.; total solids, 0-40 per cent.; ash, 0-004 per cent.; 01, H 2 SO 4 . 10 25 Beer Constituents . ' 25 Brandy ti 25 Whisky 25

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Return of Analyses at the Analytical Laboratory, Auckland -continued.

27th April, 1907. j. A . PoND; Analygt Wellinoton. Sir >— Colonial Laboratory, Wellington, New Zealand, 31st May, 1907. 41. n l haV ! 11 ; 0 ," orward herewith returns of analyses made in this laboratory for the Department of Public Health during the year ending the 31st March, 1907. These returns show a total of 120 analyses of a varied character. 1 have, &c, J. S. Maclaurin, D.Sc, P.C.S., Analyst to the Department of Public Health The Chief Health Officer, Department of Public Health.

Department or Person from whom Sample received. Date received. Nature of Sample. Adulteration suspected, or for what analysed. Result of Analysis. Police 1906. Aug. 25 Rum Constituents Proof-spirit, 83-54 per cent.; total solids, 0-522 per oent. ; ash, 0 018 per cent.; CI, nil; H 2 SO 4 , trace. Proof-spirit, 82-87 per cent.; total solids, 0-027 per cent.; ash, 0-004 per cent. ; CI, H 2 SO 4 , trace. Proof spirit, 35-47 per cent.; total solids, 11-76 per cent.; ash, 0-20 per cent.; 01, H 2 SO 4 , trace. Proof-spirit, 87-3 per cent.; a raw unmatured cask-spirit. H BO 3 , H 2 SO 4 , nil; salioylic acid, a very small quantity. Jam undoubtedly peach. Proof-spirit, 109-12 per cent.; total solids, 0-65 per cent.; ash, 0004 per cent. A raw, hard, unmatured spirit. Simply water with clayey matter. Valueless; a fraud. Ditto. 25 Gin 25 Port-wine.. it • • Rotorua 28 Liquor (small sample District Health Offioer 18 Jam, Peach Deleterious matter .. ? Sept. 24 Whisky .. # • • Police Oct. 1 Tree spraying solutions Ditto Constituents » 1 » 1 1 Dec. 1 1 Beeswax Hop-beer II • • Foreign waxes Alcohol Strikes Police 5 5 5 5 5 5 20 1907. Jan. 21 21 Sample proved a pure beeswax. Proof-spirit, 7-49 per cent. A fermented liquor. Proof-spirit, 5-01 per cent. A fermented liquor. Proof-spirit, 2-48 per cent. A fermented liquor. Proof-spirit, 4-26 per cent. A fermented liquor. Proof-spirit, 549 per cent. A fermented liquor. Proof-spirit, 5-61 per cent. A fermented liquor. Proof-spirit, 5-25 per oent. A fermented liquor. Proof-spirit, 6-10 per cent. A fermented liquor. Proof-spirit, 550 per cent. A fermented liquor. Proof-spirit, 12-03 per cent. A fermented liquor. Proof-spirit, 9-04 per oent. A fermented liquor. Proof-spirit, 3-44 per oent. A fermented liquor. Finings, acid, isinglass; nothing deleterious. Proof-spirit, 17-14 per cent. A fermented liquor. Solids not fat, 8-09 per cent. ; fat, 0-21 per cent.; ash, 25 per cent. Condemned as a food. Proof-spirit, 6-58 per cent. A fermented liquor. Grain-cellulose, hop - catkins, graincuticle in all samples; nothing deleterious. Ditto. H - • 25 25 , 25 Constituents 25 Alcohol Feb. 5 Infants' food Constituents 14 Hop-beer Alcohol 14 Hop-beer (oask-resi-dues) Deleterious matter.. 14 14 Mar. 15 Ditto * • • H • • Jistrict Health Officer Septic-tank effluent Constituents A fairly well-purified and diluted sample.

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In compliance with section 38 of " The Adulteration Prevention Act, 1880," I have the honour to report that for the year ending the 31st March, 1907, the following analyses have been made: — ■NTiimher , « , Number Nature of Sample. of Samples. Nature of Sample. of Samples. i Peruna" .. .. .. 1 Hearne's Bronchitis-cure .. .. 1 Force ~ .. .. 1 Warner's Safe Cure .. .. 1 Grape-nut .. .. ..1 Wines .. .. ••.••* Egg-powder .. .. .. 1 Sausage colouring and preservatives.. o Pickles and turmeric .. .. 1 Cigarettes .. .. • • 8 Whisky .. .. .. • • 25 Cough-lozenges .. .. ■• | j am .. ~ .. 3 Cuticura Resolvent .. .. 1 Honey .. . • .. 1 Ginger-beer and lemonade .. .. 3 Milk .. .. • • .. 6 Cream .. .. • • .. 2 Condensed milk .. .. .. 4 Hamburger Preservative .. .. 1 Sugar of milk 1 Egg-yolk 1 Tea • 3 — Punch '.'. '.'. '.. -.2 Total 78 "Pink Pills" 1 The samples of jam were all adulterated with large amounts of apple, and one of them with salicylic acid. Of the whiskies, three samples did not correspond to the labels on the bottles. Two of the milk-samples were heavily adulterated with water. Of the condensed milks, three were made from skimmed milks, and the fourth was in a putrid condition. Both samples of cream contained tyrotoxioon. The egg-yolk was merely a dilute solution of an aniline colour.

Return of Analyses at the Analytical Laboratory, Wellington, for the Year ended the 31st March, 1907.

Department or Person from whom Sample received. Date received. Nature of Sample. Adulteration suspected, or for what analysed. Result of Analysis Distriot Health Officer Ditto Insp. of Police 1906. April 11 Water General analysis .. Somewhat inferior quality. 11 . 24 May 1 . 10 "Peruna " Hop-alo Portion of cement drainpipe "Force" .. " Grape-nuts " Water Crystals " Egg-powder" Pickles and turmeric Vomit Alcohol .. Seriously oontaminated. Contained 186 per cent, of aloohol. Contained 1-4 per cent, of alcohol. Carbonate of calcium. Chief Health Officer Ditto It * • ■ ' Nature of incrustation Arsenio . 15 . 15 . 17 21 . 21 June 2 8 General analysis .. Nature Poison Arsenic Contained no arsenic. Contained less than grain per 1. Of good quality. Magnesium sulphate. Contained no mineral poison. Arsenic found in each. Contained a small quantity of arsenic. 1/ • ■ Dr. Gregg, per Health Dept. Insp. of Police Dr: Frengley, Public Health Dept. Insp. of Police Inspector J. Johnson, per Health Dept. Ditto Inspector James Perry, per Health Dept. Chief Health Officer, Publio Health Dept. Dr. Frengley, Publio Health Dept. Chief Health Officer 22 . 27 . 28 . 27 July 11 . 17 Whisky "Wyandotte" Whisky Water General analysis .. v « • n • • All of good quality. Sodium carbonate and bicarbonate. Of good quality. Fair quality. Good. . 19 Septio-tank effluent . 19 Water u • * Pair quality. . 20 . 20 . 23 . 23 ,, 26 Aug. 6 8 Jam ii * • No. 1, raspberry: Small amount of apple, large amount of salycilio acid. No. 2 : About 50 per cent, raspberry, remainder mainly apple. No. 3: About 20 per cent, raspberry, large amount of apple thickened with staroh. Genuine honey. Pair quality. All of good quality. Ditto Insp. of Police Honey Water Whisky h * • H ' ' Health Dept... Dr. Frengley, Publio Health Dept. Milk Tea Fat and preservatives General analysis .. Pat, 4-2peroent.; preservatives, none. Extract, 40 per cent.; ash, 53 per oent. ; ash soluble in water, 3-28 per cent.

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Return of Analyses at the Analytical Laboratory, Wellington —continued.

9—H. 31.

Department or Person from whom Sample received. Date received. Nature of Sample. Adulteration suspected, or for what analysed. Eesult of Analysis. Chief Health Officer Dr. Mason 1906. i Aug. 18 . Milk . General analysis .. Chief Health Officer Ditto „ 20 „ 20 „ 20 i „ 21 „ 24 24 . Corn-cob Punch , O.T.Punch Sugar of milk "Pink Pills" Hearne's Bronchitiscure , Alcohol General analysis " . No. 2 adulterated with 15 per oent. water. No preservatives in either. . Proof-spirit, 1-48 per cent. 1-90 . Contains over 99 per cent, of sugar of milk. . Thin coating of pink sugar, under which is a layer of staroh. Pill-mass is composed of oarbonate of iron and sulphate of potash, with little powdered liquorice-root. . Contained spirits of chloroform, ipecacuana, syrup 7-28 per cent., and apparently vinegar of aquilla. . Contained aloohol (10-81 per cent.), gallic acid, phosphoric acid, sodiumsalicylate, magnesium-sulphate, am-monium-ohlorido, syrup of hypophosphate of lime, and oil of wintergreen. It contains neither iodides nor alkaloids. . Proof spirit: No. 1, 2658 per cent.; No. 2, 26-16 per cent. ; No. 3, 24-39 per cent.; No. 4, 18-16 per cent. . Contained only 0-4 per cent, of fat. Warner's Safe Cure I Insp. of Police i „ 29 Wines Aloohol Chief Health Officer Ditto 31 Sept. 13 Condensed milk Sausagj preservatives and colouring Fat Nature . No. 1, mixture of two or more aniline colours; No. 2, sodium-sulphite; No. 3, borax and salt; No. 4, borax, salt, and nitre, coloured with zylidric scarlet; No. 5 is camwood. No trace found. ii . • Health Dept... 15 „ 26 „ 27 Oct. 16 „ 18 Cigarettes.. Cough-lozenges Tank-effluent Water Morphia General analysis Nothing objectionable in effluent. Good quality. No. 1 good, No. 2 unfit for human consumption. 1-45 per cent of fat. Above the standard. Insp. of Police „ 23 „ 23 Nov. 6 22 „ 22 22 „ 22 „ 24 Condensed milk Tea Water Fat General analysis .. Health Dept... Of very good quality. Dr. Makgill . '. Dec. 14 15 „ 17 "„ "Mineral"!! Condensed milk Stewed steak Milk Iron General analysis Mineral poisons General analysis tf Fair quality. Rather bad water. Contains no appreciable amount of iron. Putrid. None found. Adulterated with 15-3 per oent. of water. None found. Contains 1 per cent, of fat. A dilute aqueous solution of aniline colour. None found. Dr. W. InRp. of Police Dr. Frengley .. „ 19 19 20 Cuticura Resolvent Condensed milk Egg-yolk .. Poisons Fat Nature Dr. W. B. „ 28 Ginger-beer and lemonade Ginger-beer Cream Poisons Health Dept... 29 „ 29 „ 29 1907. Jan. 3 Tyrotoxicon found. Contained tyrotoxicon. Dr. Frengley, Public Health Dept. Health Dept... Chief Health Officer (per Justice Dept.) Chief Health Officer District Health Officer Insp. Bennett.. 14 „ 18 „ 23 " Hamburger Preservative Water Dressing for wound Ale Nature General analysis .. Poisons General analysis .. Impure sodium-sulphite. Of inferior quality. None found. „ 31 Water Of very inferior quality. Fib. 4 Nitrates high in both, but water otherwise good. Above standard. Dr. Makgill ..' I Insp. Johnson Dr. Makgill .. 5 6 7 ,' 7 25 „ 27 Milk Water Milk Water Antiseptic telephone- . cover Water .. .. i Of inferior quality. Above standard. Pair quality. None found. Chie'f Health) Officer Insp. Gardiner Public Health I Dept. per C. Hoinold „ 28 . Mar. 14 . Antiseptic General analysis .. ! Dangerous. Fair quality. 31st May, ; 1907. J. 8. MaCLAI lUrin, D.Sc, F.C.S., Analyst,

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Canterbury. Sir, — 6 Brittan Street, Linwood, Christchurch, 4th April, 1907. I, the undersigned Analyst, have the honour to forward you, under separate cover, returns of the 174 analyses made by me during the year ending on the 31st March, 1907. In connection with the work I wish to respectfully draw your attention to the fact that, owing to there being no properly equipped laboratory available for me to do the work in, I have to make the analyses under very inconvenient conditions, and at considerable expense to myself for gas, chemicals, apparatus, telephone, &c. Therefore, I thought that perhaps the Department might take over the laboratory at present used by the School of Mines at the Exhibition, and allow me to use it as the Government Laboratory for Canterbury. I have, &c, A. A. Bickerton, Dr. Mason, Chief Health Officer, Wellington. Colonial Analyst, Canterbury, N.Z.

Return of Analyses at the Analytical Laboratory, Christchurch, for the Year ended the 31st March, 1907.

Department or Person from whom Sample leceived. Da,te received. Nature of Sample. Adulteration suspected, or for what analysed. Result of Analysis. lustoms leaitli boms ,'ith 1906. .. April 9 .. . 11 .. 2 .. Acetio acid Draught ale Tariff Purity 56'2 per cent, acetic acid. 52-4 per cent. „ Orig. grav., 1-0534 ; spec, grav., 1-0053 ; alcohol, 52 per cent.; extract, 356 per cent. ; ash, 0'30 per cent. ; acid (lactic), 017 per cent. ; sulphates, 009 per cent. ; preservatives and poisonous metals, nil. Orig. grav., 10594; spec grav., 1-0010 alcohol, 5-12 per cent.; extract, 2-6 per oent. ; ash, 0-19 per cent.; acid (lactic), 0-16 per oent. ; sulphates, trace; pres. and poisonous metals, nil. Orig. grav., 1-0591; spec, grav., 1-0060; alcohol, 5-7 per cent.; extract, 4 per cent.; ash, 0-28 per oent.; acid (laotio), 0-19 per cent. ; sulphates, trace ; pres. and poisonous metals, nil. Orig. grav., 10560; spec grav., 1-0070; alcohol, 5-39 per cent.; extract, 539 per cent. ; ash, 022 per cent.; acid (lactic), 0-21 per oent.; sulphates, trace; pres. and poisonous metals, nil. Orig. grav., 1-0589 ; spec, grav., 1-0073 ; alcohol, 5-45 per cent.; extract, 4-30 per cent. ; ash, 041 per cent. ; acid (lactic), 014 per oent. ; sulphates, 0-18 per cent. ; pres. and poisonous metals, nil. Orig. grav., 10544 ; spec, grav., 1-0072 ; alcohol, 5-64 per cent. ; extract, 4-1 per cent.; ash, 0-36 per cent.; acid (lactic), 0-16 per cent. ; sulphates, 0-1 per cent.; pres. and poisonous metals, nil. Orig. grav., 1-0620; spec grav., 1-0041; alcohol, 635 per cent.; extract, 3-52 per cent.; ash, 017 per oent. ; acid (lactio), 0-18 per cent.; sulphates, trace; pres. and poisonous metals, nil. Orig. grav., 1-0558 ; spec, grav., 1-0014 ; alcohol, 5-77 per cent.; extraot, 3-4 per cent.; ash, 014 per cent. ; acid (lactic), 0-12 per cent. ; sulphates, trace ; pres. and poisonous metals, nil. Orig. grav., 1-0576 ; spec grav., 10012; alcohol, 6-02 per oent. ; extract, 2-9 per cent. ; ash, 0-16 per cent.; acid (lactic), 015 per cent.; sulphates, trace; pres. and poisonous metals, nil. Orig. grav., 1-0587 ; spec grav., 1-0012 ; alcohol, 6-15 per cent.; extract, 3-17 per oent. ; ash, 0-23 per oent. ; aoid (lactic), 0-18 per oent.; sulphates, traoe; pres. and poisonous metals, 9 * * " i 2 .." „ 2 .. „ • • , 2 .. .. . 2 .. « 2 2 2 » " 2

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Return of Analyses at the Analytical Laboratory, Christchurch —continued.

Department or Person from whom Sample received. Date received. Nature of Sample. Adulteration suspected, or lor what analysed. Result of Analysis. lealth 1906. April 2 Bottled ale Purity Orig. grav., 1-0609 ; spec, grav., 1-0064 ; alcohol, 5-88 per cent.; extract, 3 92 per cent. ; ash, 0-17 per cent. ; acid (lactic), 0-21 per cent. ; sulphates, trace; pres. and poisonous metals, nil. Aloohol, 38-7 per cent. = 19-35 per oent. under proof; extract, 0-1 per cent. ; acid (lactic), 0-21 per cent. ; fouseloil, trace; methyl alcohol, nil. Alcohol, 39-8 per cent. = 17-41 per cent, under proof; extract, 014 per cent. ; acid (acetic), 0-025 per cent.; fouseloil, trace ; methyl alcohol, nil. Alcohol, 39-05 per cent. = 18 83 per cent, under proof; extract, 0-13 per cent.; acid (acetic), 0 082 per cent.; fouseloil, trace ; methyl alcohol, nil. Alcohol, 39-8 per cent. = 17-41 per cent, under proof; extract, 009 per cent.; acid (acetic), 0-043 per cent.; fouseloil, trace ; methyl aloohol, nil. Alcohol, 39-05 per cent. = 18-83 per cent, under proof; extract, 0-13 per cent.; acid (acetic), 0 03 per cent. ; fouseloil, trace ; methyl alcohol, nil. Alcohol, 3905 per cent. = 18-83 per cent, under proof ; extract, 0 39 per cent.; acid (acetio), 0-043 per cent. ; fouseloil, trace ; methyl alcohol, nil. Has had a little wine added. Alcohol, 38 78 per cent. = 19-36 per cent, under proof; extract, 0-19 per cent. ; acid (acetic), 0-31 per oent. ; fouseloil, trace ; methyl alcohol, nil. Alcohol, 39-55 per oent. = 1788 per cent. under proof; extract, 0-24 per cent.; acid (aoetic), 0'028per oent. ; fouseloil, trace ; methyl aloohol, nil. Alcohol, 41-80 per cent. = 13 63 per oent. under proof; extract, 0'35 per cent.; acid (aoetie), 0-028 per cent.; fouseloil, traoe ; methyl alcohol, nil. Has had a little wine added. Aloohol, 49-64 per cent. =0-68 per cent, under proof; extract, 0 26 per cent.; aoid (acetic), 003 per cent.; fouseloil, trace; methyl aloohol, nil. Aloohol, 40-89 per cent. = 155 per oent. under proof; extraot, 0-1 per cent. ; acid (aoetio),0034 per cent.; fouseloil, traoe ; methyl aloohol, nil. Aloohol, 39 3 per oent. = 1836 per oent. under proof; extract, 008 per cent.; acid (acetic), 0016 per cent.; fouseloil, traoe ; methyl alcohol, nil. Aloohol, 39 - 8 per cent. = 17-4 per cent. under proof; extract, 0-08 per cent.; aoid (acetic), 004 per cent. ; fouseloil, trace; methyl alcohol, nil. Aloohol, 37-39 per oent. = 22-04 per cent. under proof ; extract, 027 per cent.; acid (acetic), 0-031 per cent.; fouseloil, trace; metbyl aloohol, nil. Aloohol, 40-8 per oent. = 13-5 per cent. under proof ; extraot, 009 per cent.; aoid (aoetic), 0021 per oent.; fouseloil, trace ; methyl alcohol, nil. Aloohol, 40-3 per oent. = 16-46 per oent. underproof; extraot, 0-12 per oent. ; aoid (acetio), 0026per oent.; fouseloil, traoe; methyl alcohol, nil. Aloohol, 3500 per oent. = 26-67 per oent. under proof; extraot, 0-24 per oent.; aoid (aoetic), 0 03 per oent.; fousel-oil, trace; methyl aloohol nil. Been reduced to 2667 under proof by addition of water, and is below standard. Alcohol, 36-56 per cent. = 23-66 per oent. under proof ; extraot, 0-15 per cent. ; aoid (aoetio), 0-028 per oent. ; fousel-oil, traoe ; methyl aloohol, nil. 2 Whisky .. 9 a u 2 2 2 m 2 „ !2 2 2 2 ii • • 2 2 * • ■ It . 2 // « • a 2 m 2 m u 2

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Return of Analyses at the Analytical Laboratory, Christchurch— continued.

Department or Person from whom Sample received. Date received. Nature of Sample. Adulteration suspected, or for what analysed. Result of Analysis. health 1906. April 2 .. Brandy Purity Alcohol, 39-56 per cent. = 17-88 per cent, under proof; extract, 1-04 per cent. ; acid (acetic), 0034 per cent.; fousel-oil, trace; methyl alcohol, nil. i|Orig. grav. 1-0613; spec grav., 10066; alcohol, 5-7 per cent. ; extract, 3-4 per cent. ; ash, 0-22 per cent.; acid (lactic), 0-21 per cent.; sulphate, trace; pres., nil ; poisonous metals, nil. Orig. grav., 1-0462 ; spec grav., 1-0038; alcohol, 4-57 per cent.; extract, 2-97 per cent. ; ash, 0-29 per cent.; aoid, (lactic), 0-14 per oent. ; sulphates, trace; pres., trace; poisonous metals, nil. Orig. grav., 1-0573 ; spec grav., 1-0072 ; alcohol, 545 per cent. ; extract, 3-9 per cent. ; ash, 0-20 per cent. ; aoid (lactic), 0-18 per oent. ; sulphates, trace; pres., nil; poisonous metals, nil. Orig. grav., 1-0629 ; spec, grav., 1-0080 ; alcohol, 6-02 per oent. ; extract, 4-22 per cent. ; ash, 03 per cent; aoid (laotic), 0-18 per oent. ; sulphates, trace; pres., nil; poisonous metals, nil. Orig. grav., 10563 ; spec grav., 1-0044; alcohol, 5-51 per cent. ; extract, 3-52 per cent.; ash, 0-32 per cent. ; acid (lactic), 0-21 per cent.; sulphates, traoe ; pres., nil ; poisonous metals, nil. Alcohol, 35-75 per cent. = 25-22 per cent, under proof; extract, 019 per oent. ; acid (acetic), 0-03 per cent. ; fousel-oil, trace; methyl alcohol, nil. Been reduced to 25-22 per oent. under proof by watei; below standard. 99-2 per oent. acetic aoid. Meltingpoint, 60° Fahr. Not "glacial" according to B.P. Alcohol, 0-76 per cent.; extract, 0-43 per cent.; ash, 004 per cent. ; acid (tartaric), 006 per cent.; pres. and poisonous metals, nil. Alcohol, 079 per cent. ; extraot, 2-62 per cent.; ash, 001 per cent. ; aoid (tartaric), 0-07 per cent.; pres. and poisonous metals, nil. Alcohol, 2-83 per oent. ; extract, 2-71 per cent.; ash, 0-12 per oent. ; acid (tartario), 0-10 per cent. ; pres. and poisonous metals, nil. Alcohol, 3-41 per oent.; extract, 5-61 per cent.; ash, 0-08 per oent. ; acid (tartario), 04 per cent. ; glycerine, 2 per cent. ; poisonous metals, nil. 52 per cent, aoetio aoid. 98 „ Not glaoial. 57 Loss on ignition, 8-24 gr.; sodiumohloride, 3-66 gr. ; lime, 3 36 gr.; silica, 0-84 gr.; sulphates, present; nitrates, present; iron, traoe ; free ammonia, 012 parts per million; albuminoid ammonia, 0 06 parts per million. A bad water. Loss on ignition, 7'32 gr.; sodiumohloride, 2-52 gr. ; lime, 1-82 gr. ; silica, 0-56 gr. ; sulphates and nitrates, present; iron, trace ; free ammonia, 01 parts per million; albuminoid ammonia, 0 04 parts per million. Sample is of doubtful purity. Alcohol, 0-53 per oent. ; sugars, 1001 per oent.; glycerine, 2-04 per oent. ; acid (tartario), 019 per cent. ; ash, 0-07 per oent. ; oapsin, trace; salicylio acid, nil; poisonous metale, nil. 2 .. Ale 2 .. a. .. 2 .. 2 .. * • • • • 2 .. Whisky Customs 26 .. Glacial aoetio acid .. Peroentage of aoetio aoid Health 30 .. Kops Ale Purity . 30 .. Hop-beer u • * * • 30 .. Jubilee Beer M • • • ' 80 .. Ginger-beer Customs May 9 .. 16 .. 16 .. , 25 .. Acetic aoid Tariff Health Water ,. .. Purity 25 .. a • • • ■ a Ginger-beer a> t • • • Inspector of Weights and Measures 29

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Return of Analyses at the Analytical Laboratory, Christchurch— continued.

Department or Person from whom Sample received. Date received. Nature ol Sample. Adulteration suspected, or for what analysed. Besult of Analysis. Inspeotor of Weights and Measures 1906. May 29 . Jubilee Beer Purity . Alcohol, 1-06 per cent.; extract, 6-36 per cent. ; acid (tartaric), 0-1 per cent.; ash, 0-09 per cent. ; preservative and poisonous metals, nil. . Free from poison and any other matters that would cause death. . Chiefly a little oamphor, peppermint, and carb. of amraonia in sugar and water. Free from poison. . 98-8 per cent, acetic acid. Meltingpoint, 58° Fahr. Not glacial. . 31-6 per cent, acetic acid. . 31-6 ■ 58-6 . Loss on ignition, 1-68 gr. per gal. ; sodium chloride, 1-04 gr. ; sodiumsulphates, 0-3G gr. ; lime carb., 1-12 gr. ; silicate, 0-74 gr. ; nitrates and iron, traces; free ammonia, 0-1 parts per million ; album, ammonia, 0-02 parts per million. Loss on ignition, 1-68gr.; sodiumchloride, 1-1 gr.; sodium-sulphate, 0-25 gr.; lime-carb., 1-1 gr.; silica, &o., 0-56 gr. ; nitrates and iron, traces; free ammonia, 0-056 parts per million ; album, ammonia, 0-024 parts per million. The waters were pure at their source, but had become contaminated. Loss on ignition, 14 gr. ; sodiumchloride, 0-71 gr. ; lime, silica, &c, 0-79 gr.; free ammonia, 004 ; album, ammonia, 003 parts per million. A good water. Total solids, 55 parts per 100,000; chlorine, 7 ditto ; free ammonia, 1; nitric anhydride, nil; oxygen absorbed in 20 hours. Total solids, 55 parts per 100,000; chlorine, 7; free ammonia, 0-2 ; nitric anhd., 1-3; oxygen absorbed in 4 hours. Parts per 100,000: Total solids, 47-5; chlorine, 7-6; free ammonia, 1*3; nitric anhd., nil; oxygen absorbed in 4 hours, 2-7. Parts per 100,000: Total solids, 45; chlorine, 7-2; free ammonia, 1-5; nitrio anhd., nil; oxygen 2. Parts per 100,000: Total solids, 45; chlorine, 7-6; free ammonia, 1-2; nitric anhd., nil; oxygen, 2-7. Parts per 100,000 : Total solids, 97-5 ; chlorine, 13-4; free ammonia, 10; nitric anhd., nil; oxygen, 3-7. Parts per 100,000 : Total solids, 90 ; chlorine, 12-4 ; free ammonia, 4-6 ; nitrio anhd., 1-3 ; oxygen, 2. 4-7 per cent, acetic acid. 96 per cent, acetic acid. Melting-point, 51° Fahr. Not glacial. 798 per cent, acetic acid. 57-1 per cent. „ Parts per 100,000: Total solids, 68 ; sodium chloride, 10-6; free ammonia, 4 ; nitrates, nil; oxygen, 64. Parts per 100,000: Total solids, 69 ; sodium chloride, 10-6; free amnitrates, nil; oxygen, 6-5. Grains per gallon: Loss on ignition, 5-2 ; sodium-chloride, 0-8 ; carb. of lime, 1-9; sodium-sulphates, 0-4; silicates, 0-7 ; nitrates, traces. Parts per million: Free ammonia, 0-8; album, ammonia, 0-04. A good water. 53-5 per cent, acetic acid. Sergeant Remer,! Sydenham Ditto June 18 . Child's stomach anc contents . Bottle containing cough mixture Poison 18 „ Customs 19 . Acetic acid Tariff Health 19 19 20 29 ■ * • • . Water from Sprej don Purity u * * 29 Water from Inspector Kershaw V 8 14 Sewage Results of purifioation treatment 14 Ditto It 14 n 14 n • • • • 14 July 16 16 Customs 24 24 Vinegar Glacial acetic acid.. Tariff n * • * * Health 24 Aug. 1 10 Acetic acid Sewage .. Purity .. .'. 10 10 Water Customs '23 " Concentrated vinegar- 1 essence Sewage,'Hospital, I effluent septic-tank Tariff .. .. J Health is Purity .. .. ; Parts per 100,000: Total solids, 68; sodium-ohloride, 19-34; ammonia, 2 ; nitrates, nil; oxygen, 4-9. Parts per 100,000 : Total solids, 86; sodium-chloride, 38-18; ammonia, 2-5 ; nitrates, nil; oxygen, 6-1. v „ 23 Old Men's Home, Ashburton, sewage ]

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Return of Analyses at the Analytical Laboratory, Christchurch —continued.

Department or Person from whom Sample received. Date received. Nature of Sample. Adulteration suspected, or for what analysed. Result of Analysis. :ealth 1906. Aug. 23 Sewage, raw, from Jackson's Creek Parity Parts per 100,000: Total solids, 22; sodium-chloride, 22 ; ammonia, 0-5 ; nitrates, trace ; oxygen, nil. Grains per gallon : Loss on ignition, 1"12 ; sodium-chloride, 0'8 ; oarb. of lime, 0-64 ; sulphates, 04 ; silicates, 0-28. Parts per million : Free ammonia, 0-016; album, ammonia, 0006; oxygen absorbed in 4 hours, 0-02. Gr. per gallon : Loss on ignition, 196 ; sodium-chloride, 08 ; carb. of lime, 0-69 ; sulphates, 0 ; silicates, 0-66. Parts per million : Free ammonia, 0-06 ; album, ammonia, 0-06 ; oxygen absorbed in 4 hours, 0*06. Parts per 100,000: Total solids, 7; sodium - chloride, 0'7 ; ammonia, 0-024 ; nitrates, trace ; oxygen, nil. Parts per 100,000: Total solids, 7; sodium - chloride, 07 ; ammonia, 0024 ; nitrates, trace ; oxygen, 0-03. Parts per 100,000: Total solids, 22; sodium-chloride, 56; ammonia, 0-4; nitrates, nil. Oxygen, 2-6. Total solids, 5-07 gr. per gallon. 23 Water from intakerace QQ Water from servioepipes u • • 23 Water from River Avon, above Hospital Water from River Avon, Stanmore Bridge Sewage, raw, from Jackson's Creek H 23 Sept. 3 7 Water, reservoir at Timaru Water service, Timaru Glacial acetio acid .. Acetic acid Water from reservoir side of screen, Timaru For solids.. 7 * • • 4-76 lustoms . 12 . 18 , 18 Tariff 98 per cent, acetic acid. Not glacial. 56-1 Gr. per gall.: Loss on ignition, 1-4 ; sodium-chloride, l - 25; oal. carb., 2'48; silicates, 0"42 ; sulphates, trace. Parts per million : Free ammonia, 0 004; album, ammonia, 0-005 ; oxygen absorbed, nil. Loss on ignition, 182; sodium-chloride, 1 4 15 ; sodium carb., 2-96; silicates, 056; sulphates, trace; free ammonia, 0-004; album, ammonia, 0005 ; oxygen absorbed, nil. Loss on ignition, 202; sodium-ohloride, 1-03 ; oal. oarb., 2-4 ; silicates, 0-42 ; sulphates, trace; free ammonia, 0 004 ; album, ammonia, 0-005 ; oxygen, nil. Loss on ignition, 1-26; sodium-chloride, 1-1; cal. oarb., 2-26 ; silioates, 0-56; sulphates, trace ; free ammonia, 0004 ; album, ammonia, 0005 ; oxygen, nil. Loss on ignition, 1-6; sodium-ohloride, 1-1; cal. oarb., 2-4 ; silicates, 0-56 ; sulphates, trace; free ammonia, 0-004 ; album, ammonia, 0-005 ; oxygen, nil. Loss on ignition, 3-52; sodium-chloride, 0-69; cal.oarb., 1-96; silicates, 0-84 ; sulphates, trace; free ammonia, 0-02; album, ammonia, 0-1; oxygen, 6-7. Loss on ignition, 0-84; sodium-chloride, 0-69 ; oal. oarb., 1-24 ; silicates, 014 ; sulphates, trace ; free ammonia, 0-003 ; album, ammonia, 0-003 ; oxygen, nil. Loss on ignition, 084; sodium-chloride, 0-92 ; oal. carb. 0-62 ; silicates, 0-42 ; sulphates, trace; free ammonia, 0-008; album, ammonia, trace ; oxygen, nil. Same as above. lealth Purity Water from well on town side of soreen, Timaru Water from raoe, Timaru Water from east end reservoir, Timaru Sept. 14 • • Water from houseservice, Timaru w • • u „ 14 Water from Burnham, before entering settling-tank * * • , U Water from servioe.. H ' • „ 21 Water from tap, Dr. Crawshaw's house » • • . 21 Water from tap, Mr. Buxton's, at Tβtnuka Water from well at railway-station, Temuka Water from well, reservoir side of soreen, Timaru Water from well on town side of screen, Timaru W • • , 21 , Exceptionally good water. n , 28 Total solids Grains per gall.: Loss on ignition, 2-24 ; total solids, 7; mineral matter, 4-76. Gr. per gall.: Loss on ignition, 2-78 ; total solids, 7-26; mineral matter, 4-46. . 28

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Return of Analyses at the Analytical Laboratory, Christchurch -continued.

Department or Person from whom Sample received. Date received. Adulteration suspected, or for what analysed. Nature of Sample. Result of Analysis. iealth 1906. Sept. 28 Water from race before reservoir, Timaru Water from east end of reservoir, Timaru Water from house .. Total solids Gr. per gall.: Total solids, 7'29 ; loss on ignition, 226; mineral matter, 304. Gr. per gall. : Total solids, 718 ; loss on ignition, 2'70; mineral matter, 4-48. Gr. per gall.: Total solids, 6-44 ; loss on ignition, 2'80; mineral matter, 364. The suspended solids render the water unfit for drinking: this could be overcome by filtering the water through a good sand filter. Gr. per gall. : Loss on ignition, 2'05 ; sodium-chloride, 1'27; lime, &c, 2-8; silicates, 1-4; sulphates, trace. Parts per million : Free ammonia, 0-04 ; album, ammonia, 003. The water has become stagnant. 57'6 per cent, acetic acid. 54-4 Gr. per gall.: Sodium-chloride, 2-3; nitrates, present; phosphates, traoe; free ammonia, 0-35. Parts per million : Album, ammonia, 0'14, This water is unfit for use. 57'5 per cent, acetic acid. Free from poisons. Aoetic acid, 98 per cent. Meltingpoint, 50° Fahr. Not glacial. Acetic acid, 99 per cent. Meltingpoint, 58-7° Fahr. Not glacial. Acetic acid, 982 per cent. Meltingpoint, 50° Fahr. Not glacial. Acetic acid, 32-6 per cent. . 28 . 28 . 24 Water <rom dwellinghouse, Sydenham Purity Customs Oct. 3 3 . 10 Acetic acid Water, Opie schoolhouse Tariff Purity Health Customs Health Customs . 18 . 18 „ 19 Aoetic aoid Oatmeal Glacial acetic acid .. Tariff Poisons Tariff 1 Nov. ii • • 19 20 Concentrated vine-gar-essence Glacial acetio acid.. Acetic acid, 98-6 per cent. Meltingpoint, 57° Fahr. Not glacial. Acetic acid, 58'3 per cent. Gr. per gall.: Loss on ignition, 0'56 ; sodium-chloride, 0 8 ; lime, 1-16 ; insoluble matter, trace. Parts per million: Free ammonia, 0 - 006; album, ammonia, trace. A very good water. Parts per 100,000 : Total solids, 833 ; sodium-chloride, 17 ; free ammonia, 29 ; album, ammonia, 21 ; nitrates, nil; oxygen absorbed in 4 hours, 52'4. Total solids, 56'3; sodium-chloride, 16'3 ; nitrates, nil; free ammonia, 6-3; album, ammonia, 0-7 ; oxygen abs., 2. Total solids, 65 ; sodium-chloride, 32'8 nitrates, nil; free ammonia, 4; album, ammonia, trace; oxygen abs., 1. Total solids, 67 ; sodium-chloride, 11*8; nitrates, nil ; free ammonia, 5; album, ammonia, traoe; oxygen abs., 1. Total solids, 66; sodium-chloride, 11-2 ; nitrates, nil ; free ammonia, 3; album, ammonia, trace ; oxygen abs., 1. Total solids, 152 ; sodium-chloride, 17; nitrates, nil; free ammonia, 26; album, ammonia, 7; oxygen abs., 7.1. 58 per cent, acetic acid. 1'73 per cent, alcohol by weight. . 20 Health 20 29 Acetio acid Water from 37 Gloucester Street Purity 29 Sewage, raw, Caversham 29 Sewage, final effluent, Caversham Impurity .. . 29 Sewage, final effluent, Carterton . 29 Sewage, final effluent, Pakatia * • • 29 Sewage, final effluent, Feilding . 29 Sewage, raw, filtered, Caversham a • • Customs Police, Inspector of Weights and Measures Ditto Deo. 13 20 Acetic aoid Lager Beer Tariff Alcohol . 20 20 . 20 1-73 1-73 1-99 Total solids, 50 ; sodium-chloride, 6-6; nitric anhd., nil; free ammonia, 12; album, ammonia, 0 - 5 ; oxygen, abs., 4-7. Total solids, 16; sodium chloride, 4'9; nitric anhd., nil; free ammonia, 1-2; album, ammonia, 0-34 ; oxygen abs., 4-7. * • • it • • Health .'! Sewage, Eltham .. Impurity .. 1/ • • Sewage from septic tank, Eltham

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Return of Analyses at the Analytical Laboratory, Christchurch—continued.

Department or Pemon from whom Sample received. Date received. Nature ol Sample. Adulteration suspected, or for what analysed. Besult of Analysis. [ealth 1906. Dec. 8 Sewage, effluent from filter Impurity Total solids, 16 ; sodium-chloride, 4 9; nitric anhd., trace ; free ammonia, 102; album, ammonia, 0-15; oxygen, 0-99. Total solids, 124 ; sodium - chloride 5-3; nitric anhd., nil; free ammonia, 358 ; album, ammonia, 2-24 ; oxygen, 10-04. Total solids, 40 ; sodium-chloride, 3-3 ; nitric anhd., nil; free ammonia, 1*39; album, ammonia. 012 ; oxygen, 0'4. Total solids, 22 ; sodium-chloride, 3 ; nitric anhd., 1; free ammonia, 0-19 ; album, ammoiia, nil; oxygen, nil. Total solids, 570 ; sodium - chloride, 453; nitric anhd., nil; free ammonia, 1'16; album, ammonia, 0-2 ; oxygen, 0-84. Total solids, 678; sodium-chloride, 539; nitric anhd., nil; free ammonia, 2-08; album, ammonia, 0-32; oxygen, 3-21. Total solids, 32 ; sodium - chloride, 13'2 ; nitrio anhd., nil; free ammonia, 184; album, ammonia, 02; oxygen, 1-32. Total solids, 48; sodium-chloride, 8-6; nitric anhd., nil ; free ammonia, 0-9; album, ammonia, 018; oxygen, 0-72. Total solids, 40; sodium-chloride, 79; nitric anhd., nil; free ammonia, 0'4; album, ammonia, 0 04; oxygen, 014. Total solide, 36; sodium-chloride, 6 6; nitric anhd., 0-19; free ammonia, 0-08; album, ammonia, nil; oxygen, nil. Free from anything likely to poison fish, but found water to contain small fibres of wool, &o. Ditto. 8 Sewage, Stratford .. 8 Sewage from septic tank 8 Sewage from filterbed, Stoddart's 8 Sewage, Musselburgh 8 8 Sewage, septic tank, Peilding 8 Sewage, raw, Palmerston 8 Sewage, effluent septic tank, Palmerston Ditto 8 Cub toms Mills) (J. . 20 Sewage-effluent, aniline dye, Kaiapoi Factory Ditto Matters likely t o poison fish Ditto Customs . 20 20 . 20 20 Water, River Cass .. Ditto H • • • • Impurity Gr. per gall. : Total solids, 568; organio matter, 2-52 ; insoluble matter, 2-13 ; chlorides, 1-03; free ammonia, 0-028; album, ammonia, 0 08. Contained fibres of wool, &c. Total solids, 106; organic matter, 6'66 ; insol. matters, 2-62 ; chlorides, 1-38; free ammonia, 01; album, ammonia, 2. Contained fibres of wool, &c. Aloohol by weight, 3-61 per cent., equals proof-spirit, 792 per cent.; sugar and extract, 4 6 per cent.; mineral matters, trace. This is the same as No. 2, diluted with water. Alcohol by weight, 14-50 per cent., equals proof-spirit, 31-41 per cent.; sugar and extract, 221 per cent.; mineral matters, 0-3 per cent. The extract contained a little quinine, and the mineral matter was chiefly iron. 58 3 per cent, acetio acid. Free from poisons or ptomaines. 1-83 per cent, alcohol by weight. Acetio acid 26 per cent. Not glacial. Acetio acid, 63 per cent. Total solids, 7-42 gr. per gall.; loss on ignition, 2-3; chlorides, 1-04; other salts, 0-95; lime, 256; silicates, 0-56 ; nitrates, bare trace ; free ammonia, 0-25; album, ammonia, 0-06 per million. The water is of doubtful purity. Contained about 60 gr. of quinine. ■ 20 Water, Eiver Cass, at full tide Police 1907. Jan. 5 Sarravallo's Tonio .. Intoxicants, &c. 5 u • • Comparison with No. 1 Customs Police . 12 „ 16 . 23 . 31 Feb. 6 . 15 Acetic acid Contents of stomach Lager beer Glacial acetic acid.. Acetic acid Water, well at Clive Street Tariff Poison Alcohol Tariff Customs Health Purity „ 15 Poison Polioe . 15 Vomit from late P. Gibson Stomach and contents of late P. Gibson Washings from stomaoh Contained at least 8gr. quinine. . 15 Contained quinine.

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Return of Analyses at the Analytical Laboratory, Christchurch —continued.

10-R. 31.

'Department or JESTJSS. received received. Nature ol Sample. Adulteration suspected, or for wnat analysed. Result of Analysis. 'olice 1907. Feb. 15 Glass with few drops of liquid Poison Coated with crystals of sulphate of quinine, and contained a few drops of a very strong solution of this salt. Contained a few drops of whisky only. Boracic acid. „ 16 . 16 .. Whisky-flask Packet of boracic acid Broken bottles with crystals H • • M Justoms Ira'ith * „ 18 .. „ 20 Mar. 2 2 .. Feb. 28 „ 28 .. „ 28 .. „ 28 .. .28 .. „ 28 .. Acetic acid Water, Sumner Water, service-pipe, Sumner Sewage, sentic tank, Victoria House Sewage, filter Sewage, septic tank, hospital effluent Sewage, filter-efflu-ent Sewage, Sumner drainage retainingohamber Sewage, Sumner main drain Tariff Purity Impurities Contained crystals of acid, sulphate of quinine, and a little of a saturated solution in sulphuric acid. 59'7 per cent, aoetic aoid. 57-8 Total solids, 672 ; organic and volatile matter, 21; chlorides, 0'92; sulphates, 0-6; lime, 2-82; silioates, 0-28 ; iron, trace; free ammonia, 0-05 ; album, ammonia, 001. Total solidx, 7-84; org. and vol. matter, 28; chlorides, 1-04; sulphates, 0'7 ; lime, 292 ; silicates, 0-31 ; iron, trace; free ammonia, 0-05 ; album, ammonia, 0-01. Parts per 100,000: Total solids, 65 ; chlorides, 14'4 ; nitrates, nil; free ammonia, 36; album, ammonia, 0-8; oxygen, 7-2. Parts per 100,000 : Total solids, 38 ; chlorides, 115; nitrates, nil; free ammonia, 2 ; album, ammonia, 0'2 ; oxygen, 1-6. Total solids, 76 ; chlorides, 12-3 ; free ammonia, 3 - 8; album, ammonia, 0-72 ; nitrates, nil; oxygen, 7'8. Total solids, 48-5 ; chlorides, 946 ; free ammonia, 2-5; album, ammonia, 0 - 3; nitrates, nil; oxygen, 2'6. Total solids, 108 ; chlorides, 36 ; free ammonia, 43; album, ammonia, 072 ; nitrates, nil; oxygen, 7'4. Total solids, 164; chlorides, 15-4 ; free ammonia, 5'6; album, ammonia, 09; nitrates, nil; oxygen, 8. Total solids, 124; chlorides, 19-4 : free ammonia, 8; album, ammonia, l'l j nitrates, nil; oxjgen, 11. Total solids, 14 gr. per gall. ; organic matter, 2-74; chlorides, 9; sulphates, trace ; lime, 1-65 ; silioates, 0-61 ; iron, nil; nitrates, trace; free ammonia, 0-004; album, ammonia, trace. Total solids, 14'28; organic matter, 2 - 8 ; chlorides, 9 ; sulphates, trace ; lime, 172 ; silicates, 0 - 56 ; iron, trace ; nitrates, trace : free ammonia, 0004; album, ammonia, trice. Total solids, 19 - 61; organic matter, 3 64 ; chlorides, 1517 ; sulphates, trace; lime, trace; silioates, 084; nitrates, trace ; free ammonia, 0*004 ; album, ammonia, trace. Total solids, 5'07; organic matter, 1-68; clilondes, 1-36 ; sulphates, trace ; lime, 1-73; silicate-, 0'28 ; free ammonia, 0004 ; album, ammonia, trace. Total solids, 5-96; organic matter, 2-42 ; chlorides, 106 ; sulphates, trace; lime, 2'2; silicates, 0 - 3 ; free ammonia, 002 ; album, ammonia, 0'007. This water could be safely oonnected with the supply, and so reduce the amount of salt. Mar. 2 .. Effluent, septic-tank, Sumner 6 Water, main reservoir, Heathcote Purity 6 .. Service-pipe 6 .. Old wells, pumpingstation 6 New well, pumpingstation 6 .. 350 ft. well. Water not connected • • • 4th April, , 1907. A. A. Bickerton, Analyst.

H.—3l

Otago. Sir, — University Laboratory, Dunedin, 6th May, 1907. I have the honour to submit my report of work done for the Public Health Department for the year ending the 31st March, 1907. The samples analysed are of the usual character —water, milk, alcoholic liquors. All the samples of water were taken from the Balclutha district, and all had to be condemned owing to the amount of nitrogenous organic matter of a very objectionable kind found in them. Since action was taken by the Health Officer in these cases I have had samples of water forwarded by the Borough of Balclutha, which are of a very satisfactory quality—intended, I presume, to replace the supply condemned by the Department. Of the fifty-seven samples of milk analysed, nine were deficient in butter-fat, and two more just a little below the requirements of the Adulteration of Food Acta. Two were reported for added water. Looking at the results from these milk-analyses, a very marked improvement is seen when compared with former years. There is no doubt that the work of the Department has raised the quality of the milk for the Dunedin community. The fourteen samples of whisky analysed were taken to determine (1) whether the brands " John Dewar and Sons," " John Walker and Sons," " White and Mackay," had been tampered with, and whether, therefore, other whiskies were being sold under these brands; (2) whether the whiskies were of a pure quality, and up to the strength required by the Adulteration of Food and Drink Act. The tests applied to determine identity were the following : (1) Specific gravity, (2) colour, (3) percentage of proof-spirit, (4) amount of residue on evaporation, (5) the quality of such residue, (6) the proportion of chlorine. Two of the whiskies were proved to be other than the brands borne; two others varied considerably from the genuine article, but, being of equally good quality, no action was taken in the matter by the Police Department. One whisky was found to have been too much diluted, and a prosecution resulted. I have no doubt that the quality of the alcoholic liquors sold in Dunedin is being better attended to by those interested in the trade, owing to the surveillance of the Police Department. I have, Ac, Jambs G. Black, The Chief Health Officer, Wellington. Analyst to Health Department.

Return of Analyses at the University Laboratory, Dunedin, for the Year ended the 31st March, 1907.

Department or Person from whom Sample received. Date received. Adulteration Nature of Sample. ' suspected, or for Besult of Analysis, what analysed. "ublio Health >airy Inspector 'ublicHealth )airy Inspeotor rr >olioe" 1906. April 2 3 May 4 April 24 24 June 25 July 24 24 24 24 Oct. 1 Sugar .. .. Impurities .. No impurities found. Milk .. .. Water, or deficient Total solids, 128 ; fat, 3. Genuine milk. fat Water from tank, Impurities .. „ 41 gr. per gall. ; organic, 0-5 gr. Exoellent. High Sohool, Port Chambers Milk .. .. Water, or deficient Solids, 130; fat, 30. Good. fat .. Ditto .. .. „ 12-8 „ 2-9. Cream deficient. Beef, uncooked .. Wliolesomeness .. Sickening odour, dark colour, decomposing. Unfit for human food. Milk .. .. I Water added or fat Total solids, 13 00 ; fat, 3-78 ; solids not fat, 9-22. Good. removed .. Ditto .. .. „ 11-86; „ 2-63: „ 923. ' .. „ .. .. , 11-96; „ 3-52; „ 8-44. Watered. .. I „ .. .. „ 13-54; ,. 4-05; „ 9-49. Good. .. „ 11-95; „ 2-75; „ 9-20. 13-60; „ 3-70; „ 9-90. Whisky (for com- I For comparison ! Proof-spirit, 83-4 per oent.=U.P., 16-6; residue, 75 gr. per gall. ; parison) (genuine) chlorine, 05G gr. per gall. Whisky (for com- For comparison j Proof-spirit, 786 per cent. = U.P., 21-4 ; residue, 250 gr. per gall; parison with with No. 226 ohlorine, 1-50gr. per gall. Spurious. No. 226) Whisky .. For comparison Proof-spirit, 83-4 per cent. = U.P. 16-6 ; residue, 81 gr. per gall. ; with No. 226 chlorine, 056gr. per gall. .. For comparison Proof-spirit, 84 per cent. = U.P. 16; residue, 78gr. per gall.; with John! chlorine, 0-42 gr. per gall. Walker & Sons' genuine, to de- , tect substitution „ .. Ditto .. .. Proof-spirit, 78 per cent. = U.P. 22 ; residue, 503 gr. per gall. ; chlorine, 1-60 gr. per gall. .. Proof-spirit, 82 per cent. = U.P. 18 ; residue, 88 gr. per gall. ; chlorine, 0'56 gr. per gall. ..... .. Proof-spirit, 82-3 pec cent. = U.P. 17-7 ; residue, 95 gr. per gall. ; chlorine, 0-42 gr. per gall. , .. For comparison Proof-spirit, 82-4 per cent. = U.P. 176; residue, 75 gr. per gall. ; and strength chlorine, 0-42 gr. per gall. 1 1 1 * 1 1 1 1

H.—3l.

Return of Analyses at the Analytical Laboratory, Dunedin —continued.

Department or Person from whom Smiii'l Received. Date Beceived. Nature of Sample. Adulteration suspected or for what analysed. Result of Analysis. . Polioe Oct. 1 Whisky For comparison and strength Ditto i Proof-spirit, 84 per cent. = U.P. 16; chlorine, 070gr. per gall. 1 Proof-spirit, 738 per oent. = U.P. 262 ; residue, 73 gr. per gall. chlorine, 0-56gr. per gall. Proof-spirit, 83-4 per cent.= U.P. 166 ; residue, 340 gr. per gall. chlorine, 0-7 gr. per gall. Proof spirit, 83 1 per cent.= U.P. 169; residue, 350gr. per gall. chlorine, 0 7 gr. per gall. Proof-spirit, 82 5 per cent. = U.P. 17-5. 81'3 „ = „ 18-7. Total solids, 13-1 ; fat, 3-2 ; solids not fat, 9-9. Good. 1 1 Dairy Inspecto 1 1 27 Milk .. Water added, cream removed Ditto 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 12 29 13-07; „ 3-27; „ 9-80. 14-52; „ 4-31; , 10-21 13-27; „ 3-37; „ 9-90. ". 1280; ,.2 94; . 9-86. Pat deficient, 11-86; „ 2-68; , g-13. 14-06; „ 4-11; „ 9-95. Good. 13-98; „ 4-10; . 9-88. 12-69; „ 3-00; . ■ 9-69. 13-19; , 3-70; „ 9-49 13-37; „ 3-42; . 9-95 13-76; .. 3-96; » 9-80 13-26; „ 3-36; , 9-85. . Genuine. Total solids, 13-31; fat, 3-76 ; solids not fat, 9-55. Good. * . ■ Dr. Ogston Dairy Inspecto Impurities Water added, cream removed Ditto .. .. ; 29 12-31; „ 2-76; „ 9-55. Cream removed. 12-81 ; „ 3-21; , 960. Genuine. 13-27; „ 2-65; „ 1062. Cream removed. 12-90; „ 3-42; » 9-56. Good 13-07; . 3-27; , 9-80. 1811; „ 3-55; „ 9-56. H-90; ,, 2-60; . 9-30. Cream removed. 12-84; „ 3-00; „ 9-84. Genuine. 12-15; „ 3-01; „ 9-14 13-00; „ 3-20; „ 9-80. 12-60; „ 2-95; „ 9-65. Poor '2-45; „ 3-00; , 945. Good 12-85; „ 3-20; . 9-65 13-68; . 4-10; , 9-58. 13-25; „ 3-00; , 10-25. 12-23; „ 2-60: , 9-63. Creamed. 11-42; „ 2-50; . 8-92. Watered. 12-50; „ 2-87; „ 9-63. Creamed. 12-12; „ 2-91; „ 9-21. Poor. 13-30; „ 3-30; , 1000. 12-79; „ 3-22; , 9-57. 12-63; „ 2-85; , 9-78. Creamed. 13-12; , 3-10; , 10-02. Genuine good milk. Total solids, 12-79 ; fat, 3-22 ; solids not fat 9-57 13-57; „ 3-45; „ 10-12. 13-37; „ 3-29; . 1008. All these conform to the requirements of the Adulteration of Poods Acts. 29 29 fi Nov. 29 29 ■29 1 * f m 1 1 1 1 1 1 8 8 8 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 7 7 1 1 1 1 1 3 H " ip ill III Il-ll ■ ■93a o°5 § a l i£*i "3 a a> Public Health * 1907. an. 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 Water .. Imparities ( In all of these samples of water there was present some free ammonia, and a high proportion of organic 32 2-7 7-0 11-6 nitrogen present in the organio 17 2-3 3-1 6 2 matter. On standing seven days 17 2-2 3-1 5-2 in the laboratory in warm weather 40 2-6 64 10-5 there was a oisagrpeable odour and 34 21 6 0 100 j the beginnings of a slimy filamen44 2-9 9-7 16-01 tous deposit. I therefore reported 38 4-1 84 13 8 to the Diatrict Health Officer in 14 33 40 6 6 Dunedintliat all these ten samples 33 2-4 8-3 13-6 should be taken as bad water. 32 2-4 7-6 129 Owing to the large proportion of iron-ooinpounds [.resent t was not able to get reliable results by the Dp Chinmnnt np-manonnate test. 6th May, 1907. James G. Black, Analyse.

11—31

TE WAIKATO SANATORIUM. Sm, — Department of Public Health, Cambridge, 30th April, 1907. 1 have the honour to submit the annexed report of the work of Te Waikato Sanatorium for the year ended 31st March, 1907. During the year the number of cases admitted was 114, while during the same period 155 cases were discharged. Of those discharged, 48 left the Sanatorium apparently in good health, and exhibiting on examination no signs of active disease. These cases one might be justified in tabulating as cures, but personally I would prefer to record them simply as cases in which the disease was arrested more or less permanently. The remaining 107 cases discharged all received more or less marked benefit by their stay in the institution. Many were greatly improved, and would in all probability continue to improve after their discharge from the Sanatorium, provided that they still carried out the mode of life to which their residence in the Sanatorium had accustomed them. A small percentage gained very considerably in weight and improved in general condition, but showed little or no corresponding improvement in the condition of the diseased lungs. On the whole, I think the results may be considered very satisfactory, especially when it is considered that cases were admitted into the Sanatorium in all stages of the disease. On examining the charts showing the condition of patients on admission, one is struck by the evident fact that in the hirge majority of cases the disease had made very considerable progress. In more than half the cases both lungs were affected, and certainly not more than 10 per cent, of those admitted could be described truly as being early or incipient cases. This condition of things is due, I think, in a large measure to the reluctance of the average patient to admit that he or she is sufficiently ill to require sanatorium treatment, which leads to putting off application for admission until forced by evidently rapidly failing health to do so. I am convinced that a very large number of cases could be absolutely cured if treated early enough; but after a certain stage of the disease is reached the benefit of sanatorium treatment, though great, can only be temporary. The condition of the Sanatorium is in some respects not altogether satisfactory. Many, if not all, the shelters are badly in need of repainting and cleaning, while the fittings and furniture are in many cases worn out or in a bad state of repair; the blinds need replacing throughout; the stock of mattresses and bed-linen is very deficient and urgently needs replenishing. There is also a great need of lounges and chairs for the use op the patients in fine weather, so that they may rest in the fresh air outside the shelters. A considerable expenditure will be necessary to put the institution in good order in these respects. Very great inconvenience has been caused recently and the work greatly hampered by the difficulty experienced in obtaining suitable sisters for the nursing staff. This difficulty is, I think, due to the higher fees now obtainable for private nursing; the somewhat isolated position of the Sanatorium and the rather trying nature of the work, owing to the patients being scattered over a large, area, instead of being in one building. The nursing staff is, in my opinion, numerically insufficient, and I think it will be necessary to raise the salaries somewhot and to increase the staff in order to get efficient work. Regarding the patients, their pleasures and pastimes, I consider that, in addition to such outdoor games as croquet and miniature-rifle shooting, their thoughts should also be directed to the learning of useful but non-fatiguing work, such as they could follow when discharged from the Sanatorium. I refer to poultry-keeping and fruit and vine culture. A double end is thus served: occupation of the mind to the exclusion of morbid thoughts about ones-self and one's trouble is an important factor in assisting a cure; proficiency more or less in such occupations as I have mentioned would lessen in a large degree the difficulty that has been experienced by ex-patients in earning a livelihood oufof doors, the majority of patients having been employed indoors. The knowledge of light outdoor occupations will fit them better for the life before them: will enable them to live the outdoor life and to keep to the open-air treatment they have learned whilst under treatment at Te Waikato Sanatorium. It will mean, of course, a certain small outlay and expenditure in the way of tools, implements, &c.; but this will be amply repaid by the work that will accrue —a gain to the Sanatorium in such matters as repairs, which would otherwise have to be done by paid labour, and a decided gain to the patients themselves in the healthful and beneficial occupation it will afford them. Edward E. Roberts, M.D., Medical Superintendent. The Chief Health Officer, Public Health Department, Wellington. By Authority : John Mackay, Government Printer, Wpllinsrton. l<lo7

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PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT (ANNUAL REPORT OF THE)., Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1907 Session I, H-31

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PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT (ANNUAL REPORT OF THE). Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1907 Session I, H-31

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Pages 41-60 of 118

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PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT (ANNUAL REPORT OF THE). Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1907 Session I, H-31

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No known copyright (New Zealand)

PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT (ANNUAL REPORT OF THE). Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1907 Session I, H-31

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No known copyright (New Zealand)