H.—22

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hood, and will ultimately become dangerous to the health of the community if allowed to continue. This naturally leads to a consideration of the question of water supply and sewerage, and the immediate or deferred necessity of having such works. There are a few drains about the town, but practically a system of drainage does not exist, The water supply is obtained from sunk wells, and a considerable number of houses have tanks for the collection of rain water. Keeping in view the above, we ask is there immediate danger to the health of the community ? That question is best answered by taking into consideration the place on which the township is at present laid out, and here we find that each house has a quarter of an acre of ground attached to it, thus preventing overcrowding and a consequent concentrated contamination of the earth and atmosphere. Earth is one of the most powerful and efficient disinfectants in nature; therefore, every householder is in possession of a great natural disinfectant and percolator, which will for a number of years prevent any danger which would otherwise be certain to arise from an accumulation of waste matter. I have no reason to suppose that the wells are impure. Therefore, lam of opinion that no uneasiness or alarm regarding the health of the people need be entertained at present, or that any serious danger is likely to crop up from the temporary want of a system of drainage or water supply. I do not write this with a view of persuading the Council there is no necessity for such a system ; on the contrary, I think there is, or rather the necessity will be soon seen if the town increases, and regular, closely built houses are erected; but 1 would deprecate the hasty adoption of any crude, illdigested, scheme, which must necessarily be unsatisfactory and insufficient. During the year, there have been registered 9 marriages, 10 deaths, and 55 births. In this, we have another test as to the healthiness of the town. Assuming the population to be 1,000, this gives a death rate of 1 per cent., thus comparing very favourably indeed with any part of the Home country, where deaths average from 2to 4 per cent. Of the deaths recorded in the township, 5 were under 5 years of age. Of 38 deaths recorded in the district of Tokomairiro, 18 were under 5 years of age. We have thus in the township a mortality of GO per cent., and in the district 47 per cent, of children under 5 years of age—a proportion very much in excess of that of the Home country. I attribute this heavy rate partly to the climatic changes, to the hurried manner in which houses are built of green timber, and the sites on which the houses are built being entirely undrained : the surface water collects under the house ; consequently there is always a damp vapour arising, highly prejudicial to the health of the inmates, and especially the children. We can easily understand this, when we know that there is no less than 11 degrees of heat difference between drained and undrained soil. I suspect that this heavy mortality among the children is not confined to this district, but that it is general throughout the Province of Otago. The Town Council have, in the sewerage question, a very difficult problem to solve, which will become more urgent as time passes. Meanwhile, I should advise them to communicate with the authorities of those places at Home where sewerage irrigation is to a certain extent carried out. I have, &c, Mcßean Stewaet, To the Mayor and Town Council of Milton. Medical Officer of Health. The Clekk to the Boabd, Crichton Road District) 1 to the Chairman, Central Board of Health, Dunedin. Sib,— Lovel's Flat, sth May, 1875. I am directed by the Chairman, Crichton Eoad Board, to acknowledge the receipt of copy of " The Public Health Act, 1872," with circular attached asking information as to the health of the district. I am directed to inform you that the health of the district is in a satisfactory state, no disease of any kind being at present in the district. I have, &c, Alex. Nelson, The Chairman, Central Board of Health, Dunedin. Clerk to the Board. By Authority: Gxcmaii Didsecbt, Government Printer, Wellington.—lß7s. Price Is.]