7

E.—B.

foundation enters, first into the basement-floor room, and then—by similar apparatus —into the room above. In this manner, air, drawn from a very bad source in the first instance, has to do double duty. The Superintendent, however, informed me that he had ceased to use the lower rooms as dormitories. The dormitories in the other buildings, though much overcrowded, are probably sufficiently ventilated through the imperfections in the walls, which exhibit signs of extreme frailty, and are supported by clumsy props. One main drain, formed of pipes without cemented joints, takes off the surface-water from the various yards and gutters round the buildings. Its outlet is open to the south-east, and, as it is not provided with any traps or ventilators, the air is free to blow through it to its upper termination, where it opens into the middle of the floor of the scullery or back kitchen, where the food is prepared, and which also is used as a larder for the uncooked meat. Only the rain-water and the water from the baths is supposed to pass through this system of drains; but it is evident that kitchen scraps must also enter it, and with so many young children playing about in the yards it is very unlikely that these drains can be kept quite free from other casual matters. Moreover,,in the very ward where the fever commenced and spread from, there are two fixed tubs with covers, which are used as baths, but which, in an emergency, might be temporarily used for soiled linen, and these tubs enter directly, without any taps, into the main drain. Now, if by any chance infected fecal matter once found its way, even in minute quantity, into the main drain, the conditions most favourable for the propagation of typhoid would be fulfilled; for it is not necessary that there should be the foul sewage gas produced that would give warning by its offensive smell, but merely that the germs should have access to articles of food, many of which, and especially milk and raw meat, are rapid absorbents of such germs, and by this means they would pass into the system of the healthy children. There is another point worthy of attention. The water in use for cooking and drinking is taken from the mains of the Dunedin water-supply, and is of excellent quality ; but in the centre of the courtyard, and below the level of the uncemented drains, there is a large tank in which a reservesupply is kept. This water is pumped up, and is intentionally used for bathing and washing. Iron, tanks were originally sunk in the ground, but they were burst through some accident, and now the water is only contained in the excavated pit, and there is, therefore, no protection against surface-con-tamination. However strict the discipline may be, in an establishment of this kind, where most of the domestic work is done by the senior children, there is always a probability that the tank-water might be used for drinking or other purposes, so that it constitutes another weak point in the arrangement. The above unfavourable circximstances are beyond the control of the management, unless, by a complete rearrangement of the institution, involving a much larger expenditure than I consider would be warranted for restoring the buildings on the present site. The closet-drainage and the systems adopted for the disposal of the nightsoil are thoroughly satisfactory ; and the best evidence of the skilful management of the institution is afforded by the general healthiness of the children, except in the case of sickness arising from epidemics, and these will probably increase in frequency and virulence unless some radical change is made. The proper remedy is to remove the institution to properly constructed buildings erected on a better situation, if possible on a dry or gravelly soil, on more level ground, and where the full benefit of the sunshine will be received during the winter months. As a temporary measure, it would be well to relay the drains in cement, and to cut them off from direct communication with the dormitories, bath-houses, and kitchens; and to abolish the water-tank that is sunk in the yard. This should be done at once,* or, at any rate, before the return of summer, when the warm weather might perhaps revive latent germs, and cause a renewal of the epidemic. I have, &c. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary. James Hectob.

* The work was done without delay,—W. J. H. (for the Secretary).

By Authority: Geobge Didsbuby, G-oyernment Printei 1, Wellington.—lBB2,