H.—Bl

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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.