H.—3l.

Dannevirke. The town is healthily situated, is clean, and well ordered. It possesses a supply of excellent water, and a good drainage system, designed and carried out by Mr. Leslie Reynolds. The townspeople are taking full advantage of it, as is evidenced by the fact that 150 properties have been connected with the borough sewerage scheme during the past year. This makes 390 properties that have been connected since the initiation of the scheme. Since the drainage scheme was handed over no hitch of any kind has occurred in the working. Woodville. There has been no alteration made in the primitive drainage system installed in this borough some ten or twelve years back. Five years ago, at my instigation, Mr. Metcalfe was employed to draw plans for a drainage scheme, but the ratepayers have never felt able to burden themselves with the cost. I am informed by the Council that when the financial position is more favourable the ratepayers will be asked to sanction a loan for the purpose. There is little fault to be found with the cleanliness of the town, and filth diseases are conspicuous by their absence. Gisborne. I repeat the opening remarks which I made in my report for 1908 : " From its situation this borough should be the healthiest in the Dominion, but from its defective sanitary arrangements, or perhaps want of sanitary arrangements, it suffers more from preventable disease than any other town in my district." Out of 103 cases of enteric and 67 cases of diphtheria notified in this district, Gisborne accounts for 41 and 19 respectively ; and of the 42 cases notified from the " remainder of the district," the majority come from the country around Gisborne. I have little hesitation in saying that had Gisborne been clean, most of the country cases would not have occurred, as most of them were contracted in Gisborne. Had it not been for the supply of wholesome water which Gisborne now enjoys, I am of opinion that the epidemic would have been more widely spread. When the poll was taken for obtaining a loan for carrying out Mr. Mestayer's scheme of drainage for the borough, it was rejected by the majority of the ratepayers. There is another scheme before the Council designed by Mr. Jekell, and the suggestion has been made to the Council to obtain the services of an engineer of repute to examine and report on the merit of the two schemes. It is impossible to predict whether this will be done or not. It is quite possible that the town will rest on its oars till next summer and autumn brings another epidemic and another scare. I repeat what I stated in my, last annual report: "It is risking the health of the residents in the town to attempt to carry on in Gisborne much longer with this condition of affairs, and if the installation of drainage is much delayed, reckoning must follow." After nine years of representation on my part that duplicate-lidded pans should be employed in the collection and removal of night-soil, there are signs that this method is likely to be adopted. I feel convinced that the use of these pans will be a factor in limiting the spread of enteric, and reduce the nuisance created by the perambulations of the night-cart through the streets to a minimum. Several of the business properties are having septic tanks installed. There is much to recommend this, but it is feared that every owner of a septic tank will be a probable voter against a municipal drainage scheme. Tolaga Bay. This township is fast increasing in size and importance. At present it is without either water or drainage, but the soil is light and sandy, and the town is well windswept by the crisp sea breezes. These factors help to keep it healthy. Tokomaru and Waipiro. Owing to the outbreak of enteric, the result of nuisances, these townships have received attention from both Inspector Munro and myself. From information I have received, nga kaianga Maori need attention. Clyde, Wairoa. This town is moving ahead, and is much cleaner than it used to be. The number of deaths from all causes is wonderfully small—9, the same as in 1903, when the population was smaller. This is a great drop from 28 last year, 25 in 1907, and 16 in 1906. Five cases of enteric have been notified from Wairoa, and 1 has died. Five cases of enteric in Wairoa, nearly half the number notified from Napier, which has ten times the population, is too many. Summary op Work done. The nuisances that have been reported on and abated are —In Napier, 10 ; Hastings, 21 ; Waipukurau, 2; Ormondville, 3; Norsewood, 1; Wairoa, 2; Gisborne, 11; Cook County, 7; Waipua County, 6; Napier Harbour Board property, 1; Taradale, 1; Meeanee, 1; Makeretu, 1 ; and Greenmeadows, 1. Houses have been condemned in the following localities : In Hastings, 3 ; Wairoa, 2 ; Gisborne, 3 ; Cook County, 2 ; Waiapu County, 1 ; Ormond, 1 ; and Clive, 2.

7—H. 31.

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