11

fi.—3l

The hotels throughout the district were thoroughly inspected, and in many cases considerable alterations and improvements were ordered by the Licensing Committee on the recommendations of this Department. The Inspectors have also had more time and opportunity to give to the administration of the Sale of Food and Drugs Act. Four hundred and seventy-one milk samples were taken throughout the district, and more particularly of the Wellington City supply, and as a result there were forty-four prosecutions. The fines and costs in these cases totalled £427. This amount is probably a very small percentage of the illicit profit that is made by the dishonest members of the milk trade. Attached hereto are appendices. H. E. Finch, M.B. (Oxon.), D.P.H. (Camb.). Canterbury and West Coast Health District. —Report by District Officer (Dr. Chesson). I have the honour to submit my annual report for the above district for the year ending the 31st December, 1914. Although I had been paying visits to this district and had [generally supervised the work k thereof during the absence of Dr. Finch, I did not relinquish my duties in Wellington and permanently take up my residence in Christchurch until the Ist April. Since then I have been, permanently quartered here. In September the district offices were moved from their old unsuitable quarters in Hereford Street into more commodious and satisfactory offices in the old Provincial Building, a change which was eminently satisfactory from every point of view. Much additional work has been put on to the district office in connection with the regulations under the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, and considerable attention has been given to this branch of the work during the year. The outbreak of war and the training of contingents for the Expeditionary Forces by the Defence Department necessitated the establishment of a military camp at Christchurch, and this in the first instance was situated on the Addington Show-grounds, it only being anticipated that the men would be there for a few days. Considerable delay, however, occurred in the despatch of the Canterbury Contingent, and it was deemed advisable, after a visit to the camp, to recommend the selection of another site, owing to a number of men being placed on this comparatively small ground under military camp conditions with no proper sanitary conveniences suitable for such a large number of persons in a crowded district. Although the camp was conducted on the best military lines, and every care taken by the Defence authorities, it was feared that insanitary conditions would soon make themselves evident. The military authorities moved the camp to the Trotting Club's ground at Sockburn, which, being farther removed from close settlement, and being a much more extensive site, proved in every way satisfactory both from the military and the public-health standpoint. The garrisoning of the forts at Lyttelton and the drafting of a large number of men to the various Defence stations on Lyttelton Harbour also brought to light certain insanitary conditions at those places, and at the request of the military authorities I visited the barracks, forts, and other places, and made recommendations to the Defence Department for the improvement of sanitation, which were practically all given immediate effect to. An outbreak of diphtheria at the New Brighton School necessitated a special inspection of that institution, and it was found that the outbreak was confined to the infants' class, the accommodation for which was most inadequate. The matter was duly reported on, and increased accommodation was provided during the school holidays. Cases of infectious disease at the St. Albans School and the Normal School also brought to light insanitary conditions existing in those institutions. These were likewise dealt with by the Education Board. A special visit was made to the Chatham Islands at the request of the Public Service Commissioners, for the purpose of holding an inquiry, report of which has been duly forwarded. This visit necessitated an absence of close on three weeks from Christchurch. With regard to public-health matters in the Chatham Islands there is nothing special to report. Though little attention is given to sanitary matters, which are in a most primitive state owing to the sparseness of the population, no ill effects are evidenced, and the health of the community seems to be fairly satisfactory. The resignation of Dr. Champtaloup threw the administration of the entire Otago District into this district for some months, and the Buller Hospital Board's district was also added. The appointment of Dr. Sydney Smith to Dunedin in December, however, relieved me of the southern portionLe., all south of the Waitaki River. This district now comprises Canterbury (North Canterbury, Ashburton, and South Canterbury), and the whole of the West Coast (Buller, Inangahua, Grey, and Westland). Visits to the various parts of the district were made during the year, the places receiving special attention being Lyttelton, New Brighton, Sumner, Ashburton, Timaru, Waimate, Rangiora, Westport, Reefton, Greymouth, Hokitika, and Blackball. Attached hereto are appendices, being tables and data on the following matters : Notifiable infectious disease, dangerous infectious disease, provision for infectious disease, sanitary conditions of district, sanitary conditions of Maoris, sanitary inspections, offensive trades, insanitary buildings, by-laws, legal proceedings, quarantine, disinfection of oversea goods, Immigration Restriction Act, Midwives Act, and Sale of Food and Drugs Act. Herbert Chesson, M.R.C.S. (Eng.), L.R.C.P., D.P.H. (Loud.).