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the departmental regulations, which permit open shops. The Health Committee of the Council has concerned itself in the matter, and rather inclines to the opinion that such would be better closed. I have presented both sides of the question to the Chairman and other members of the committee. The matter is still sub judice. In the fly season it is really a difficult matter to keep out the insect from either open or closed shops. Plumbers Registration Act: The City Council has been asked to rigorously enforce this Act. Some prosecutibns are pending. Town-planning : A Town-planner to the Council has been appointed. Lower Hutt.—The population of this Borough continues to increase. Town-planning: This borough continues to slowly give effect to its town-planning scheme. Great care is necessary in the selection and planning of the offensive-trade area. At the present time there is really no suitable area available. The area' suitable for this purpose is still under water, to the south-east side of the Hutt River. The question is being watched carefully with a view to the prevention of the erection of offensive trades in undesirable situations. Close co-operation exists between the Medical Officer of Health, Council, and Engineer on sanitary and health matters in this progressive borough. Housing : New dwellings erected for the year, 493. Of these 291 were erected by the Hutt Valley Housing Committee, which has carried out most excellent work in relieving the housing problem in Wellington. Too much praise cannot be bestowed upon the scheme, but if possible it would be an improvement if future houses can be designed so as to permit of additions being made in an easy manner. Many' of the tenants of the houses at present have large families and no doubt in the future there may be a desire to enlarge some of the dwellings. Petone. —Petone Beach : The Council is desirous of making the beach more attractive, With a population of some twenty thousand in the Hutt Valley, the bather is making his claims felt, and the time has come when he should receive more consideration. The provision for the discharges into the sea from the various industries at Petone is the same as it has been for many years. The effluents which are discharged into the sea are not dangerous to health, but there is no doubt that the water is rendered most distasteful in appearance to bathers and pleasure-seekers on the beach. This was specially noticeable during the calm dry weather last summer. Measures for improvement "raise the whole question of harbour pollution in Wellington. Not only Petone, but Ngahauranga, is concerned. As with rivers and harbours in other parts of the Dominion, the matter is demanding attention. lam in close touch with the Council on the question, and am at the present time carrying out a systematic survey of all causes of pollution in the area concerned. An expensive solution, of course, would be to pipe the discharge from all the works along the foreshore to the mouth of the Hutt River. Extensive experiments as to the set of tides, &c., are, however, necessary before the adoption of such a course. Short of this, it seems rather difficult to absolutely prevent all effluent from reaching the bathingarea, although it may be possible to effect improvement. Eastbourne. —Water and Drainage : As stated in my last report, a water and drainage 1 scheme is an urgent necessity. The financial difficulties of the borough have, however, rendered actuality indefinite. Day's Bay. —Although Day's Bay is part of the Hutt County, the locality, in company with Eastbourne adjoining, is in urgent need of water and drainage. Other settlements round the harbour also require water. Upper Hutt. —By-laws: New health and sanitation by-laws are practically completed. The Council havfe adopted the departmental regulations as to plumbing and drainage. Hutt County. —During the year the complete sanitary by-laws of the county were made applicable to the whole area of the county. Conditions here require careful watching. With the advent of the motor-car many holiday habitations are erected. In these there is a great tendency to shirk the by-laws as regards sanitation and buildings. I would direct the attention of the Council particularly to these points. Inspector Lerwill continues to render invaluable service to the counties on sanitation and buildings. Sale of Food and Dbtjgs Act. Wellington being the principal port of entry for imports and a large distributing centre, a great deal of work has been performed with regard to the Act and regulations. In conjunction with the Government Analyst, much valuable work is carried out. Ice-cream Manufacture. —Particular attention is paid to this. The small manufacturer is gradually being eliminated. Eating-houses. —As for food-shops generally, the regulations are effecting improvement. Poet Health Inspection. One hundred and forty-nine overseas vessels were inspected by the Port Health Officer. Fifty-six infirm and prohibited persons were dealt with under the Immigration Restriction Act. Two cases of scarlet fever were removed to the public hospital. Inspector Frew continues to carry out good work in connection with sanitary supervision of ships and other duties for the Department in regard to ships, especially rat-infestation. Quarantine Station. The accommodation remains the same. Certain repairs are now necessary, and will be referred to you. Senior Inspector Bennett, who occupied the position of caretaker for some three years, retired oil superannuation in March.

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