H.—3l

66

Eastbourne. —Water and drainage : A commencement lias not yet been made with a water-supply and drainage as required by the Board of Health in its' requisition in 1929. Meanwhile the position continues as unsatisfactory as before. The present uncertainty with regard to supplies from the Wellington Water Board is, of course, the reason for the delay at present. Garbage : Methods of disposal of refuse and nightsoil continue to be unsatisfactory ; in fact, they cannot be otherwise as long as the present site is used. An endeavour is made to keep conditions as sanitary as possible. The Borough Council is considering the question of making arrangements for rubbish-disposal elsewhere. During the year approximately £1,000 were spent on special storm-water-drainage works. TJpper Hutt.—Water-supply : A contract has recently been let for the erection of water headworks and dam, and it is proposed to carry out a further water reticulation in the course of the next few months. These works will provide sufficient water for all purposes, including drainage, in the future. Drainage : With the continual increase in the number of houses, the possibility of a drainage scheme comes nearer realization. The longer the scheme is delayed, the greater will be some of the difficulties with regard to the position of certain of the works. General conditions : Under the Council's new by-laws general sanitary conditions in the borough are gradually being improved as far as possible in a non-sewered town. J ohnsonville. —This town district lias both water and drainage services, and the general health conditions are satisfactory. Makara County.—General conditions in this county are satisfactory. Careful supervision is necessary with regard to the Titahi Bay seaside resort at Tawa Flat ; also, there is need for care from the point of view of town-planning. Hutt County.—As mentioned in previous reports, this county has many problems which are created by the various seaside and holiday resorts which have arisen within its boundary. With regard to the requisition by the Board of Health re water and drainage at Day's Bay, the County Council has lodged an appeal before a Magistrate. Conditions at Day's Bay cannot be considered as satisfactory. In fine weather hundreds of young people from Wellington and surrounding districts visit the bay and receive drinking-water from the neighbourhood of the pavilion. Although they are all advised to boil this water, it is certain that this advice is not heeded by at least a certain proportion of the children, and even the adults. Also, with regard to the bathing-area, there should ftot be the slightest suspicion as to possible dangerous pollution. That there are occasional active typhoid-carriers in our midst is proved by the fact that, as previously mentioned in the report, we had various sporadic cases of this disease during the year. A proper appreciation of town-planning, regulation of subdivisions, &c., should do much in this county to maintain satisfactory standards of sanitation, and also tend to economy in public services. Private Hospitals. There are now ten private maternity hospitals in the district, and nine medical and surgical hospitals, in addition to the Alexandra Home and St. Helens Hospital. During the year the new Lewisham Hospital was opened. The private hospitals in the Wellington central district are generally satisfactory. Sale of Food and Drugs Act. During the year a great deal of routine work has been carried out in and around Wellington with reference to the general condition of foodstuffs. At present the question of lead in soda-fountains is being investigated. Ice-cream Manufacture. —Conditions re this manufacture are very much improved compared with a few years ago. Port Health Inspection. One hundred and. forty-seven vessels were inspected by the Port Health Officer, and twenty-three infirm and prohibited persons were dealt with under the Immigration Restriction Act. SECTION S.—HORO WHENUA-WANGANUI HEALTH DISTRICT. Dr. Ritchie, Medical Officer of Health. Infectious Diseases. Scarlet Fever. —During the year 1928 scarlet fever of a mild type was prevalent throughout New Zealand, but in this district the incidence was mainly in the larger centres of population, many of the country areas being effected very slightly or not at all. During the past year the epidemic continued, and the whole area, with the exception of the most northerly portion, was affected. The number of cases reported was 581, with four deaths, as compared with 536 cases, with three deaths in the previous year.