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"The several premises were inspected from time to time to see that the provisions of the
Act were duly carried out.
"Notices were served, when requisite, to secure the abatement of nuisances, and necessary
works of reparation, etc.
"The works carried out, under supervision, consequent on the service of written intimations
or statutory notices, or both, were as follows:—
Number of Cases
Drains repaired and made sound 25
Water-closets, new, provided 33
,, existing, repaired 38
Soil-pipes re-constructed 24
„ existing, repaired 6
Water cisterns, repaired and cleansed 10
Ashpits, new, provided 11
,, existing, repaired 8
Sink waste-pipes repaired 10
Yards paved 14
Sundry repairs 33
Premises cleansed, etc. 65
Offensive accumulations removed 5
UNDERGROUND BAKEHOUSES.
The principal work of the Sanitary Inspectors during the year, and in 1902 also, had relation
to section 101 (2) and (4) of the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901, which reads as follows:—
"(2) . . . . After the first day of January, 1904, an underground bakehouse shall not
be used unless certified by the district council to be suitable for that purpose.
"(4) An underground bakehouse shall not be certified as suitable, unless the district council
is satisfied that it is suitable as regards construction, light, ventilation and in all
other respects."
In the third monthly report, 1902,1 had called the Council's attention to these provisions, and
submitted a resume of legislation with respect to bakehouses, beginning with the Bakehouse Regulation
Act, 1863, and ending with the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901, which repealed all previously existing
statutes dealing with the subject. The report was referred to the Public Health Committee, who
decided to defer consideration of the subject until I should have completed an inspection of the
underground bakehouses, 95 in number, then in progress.
Previous to this inspection, in which I had the assistance of the Chief Sanitary Inspector,
the several sanitary inspectors had submitted detailed reports on the underground bakehouses in
their respective districts, made on a uniform plan and under specified headings—including construction,
lighting, ventilation, drainage, etc.
On September 23rd, 1902, I reported completion of the inspection, and recommended that a
communication be addressed by the Town Clerk to each occupier of an underground bakehouse,
directing attention to the provisions of the Act, and enquiring whether he intended to apply for a
certificate to enable him to use the premises as a bakehouse after the 1st January, 1904? This was
done, and every baker intimated intention to apply. Each one was then requested to submit a
plan of his premises, and, except in a very few instances, this was done.
I recommended the appointment of a sub-committee to deal with the matter generally, and
one was appointed in November. In December, 1902, the sub committee inspected certain underground
bakehouses—to the number of twenty, with a view to acquisition of information of existing
conditions. In January, 1903, the sub-committee presented their report, which having been unanimously
adopted by the Committee, was submitted (February 3rd) to the Council, and printed in the
Minutes, page 138.
The report embodied the "Requirements" which it was considered ought to be complied
with in the case of an underground bakehouse, as a condition precedent to the grant of the Council's
certificate of suitability. Appended to the report was a list of the several premises grouped in
wards.