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21
Sanitary Work
Carried on during the past Year.
Some few years ago it may be remembered I reported to you
that a House to House inspection of the district was being
made, it being our endeavour at that time to cover the district
as rapidly as possible. During the past year the house to house
inspection has been proceeded with. The first inspection
was directed chiefly to such matters as ensuring a proper
domestic supply of water, efficient sanitary conveniences, and
the cleanliness of dwellings. In a large number of streets we
have been enabled to make a secondary inspection which has
been directed principally to the condition of the drainage
of each particular house. This has been done by applying a
powerful smoke test by means of the "asphixiator," and although
not very much area may have been covered, the work has been
of a permanent character. Where defects in the drainage were
found to exist they have been remedied under the direct supervision
of the inspector. The drains were not allowed to be
covered in before examination, and in cases of new drains the
water test was applied.
The number of complaints received from all sources
was 345. This number, in a thickly populated district like
ours, was very small. Each complaint was investigated forthwith,
and in not more than 50 per cent. of the cases was it found
necessary to take any proceedings ; many of them were of a
frivolous nature. The number of workshops is increasing, and
it has been found necessary to keep them under constant supervision
as the occupiers are frequently changing. The inspection
of the workshops of the Hamlet has been carried out thoroughly
—the number of inspections being 589. It will be seen from
table 7 that in no less than 97 cases it has been found necessary