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Improvements effected to Houses, including
Sanitary Arrangements.
The summary of the general sanitary work is given
on Form III., which gives a fair idea of the matters
that have engaged the attention of your Inspectors.
During the year, sixty-eight obstructions were
removed from the house drains, after which they were
thoroughly flushed and cleansed. The smoke test
was applied to twenty-two house drains, and six
were exposed, under Section 41 of the Public Health
Act, 1875. In all these cases special reports were
made to the Public Health Committee, and instructions
obtained in respect of same.
The number of house drains reconstructed during
the year was sixty-seven, and those repaired, or partially
reconstructed, were fifty-one. Of these, nineteen
were in respect of the combined system. In some
instances, the drainage works were carried out following
exposure of the original drain, with a view to
carrying out some minor repairs, when it was found
necessary to reconstruct the whole. In conjunction
with these works, sixty-five intercepting traps were
fixed, and 151 water-tight access chambers constructed,
218 soil pipes and ventilating pipes fixed, 163 new
w.c. pans, and 113 flush cisterns to same either renewed
or put into proper working order.
Paving of Yards and other Causes of Damp.
The paving and drainage of yards, passages, and
areas, the want of efficent or repairs to eaves, gutters,
and rain-water pipes, leaky roofs, and the damp walls
of houses have, as heretofore, received special attention,
as a nuisance arising from either of the above
causes cannot fail to be an important factor in the
cause of the insanitary condition of some of the dwelling-houses,
and which may have an injurious effect on
the health of the occupants. A properly paved and
drained surface in connection with the dwelling-house
is conducive to cleanliness, since there is less dirt and
filth conveyed into the house, it encourages the housewife,
and lessens the risk of contaminaton of foods bv