View report page

83
MORTUARY.
During the year 89 bodies were received into your mortuary; 53 inquests
were held and 49 post mortem examinations were made. Twenty-four bodies
were left on deposit after inquest proceedings, to await burial; 18 bodies were
deposited by undertakers to await burial; 15 were deposited owing to being of
an infectious nature. Three bodies 1 had removed to await burial owing to
insufficient accommodation at the house.
PUBLIC LAVATORIES, WATER TROUGHS, ETC.
During the year the lavatories have received regular attention and the
necessary repairs carried out. I regret to again have to record the fact that
much wilful damage has been done to-the water-troughs and drinking fountains.
The public lavatories at Angel Road and The Green continue to be well
patronised. The amount collected from Angel Road lavatories during 1919
was £483 13s. 2d., an increase of £21 12s. 11d. on the previous year. The
amount collected from The Green lavatories during 1919 was £362 5s. 9d., an
increase of £54 6s. 9d. on the previous year.
I hope in the near future to see a public lavatory in evidence at the north
end of the district—Tramway Avenue; a convenience for both sexes would be
of great public benefit.
DUST COLLECTION.
During practically the whole of the year the dust collection was carried
out by contract, and after the contract expired the Council decided to do the
work by direct labour. Considerable time was given to the various parts of
the district where the dust collection had been neglected, and I was authorised
to put on extra horses and vans with extra men, to collect those streets that
had been neglected, and deduct the costs from the contractor.
I sincerely hope that the coming year will see at least a weekly collection
throughout the district.
In pre-war days the old tins found on the dust shoot were collected by a
firm, for which they paid the Council a small amount per ton. This realised
between £20 and £30 per annum. I recently again approached several firms
with a view of disposing of this old metal, but found the price offered for this
waste material would not compensate for the outlay in collecting and transit.
The dust-shoot being a favourable breeding ground for rats, I hope the
Council will seriously consider the question of providing an up-to-date dust
destructor, as, judging from the results obtained from the working of destructors
in several districts, this would be an advantage and enable a very offensive
accumulation to be effectually disposed'of, and incidentally (which is of great
importance) do away with a favourite haunt and breeding ground for rats.