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the District. The Housing scheme is well advanced, and the
Council are pledged in the coming year to further develop
the Estate by building some smaller cottages for pensioners
and others. The schemes for the proper treatment of the
sewage of the District and the repaying of the High Street
are practically completed, and cannot fail to have a good
effect upon the health and comfort of the community.
Perhaps the outstanding feature of the year from a
sanitary point of view, is the Report of the Departmental
Committee appointed by the Local Government Board to
enquire into the position and uses of the Intercepting Trap in
connection with house drainage.
The report, which favours the abolition of the Trap, has
been the subject of considerable criticism, and as it is left to
individual Councils to retain or alter their Bye-laws so as to
make its provision optional, it is a matter which deserves the
utmost consideration.
As to the merits or demerits of the Trap, naturally the
Council as a body are not in a position to judge, and therefore
to a large extent must rely upon the advice tendered by their
officials.
My remarks upon this subject, and local conditions,
appear under the heading of drainage work.
The Milk and Dairies Bill had to be again dropped, but
there are signs that a useful measure will shortly be enacted,
which will enable Local Authorities to finally stamp out
tuberculosis in dairy cattle, and thus prevent the continuous
stream of disease-laden milk which at present forms a great
volume of our milk supply.
PUBLIC HEALTH ACT, 1875.
INSPECTION OF DISTRICT AND REMOVAL OF
NUISANCES.
The general inspection of the District has been carried
out periodically as in previous years, such nuisances as were
discovered being dealt with under the nuisance clauses of
the above Act.
A preliminary notice is served upon the person in default,
requiring him to abate the nuisance, and for that purpose to
carry out the work specified in the notice. Should the person
fail to comply with the notice, the matter is reported to the
Council, and a statutory notice is served, but I am pleased to
say this latter recourse is seldom necessary.