View report page

disease had been reported, defective drains or other insanitary
conditions were found to exist, all of which were subsequently
remedied under the supervision of the officers of the Department.
Disinfection of rooms, bedding, clothing, etc., was duly
carried out after the removal to hospital or recovery of each
patient. Where necessary, the walls of the rooms from which
the cases had been removed were stripped and re-papered or
distempered.
The number of rooms disinfected was 371, and the number
of articles, bedding, wearing apparel, etc., 12,706, full details
of which are given in the Report of the Medical Officer of
Health under the heading of " Disinfection."
School Disinfection.—All the Public Elementary Schools
in the district were thoroughly disinfected during the summer
vacation.
Yard Paving.—In the course of the inspections made during
the year, 77 yards were found to be in an unsatisfactory
state, due either to the absence of any paving or the defective
condition of that which did exist.
Stable Refuse.—Continued attention has been paid to the
mews and stable yards in the district, 25 visits having been
made to such premises during the year.
Inspections under the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901.—
There are 360 factories, workshops and workplaces on the
Register, to which 82 visits of inspection were made, and
twenty-one written notices were served, referring to sanitary
conveniences and other nuisances.
I have no doubt many more factories, workshops and workplaces,
and premises coming under the provision of the Shops
Acts are in occupation, but with the present staff it is not
possible to bring either of these registers np to date.
Shops Acts, 1912-13. —Two hundred and twenty-two visits
were made to the occupied shops in the district to ascertain if
the provisions of the Acts were being complied with.
The Sunday evening closing of shops has been a feature
of special attention, in consequence of complaints having been
received that several shops, chiefly refreshment rooms, were
selling non-exempted articles after 8 p.m. This necessitated
special observations being kept between 8 and 10 p.m. on
Sunday evenings. In each case where a contravention was
observed, the shop-keeper was warned and the matter reported
at the next Meeting of the Public Health Committee. In June,
the Town Clerk circularised the shop-keepers, giving them particulars
as to closing of shops on week-days and Sundays.
49