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There was but little spread of infection amongst the older
children, and the knowledge obtained of the conditions at home
made it possible to allow many children to return to school after a
few days quarantine, who would otherwise have been away from
school for three or four weeks.
I shall hope to follow the same course when next we have an
outbreak, but happily there is not likely to be another for some
years.
The case mortality was under three per cent.
Other Diseases.—Special remarks do not seem necessary.
HOUSING OF THE WORKING CLASSES.
No proceedings have been instituted under this Act.
Some property in regard to which abortive proceedings were
taken some years ago has been put in decent repair, and the great
difficulty now will be to see that it is kept in good order.
Many houses have been inspected and the owners called upon
to cleanse and repair; but most houses of this class are owned by
persons with little or no capital, or are in the hands of trustees,
and it is extremely difficult to get work done.
One road was thoroughly inspected by me and also by a subcommittee.
The houses were found to be dirty anil in bad repair.
Many of them were sub-let and overcrowded, being only large
enough for the accommodation of one family. The owners have
been communicated with, but it will be necessary to keep a constant
watch on this property.
As I have before reported, there is urgent necessity to adopt
the Bye-laws for Houses let in Lodgings, as when once it becomes
known that overcrowding is not taken notice of in the town you
will find that it will rapidly increase in frequency. Unless these
bye-laws are in force magistrates are always loth to convict, as it
is felt that there is no standard fixed by the Authority on which