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39
Proper galvanized iron sanitary dustbins for the reception of
house refuse have been provided, the yards at the rear for a
sufficient reasonable distance from the back door around to the
w.c. paved with impervious material with a fall to a properly
trapped gully connected to the drains, so as to take away all rain
or other waste water from the immediate neighbourhood of the
back door, proper sanitary fittings fixed in place of defective or
ones of obsolete and insanitary patterns, and the drains re-laid,
not to mention many much needed sanitary improvements inside
the houses, such as new sinks, sink waste pipes, new or repaired
floors, and the repair and cleansing of walls and ceilings.
In carrying out this work I have found several clauses in Part
3 (Sanitary Provisions) of the Public Health Acts Amendment Act,
1907, which was adopted in this district extremely useful, particularly
Sec. 35, dealing with defective rainwater gutters, stack
pipes, etc., causing damp walls Sec. 37, rainwater stack pipes not
to be connected direct to drains, and Sec. 49, giving power to
compel the provision of sinks and sink waste-pipes for the proper
carrying off of waste water
The Paving of Back Yards.—During the year 46 yards have
been paved, in most cases from the main building around the
back addition to the party fence, and in each case this has been
executed in six inches of Portland cement concrete worked up to
a good impervious surface with a good fall in every way to a
properly trapped gully. Very often the gully utilised is the one
taking the sink waste water.
This work is now carried out under Sec. 25 of the Public
Health Acts Amendment Act, 1907. A paving notice having been
drawn up to fulfill the requirements of that statute.
Water Supply.—The District is served with a supply of
water from the mains of the "Southern District" Metropolitan
Water Board.
Four complaints were received during the year of insufficient
storage cistern capacity.
Nine houses were found to have water cisterns without any
covers to same. This is a very dangerous practice, instances have
been found during the year where birds have gained access to the
roof and become drowned in the cistern referred to, gradually
decomposed, and polluted the entire water service of the house.