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21
FOOD INSPECTION
The establishments wherein food is stored, or in preparation, or
exposed for sale, number forty. These have been inspected as frequently
as occasion demanded and have been maintained in a satisfactory
condition.
Bakehouse Regulations.—There are four retail bakehouses,
including one factory and two underground; the usual periodical
cleansing was duly carried out, and no complaint arose.
Dairies, Cowsheds, and Milkshop Orders—There were seven
registered cowkeepers and dairymen carrying on business in the
district during the year. One application for registration was received
on change of occupation. The cowsheds, three in number, are old
wooden buildings, and are kept in fair condition, the number of cows
housed averaged 40, and the animals were usually turned out to graze
during day time.
Slaughterhouses. — These number two, both of which are well
constructed, commodious premises, containing also excellent lairage for
cattle. The occupiers are licensed, and the licenses are subject to annual
renewal. The business is well conducted, and whenever possible the
examination of carcases takes place at times of slaughter.
The quality of foodstuffs was a matter for outside control, but
the following articles of food, largely allocated to local trade, were
condemned by me soon after reaching their destination.—
5 carcases of beef (local killed), miliary tuberculosis.
1 hindquarter of bull beef (injured and tubercular), slaughtered
on behalf of the Casualty Officer for the area.
12 livers and lungs—tubercle, echinococci, pyaemic abscesses.
114 lbs. of bacon (tainted), probably due to faulty curing.
1 seven pound tin of corned beef.
1 case of Australian rabbits.
5 boxes of Californian apples.
8 boxes of dates.
1. Closet Accommodation.— Comparatively few of the older
houses were in existence before the inauguration of a water carriage
system of drainage, and of these probably less than a dozen still retain
cesspool installations.
Privies and middens have long since become almost extinct, and it
is probable that the last of these was disposed of during the year.
Pail closets, too, are rare and do not exceed half a dozen, thus
waterclosets may be said to prevail throughout the District.