HEALTH OF THE TOWN.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2441, 4 March 1909, Page 6

HEALTH OF THE TOWN.

CONFERENCE WITH DR DeLI&LE A special meeting "of the Borough Council was held yesterday afternoon to moot Dr. DeLisle, District Health Officer, and discuss* matters affecting the health of the town. There were present: The Mayor (Mr. W. D.Lys -irar), and Crs. Somervell, ' Williams, Whinray, Sheridan, Pettie, and banyor. The Mayor said that they had asked Dr. DeLisle to he present to hear his suggestions on the matter of preventing the spread of fever. There were over 20 cases at present, and as the Council was desirous of checking the spread of the disease, they would like Dr. DeLisle, if it were possible, to go round the town with the Inspector of Nuisances. Dr. DeEisle said that in the absence of drainage, one very 8 important matter was the treatment of the night-' soil. After making suggestions in this connection, the Health Officer advocated duplicate pans, with lids, explaining that by this means flies would not he attracted. There were several case of typhoid, he understood/occurring where cases had taken place two or three years in succession. He would visit these places. A similar thing occurred in Napier, and he found the householders were in the habit of throwing water on the ground. He thought the only improvement on the present system of dealing with the nightsoil was to provide duplicate pans. It would mean an extra expense, hut it would, be worth it. Cr. Williams said that they already had pans with lids provided for. Disinfectants were also used largely. In reply, to Cr. Whinray, Dr. DeLisle said that the atmospheric conditions contributed to the spread of typhoid, hut would not be the cause. Dr. DeLisle further stated that he had visited some places which were ■absolutely hoggish. Any person having a little common sense, with a house on a quarter of an acre, could deal with his waste water by throwing it over potato and vegetable gardens.

Cr. Williams referred to flies as the carriers of disease, and asked the Health Officer if he could suggest anything by which to deal with the nuisance.

Dr. DeLisle said that scrupulous cleanliness was the only /remedy/People should use every means of catching flies, and kerosene was a good destructive. * Some authority had said that the disease, would continue to ex-

ist until the last fly-had been aimihiixted. It should bo made compulsory j ;r every householder to have an iron eceptacle with a lid for'rubbish. In answer to Cr. Whinray, Dr. Do. Lisle said that in his opinion the state 4 the river was also contributing to the spread of fever. The matter coming from the freezing works and other Ihictories into the river should be purified, and drainage should not be allowed to go into the river. Be was also of opinion that a look ..in the river would be a good'thing. Kitchen and bedroom slops were sewage, -and if srun into the river would create a nuisance £3 residents on the river bank.. Cm. LSomervell and Whinray .mentioned a drainage scheme for slop water,-and a scheme was advocated by the latter .gentleman, to cost about. t’sooo.

Dr. DeLisle deprecated the idea of any temporary or patching sewerage work. It would be the worst investment the Council could go in for. In reply to Or. Sheridan, Dr. Do Lisle stated that ho had made himself ; acquainted with the details of_ Mr. Mestayer’s scheme. He had also studied Mr. Jickell’s scheme, and of ! the two ho -thought Mr. Mestayers’ to be a much more preferable scheme. It was ultimately decided that the attention of householders be drawn to Dr. DeLisle’s recomendations, and, the meeting adjourned.