CITY COUNCIL.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 250, 31 March 1875, Page 3

CITY COUNCIL.

Tuesday, March 30.

The weekly meeting of the City Council was held at 7 p m. Present—His Worship the Mayor, and Crs Raphael, Jones, Ick, Gapes, and Calvert. The town clerk reported the receipts for week to be as follows:—General cily rates, 1874, £32 17s ; Waimakariii do, £5 9s 6d ; watering do, £7l 19s lOd ; fines from R. M. Court, £3 15s; drivers'and hawkers' licenses, £3; rent from market place, 7s; total receipts, £ll7 88 4d. Overdraft at bank on general account, £1490 17s 3d. Cr in bank on drainage account, £5416 Is Bd. Receipts : Drainage rate account, £l3 13s 9d. Ordered to be paid on general account, £199 16s 6d; on drainage account, £447 9s 2d. The Mayor reported that during the week he had had an interview with Dr Turnbull, and he Lad suggested a certain course of action, in which he (the Mayor) concurred, and which he would report to the revenue committee. The Government had also agreed to receive the revenue committee as a deputation to-morrow morning, at eleven o'clock. Cr Gapes said that one of the members of the Provincial Council had suggested to him

that the city surveyor's estimate, £6 per chain for forming the streets was too high. The Mayor said no doubt the revenue committee would take care to have a good case to lay before the Provincial Council. The city surveyor reported as follows: "The water will let into the Lichfield street pipes in the course of a few days. I think it probable that the sump at the corner of Colombo street will have to be rebuilt, but 1 cannot say positively until the other part is finished, and the whole length has been tried with a powerful pump. A man named Thomas King fell from the scaffold at Victoria bridge and broke his arm, and as it was through no fault of his own, and while carrying on the Council's work, I have thought right to .mention the matter, in order that, if the Council should deem it right, some compensation might be awarded for lost time. King is a sober steady workman with a family depending on him. The city men have been employed the past week in watering, cleansing, and repairirg streets." On the motion of Cr Raphael, seconded by Cr Calvert, it was resolved " That the works committee be authorised to pay to King such a sum for compensation as they may deem proper." The remainder of the report was approved.

A letter was read from the town clerk of Napier thanking the Council for copy of their bye-laws.

A letter was read from the town clerk of Nelson inquiring how the fire brigade of the city was supported, and what were the arrangements between the Council and the brigade. The town clerk said that he had sent full information on the subject.

A letter was read from the Heathoote Road Board, applying for the sum of £296 17s, portion of expenses for filling up the Ferry road drain.

The Mayor said that by the Judge's order the Council were not bound to pay the money until the work was completed. If the general accounts had not been overdrawn he should have felt disposed to send a cheque at once, but as it was, he could not advise that the terms of the Judge's order should be departed from. He thought the application was rather premature. The consideration of the question was deferred for a week.

A letter was read from James Crowley, of Waltham, asking for four loads of night soil, for. which he would prepare a pit. Cr Gapes moved—" That the request be not complied with." It was a bad practice, considering the state of health in the town, to sell the night soil to be used in gardens, Cr Raphael seconded the motion. It was monstrous to think, that with fever rampant in the town, night-soil should be sold for gardens. The Mayor said that under present circumstances, he thought it would be very unwise to give the required permission. It was well known that typhoid fever was easily propagated by fresh human excreta. A letter was read from George Bates, Ferry road, asking for two loads of night soil, which he would take care should be no Duisance.

Cr Ick thought that if the neighbors did not object, the Council might grant permission, at the same time he agreed with the remaiks of the Mayor as to the dangerous naturr of fresh human excreta,. Cr Jones moved as an amendment —" That the matter be referred to the sanitary committee."

Ultimately the motion and amendment were withdrawn, and the following resolution agreed to —"Thatthe Council decline to allow any fresh night soil to be carted away from the city on to private property." A letter was read from Mr J. A. Bird, stating that the Liverpool, London, and Globe Insurance Company would contribute pro rata with other companies towards the sum of £250 for fire prevention purposes.

The town clerk was directed to acknowledge the receipt of the letter with thanks.

Cr Jones drew the attention, of the Council to the fact that earth was being carted away from the city for filling up the Ferry road drain. He trusted that the works committee would give directions that no more earth should be removed so Jong as it was wanted in the city. He would also suggest that the works committee be authorised to direct the removal of the lamp near Messrs Dalgety and Go's, if deemed advisable. The Mayor said he hoped that the Council would not allow earth to be removed from the city again, especially as it was probable it might be wanted for filling up hollows in the low lying parts,

Cr Ick said that the works committee would inquire into the matter in the morning. The city surveyor said that if earth were carted out to the Ferry road drain it was entirely without his knowledge and consent. He first heard of it on Thursday, and at once stopped it. The Council requested the surveyor to inquire who gave perm isßion for the removal of the earth, and report to the Council on Monday, Cr Raphael asked that permission be given on the usual conditions, to put down channelling from St. John's Church to Cashel street. Also, that channelling be laid down in Manchester street, near Dr Prins' residence, where the stagnant water was a nuisance.

It was resolved—" That the works committee be authorised to put down concrete channelling on the usual petition being sent in and the money paid." A letter was read from Mr H. B. Huddlestone, handing in an entirely new valuation of city property. He had much pleasure in bearing testimony to the general correctness of the roll. In the south-west quarter of the city much of the cottage property lately erected required to be brought under the provisions of the Building Act, and if possible under the provisions of the Public Health Act, as it was quite unfitted for human habitation.

Cr Raphael moved—" That the town clerk give notice that it is the intei tion of the Council to make a general rate of Is in the £at its next meeting. Notice to be given as required by clause 209 of the Municipal Council Act, 1867." Cr Calvert seconded the motion, which was agreed to.

Cr Raphael brought forward a statement of estimated receipts and expenditure for the next twelve months—from Ist April 1875 to April 1876. Total receipts, £ll6O ; total expenditure, £7574 5s ; deficit, £6414 ss, against which there is £6ooo—the estimated amount of rate for 1875—showing a probable deficit for the year of £414 ss. A statement was read from Cr Ick, as chairman pro tern of the works committee, to the effect that the amount required for labor during the year was estimated at £SO

per week, or £2OOO per year. This would absorb all tbe available assets without any new works.

On the motion of Or Raphael, seconded by Cr Gapes, it was resolved—" That this Council approves of the estimates as submitted." A letter was read complaining of Mr H. J. Waters putting night soil on his garden in Colombo street ; also a report from the inspector thereoD, and a letter from Mr Waters, stating that if any nuisance was created it could be only for a few minutes, and asking permission to be allowed to use night soil on his garden. It was resolved—" That Mr Waters be informed that the Council cannot allow night soil to be so deposited." A driver's license was granted to Alexander Beattie.

Cr Ick read the following paper on the prevention of the spread of disease, by W. N. Thursfield, Esq., M.D., Medical Officer of Health for Shropshire : " Disinfection means the destruction of the seeds of disease, and the prevention of their spread from the sick person, or from any articles of clothing which may hare become infected. When this is done effectually, the spread of the disease is arrested. " On the outbreak of a case of infectious disease, all superfluous curtains, carpets, and drapery should be removed from the sick room, and the sick should be separated as completely as possible from the other members of the family. In place of ordinary pocket handkerchiefs, pieces of rag, which could afterwards be destroyed, should be used by the patient, and nurses should wear dresses of washing material. The floor of the sick room should, before sweeping, be sprinkled with carbolic acid powder, and the refuse from it should either be burnt or buried. "Artificial disinfectants are useful for many purposes, but are chiefly of service, and absolutely necessary, to destroy the infecting property of the discharges from the bowels, throat, &c, in fever, diphtheria, &c. For this purpose a teacupfull of liquid disinfectant should be placed in eacb utensil before use. An efficient liquid for this purpose is green vitriol water, made by dissolving as much green vitriol (sulphate of iron) as warm water, will take up. Carbolic acid water may bs used for tbe same purpose ; this is made by thoroughly mixing half a pint of the strong acid in two gallons of water.

" The most efficient disinfectant of a house is the causing it to be constantly traversed by currents of fresh air, and the more efficient the ventilation of the sick room the better it is for the patient's recovery, and the less liability there is of the disease spreading in the house. For infected articles of clothing a most efficient disinfectant is heat. Soiled linen, &c, should be boiled for some time, and if this cannot be done at once the linen should be wetted with carbolic acid water and afterwards boiled. Carbolic acid water may also be usefully added to ordinary soap and water in all cleansing operations for which water is employed. Articles of clothing to which water cannot be applied, and which are often negligently disinfected for fear of injuring them, should either be exposed in an oven heated to above the temperature at which water boils, or, if this cannot be done, they should be subjected to the fumes of burning sulphur, in a closed chamber, and afterwards exposed for some time to the natural disinfectants, sun-light and fresh ar. Bedding should be treated in the same way, but, if much soiled, it must be taken to pieces and destroyed if necessary. The use of a piece of waterproof sheeting beneath the blanket and sheet over the middle of the bed adds to the comfort of the patient, and prevents the soiling of the bed. "After any dangerous infectious disease, it is most important that the room in which the patient has lain should be thoroughly cleansed, and where the walls are papered the old paper must be removed and the room repapered. To disinfect a room a few ounces of brimstone should be burnt in it, not less than one ounce for every hundred cubic feet. The brimstone may be burnt with live coals in any suitable dish placed, fur precaution's sake, on a pair of tongs over a bucket of water, AH openiugs into the room must bo closed beforehand, and the rom must be kept shut up for some hours after. The flooring and paint must afterwards be scoured with soap and water, and the room painted, papered, and lime-whited according to circumstances. if In all cases of death from small-pox, and frequently in other diseases, some carbolic acid powder should be placed in the coffin, and the corpse should be sprinkled over with the same. On the occasion of a funeral the friends should not be invited to remain long r than necessary in the infected house.

" The above directions apply to all infectious diseases, but there are certain ways in which the three most common of these diseases are spread, to which special attention is called. " Scarlet fever and scarlatina are the same disease, and a very mild attack in one child may communicate a fatal one to another. It is most likely to spread when during the recovery the scurf skin begins to peal off. At this stage the body should be rubbed with sweet oil daily, and as soon as allowed by the medical attendant warm baths should be given. Scarlatina is very of ten carried in clothing, and anyone sending about articles of clothing which have been exposed to contagion without having them properly disinfected is liable to a penalty of £5. This applies to clothing sent to wash, and the attention of laundresses is specially directed to it. On no account should any child be sent to school from a house in which there is scarlet fever. Anyone responsible for a child so sent is liable to a penalty of £5. " Small-pox is generally spread by persons suffering from it in so mild a form as not to confine them to the house, or even to keep them from their work more than a day or two. Anyone exposing himself in any street or public conveyance while suffering from this or any other infectious disease, and without having his clothes thoroughly disinfected, is liable to a penalty of £~>. The driver of any conveyance who knowingly conveys such an one is also liable to the penalty, also any one sending infected clothing about. On the outbreak of smallpox in a house, re-vaccination of all young people and adults is earnestly recommended. " Enteric fever (also known as typhoid ot gastric fever) is only slightly infectious in the ordinary sense of the word, but generally spreads through the infectious discharges All discharges should be received in a vessel containing some one of the disinfecting solutions referred to above, and should be buried if possible. Under no circumstances shoul'l they be thrown into any privy which it liable to he used by others. As long as there

is any tendency to diarrhoea, while recovering from this disease, the infection remains. Special care must be taken to boil all soiled linen before washing it in the ordinary way.

" There many powerful disinfecting agents, and many varied modes of using them, which have not been referred to in the above recommendations, as the object has been simply to state what is essential, and recommend as few and simple artificial agents as possible. Daily experience shows that there is more danger in an implicit belief in artificial disinfectants than in an equally ignorant contempt for them. They are too often regarded as mysterious agents superseding the ordinary precautions of cleanliness and ventilation. A little powder is thrown about the house, a comparatively useless smell is produced, and nothing more is done." He would move that the town clerk be authorised to have 4000 copies printed by the official paper. The motion was agreed to. The Council then adjourned.