H.—3l.

to be strongly condemned. The condition of a house built on such a foundation would be most insanitary. In too many places already the houses stand on polluted " made " earth, while the health of those living in the neighbourhood of these filth-tips is likely to suffer. The destructor will doubtless be utilised for the disposal of the sweepings ; but mud scrapings and the contents of the silt-traps in the water-tables might be deposited in positions away from the populous centres, and on which habitations are not likely to be built. Keeping of Animals. —Stables: The lack of impermeable material for the flooring of stables has resulted in most of them becoming dangerous nuisances from the soakage of the soil with urine, manure, and the washings of the vehicles. The case already mentioned where the turningup of this soil resulted in an outbreak of diphtheria illustrates the necessity of reform here. Fowls and ducks are at present too often allowed to wander at large about the back yard, even in the most crowded areas. By-laws dealing with this matter are being introduced. Habitations. —There are a large number of old ruinous buildings totally unfit for habitation, in which the poorer classes are compelled to take refuge. Whole blocks of these exist here and there, and a noticeable feature is the frequency with which the same name is mentioned when inquiry is made as to the owner or agent. The landlords of these unwholesome spots have by their neglect forfeited all right for consideration, and I think the Council should not hesitate about taking over the land under the Municipal Corporations Act. Though there is not the need in this country for the provision of model lodgings for the poor that exist in English cities, still there is, I believe, room for a certain number of such dwellings. It would be satisfactory were there established a number of model dwellings—well-built cottages, with asphalted yards, properly constructed privies, and sound drain-connections—which could be had at a low rental, and whose inmates would be under constant supervision, as is the case in the workers' dwellings in London and elsewhere. I recommend the idea to the City Council, or, failing them, to some charitable body. The sanitary arrangements of butchers' shops, retail milk-shops, eating-houses, and generally all premises connected with the storing and retailing of foodstuffs require more systematic inspection and control than at present, more especially the small dairies, of which many have no provisions for the storage of milk other than under the counter, &c, while the rule now enforced in England prohibiting the opening of living or sleeping rooms on to such places is frequently broken. By-laws. —A new set of by-laws is in course of preparation, and should be complete very shortly. When they are in force it will be possible to carry out many necessary reforms, more especially in the direction of drainage-connections, structure of buildings, and keeping of animals. It is to be hoped that the Council will then organize their engineering and sanitary staff in such a manner as to permit of the new laws being strictly enforced. An Inspector of Buildings has, I understand, been appointed, and on the representation of the Health Department a qualified Sanitary Inspector (the choice in this case being left to the District Health Officer) was engaged early in May. If these officials are given the necessary assistance and encouragement in the administration of the new by-laws, it would not be long before the sanitary conditions of Auckland are placed on a satisfactory basis. The Suburbs of Auckland City. The bodies which might be included in this term are so numerous that it is impossible to take each in turn in regard to its sanitary condition. I shall briefly mention a few of the more important of them, and then consider their requirements as a whole. It is to be regretted that most of them exist at all as separate sanitary authorities ; but the scheme for a Greater Auckland appears to have few supporters as yet; and it must be confessed that for many years the condition of affairs in the city did not tend to encourage a voluntary combination. I believe, however, that with the advances about to be made suburban prejudices will gradually diminish. Grey Lynn Borough (population, 4,110). — The death-rate is on the whole low in this district, and there has been a most remarkable absence of zymotic disease—notably typhoid fever—only one case being reported during the past year. Grey Lynn is one of the smaller bodies fortunate in having in its Mayor (Mr. Warnock) a gentleman fully alive to the importance of sanitary matters, and a Council willing to carry out to the utmost of its ability his schemes for improvement. The drainage scheme is now almost complete ; it is founded on sound principles, aiming at the separation of sewage from storm-waters, and therefore the ultimate disposal will not present a serious obstacle. Nightsoil service has hitherto been bad, the old open wooden receptacles being in vogue, buc a closed-pan service is now being instituted. Eefuse-removal is on a sound basis, being compulsory, and payment therefor being out of the general rate. The use of a closed metal receptacle is now being considered, and will shortly be introduced. The houses are mostly fairly new, and the premises are clean. The borough is unfortunate in being the recipient of certain undesirable elements from outside. Thus the presence of the city slaughter-yards within their boundaries has been a grievance, especially when the very unsatisfactory state of these premises is considered, and the imperfect manner in which the offal is disposed of. The refuse-tip for city and suburbs is a fault which the erection of the destructor will remedy. The stable and cart depots of the nightsoil contractors tend by their presence to make the immediate neighbourhood insanitary. When there is a proper system of cleaning the pans this defect will be remedied to a large extent. At present efforts are being made by whitewashing the carts inside and by cleaning more carefully and drying the pans to keep the nuisance to a minimum.

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