H.—3l.

One information was laid for a breach of the Notification Act. The offender was a dairyman, but for want of evidence the case was dismissed. 3. Sanitary Conditions. —The Inspector of Nuisances is an energetic man, and, acting on his reports to me, I have frequently had occasion to visit houses, back yards, drains, wells, &c, complained of as nuisances, and to have the defects remedied. I find the owners or tenants anxious to assist in any reasonable way. 4. Teachers for South Africa. —Two ladies were examined. One was passed, the other rejected. 5. Be turned Troopers. —Bight were examined by myself, acting as a Medical Board. 6. Contingents. —Forty men were examined for the Eighth and Ninth Contingents, and twentyfive for the Tenth Contingent. 7. Special Reports. —Special reports were sent to the Chief Health Officer on the outbreak of enteric fever and on the proposed site for the abattoirs. 8. Picton has been visited twice, Dr. Claridge very kindly assisting me on each occasion. W. Andeeson, M.B. and CM., Acting District Health Officer.

OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND DISTRICT. Beport of District Health Offices. Department of Public Health, Sib,— Dunedin, 6th June, 1902. I have now the honour of sending you a report on the sanitary work in my district during the period ending 31st March, 1902. It comprises practically the months of September to March, with a few items during the month of August, in which I received my appointment, but during which the work was little, partly because I was winding up my practice, partly because the details of my work had to be mastered and brought into working-order. This report therefore comprises only seven months' work. I have, &c, Frank Ogston, M.D., District Health Officer for the Otago-Southland District. Dr. Malcolm Mason, Chief Health Officer, Wellington.

Eeport for the Otago-Southland District on the Work done during the Year ending 31st Maech, 1902. On my appointment as Health Officer for the District of Otago-Southland, in the beginning of August, 1901, I had necessarily a good deal to do in mastering the details of the work I was expected to undertake, and in bringing it in line with that of Health Officers in other parts of the colony. The laws relating to public health, with the varied duties these imposed not only on me, but also on the public bodies throughout the district, further engaged my attention for a time. Having to some extent made myself familiar with these, I proceeded to bring myself into relation with the different authorities within my district, and to acquaint them regarding the nature of our responsibilities the one towards the other. This Ito a great part accomplished by personal intercourse, having visited and examined most of the townships of Otago and Southland, and establishing relations with Mayors, County Councillors, and County Clerks, &c, of each place to which I came. I had arranged to visit the remaining parts of my district before the close of the working-year, but was prevented from seeing a few of the less important places by the necessity of supervising and getting into working-order the system of quarantine which had been imposed on all ships arriving from Australian ports. Places visited. I have personally visited and made myself more or less thoroughly familiar with the following townships : Abbotsford, Alexandra, Arrowtown, Bluff, Clinton, Colac, Dipton, Dunkeld, Fortrose, Frankton, Gore, Green Island, Invercargill, Lawrence, Lumsden, Makerewa, Orepuki, Otautau, Palmerston South, Port Chalmers, Portobello, Eiverton, Eoxburgh, Waitati, Waitahuna, Waitahuna Gully, Wyndham ; while my Inspectors have made inspection of Balclutha, Balfour, Kaitangata, Limehills, Mandeville, Mataura, Milton, Mount Cargill, Nightcaps, Owaka, Eiversdale, Eomahapa, Skipper's, Waikaka, Winton, &c. While travelling to and from these places, sometimes by rail, sometimes by coach or buggy, I have taken occasion to examine smaller settlements and buildings on the way, and to gain information from residents in the country as to the condition of the rural districts generally. I have thus acquired a fair working knowledge of the sanitary state of my district, of which I shall be enabled to make further use when time and quarantine regulations permit me to visit the different localities at more leisure during the course of next year. Many of our country townships have from local circumstances, such as inconvenience of access, proximity to rivers, and so on, been placed in situations not altogether favourable to their healthiness, the river-flats being swampy or liable to floods, with frequently too slight fall to the river to allow of their own drainage being easily removed, when by the increasing growth of the township a common scheme of drainage was rendered necessary. On the other hand, their little elevation above the river prevented its being utilised to provide a water-supply, essential to a service of sewage-removal, or for leading into the town water for drinking and culinary purposes in cases where the river-water was pure enough for such. Thus, in the case of several country townships, I have been requested to advise on or to approve of schemes for water-supply and for the disposal of their drainage. Among these I may

66