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some of the veneer was necessarily laid on too thin. Had he been relieved of the office of Inspector of Nuisances, I feel sure that there would have been no reason to be dissatisfied with the manner in which he would have discharged his other duties. During the year the Borough Council requested Mr. Rochefort, who designed the present sewer, to confer with Mr. Rogers with reference to the extension of the Hastings sewerage. When they consulted together these gentlemen found that they held such divergent views that each determined to send in an independent report. The two schemes were wide as the poles asunder, and the services of Mr. Metcalfe, of Auckland, were obtained to report on the merits or demerits of the two schemes before the Council. This resulted in Mr. Metcalfe sending in a scheme of his own, which was more in accordance with that of Mr. Rochefort than the one proposed by Mr. Rogers. With these schemes before them it seems strange that the Council should have requested the Road Overseer to report upon the whole question. "When doctors differ who shall decide?" Mr. Rogers's scheme has this advantage—it will drain by gravitation the whole of the borough; while the sewer designed by Mr. Rochefort is above the level of much of the land on which Hastings is built, so that if the lower-lying portion of the borough desired to make use of the present sewer a pumping scheme would have to be installed. Then the sewer is said to be badly constructed and leaky, and it discharges into the Ngaruroro River; this passes down past the Township of Clive, and when Hastings grows, and its drainage system is largely taken advantage of, it is debatable whether it would be in the best interests of public health to permit untreated sewage to be discharged into the river. Mr. Rogers's scheme for the drainage of Hastings provides for the treating of the sewage by a septic tank and filter-beds. If it were adopted, the Township of Havelock would be able to take advantage of it. If the scheme is sound from an engineering standpoint, these facts tell much in its favour, and should weigh in its adoption. At the request of the Borough Council Mr. Rogers reported on a scheme for a high-pressure water-supply for Hastings. He has chosen for a source the Maraetotara Stream. Chemical and bacteriological examination shows that the supply from this source provides a fair potable water, but somewhat hard. Dr. Makgill discovered B. coli in it. It would, therefore, be necessary to filter the water through gravel before permitting it to be used. The water from the artesian source, of which every householder has an individual supply, has also been submitted to bacteriological and chemical examination, and reported on most favourably. If this could be pumped to a sufficient height to obtain the necessary pressure and brought down by gravitation, it would be superior for all household purposes to the water from the Maraetotara Stream. This scheme, however, does not find much favour with some of the ratepayers, as the Maraetotara water would be brought through Havelock, and it is expected that the residents of that township would take the water, paying Hastings for it, and so lightening the burden of the rate for Hastings. I am of opinion that on account of the superior quality of the water from the artesian source it is worth the extra expense over the Maraetotara scheme, and I am not sure that the expense of the former would exceed that of the latter, even with the price paid by the Havelock residents deducted. The water-rate from either scheme would be very much less than the interest on the cost of sinking a well and establishing a ram or windmill, plus the usual cost of maintenance. Kaikora North. This pretty little township is blessed in that it has no sanitary history. Waipawa. The scheme for supplying the town with water, alluded to in my last annual report, is going on apace, and in the course of a month or two will be un fait accompli. Mr. Metcalfe, who designed the scheme, has been instructed to submit a report on a system of drainage. I hope that it will be within the means of the ratepayers, and that they will adopt it. The fact that it will be designed by Mr. Metcalfe should be a guarantee of its excellence. Waipawa has advanced, the Town Board lias ceased to exist, and this day it becomes a borough. Waipukurau. This pretty town is ceasing to be a little one. Many buildings have gone up in the course of the year, and others are in course of construction. The completion of the twentieth-century g as —petrolite —that the Town Board contracted for for the purpose of lighting the town is delayed. It was expected that the town would have had. the benefit of it long ere this, but delays from various causes, for which the Board is in no way responsible, have occurred, and the gas has not yet materialised. The delay in the installation of the light handicaps the Board in its desire for advanced sanitation. It was hoped that the profit on the light would pay the interest on the loan for water and drainage. Till the gas is in full working-order it is impossible to say what the profits from its sale may be. The Board is composed of go-ahead gentlemen, who are keenly alive to the interests of the town, and in sympathy with all that makes for its sanitary welfare. Mr. Metcalfe has been instructed to prepare a scheme for providing the town with water and drainage, and has the matter in hand. The plans and specifications may be expected daily, and when they come they will receive careful consideration from the Board. I have been invited by the Chairman to be present at the meeting at which these matters are discussed. Ormondville. This is a scattered open township, standing at a high elevation. One case of enteric has been notified this year, the first, I think, that has occurred in the village. A nuisance that was created by one of'the Town Board's drains has been abated, and the drainage of the hotel has been improved.