H.—3l

46

Although improvements have been made in the city in many respects, I am of opinion that the main point in tackling the question of obtaining a pure milk-supply is to be found at the place of production—namely, at the farms. Port Health and Anti-eat Work. In all, 343 overseas vessels were inspected during the year and 142 prohibited or restricted immigrants were reported to the Customs Department. With the exception of a few cases of ordinary influenza reported during December, no cases of epidemic infectious disease were reported. The Shipping Inspector has carried out the work of inspecting the sanitary conditions of all shipping in the port and of the wharves. The refuse-collection service inaugurated by the Auckland Harbour Board has proved of very great use, and large quantities of refuse have been carried out to sea and dumped. It also disposed of waste fish offal from small shopkeepers in the city. The Inspector reports that the sanitary conveniences on the wharves generally are kept in good order and that there has been an abatement of the nuisance caused by the discharge of oil from ships whilst in the harbour. Considerable work has been done in connection with the anti-rat campaign on the waterfront, the trapping and poisoning of rats being carried out continually throughout the year and numbers of rats being destroyed when vessels were undergoing fumigation. The City Council and Harbour Board both employed one officer continually on this work, the Harbour Board's official trapping a total of 6,167 rats, in addition to laying a large number of poison baits. The City Council's catches were also very large, and, in addition, some one thousand poison baits were distributed by the Council free every week to householders making application for them. Much work has been done in connection with the inspection of overseas goods, and a good number of packages of personal effects, and of bristles, animal-hair, tooth-brushes, &c., from the East have been disinfected in the fumigator by departmental officers. General. Much good work has been done by the School Medical and School Dental Services throughout the year, and close co-operation has been maintained with the officers of these branches. The school dental service was extended during the year by the opening of four new clinics, situated at Onehunga, Henderson, Morrinsville, and Thames. Co-operative work has been carried out in conjunction with the Labour Department in the supervision of factories and food-sellers' premises. A good deal of work has also been done in connection with cemeteries and burial-grounds in the matter of arranging for suitable control and supervision. Interest has been maintained in the Makogai Leper Station, to which New Zealand lepers are now transferred, and various Christmas gifts and other necessaries have been forwarded. SECTION 2.—AUCKLAND AND THAMES-TAURANGA HEALTH DISTRICTS. Dr. Ciiesson, Medical Officer of Health. Infectious Diseases. Various mild outbreaks of infectious disease occurred during the year, and of these enteric fever was responsible for the greatest number. Of this disease there were notified small outbreaks as under : North Auckland, at Dargaville and in the Whangarei district, and Thames-Tauranga, at Thames. Of these, the Thames outbreak was by far the worst, some nineteen cases, two of which proved fatal, being notified from the borough area during August and September. Most of the cases occurred in one section of the town, and it is considered that it was probably of water-borne origin, as a bacteriological examination of the water-supply proved unsatisfactory, requiring immediate measures for effective chlorination. Later, in November, a further five cases occurred here, in which instance the infection was traced to a " carrier," who has since been subjected to the necessary restrictions. Whenever practicable, and especially in Native cases, all enteric-fever contacts were given anti-typhoid inoculation treatment. Four cases of food poisoning at Glen Eden were traced to the eating of reheated old gravy-stock. General Sanitation and Drainage. Steady progress has been made in sanitation and drainage matters, and improvements specially are the extension of drainage schemes with increased house connections, and better supervision by local authorities over refuse and nightsoil disposal, the tips and dumps generally being kept in good condition. Over all these and other public health matters due supervision has been exercised by the departmental officers, and real progress has been made. Improved roading conditions have largely contributed to the more efficient working of the departmental Inspectors and nurses. Water-supplies. In connection with the supervision of the public water-supplies, samples have been obtained from most of the supplies for bacteriological, and, as required, for chemical examinations. It has been necessary to advise local authorities of action required to improve their supplies.