A special inspection of the drainage of private premises was made in the early part of the year and revealed a most insanitary state of affairs as regards the old drains, whereas the drainage of those premises in which the new system has been introduced was found to be in excellent condition. The re-draining of private premises progresses, upwards of 2,150 houses having been already drained; and with a view to the early completion of this work arrangements have been made by which drainage connections can be carried out by the Public Works Department. Owners should readily avail themselves of this facility.
The work of raising the dam at the Tytam Reservoir has advanced, and there is now storage capacity for an additional 40 million gallons of water. Unfortunately the small rain- fall up to date has not admitted of this additional quantity being stored. The long and unprecedented drought has been a source of much anxiety to the Government. The rain- fall up to the 30th September last was some 38 inches below the average, and some 15 inches below the minimum yet recorded. As a natural result the dry season commences with a water supply of 242,000,000 gallons instead of the usual quantity of 378,000,000 gallons. It has therefore already been necessary to curtail the supply to the City of Victoria by some 1,400,000 gallons daily. By this economy and by close supervision over the consumption of water generally, it is believed there will be a sufficient supply for ordinary wants until the rainy season comes round again. The new waterworks at Kowloon are sufficiently advanced to admit of water being supplied from public fountains to the most populous parts of the district, and a continuous supply is being maintained. When the pumping machinery is erected, the supply will be extended to the higher levels, but at present there is not enough pressure of water to reach them.
The mortality statistics shew that the health of the Colony is good, and the present year promises to be the healthiest on record notwithstanding the somewhat alarming prevalence of malarial fever, which is no doubt due to the exceptional drought.
Profiting by last year's experience, and looking to the prevalence of the plague in the neighbourhood of the Colony during the early part of 1895, I appointed a Committee of Officials to consider what exceptional measures should be taken to protect the Colony against the re-appearance of the disease, or, in the event of its re-appearing, to limit its ravages as far as possible. Temporary hospital accommodation and burial grounds were at their suggestion provided, and arrangements made for the removal of patients, the isolation of those who had been in immediate contact with the disease, and the disinfection and cleansing of infected premises. It was further deemed advisable to prohibit Chinese immigration from certain infected neighbouring ports for several months during the year, but this restriction was not continued longer than was absolutely necessary. The precautions taken against the recurrence of the plague and the timely arrangements made for dealing with it have been efficacious. I am glad to inform you that only 29 cases have occurred during the year, and that at no time was an epidemic threatened.
In accordance with the recommendation of a Committee of Enquiry into the Medical Department, a Medical Officer of Health has recently been appointed. I regret to state that· there has been some misunderstanding between the Government and the Unofficial Members of the Sanitary Board in regard to this appointment, and it may not be out of place here to explain briefly the position of the Government in this matter. In my address to this Council on the 28th November last, I expressed my own views, which coincided with those of the Retrenchment Committee, regarding the Sanitary Board as hitherto constituted. I deprecated the division of responsibility which such a constitution involved, and I urged the desirability of placing the sanitary system on a different basis. Some opposition has been offered to my views in certain quarters, and it is not improbable that a compromise will eventually be suggested by the Secretary of State, but as yet no decision has been arrived at.. In this
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