How few years back the site of this considerable town was chill covered with brushwood, cannot doubt that are even now the ills adverted to by the Colonial Surgeon daily sending to increase, at least as rapidly as the Population; and he believes that the difficulties of applying adequate sanitary regulations to any young colony are likely to increase with every year that their application is postponed.
Under these circumstances, considering that very important interests are involved in Victoria being rendered at least as healthy as its natural disadvantages will allow, the President desires me to suggest that unless there be at present in the Colony some person specially qualified, I am aware that it would be a very wise application of money to appoint a health officer. At its financially prosperous condition of the Colony, it would be a very wise application of money to appoint a health officer. At
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specially conversant with English Improvement Works recently effected under the Public Health Act, it might be economical and otherwise advantageous that some such person should be sent out to confer with the Governor, and to superintend those works of drainage, water supply, paving, and street improvement which are now so clearly urgently required.
The President further believes that, subsequently to the completion of such works, the habitual action of Inspectors of Nuisances, after the pattern of those appointed in certain English towns, would be found indispensable; and that, as a superintendent of these Inspectors, a Medical Officer of Health should be appointed.