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"Indians, in the fact that they would not for some years be able to communicate direct with the Chinese people. Be- "sides, I doubt very much if they would ever be able to win the respect and confidence of the Chinese, without which "their sphere of usefulness would be greatly circumscribed. The employment of a staff of respectable Chinese Medical "Practitioners who have received more or less of a training in Euglish medicine is, I think, feasible. I believe a few "such men could be got at once at comparatively small salaries and I am inclined to think they would be found to be "very useful. The men I refer to are those who have undergone a three years' course of training in the Canton Mission- "ary Hospital. No doubt, the knowledge of medicine which these men possess is very limited but it is infinitely better "to no knowledge whatever. As they are the only men who have any knowledge of European medicine combined with "a knowledge of the Chinese language and the habits of the Chinese people it seems to me that the Government cannot "do better than make use of them until such time as better material is available. The only alternative is to grope “along as at present without any real knowledge of the state of the health of the people we govern and without learning “what effect our costly sanitary improvements have on their health. It is quite true, that if these men were employed "there is very considerable risk they would abuse their office and squeeze the people, but the risk is one that must "always be faced and with close supervision squeezing could not take place to any considerable extent. By employing "the staff indicated the Government ought to be able to obtain fairly reliable information regarding the health of the "people and the causes of death."

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14. Should it now be considered wise to adopt the suggestion made in these remarks to institute a Chinese Medical Service, the students completing their studies at the Alice Memorial Hospital will soon be ready for such a service and with proper supervision could, I think, be made very useful.

HEALTH DISTRICTS.

15. During the first months of the year, in addition to the daily routine work, a good deal of time was occupied in obtaining the information which was required by the Committee enquiring into the important question of over-crowding in Victoria. The amount of work done by the Inspectors in connection with this subject is indicated in the tabular statements which accompanied the Committee's report. Each Inspector has completed-except in the rural district-his preliminary survey of every house in his district and from the returns obtained by this survey a register of the condition and sanitary arrangements of each house in the Colony is being compiled. In compiling the register the Inspectors' returns will be checked and I hope by the end of the current year to have the register completed. Of course, this register will require to be constantly amended as changes and improvements are carried out but this will be no very difficult matter and I feel sure that in the course of a year or two it will not only show with approximate accuracy the actual sanitary condition of each house in the Colony but also the improvements made thereto by owners of their own motion or at the request of the Board as the case may be. In this sense, it will prove a valuable record of this part of the Board's work in addition to the information it will at any time afford of the sanitary state of the dwellings in the Colony.

16. No record has been kept of the actual number of nuisances dealt with in each district during the year but in future this will be done. No prosecutions for nuisances were instituted for the reason that where any occurred demanding immediate attention they have been fairly promptly abated by the authors thereof on their attention being directed thereto and the law dealing with the same explained to them.

17. Only 8 cases of infectious disease have been reported during the year and in each case--as far as practicable-the necessary disinfection of the premises, bedding, clothing etc., has been carried out. This question of disinfection is a subject on which I hope soon to submit a special report with a view to arranging for some improvements--which I think are very necessary-in the carrying of it out effectually.

CONTRACTS.

It has occurred to me that it would prove of some service if I gave a statement in tabular form showing the number of men employed by each of the Contractors, giving each group of men such a name as will fairly clearly indicate the nature of the work they perform. I have, therefore, attached to the report such a table (C). In this table I have given the approximate number of nightmen employed by Householders because I think it is very desirable that it should be clearly known that these nightmen are not the servants of any of the Contractors. I have also included in the table the approximate quantities of house refuse and nightsoil removed from the city and hill district during the year.

Since 1890, the City Scavenging Contractor in carrying out the terms of his contract has removed the whole of the house refuse, street sweepings, etc., collected in his dustboats outside the waters of the Colony. The actual work of removal has been well done and of disposal fairly well done. The Contractor is now carrying out some works for the more efficient performance of the work of disposal which, when completed, will, I feel sure, prove satisfactory.

HUGH MCCALLUM,

Sanitary Superintendent.