23

GENERAL INSTRUCTION.

As the necessary cleansing is likely to
be disagreeable to many, it is especially
desirable in endeavouring to obtain it to
use persuasion rather than compulsion.
While the measures required should be
insisted upon with firmness, no opportunity should be lost of explaining to the
ignorant that they are necessary for health
and safety. Allusion to the mortality in
the last epidemic may probably be useful
to promote a ready obedience. Resort to
the Magistrate’s Court may possibly be
in no case necessary; but if examples are
to be made, offenders of the highest
position should be in the first place
selected, as being those whose short-comings would be the least excusable.
A tendency to allow immunity to one
class, while another, and that the least
culpable, is punished, while always highly
unjust, would if indulged in the present
instance, be additionally objectionable,
as likely to weaken, if not prevent,
general co-operation for the attainment of
the object desired.

G. W. Des Vœux,
Administrator of the Government.

Mr Simon to the Secretary of State,
Colonial Office.

Local Government Board.

(Medical Department,)
Whitehall, S. W., 16th January, 1872.

SIR,—I beg to acknowledge the receipt of
your letter of the 13th ultimo, enclosing
a copy of a Despatch from the Governor
of St Lucia, covering a copy of a communi-
cation received from the Administrator
of that Island, together with a copy of
instructions issued by him to Inspectors
of Nuisances; and in compliance with
the request contained in the latter paragraph of the letter I would observe—

1. That the instructions appear to re-
   late only to cases where nuisance actually
   exists, and not to cases where means of
   prevention against nuisance (such as drains
   to carry off slop water, proper arrange-
   ments for the disposal of excrement) are
   requisite.

It would seem desirable that
the inspection should include both sorts of
cases.

(Although such a principle is only but
little admitted in the Sanitary Law of
England, it would seem very desirable that,
without notice from an Inspector, it should
be an offence punishable by fine to have
a nuisance on one’s premises.)

2. The filling up of stagnant water with
   earth is not likely to reduce materially
   mischief to health which such water may
   be causing, to provide against which an
   improvement in the drainage would seem
   to be needful.

3. There is no reference in the instruc-
   tions to any local authority ordinarily
   charged with seeing to the sanitary con-
   dition of the villages. It may, in the cir-
   cumstances of the Colony, be impossible to
   provide such an authority; but the want
   of it will be much felt in reference to
   sufficiency of the means adopted to carry
   out the Inspector’s notices as to foul privies
   and cesspools.

Instead of the words “cleanse, or at
least disinfect with chloride of lime or
carbolic acid,” in paragraph 2, I should
advise “cleanse or empty, with the use
of proper disinfectants, such as chloride of
lime or carbolic acid.”

4. Drinking water should (as was
   suggested by a pencil note, now acci-
   dentally erased), be protected against
   pollution by any filth or refuse, and not
   only against contamination by human
   excrement.

I am, &c.,

JOHN SIMON.

The Under Secretary of State,
Colonial Office.

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF

NEW ZEALAND.

NELSON DISTRICT.

Between WILLIAM JEFFERY, Plaintiff;
and JOHN LINGARD NEAVE, Defendant.

WHEREAS by virtue of a Writ of
Execution issued in this action,
and directed to me, ordering me that of
the Real and Personal Estate of the above
named JOHN LINGARD NEAVE, I should
cause to be made the sum of £204 12s 2d,
together with Interest upon the said sum
at the rate of £8 for every £100, by the
year from the Tenth day of July, 1872,
together with £1 17s 10d for the said
writ, besides Sheriff’s poundage, Officer’s
fees, and all other expenses of the execution:

Now, I hereby give notice that I shall
cause to be sold by Public Auction, by
Mr C. J. W. GRIFFITHS, at the Ship
Hotel, Picton, on SATURDAY, the Second
day of November, 1872, at Two o’clock in
the afternoon, unless the said debt or sum
of £204 12s 2d and Interest be sooner
paid, together with the said Sum of
£1 17s 10d, besides Sheriff’s poundage,
Officer’s fees, and all other expenses of
the said execution, all the estate, right,