HH62/2/ROXBUR/31

Transcription

[Page] 30

stopped its sale without necessitating any legal process, it
would appear to be just to recompense him for his public-
spirited action, or at any rate to recoup him part of his
loss. Such compensation is not compulsory, but under
section 116, Public Health Act, a local authority has power
to compensate. In this case, although the dairy is in the
County, Galashiels chiefly benefited, the great majority of the
customers being in it, and only a few in the county district.
There will probably be difficulty in dealing with similar cases
in the the future if compensation be not granted, and it would be
for the benefit of the public if both Local Authorities consider
favourably any claim that may be made.
BAKEHOUSES. - The bakehouses in Melrose, St. Boswells,
and Newtown have been inspected, and were found in a
fairly satisfactory condition, with the exception of one at
Newtown. This bakehouse is a detached building behind a
shop, the end of an untrapped drain beside the door, a stable
at one side, and pigs kept in styes against two of its walls,
apparently for the sake the warmth of the oven.
SLAUGHTER-HOUSES. - The three slaughter-houses in Melrose
are not well situated, the butchers having difficulty in finding
suitable premises. As complaints have been received, the
District Committee must shortly consider the subject. In
St.Boswells there are two slaughter-houses, and although
they are not well constructed in every detail, yet if the new
bye-laws are carefully observed, no objection need be taken
to them. The slaughter-house in Newtown is a wooden
erection, partly occupied as a stable, and I am of the opinion that
some improvements are necessary.
GENERAL SANITATION. - The Sanitary Inspector has made
a very large number of inspections, chiefly in the villages,
and the District Committee is taking measures to materially
improve drainage and secure cleanliness. Melrose, Darnick,
Dingleton, Newtown, St. Boswells, Bowden, Midlem, and
Lilliesleaf have all been visited, and in some of them every
house has been inspected. After completing Yetholm, in the

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Kelso District, the Inspector made a similar systematic and
careful inspection of Newtown, with the result that the
District Committee have formed it into a special drainage
district. The Inspector's report on the state of this village
is an interesting document, in which he directs attention to
the following insanitary conditions: - Overcrowding of houses,
defective water closets, nearly half the houses without privy
accommodation, 80 out of 114 without ashpits, existence of
large middens, want of drainage, defective and untrapped
sinks. St. Boswells and Melrose are in better condition than
other places, houses being large and well-built, and sewers
having been laid. However, the only houses in the County
at all comparable to those of a city slum are to be seen in
Melrose. They are engaging the attention of the District
Committee.

HAWICK DISTRICT.

POPULATION.- In respect of population, Hawick comes
fourth amongst the districts of the County with a population
of 3791. Of the six parishes of which the District is com-
posed, those of Wilton, Cavers, and Kirkton have the largest
populations. The density is 24 persons to a mile. The only
village in the district, Denholm, has a population of between
500 and 600 persons.
BIRTHS.- The number of births in the District has not been
furnished to me.
DEATHS. - There were 24 deaths in the five months, 10 of
which were deaths of persons over 60 years of age. There
were no deaths of children under five years of age. The
general death-rate per 1000 persons living is 15·014, and the
zymotic rate 2·502, higher than in any district except Liddes-
dale. In proportion to the population, influenza caused
fewer deaths than in any other district.
HOSPITALS.- The District Committee has, by arrangement
with the Local Authority of Hawick, retained the use of one
bed in the burgh fever hospital. If this accommodation is
found to be insufficient in the future, there will be, I under-