The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1876-11-04

% both j. assimiiated. and 'he wind ccascs.
whcn the air from tie sea, ~ Tie e~outlcrly Fiad
rusbes iu. thus. (accoTiing T. our theoEisi1
tie absence ST forest in tie valley does not only
diminish the rain but is a cause of TIC increase
# heat.
III Iloholuluars must acknowledge that in
former times the fresh trade winds from the
valley were our great blessing and comfort
during tie summer months. But during the
last six months VIC have had so little of these
inyigorating winds, that every occasional puff
from the direction of the valley is welcomed as
4 real godsend. However, during this properly
named heated term, our city has not yet lost its
former well-established character rs n healthy
spot, although We cannot take praise for the
fact as a result Of our own care and forethousht,
but rather have reason to be profoundly thankful
for the blessing OF general health during these
trying months. Bat viii this condition Of good
health continue? In fact Of late very many
instances have come 10 our knowledge of com-
plants, among old residents particularly, Of
headaches, nervousness, colds, and many other
Ills difficult to define. The cause Of these com
plants must be looked for in natural influences
of air and water. and as from oil appearances
~ "A'NH - AHafB 49, hN NbtI AA ven
season, is quite uncertain, it behooves the people
and the government to take in advance some
steps towards guarding the public health.-a
matter always of primary Importance. The
water we drink should he as pure as nature
intended it, or rs human foresight and ingenuity
can render it. We are all well aware,-and
the government knows best of all-that the
water in the old Nnuanu stream, at present the
only source available as q supply for the CITY, il
gathered into one stream from the pastures Of
the valley, from the taro-patches and small runs,
where leaves and dccaying vegetable matter and
every kind Of impurity corrupts the water that
comes to the dwellings of the people for their
daily use. 1t is ccrta inly not asking too much
or placing too high an estimate upon the
ingenuity and energy of the present newly
appointed Superintendent of Water Works, to
hope that he will be able to devise some system
of strainers and filters that will in some degree
purify the water before it finally runs into the
reservoir. Under present conditions, the con-
tents of the reservoir is a most uninviting liquid,
when contemplated rs a beverage for the fam
lilies of the city.
In connection with the question Of pure air
comes up the subject of sanitary precautions as
to cleanliness in the city itself. Pure air as
we'll as pure water are necessary to the contin-
uance of the public health. We have recently
made a tour of inspection through the city,
including the noted :: slums,'' and We must give
all credit TO the agent of tho Board of Health
for the clearly state with a few exceptions) in
which we found houses and enclosures. And we
beg to suggest another visit by that officer, in
order that a clean sweep may be made in prem
Uses the owners Of which have not complied with
the regulations. Chloride Of lime, or other
disinlectNnts might be used with advantage in
the case Of cesspoois that are found in a bad
state. And it would be a ~salutary measure,
were it within the province of the Board OF
Health (oh, that we had a city government } to
order that the co~nglomerate mass of buildings
and shanties between Smiths lane and Mauna.
kea street, and between the latter street and the
river, be thoroughly whitewashed periodically
inside and out; for to all appearances the
hundreds of rookeries piled together in those
localities have never made the acquaintance oil
that sanitary agent, the whitewash brush.