500 Report S.A.A. Advancement of Science. 



There is no time to touch upon this very important question, but 

 simply to point out the fresh complications which will arise should 

 Asiatics be admitted in any large numbers into our South African 

 possessions. 



In the rough outlines which I gave of the duties of the Muni- 

 cipality, I mentioned the forbidding of carrjdng on of trades within 

 the city which may be noxious to public health as yet another 

 obligation of the highest importance, but like thoise I have men- 

 tioned, it is one which needs a strong Government to* enforce it. 

 The successful administration of this law may be seen nowhere 

 better than in Paris, although the many thousands who gO' to enjoy 

 its beauty and charm do not realise that the clear air and absence of 

 soot and dirt is not due to any haphazard cause, but is one of the 

 results of orderly and good municipal government. The practical 

 advantage of such restriction is an asset to the city, as shewn by the 

 enormous income which is gained from the visitors as well as the 

 residents from all parts of the world. It is characteristic of the 

 Parisian that he does not attempt tO' escape from his city at sunset 

 which is such a noticeable feature in most of the English towns, but 

 lives happy and content therein, and leaves it only for a short time 

 each year, more from reasons of fashion than from inclination, whilst 

 amongst visitors Paris enjoys the reputation of being the most 

 delightful place in the world to live in. In this matter as in other 

 respects, its excellent example is being followed by many of the other 

 European cities. It does not follow of course that all occupations 

 which are unpleasant must at the same time be noxious to health, 

 "but if the citizens wish to conserve their city as an attractive and 

 desirable place to live in rather than to escape from, the Munici- 

 pality must have authority tO' prevent manufactories being erected, 

 and industries carried on which may be in any way detrimental to 

 the above end. 



Amongst the many obligations laid upon the City Fathers is the 

 necessary one of seeing that buildings are not carried up to a height 

 that would interfere with the proper circulation of air or to obstruct 

 the sunshine. The old Roman proverb says, " Where the sun does 

 not go the doctor does," and it is one which deserves the greatest 

 respect in this country. There is a fact which is always in danger 

 of being lost sight of, viz., that the width of streets and public places 

 is relative, and entirely dependent upon the heights of the buildings 

 to be erected on their boundaries. Too^ much stress cannot be laid 

 upon the necessity of taking into consideration the heights of build- 

 ings when deciding upon the width of thoroughfares and open spaces 

 for public improvement. 



It may be remembered that when the Northumberland. Avenue 

 and Queen Victoria Street in London were laid out some years ago, 

 their supposed extravagant width was criticised, whilst at the pre- 

 sent moment, owing to their having become flanked by buildings of 

 many storeys, they are now, instead of being wide, undesirably narrow. 

 It must, therefore, be an essential condition in the carrying out of 

 any municipal building plan to see that the limit for the height of 



