A NEW ZEALANDER ABRO AD

Evening Post, Volume LXXIII, Issue 20, 24 January 1907, Page 5

A NEW ZEALANDER ABRO AD

MR. T. WARD'S IMPRESSIONS. SOME INTERESTING COMMENTS, Some interesting remarks on sanitary engineering in the Old Country, which have a distinct bearing on the colony, were made by Mr. Thomas Ward, civil engineer, in conversation with a Post reporter to-day. Mr. Ward, who returned yesterday from a twelve months' visit to England, said that most ot ma time was spent in thoroughly investigating the present practice in drainage, particularly the disposal of sewage. ■Some time, he went on to say, was spent at the Royal Sanitary Institute, which has done so much in England during late years for the cause of sanitary science. All the towns possessing up-to-date works were visited, and everywhere, and oy all in charge, the greatest courtesy was exhibited and information freely given. In this branch of engineering particularly, said Mr. Ward, 'England l«»dE tho world, and through its local bodies hau spent large sums of money in experiments, under pressure from the Local Government Boards. When the septic tank was first brought prominently undei public notice some ten or twelve years ago, it was thought that a perfect remedy had been found for sewagei disposal, and many towns spent large sums of money in laying down plants, and also in incurring large law costs Ui defend the stinks brought about thereby. One town in tho South of England, where tne works cost £15,000, had to foot a bill of £10,000 for law costs, and has still to pay compensation, which , will probably cost as much agam. In other towns proceedings are threatened, so that the ratepayers are likely to hay« a lively time. Mr Ward took Ihe opportunity of inspecting the original specification of the Septic Tank Company, "This," he remarked, W the light ol latei knowledge, 'will probably be. looked upon in future a3 a curious historical document, marking time, as it wero, to a stage on a long journey and containing a germ, perhaps, of truth, and a bushel of wishes." Unwisely used and constructed, he went on to, say, the septic tank can do as much mischief ac steam in a badly constructed boiler. This is now generally recognised. It, would take up far too much space to describe a part only of what is being done in this matter throughout tho length and breadth of the Old Country, in all centres of population where tho congestion of people in the towns fo,reeti this question imperatively upon the t authorities for solution.. The difficulty now has resolved itself into one of getting rid ot the sludge, .whero thin is done properly a solution has been found. Ihen there is the difference of opinion between the advocates of the continuous and the contact system. The former Is coming rapidly to the front, and certainly, as far as the nitrates areconcerned, gives better results. In." the inethoa- of the subdivision ,o£ land into building allotments, said Mr. Ward, this countiy ia far before the Old 1 Land, where the property instinct is so strong us to be made a- kind of fetish. It will hardly bs believed that a landowner can cut up his ljnd exactly as he pleases, mate stTeets and roaxls* at hifl own sweet will, cut up into, building lot.i and sell before any streets are formed. Such is the great power of the landowner, wrio is only Tequired by the local authority to deposit' a plan showing clearly what are h'js intentions, and after that he can gaily sail along with hit 1 , toads, quite regardless how tUey will fit in- with, those- already in existen.ee, or how the houses can be 'drained. tA strong movement is, however, on lobt' to altex* this system. A ilarge and representative meeting was hold at BiraungUam, at- - tended by delegates from mapy local' bodies, and legislation is expected to folIpw—- fcometimo The plan advocated by the reformers is the German nvethod, which lays off the roads on paper of a] 2 the lands contiguous to a town, and invites the owneis to a conference, at which a general agreement is come to, and to*which all landowners subscribe and under- ** take to follow out when subdividing their land for sale. The meeting at Birmjng-, ham was entirely in favour of this method. Turning to other matters, Mr. Ward eaid that the needs of suburban traffic in England aie largely met by means ot light locomotives, and one or two carriages, with a frequent service. Tho crawling trains to the Hutt and -3ohn.sonville -would not b? tolerated in tho vicinity of any decent town. The passenger truffle to the suburbs of Wellington would, he thought, be well served jf such a method were adopted. • Many waterworks were visited, notaDly tho large reservoirs now in cpmse o£ construction in the Derwent Valley. Thte total cost ot that scheme is estimated at seren millions, tho object being to supply several large towns which have combined together for that purpuoSe. The -town of Hairogate alone is spending £400,000 on i«n increased water supply, in addition. . to tho present one. It has a fixed population of 52,000, with a floating population in the season of another 15,000. Altogether, Mr. Ward spent a niosfc enjoyable and instructive time, but experienced gTeater pledsuic in letiiroing to New Zealand.