MR. CLARK ON THE DRAINAGE OP WELLINGTON.

Evening Post, Volume XVI, 20 April 1878, Page 1 (Supplement)

MR. CLARK ON THE DRAINAGE OP WELLINGTON.

+ TO TUB EDITOR OP THE EVENINO POST. Sir— As a considerable amount of interest has been expressed on th 9 subject of the remark made by Mr. Clark, apropos of the City Drainage Scheme, on the occasion of his responding to the toast of his health on Tuesday night, I have asked that gentleman to reduce the same to writing, and feeling that the subject is one of paramount importance at the present time, and that much public benefit will be derived by the promulgation of views and opinions c raiing from such an authority, I have no doubt but that the public press will aid me l>y giving due publicity to the same. I forward herewith a copy of Mr. Clark's gpaecb, and remain Your'a, &c, Joe Dhansfield. Mayor. Mr. Clark said :—: — Your Worship and Gentlemen — I desire to thank you very sincerely for the honor you have done me in the toast just proposed, and I thank his Worship for the opportunity thus afforded me of meeting the members of the City Council and his other guests. During my somewhat lengthened sojourn in the colonies, I have on many occasions enjoyed the hospitality of the high officers of the various Governments where my professional services have been required, but it was reserved for me at Wellington to be present at a gathering . like this — at a splendid banquet given on the occasion of my visit. On one occasion I was called upon, as I now am, to respond to the toast of my health, and I endeavored to improve the opportunity by giving a little advioe on the subject of sanitary improvement. It was at West Maitland, in New South Wales, and I hope that I prevented them from making a great mistake, for I was enabled to point out that in their case the wholesale construction of cesspits, Which, as a sanitary measure, they had the power to compel, and had determined to do, would cost the community quite as much as a proper system of sewers for the Borough, if set about in a proper manner. I was not there, however, officially to advise on the subject of drainage, but of water supply ; 1 was, nevertheless, as I am at all tunes, ready to assist bo far as I can in any measure which has for its object the improvement of the sanitary condition and surroundings of a population; for depend upon it, gentlemen, that however favorable may be the opportunities for the prosecution of mercantile, agricultural, or manufacturing industries, they can only obtain their full development when accompanied by the blessing of health. I am therefore happy to have the opportunity of visiting the City of Wellington by your invitation for the purpose of advising on its sanitary improvement. I have to-day received some statistics of mortality in the City, and find that it is not large. During last year it amounted to 19.5 per cent., not large that as compared with the older towns and cities of the mother country ; there, however, during hundreds of years of neglect, I may say ignorance, of the laws of health, our forefathers helped to pollute the soil on which they dwelt, and it is to be hoped that the rapidly growing towns and cities of the colonies will profit by their example, and by more complete arrangements for the rapid and complete removal of effete matters — guard thepresent and future generations from the penalties which nature is certain to exact for any infringement of her laws. Wellington, from all I can learn, is in earnest in its desire to make required improvements, and in evidence of this I now: have the honor to address you. What the precise nature of the recommendation I shall have to make I am not at this instant able to say. You will, I hope, ere long have my report in your hands. I may, however, allude iio some oi the points to which my attention i^fiaa- been given. You are - anxious, I know, that your beautiful harbour Ishouldrnoi be polluted by the diee|«rg6 of filla iStb it ;' an example of what this may lead to I saw at Sydney, where there is certainly one of the most beautiful harbours in the world, but adjacent to the most thickly populated portions of its shores it is in a mnst vile and filthy condition, and it became my duty to advise the construction of a large expensive work, estimated, if I remember aright, at about £200,000, chiefly for diverting the oause «f nuisance into the ocean, a distance of about five miles. Much had been done there to establish a system of sewers, *nd very considerable expenso incurred, but all under the mistaken principle of discharging the sewage direct injbo the harbour. Fortunately Wellington, has not «• yet spent any large sum for a similar purpose, and will I hope in what she may do hereafter derive full benefit from the ex. penditure. I find here an area of topographical extremes, where the extremely Hat and extremely hilly or mountainous eharwters are both present. This flat Area ha* a long frontage to the bay; it consists of fond already reclaimed, and to which a further extension is intended; it is over two -miles in length, and has a surface so little elevated above the sea— 4ft. only above high-water mark— that it is evident some artificial help in the shape of pomps must be had if proper drainage works are to be carried out, and the filth be not put into the bay. It is, however, desirable to ascertain how far the expense of pumping — which is constant — may be avoided for the more elevated area at the back of the reclaimed land, and to this my attention is just now entirely directed — to the magnitude and cost of the necessary work for this, for it is quite possible by an expensive work to purchase the help of gravitation at a dearer rate than pumping. In doing this part of my work I have become thoroughly impressed with the fact that as a general rule the streets are not in all cases — and I may say in many cases of the hilly portion of the area — the proper positions wherein to goastrutit the sewers. For a surface so broken and undulating it is necessary to have a plan of the area on a large scale, and with very numerous surface levels marked upon it, by the help of which to select the most eligible position for the works, not only for their efficiency but economy also. The plan with which I am now working is very proper and suited for a commencement, inasmuch as it gives the posjfion of most of the streets and the levels thereof f but there is not a single building shown upon it, and all the intervening spaces between tho streets are blank, without any indication of their levels ; these areas may be higher or lower than the adjacent fltneete, and without further-information it would be the easiest thing in the world, following <Jkb street levels, to advise the -construction of works which would fail in fcheir object, viz., to .drain, effectively the jiovses on Loth sides. This plan, iowever, is soijfictent fcb enable me to lay ont some of the main intercepting tewem, and the principal features of the work for the carrying away and disposal of the sewage ; but without this larger and more complete plan I have

alluded to, which should show the position of the buildings, out-offices, &c, I shall be unable to complete, as I should have been glad to do in detail, a system for every part|of the city ; and my object in introducing the subject now is to impress on the Municipality and all concerned the necessity for an immediate commencement in the preparation of such » plan. When this is completed it will be easy to lay out the work in the most judicious manner, and without the least amount of inconvenience to owners of property and their tenants. Another point connected with the subject is this. The public must be informed and educated to the fact that it is impossible, with such an undulating and irregular surface as this, to avoid carrying sewers which are intended for public use through private streets, and in some cases under buildings. The Council have the power to do this, I believe, making compensation for actual damage done ; but, if not, it must be obtained, for it would be impossible to proceed without it. The presence of a perfectly watertight sewer, as they should in these cases all be, will be no injury whatever to a property. They will consist entirely of pipes of small size, and their near proximity will enable the private drainage to be executed at smaller cost to the owner. I have thought it desirable thus to dwell on a matter, the right understanding of which by the public is of the greatest importance, and with a hope that it may assist the Council in their endeavors to carry out the works for the benefit of the entire community. When, therefore, those subjects come under consideration, as they mnst do, it will probably not. be forgotten that my testimony was given in favor of having a proper plan of the city, and that proper positions should be given to the sewers, even though private properties may be invaded. I will not say more on the subject which brings me to the city of Wellington, but I may add that as an ordinary visitor I see in the business and bustle of Wellington that it holds its own with the thriving and rapidly growing Australian cities, indicating an equal share of prosperity. I am impressed with the beauty of the country, the salubrity of its climate, and the extraordinary progress which has been maie in its productive development. I have a high opinion of the prospects which it holds out for the industrious, intelligent, and sober among the thousands in England who have difficulty in finding profitable employment, and which, as occasion offers, I shall make known. My own visit to the colonies has been attended with a good deal of hard work, and I must say of pleasure also. Both officially and privately I have met with the greatest attention and hospitality wherever I have- -beea. In —New South. Wales, where my visit extended over nearly a year, I saw three Ministries in office, but all my relations with them were of the most favorable description ; and among the pleasantest memories which I shall carry with me to England will be that of having enjoyed your Worship's hospitality, and the very gratifying reception you, gentlemen, haye given me this evening. Again thanking you for the honor you have done me, I will conclude.