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Lyttelton Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 1008, 9 July 1862, Page 4

The report of the Sanitary Commission of-the Municipal Council of Christchurch, of which we published an abstract in our last issue, deserves notice in our columns as being the first report of the kind emanating from any Municipal body in Canterbury. It argues well for the prosperity of the capital of the settlement that its first Town Council has inaugurated its election by instituting a searching enauiry into the sanitary condition of the town. The commission appears to have done its work very thoroughly and has collected a body of valuable information which will form a sound basis for future proceedings.

Although the commissioners have not suggested the'adoption of any measures involving heavy works or the expenditure of large sums of money, their recommendations involve points of great importance, and the more so because the plans suggested can be carried out by the simplest means, lending the construction of underground sewers, the committee propose to abolish sunk cess-pools and to substitute watertight receptacles for night soil and rubbish with a system of periodical collection. and removal. There can be no doubt that the strict adherence to this plan would not only rescue the wells from pollution but would induce cleanly habits such as never can exist where there are no means of relieving the entourage of the houses from the unnameable abominations which collect in festering heaps round the dwellings even of respectable people for want of the means for their removal. !

The commissioners also advocate the formation of the streets at a level slightly below that of the adjoining sections, so that the rainfall will naturally drain into the street gutters. Simple as this proposal seems, we believe it to be not only quite original, but thoroughly effective so far as the ordinary surface drainage of the town is concerned, and, combined with a good system of water supply, would render unnecessary underground sewerage, at all events for many years to come. Tt must be evident to everyone that the common way of forming the streets, by heaping gravel on the natural sarface of the ground, tends, in the absence of underground sewers, greatly to impede the natural surface drainage, every new street being an additional dam to pond the water on the sectiona, whilst by slightly excavating the street, and placing the earth so obtained on the adjoining properties, every householder would be enabled to raise the level of his back premises sufficiently above the street gutter to allow of a complete system of surface drainage.

The Commissioners call the attention of the Council to the unwholesome character of the well water in Christchurch, and suggest boring to ascertain the possibility of obtaining a better quality of water from artesian wells. We think, however, that the Commission have scarcely attached to the question of water supply the importance which it merits. Considering the benefits arising from a constant supply of water, not only for domestic purposes, but for the extinction of tires, the flushing of the gutters, and as a source of mechanical power, we consider one of the first works to be undertaken forChristchurch should beto lay down cast-iron pipes from either the Heathcote or,the Purarekanui, at points sufficiently above- the. town to' ensure a good working pressure in the street mains.; If this were done, and it would not require pumping engines, reservoirs, or any extensive works, there is no reason why we should not have a stream of water flowing through every street in the town. With a water tap in every house, and a pipe drain into the street gutter, there would be no difficulty in getting rid of the kitchen slops, the removal of which seems :to have somewhat puzzled the Commission, and we do not think that with gutters properly flushed in the way we have suggested, there would be any objection to this plan provided that the sewage and solid refuse are scrupulously , taken to the ashpit to await the periodical visit of the scavenger. ■

We trust that the Town Council will treat their commissioners report with the consideration it deserves. Christchurch is likely to become a place of great commercial impbrtance—connected by railway with one,of the best harbours in New Zealand, it will in a few years become the seat of a large population, perhaps even the. seat of government. It is therefore of the utmost importance, that from the commencement of its municipal life its sanitary policy should be placed on a sound footing. The Council have began well, sparing neither trouble or expense to obtain the best professional advice that was available to them. We most heartilyy wish them God speed in the good work they have undertaken and hope that in the race of public improvement which we are running with our sister settlements, the sanitary arrangements of Christchurch will add auother wreath; to the laurels which Canterbury has already won. by her achievements in the matter of surveys, railways, and electric telegraphs.