The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, JANUARY 14, 1867.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 11, 14 January 1867, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, JANUARY 14, 1867.

The earth closet is being introduced on a large scale in the neighboring colonies ; and at Wellington, the Town Board have considered it worthy their attention. Iu the hurry to build towns aud fix population in them, scarcely any means have been adopted to secure efficient drainage and seAverage. The consequence is large quantities of poisonous matter is allowed to accumulate in the cesspools, iu the rear of the houses, to the great danger of the health of the inhabitants. Little is thought of this violation of natural laws, till disease appears amongst the people ; then every man looks reproachfully at his neighbour and expresses surprise thafc a better system has not been introduced, and greater attention has not been paid to sanitary rules. It is not easy to cany out a costly system of drainage and seAverage, at a short notice, but it may be possible, pending such improvements, greatly to \ mitigate an evil Avhich few Avill deny is most pernicious in its consequences. We learn from the Inspectorof Nuisances in this tOAvn, that the cesspools are alloAved to accumulate on many premises, to a most objectionable extent; so much so, that the Board of Works will have to interfere in a much more forcible manner than they have ever yet done, to prevent the public liealth being endangered by the ignorance or carelessness of a section of the inhabitants. Prevention is so much better than punishment of any kind, that we urge the Board, aud the public, to give their best attention to improvements -which modern science has devised, which are now being adopted to a considerable extent in the colonies, and which we are assured by some Avho have tried the experiment here, amply repay, by the'senseof security they give, for any little expense and trouble to which the householder may be put. Without entering into any unnecessary detail, it may be sufficient to observe that the earth closet is a simple contrivance, to be used instead of the present cesspool. Into this a little fine earth is thrown every day. By this, not only is all offensive effluvia prevented from contaminating the surrounding atmosphere, but the contents of the closet assume a portable form and are easily removed at stated intervals. Another important object would be gained by a general adoption of the system, that of conveying to the agricultural districts the matter so preserved and which would repay tenfold the expense incurred in its removal. No doubt ignorance and prejudice, will throw obstacles in the way of the adoption of this, as of any other innovation, and it may require the co-opera-tion of the more intelligent part of the community, with the city authorities to carry it into effect. Example always flows downward, and if some of the more influential householders adopted the new system, ifc would soon become general. In Wellington, the Town Board have given notice to the dwellers on Lambton Quay that, after a certain date, each house should be fitted with one. It is their intention also, to employ contractors to remove the contents of the closets, at stated intervals, as soon as a sufficient cumber

of householders have adopted the new system. The Nelson Improvement Amendment Act gives the Board ample power to punish persons who shall permit any nuisance to exist upon their premises, but it would be much better to initiate an improved system, that would'riot necessitate one of wholesale fines, and by preventing the creation of receptacles of filth, save at once the health ancl the money of the inhabitants. It would be easy to enlarge upon this subject, but enough has been said to call the attention of the public aud the Board of Works to what is going on around us, aud if they are wise they will supply the arguments we have purposely omitted.