THE PUBLIC SEWERAGE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 103, 4 May 1867, Page 2

THE PUBLIC SEWERAGE.

In compliance with the terms of a requisition to his Honor the Superintendent, signed by many influential inhabitants of the city, an important public meeting took place last night at the Provincial Hall. The meeting was well attended, and all present evinced a strong interest in the discussion which took place during the meeting. His Honor the Superintendent took the chair at a quarter to 8 o'clock, and explained that the meeting was called in accordance with the terms of the requisition, which he read. His Honor went on to say that the subject was one of great importance to the whole community, that the discussion which was invited that evening must do good, and he concluded by calling upon those who had signed the requisition, to explain the subject for which the meeting had been convened.

Mr. Charles Elliott, whose name stood first on the requisition, stated that the Board of Works were extending the present system of sewerage in the city, a course which the requisitionists considered would prove highly prejudicial to the public health. At the same time he wished it to be distinctly understood that he did not blame the Board of Works for going on with the sewerage. When it was first commenced in Trafalgar-street, it was unquestionably a great public benefit, and was attended with such success that it was not wonderful that it had been attempted to extend it to the other streets of the city. But unfortunately, though it removed a nuisance immediately at our doors, it also created one, equally baneful, only a short distance removed from us. This had uotyet become a positive evil, but it was much easier to prevent than to remedy such evil, and it was better to preserve aud improve the health of the city now, than to try to stem a horrible epidemic, by which the town might be depopulated, at some future day. With the present increased facilities of intercourse with other provinces and colonies, a greater chance of contagion

had arisen. Only the other dny they had heard of the ravages of the yellow fever at Panama, and a terrible fever was said to be now raging at Mauritius, with both which places our communication, directly or indirectly, was not infrequent or impossible, and it was by do means improbable that some day we might be visited by oue or other of t';ese frightful scourges. Even iv a material point of view, it was of importance that the subject should be fully discussed. They were now realising several measures which would greatly increase the prosperity of the community, but they would be of little profit to them if disease was stalking through our streets; and if these very measures had the effect, as they probably would, of bringing with them an increased population, there was so much the more need for precautions. There were unquestionably considerable difficulties to be encountered in dealing with the question, but he believed they were not insurmountable. . Mr. Elliott then referred to the system of earthclosets, which had been introduced at Melbourne and at Wellington. Considerable difference of opinion, however, prevailed ia reference to this subject. A perfect system of sewerage was almost impracticable iv Kelson, for it would require financial resources beyond our command at present, and if the sewerage was to be carried out beyond the possibility of harm to the health of the city, it must be taken out to the mouth of the harbor, otherwise the prevailing wind from the west would blow the miasmata over the city. Other means must therefore be devised to meet the difficulty, and the sub ject required more time nnd attention than "the meeting could possibly give it. It was therefore proposed to form a Commissiou, which should be authorised to go into the subject thoroughly ; that the result of their investigations might be embodied and presented to the Provincial Council, with a view to legislative action on the subject. The idea had gone forth that this meeting had been organised with hostile intentions to the Board of Work?. Nothing could possibly be more erroneous. The Board had done their duty, and the public had every right to be satisfied with the result of their exertions. [Hear, hear.] Still, it was an open question whether they might not at some future day give place to another corporation, having larger powers. [Cheers.] Mr. Elliott then read the following resolution, and sat down amidst loud cheers : —

That, in the opinion of this meeting, the time has arrived when proper consideration should be bestowed upon the sanitary state of the city; and a regard for the public health demands that all existing nuisances should be reraoved, and the creation of fresh ones prevented. In order to insure this being done in the most effective manner, and with a due regard to every interest involved, it is desirable that his Honor the Superintendent should be requested to appoint a Commission of three to five persons, with authority to investigate the whole subject of drainage and sewage; such Commission to report to his Honor the Superintendent as to what measures they may thnk best calculated to secure the public health, in order that they may be embodied in a Bill, and laid before the Provincial Council in the ensuing session.

Mr. Clements seconded the resolution, which was also supported by Mr. 11. Pitt, in a terse and energetic speech, highly applauded by the meeting, and it was afterwards put to the meeting and carried unanimously.

Mr. Grant then proposed, and Mr. H. Drew seconded the following resolution : —

That it is desirable that a Board of Health should be constituted for the City of Nelson, for the direction and management of all matters effecting public health.

This was also put and carried unauimously.

Dr. Williams, who was warmly received, then rose and stated that the subject before them bad attracted the attention of some of the greatest men of the day, and amongst others, that of the late Prince

Consort, who had devoted much time and thought to it, and who had invented a successful method of deodorisation. There could be no doubt that if the present syswould lose its present prestige as a healthy tern of sewerage were continued, Nelson place of residence, and this was all the more important, as he had no doubt that\ it would, ere long, be regarded as the sanatorium of India and Australia. Dr. Williams then enlarged upon the various expedients which had been proposed in order to meet the difficulty which had suggested itself to the requisitionists, and exhibited an extensive acquaintance with the results of the various experiments made in the mother country with this view. He was of opinion that earthclosets were best adopted to the require-

ments of a scattered population like our own, but their adoption would, it must be remembered, involve an expensive system of scavenging, as well as a large and constant service, since, unless the soil was fully deodorised, the result would be highly offensive. The fertilising efforts of the manure were unquestionably very great, and should, therefore, prove highly remunerative, and this was another point to be considered in relation to earth-closets. Another plan which might be tried, and it was peculiarly adopted to this place, was the system of flushing drains, but unless they could be carried out beyond the Arrow Rock, so that the sewerage might never return to our shores, it would fail of its object. At all events the present system could not be permitted to go on ; and he felt confident that the good sense of the inhabitants of Nelson would remove any difficulties in the way of the improvements which it was desired to initiate. At home injunctions had been applied for, and readily granted by the Judges, with a view of doing away with similar nuisances. Dr. Williams then disclaimed any wish to throw blame upon the Board of Works ; if ii had not been for them the town would not have been nearly so attractive, and if their works had not been already undertaken, they must inevitably have been so now. The present movement was intended to strengthen the hands of the Board of Works, and he hoped they would fully understand this. He would add, as a proof of the injurious results that might be anticipated from the present system of sewerage, that although Dot above forty houses drained into the Trafalgar-street sewer, a very bad gas might be detected, especially on hot days, exhaling through the gratings opening from that sewer. After again referring to the experiments of the Prince Consort, and the principle of filtration, Dr. Williams concluded his able and practical speech, by moving the following resolutions : —

This meeting considers it advisable that no fresh drain from any cesspool should be opened into the existing main drain, or any purposed extension of it, until the Commission appointed by the Superintendent have sent in thtir report.

Mr. Younger, the Secretary of the Board of Works, then addressed the meeting at some length, and explained by plans which he produced, that the Board had had this matter loug uuder their consideration, quoting Mr. Dobson's report upcu the proposed sewerage of the city. He also stated that it was never intended by the Board that the outlet of the sewer should be anywhere else than at the Arrow Rock. Provision had also been made for the flushing of drains in the plans adopted by the Board. He had understood that the earth-closets in Melbourne had been a" failure, aud that the question would soon come again under consideration there, and he was of opinion that the preseut plan, if properly carried out, was all that need be desired. Dr. Williams suggested that the question before the meeting was how to deal with the sewerage where it was now, and not where it might be some time hence. Mr. George Whitney here addressed the meeting, and made some suggestions, which were received in a humorous spirit by the meeting.

Dr. Cusack then rose and bore testimony to the practical improvements which had "been effected by the Board of Works throughout the city, reminding the meeting that it was not the formation of the sewers which was a subject of complaint, but the misuse of them which was to be guarded against. Nearly a year ago hehad ventured to offer suggestions in the public journals with reference to earthclosets and drainage, and he was glad that the Commission was likely to be appointed. It would be their duty to discuss some means of at once stopping the nuisance, either by making a cutting at once to the sea, or by some other means. Dr. Cusack then explained the nature of earth closets, and suggested that the Board of Works should make a bye-law, obliging people building houses to raise their foundations at least a foot, so as to create a fall for their drainage.

Mr. Younger stated that the chairman of the Board had a measure of this nature under consideration, which he proposed to bring before the Provincial Council during their next session.

Dr o Vickermann, in seconding the last resolution, wished to take that opportunity of repudiating any wish to throw blame upon the Board of Works, aud expressed his approval of the adoption of eartliclosets.

.Mr. Luckie here rose to oppose the resolution, and said that he was of opinion that the meeting was taking too much upon itself. It could only recommend ; it could not override an actual law. It should be the object of the meeting to carry the public with them, and nofto use threats. The present drain in Bridgestreet had been undertaken at the prayer of certain individuals of that street, who consented to be rated, and their interests should be consulted.

Dr. Williams reminded the speaker that the words used in the resolution implied no sort of threat, but simply recommendation, though the same thing had happened in London, and compliance with the spirit of measures which had for their object the general good of the community had there been rigidly enforced. After a desultory conversation, in which Messrs. Smith, Younger, Phillips, and R. Burns took part, the latter gentleman recommended the erection of a reservoir for the surface stuff from the sewerage and expressed his opinion that the plan of drainage adopted by tLe Board of Works should be carried out. He would adhere to the proposition for a Commission to enquire into the subject, but considered the lust resolution too dictatory. Mr. Hunter Brown having, in a short but spirited speech, supported the resolution, it was put to the meeting and carried unanimously. Mr. Jackson then proposed a vote of thanks to his Honor the Superintendent for his kindpess in taking the chair, which was received with acclamation, and the meeting separated.