THE SANITARY CONDITION OF THE CITY.

New Zealander, Volume XXI, Issue 2252, 18 October 1864, Page 4

THE SANITARY CONDITION OF THE CITY.

To the Editor of the Nbw-Zbalandkr

Sir, —I was much gratified to seo the reproduction o£ M.D.’s letter in to-day’s New Zisa.LAN.DBR. The writer of it has ably demonstrated the unfailing results of a bad system of drainage. He mentions the channel in Eden Crescent as haring particularly attracted his attention, and I will endeavor to point out the reason why it did so, and suggest a remedy. And I am sure your readers will agree with me that it is a flagrant disgrace to the City Board,, or whoever else have the control of that part of Auckland, that such a dangerous nuisance should exist in the heart of a densely populated neighborhood.

The first cannot be better done- than briefly describing this “ ditch,” for a ditch it really is. It commences on the brow of the hill,, close to the Post-office, and runs down on the left hand side of the footpath. The sides are nearly perpendicular and well covered with foliage, which in places conceals it, thus rendering it a great source of peril to foot-passengers by night. At Wynyard House it is three feet deep, and is crossed by a small wooden bridge ; opposite the club it runs under the footpath, and reappears on the right hand side in the form of a ditch, eighteen inches deep and about seven feet broad. The bottom of this ditch is perfectly flat and is formed of soft black mud, intermixed with every sort of refuse. It thus continues fill opposite she front of a small cottage, and then disappears. Where to, I know not ; but if it is under the floor of the cottage, an 1 from a superficial examination, I think it it must surely be highly injurious to the inmates.

Now can it bo wondered, that what M.D. very cor- ! rectly calls an “ insufferably sickly stench,” arises j from that open drain I have described, as the sewerage of all the houses on that side of Eden Crescent flow into it. A. word as to the remedy. This is very simple and inexpensive, as the natural lie of the ground makes it easily susceptible ot efficient drainage. The authorities have lately taken action in the matter, it is true, hut only to the extent of throwing a couple of loads of earth into the drain at its commencement. This was, doubtless, intended to decrease the nuisance ; but it has had the opposite effect, and increased it, for the late rains have washed a quantity of the loose earth down the drain, which his collected at the corners and crevices, forming a series of pools when the sewerage stagnates. The whole distance is about one hnndrcl and eighty yards; and it only requires a ten-inch earcheru dram pipe, properly lail, which might be lucre-sed to twelve inches iameter at Wynyard House, where a branch drain runs into it. There ought also to be gratings at about every ninety yards, to carry off the surface drainage.

The expense may be estimated at one-third less than such a drain would usually cost, as nature has already made the necessary excavation; and there is plenty of earth for filling up, in the bank close by. I am sorry to say this is by no means a solitary instance of the state of Auckland drainage; and until it and similar causes of disease be eradicated, the mortality returns will always be high, and will counteract t he benefit of the delightful and healthy climate tha t this colony enjoys. I am, &c., C. E, October 17th, 1864.