SANITARY IMPROVEMENTS AT PETONE.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 3676, 28 February 1899, Page 6

SANITARY IMPROVEMENTS AT PETONE.

[From Our Own Corresponderit.]

The effective removal of nightsoil has been a source of trouble to most municipalities and-for years past the Petonc Council has vainly endeavoured to cope with the difficulty, but with indifferent success. Tbcf chief defect; in the system has been the method and time of removal, the work being carried.out in the dead of night. The Council has from bitter experience discovered! the necessity for seme improved method, and some time ago the present engineer (Mr Gr. Smithes) presented a report to the Council outlining a scheme that would entail an outlay of some £7OO in plant. The Council unhesitatingly adopted the scheme*, aidd the necessary loan_ was carried by the ratepayers almost without, dissent, showing that the public are desirous of having their sanitary arrangements up to date. The scheme provides for a depot, horse, waggon and steam boiler. The plans just completed by the engineer provide for buildings for housing of the plant, with all necessary conveniences for the men. The waggon will be constructed with a hinged door. The work -will be . carried out in the day time, and so clean and effective will the system be that no offence will be felt. The pan is constructed of stout , galvanised iron, having a cast-iron lid with flan’ge, round which a pneumatic rubber ring is fitted. The workman takes with him twelve empty pans and lids. Before removing any pan he first places the lid on, and with a lever worked 01* an eccentric, hermetically seals the pan, and then removes it and places a clean pan in its place. On being taken to the depot the pans, after being emptied, are placed in a grip attached to a shaft that is set in motion, and a jet of steam from the boiler does the work of effectively cleaning ithem, after which they are freshly tarred and are again ready for distribution. An advantage of tins method is that the work, being carried out in the daytime, can be supervised, an impossibility under the present system, and the advantage of haying a clean pan will be greatly appreciated by the general public. As soon as a site is the work will be at once put in hand, and when completed. Petone will, with its municipal gasworks and effective, system of drainage, place itself in the front rank of progressive boroughs.