THE EAST CHRISTCHURCH SCHOOL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6541, 9 May 1889, Page 3

THE EAST CHRISTCHURCH SCHOOL.

9 f Reports of the City l Surveyor and Inspector. , The following report 3 by the City Surveyor and the City Inspector on the \ East Christchnrch. School have been handed • i to us for publication : — j f The City Surveyor's report was as fol- s lows : — ( "la compliance with the wish of his \ "Worship the Mayor, I have examined the j ■ above school buildings and their surround- j : ings, and I now beg to report as follows : — I ' With, regard to the infant school, I find j ' there are about 400 children attending it, ! ' and I believe it is generally remarked that , ] the urinals and latrines are too near to the j class-rooms ; but I do not agree with this : conclusion, for I think that if the latrines and urinals are placed at a much greater distance from the cluss-rooms the i ' children would derive more harm in run- j ning from the heated rooms across a large yard in cold and perhaps wet ■ weather, and consequently catching cold, and laying the foundation of far more serious illuesp than would he caused by any smell arising from the closets ; and : I think that if the premises are properly flushed and cleansed at frequent intervals, S there would be no appreciable inconvenience from the close proximity of the closets to the class-rooms. The question therefore, 1 think, resolves itself into one of a more copious and constant supply of fresh water, which might be easily obtainable from a deep well, which would enable the latrines to be flushed daily. I find there is only a four-inch pipe extending about 300 ft to the main sewer to carry oil the contents of the latrines, and in my j opinion this ia too small where such a number of children are congregated together, for it is impossible to prevent children from throwing large masses of paper and rubbish into the latriues, and consequently increasing the liability of the pipes to become choked. I think it is also very objectionable to allow the urine to be conducted to the street channels as at present. The contents of j the latrines and urinals ought all to be ! taken underground to the main eewer. I ! find the drainage from the school for bigger children is better provided for by a six-inch pipe, and I was informed that a much larger quantity of fresh water is available for flushing these drains than those of the infant school, and | therefore there is not so pressing a necos- j sity for any change in this part of the school ; but I think if the same rule were applied, of taking all urine to the main | sewer instead of its being conducted to the ■' street channel, that it would be a step in ! in the right direction. The school build- j ings are now undergoing a, thorough process of cleansing nnd disinfecting. I urn told that Mr Cuthbert ha 3 already recommended a number of email additions and alterations to the system of drainage surrounding the buildings, which "will tend to increase its efficiency. — C. Walkden, City Surveyor. May 8, 1559." " The Town Clerk — Sir, — As there appear to be some doubts as to whether or not your Inspectors were taking any action in regard to the recent outbreak of disease at the East Ohristchurch School, I wish to inform you that on the Friday previoua to your giving instructions for the closing of the school, 1 (in company with Mr Scott) inspected the premises, and suggested to him that the infant school closets should be removed back to the boundary fence, the fence running from the closets to the school to be removed altogether, to | allow a free current of air between the j two ; the fumigating of the schoolrooms, and also a water supply from the lower strata, which, I explained, could always be depended upon to I keep tho latrines properly flushed. I A few days after the school was closed I was asked by a member of the School Committee to accompany him, and the Kcv-H.-O. M. Wataon, to the school, and point out to them whas I thought had better be done to pufi the premises in a better sanitary condition. I went with them, and had the sumpa opened, the plunger lifted, and the latrine emptied and flushed to show them the wonking of the system, and I then pointed out to them the necessity for shifting the closets and obtaining a better water supply. I questioned the caretaker j as to the way he carried out his duties, j and elicited from him the information.' that the infant schoolrooms had been { fumigated. I may state that in con- !■ versation with the Eev Mr Watson, j that gentleman asked me if I thought that j the drainage system was a good one. 1 1 replied that so far as I could judge it was, j provider! the flushing wa3 properly carried '• out, but that I was not sufficiently an j expert to say that the system was com- i plete, and suggested that the Committee ! should get the advice. of a competent civil !• engineer. This, I since learn, was done, > and the alterations suggested by him are precisely what I had recommended weeks before, and which excellent suggestion (as it is now termed in one report) is credited to the expert. With regard to the case of diphtheria at Mr Cross', Mr Hobbs informed me j that when inspecting Mr Cross' premises, that gentleman toldhim there could not be any bad smells about his place, as about a j week previous he had had the drains, : &c, cleaned out. And upon making further j enquiry, Mr Hobbs learned that the boy who contracted the disease wa3 looking on watching the man at work, and complained of being unwell a week before the development of the disease. If this is j fact, it at once disproves Mr Cross' asser- j tion, that the boy contracted the disease at the school, besides which there has been no (other case reported. — Yours, <fee., J. H. Stkingee, Inspector. City Council Chambers, May 9, ISS9." The Town Clerk has written to the i School Committee, requesting them to i provide the water supply suggested in the j surveyor's report, and to connect the urinals with the main sewer.