The Evening Herald. WEDNESDAY, JULY 16, 1873.

Wanganui Herald, Volume VI, Issue 1845, 16 July 1873, Page 2

The Evening Herald. WEDNESDAY, JULY 16, 1873.

The pvize Drainage Eeporfc sent in to the Wellington City Council by Mr J. H. "Wallace contains many important suggestions, and in view of the proposed general drainage scheme for the town of Wanganui, it becomes interesting to us, and possibl}r valuable. Of course a plan of drainage must be governed by the locality of operations, and also by the extent of the funds available for such purpose. In Wellington the sum of £50,000 is set down as the probable cost, so that it may be gathered the proposed plan is extensive in its -working, and we hope, if acted upon, efficient in practical use. Me Wallace prefaces his report by some general remarks on drainage, generally condemnatory of the cesspool system, and proceeds to base his plan on the necessity of contour levels of the whole city, based upon one common datum. The report treats of the drains in each Ward separately, and then advocates more particularly for flushing the drains of the Tiiorndon Ward, the making of a reservoir on a portion of the Town Belt, known as the Tinakori range. This might be deemed a useless expense, seeing that it is independent of the water Avorks now being undertaken, but it is urged the reservoir would be a useful adjunct.—for household purpores, lire, or as a substitute should any untoward accident occur to the City water works. Without going into the details of the plan, we might simpty state that it is intended to make all the drainage empty itself into the harbor. The sewers described by Mr Wallace as being necessary are to be generally egg-shaped, constructed of brick, and varying from 5 feet 9 inches in height, by 4 feet in Avidth, to 1 foot 9m. in height by 1 foot Sin. in width. The mouth of each drain to have a selfacting door, to open Avitk a flushing pressure, and to close at the rise of the tide. The concurrence of the water Avorks in flushing certain drains, Avhere in dry weather rain Avater would prove insufficient, is sought for, and care is also to be taken that where rain water is running it should be \ised as a flushing power. The cost estimated by Mr Wallace to execute the more important portion of the works is £5,000 per mile, in other parts £200 to £2,000 per mile would be required as population increased, and the health of the inhabitants required the system proposed to be carried out. Of the more expensive Avorks 4 miles is estimated to be required, with 16 miles of the less expensive sewers. , The existing works constructed by private enterprise, by the Provincial Government, and the City Boards, are to be utilised as far as practicable, Avhile the system proposed is to be gone on Avith from time to time, according to the/wants of the inhabitants, the discretion of the City Engineer, and benefit of the health of the citizens generally. Mr Wallace bases his calculations of course upon the outlet into the Harbour, but concludes his report by stating that if there is an objection to tr.e Harbour becoming the common receiver of the city, and it should be deemed advisable to utilise the sewerage, it Avould be necessary to use the railway for the purpose of carrying away deposits to a place to be fixed upon. Receivers at the outlets avoulc! admit of the detention of deposits, Avhile allowing for the liquid overflows in rainy weather. A complete and comprehensive plan is desired for Wanganui, and to obtain this, a common level must he decided upon. At the last meeting of the Council, our Borough Engineer reported progress on this work, which is the first step in our proposed public undertakings.