The Evening Star SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1873

Evening Star, Issue 3375, 13 December 1873, Page 2

The Evening Star SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1873

We think it fortunate that the drainage cpiestion is to some extent to be taken out of the hands of the City Council, and is to be considered at a public meeting of the inhabitants of the City. Fully concurring in the necessity for sound sanitary measures being adopted, we look upon it that the Council, in its recent resolution, acted precipitately, and against the soundest scientific evidence. We have often known similar cases of contempt of science by practical teen, but we do not remember aa instance in which punishment did not follow. For instance, some lorty years ago, a gentleman got into his head that valuable coal was to be obtained by sinking in Lincolnshire; and though warned by men of science he was wasting his money, he persevered and ruined himself. Some twelve years ago, the Government Geologist of Victoria pointed out that payable coal could not be obtained at Cape Paterson ; but in the face of his repeated evidence, a company was formed, who sunk a large amount of money, and only proved that he was right. Just in the same spirit have our City Council been acting. Mr Balfodu, C.E., Mr Millar, 0.E., Mr Swyer, C.E., and Mr Hocken spoke vory decidedly as to the clanger of discharging the sewage of the City into the Bay, and, confirmatory of their opinion, even a practical man like Mr Barnes has opportunity of examining the result of the Rattray street sewer. Yet in the face of those evidences, they determined to expend ten thousand pounds in the construction of

drains, the almost certain effect of which would be to intensify the tendency to disease. We do not know that a public meeting is better able to decide a scientific question like this than an unscientific City Council. When so many and such serious consequences depend upon taking a light or wrong step, the excitement of a public meeting is scarcely likely to elicit truth. But it may have this good effect: it may cause the Council to hesitate and to do at last what they ought to have done at first, to institute searching and exhaustive inquiry before committing themselves to a given course of action. The work from which we quoted on Wednesday contains the following significant warning The success of the prosecution of sanitary works is more dependent upon the character of the works executed than upon any salubrity or insalubrity of climate. This is seen from an examination of the rates of mortality in some continental towns. For example, we find that both Brussels and Baris, which have climates far more salubrious than that of London, have nevertheless a higher rate of mortality than London, proving conclusively, that the sanitary works of London are of a more effectual, and therefore more perfect character, and that they better fulfil their mission than those adopted either in Brussels or Baris.

Should it be objected that there has already been inquiry, we submit that with the single exception of the report of the City Engineer, the result of inquiry has been adverse to the view taken by the Corporation. Messrs Balfour, Millar, and Donkin, Civil Engineers, pointed out that the outfall for sewerage should be the Ocean Beach, while Mr Swyer condemned drainage into the Bay because of the impossibility of its being carried to a safe distance. His calculation is as follows :

The distance from one extremity of Otago harbor to the other is about thirteen miles, and the flow of the tide as taken from the Admiralty charts is on an average one and a-half miles per hour, therefore any refuse discharged into the harbor at Dunedin at high water would, under favorable circumstances, have travelled nine miles before the turn of the or four miles less than would be required to discharge it into the ocean; the consequence would be that all the solid portions of the sewage would be deposited on the numerous banks within the harbor, or along the high water mark, the sewage in solution being retained in the waters of the harbor, which, in the course of time, would bo reduced to a gigantic cesspool, and would become fouler and fouler every year.

It is perfectly true Mr Balfour, notwithr standing his opinion that the Ocean Beach was the Best point for discharge of sewerage, suggested its being caused to flow into the harbor; but it was on tbo understanding that a training-wall should be constructed to concentrate the force of the tide, so that the sewage might be carried to a safe distance from Dunedin, But he pointed out that it only shifted the danger to another part of the shore of the harbor; and that, in all probability, Portobello would have to bear the consequences. The evidence of men, high in the profession, whose calling led them to institute accurate and minute investigation into this important subject, should have weight with our Council. The City has committed an important trust to them. It is not merely the wasting of ten thousand pounds. By the time the lailure of theirquaekery hadbecome raauift at they wou d have given place to others—perhaps fallen victims to their own work, and other men would be bearing the brunt of their mistake. The misfortune is that the lives and health of thousands depend upon the success or failure of a drainage system, and it will not do to have public health played with, just as men play tricks with their own constitutions by swallowing boxes of Morrison’s pills or glasses of brandy and salt, or choking themselves with sulphurous acid, or seeking to cure diphtheria with four drops of diluted sulphuric acid. Individuals, after they have damaged themselves by such like quackery, may chance to be set to rights by calling in professional aid; but the injury done by quackery in drainage is too wide-spread and deep-seated for reparation. Years will be requisite for effecting an alteration, and those years may be fraught with disease and death to thousands, if the Council closes its eyes to evidence, they may be thankful that they will be relieved of the heavy responsibility of life and death that they have undertaken, by the verdict of a public meeting. We trust the subject will not be made a party one, but that it will be considered in that broad and calm spirit which its importance demands.