CESSPOOLS.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 370, 7 April 1876, Page 3

CESSPOOLS.

Dr. Millen Coughtrey's description of cesspools at an upcouutry township fits Naseby exactly, and we believe every other township in the district. The closets, with only one or two exceptions, are of the worst cesspool type, and in many places they arc in dangerous proximity to the dwelling houses and ihe water races. This is a grave and a serious fault. These cesspools consist of holes dug in the ground, and over them small wooden frameworks and houses have been erected. In thes > rude pools excrement has been allowed to accumulate for years, for such loose and porous soil can absorb a large amount. Did they become overcharged, and the contents require removal ? Two procedures have been adopted—either partly fill in the old hole, and partly plaster it over with soil, choose a new site, dig another pool to which the old wooden tenement is transferred, and so the evil has been multiplied ; or where emptj'ing has been resorted to, their contents have been deposited in by far too near a place to the houses. Some of them have not been emptied since their formation. In one or two I found a barrel had been sunk for the purpose of preventing infiltration into the surrounding subsoil ; but even this arrangement is not to be recommended.

The following information I gathered in the presence and hearing of three of the Town Councillors, and, as it was not contradicted, I take it to be true. Z. Y. stated lie had done most of the emptying that had been doue for the past two years. On asking him how he had done i(, he stated he had given himself as little trouble over it as possible, and had not removed the contents a very great distance. On observing that I committed his answers to my note-book, he said "he must hold his tongue," and refused to tell more.