SYDNEY CITY AND SUBURBAN SEWAGE AND HEALTH REPORT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4463, 9 July 1875, Page 3

SYDNEY CITY AND SUBURBAN SEWAGE AND HEALTH REPORT.

(From the Eveniny News.) The second progress report of the Sydney City and Suburban Sewage and Health Board was laid before Parliament. It contains some revolting disclosures. Its principal object is to draw attention to the system of managing an' l emptying cesspits in.the city and suburbs. The report says:—“ It is universally admitted that under the present system, the authorities are entirely powerless to prevent these cesspits from being, especially in crowded localities, an excessive and abiding nuisance, dangerous to public health, and offensive to every sense of decency. In some cases, on account of imperfect con: struction, surface water flows into theiu—iii others, in porous soil, water percolates into them ; in both cases with every shower they fill up and overflow, contaminating the adjacent premises and gutters, and producing the most intolerable nuisance. In the munioh pality of Waterloo these evils seem to prevail in the most aggravated form. The soil is moist and sandy. The cesspits are generally mere holes in the sand which absorbs the greater part of the fiecal

matter. When these holes become full theyare often filled in and the closet shifted a few yards. The soil is thus becoming gradually contaminated; and if the present state of things be allowed to continue, the whole district will become unfit for human habitation. It is said that little if any nightsoil is ever removed from this district. It is all absorbed or buried in the sand about the houses. In the yards in which these abominations exist are generally wells, which supply the inhabitants with water for household purposes. Between these wells and the fecal deposits a pretty free communication must, and as a matter of fact does, often exist.” Pending the consideration and preparation of , a better system, it is expedient, the Board are of opinion, to make the best of things as they are, and to adopt measures to bring existing evils within the smallest possible compass. Many glaring evils are reported upon, and it is proved that where these evils exist much sickness prevails, and the Begistrar-General’s returns show an excessive rata of mortality. “ In many cases” (the report proceeds) “ it appears that, unknown to the municipal authorities, pipes are laid for the purpose of carrying the overflow from the cesspits into the street gutters, and that there is no effectual remedy. From the nature of the case under the existing system the cesspits must at every heavy shower overflow somewhere. As far as we have been able to learn, there is no municipal control over the persons who empty cesspits, except that at Balmain there are contractors bound to a certain price. They generally charge what they like. There is no recognised place of deposit for the nightsoil. The nightmen say that they sell it to market gardeners, who receive it in a crude state. If not placed 'within a certain distance of a highway it appears that no one cab interfere. In the morning the carts, reeking with filth, return to the city, where they remain all day. Sometimes, we are told, they bring back garden produce intended, it is presumed, for human food.” The report then deals with the three following subjects : —The construction and management of cesspits ; the mode of cleaning them ; and the disposal of their contents. Some valuable practical suggestions are given as to what should be done, and committees have been appointed to inquire into several matters affecting the health of the city.