THE SEWERAGE OF THE CITY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4969, 24 February 1877, Page 3

THE SEWERAGE OF THE CITY.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. . Sib, —Some twelve months since I, under the noin de plume of “ An Engineer,” addressed two or three letters to you on the above subject. In one, dated January 8, 1876, your readers,may remember I stated “that owing to the small rise and fall of the tide, which would prevent the discharge ef the sewage by gravitation, it would be necessary to elevate it by pumping it through iron pipes to the place of discharge ; ” my idea being to take it along the edge of the harbor to a point below Wilkinson’s tea gardens. That letter of mine raised the ire of and provoked a reply from Mr. J. H. Wallace, the prize essayist of the Corporation. I let him down as easily as possible, knowing his weakness on the subject, and being aware that his ideas on the matter were only second-hand and that he was indebted to his brother Bruce and to Mr. John Plimmer for all practical knowledge of it. Ina letter of his, dated 14th January, 1876, he says—“ There is no reason why the City Surveyor should not be instructed by the Council to carry out the work.” The City Council were wiser than Mr. J. H. Wallace. They knew perfectly well that their surveyor knew nothing of the matter, and it would be as ridiculous to entrust the sewage of the city to him as it would be to consult Mr. Wallace on a moat intricate point of law. “ Everyone to his last,” said poor Bichard, and Mr. J. H. W. should have stuck to “his’m” A letter appeared in your impression of the 22nd inst., signed “Hygiene,” which betrays some little knowledge and a vast amount of ignorance of the subject. After wading through it, I find there are only three points that require any comment from me. His first objection states that “ the people of New Zealand are among the most heavily taxed on the earth.” Are they indeed ? I think that locally they are most lightly rated. One shilling and fivepence in the pound on the amount of their annual valuation, for general and water rates, is to me (who has in times past paid as much as five shillings and sixpence) most ridicu-

lously low; and I look forward to ‘ the time when the local rates will-he at least four shillings in the pound. I will only observe, as to his statement of the probable cost, that whether it will cost £120,000 oh £200,000, it must and will be done. His objection No. 2, on the score of water supply, is nonsense, as by using Mainwaring’s trap cisterns the discharge for flushing purposes is restricted to two gallons at each use of the water closet. Objection No. 3.- —“ In about twenty-five years these sewers must be relined at an additional heavy expense.” Must they, indeed ! Where in Heaven’s name did “Hygiene” obtain that knowledge ? 1n_1844 T was employed in a subordinate capacity in' superintending the construction of the sewerage of Southampton ; and being only some four years from home, I never heard of any refining. The only fault found was in the extravagant size of the main fewer, which compelled the Corporation to clear it in 1867. Objection No. 4 may be dismissed with the word “ bosh !” “ Climie” will know how to provide for ventilation. “ Hygiene’s” reference as to the Manchester plan is to some purpose. It is not only in use there, but also in Birmingham, Sheffield, and other large towns ; and I have used it during my residence here ; but even then we require sewerage to get rid of the nuisance caused by slops, soapsuds, and foul water, which is more noxious than human excreta. “ Citizen’s” letter may be passed over without comment, as there is nothing in it.

But Mr. Gisborne’s deserves a at my hands, as it is not the first time he has appeared in print on the same subject, to which I replied on the 31st January, 1874, under the signature of “Clerk of Works.” There is not much pith in his letter of yesterday, excepting his doubt of Mr. Crawford’s heirs taking the sewage aftei his death. Mr. Gisborne and the Council may make themselves perfectly easy on that score. Mr. Crawford knows what he is doing, and if the Council will only convey the sewage to liis sand flat he will take care that it shall be used to his and his childr ns’ advantage. And instead of giving a guarantee to the city that he or his heirs will take it, he would, if he followed my advice, take particular care that once taken by him it should be delivered there and there only for ever.—l am, &c., C. Moody. Adelaide-road, February 23.