DINNER TO MR. CLARKE, C.E.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5329, 26 April 1878, Page 7

DINNER TO MR. CLARKE, C.E.

On Tuesday evening, April 16, the Mayor of Wellington entertained Mr. Clarke, the eminent hydraulic engineer, and about 80 other gentlemen at a sumptuous dinner at the Club, amongst those present were the Hon. Colonel Whitmore, M.L.0., Sir William Fitzherbert, AfHB. A. De B. Brandon, Esq., M.H.E, 0. Hunter, Esq., M.H.E', H. Bunny, Esq., ji.H.-R., all the members of the City Council, the Town Clerk and other corporate officials, and a number of professional men and other leading citizens. The usual loyal toasts, “ The Queen, The Prince of Wales,” and “ The Governor,” were riven from the chair and duly honored. ° The Town Clerk (Mr. Graham) next gave "The Army, Navy, and Eeserve Forces,” coupled with the names of Colonel Whitmore, Mr. J- 0. Crawford, 8.M., and Major Pearce. The toast was warmly received, and responded to by those gentlemen very appropriately. Colonel Whitmore, in speaking of the army, referred to the past services of British soldiers, and to their present state of efficiency. He expressed his warm attachment to the service to which he formerly belonged, and said he was certain that if their services were again required in the field they would do their duty as they had done in the past. In responding on behalf of the navy, Mr, J 0. CaAWFOBD alluded to the fact that the material of which warships were made in his early years considerably changed; but although the material had been altered, the men were of the same stamp now as then, and would give as good an account of themselves as their predecessors had done, if called into action to-day. _ Mr. Pearce, in replying on behalf of the reserve forces, remarked that he had lately been in England, where he had seen what the reserve forces were there, and how this, amongst other things, had contributed to enable the country to take the firm stand it bad lately. The Chairman then rose to propose the health of the guest of the evening, Mr. Clarke, and dwelt at some length upon the advantages which would result to the city from that gentleman’s visit. He expressed a hope that whatever suggestions were made by him in reference to . the carrying out sanitary works here would be adopted, in order that the evils which it was admitted existed here should be removed, Mr. Clabke rose and said: —“Your Worship (and Gentleman, —I desire to thank you very sincerely for the honor you have done me in the toast just proposed, and I thank his

Worship for the opportunity thus afforded me of meeting the members of the City Council an d hia other guests. During iny somewhat lengthened sojourn in the colonies, I have on many occasions enjoyed the hospitality of the hioh officers of the various Governments where my professional services have been required, but it was reserved for me at Wellington to be present at a gathering like this—at a splendid banquet given ou the occasion of my visit. On one occasion I was called upon, as I now am, to respond to the toast of my health, and I endeavored to improve the opportunity by giving a little advice on the subject of sanitary improvement. It was at West Maitland, in New South Wales, and I hope that I prevented them from making a great mistake, for I was enabled to point out that in their case the wholesale construction of cesspits, which, as a sanitary measure, they had the power to compel, and had determined to do, would cost the community quite as much as a proper system of sewers for the borough, if set about in a proper manner, I was not there, however, officially to advise on the subject of drainage, but of water supply. I was, nevertheless, as I am at all times, ready to assist so far as I can in any measure which has for. its object the improvement of the sanitary condition and surroundings of a population ; for depend upon it, gentlemen, that however favorable may be the opportunities fry the prosecution of mercantile, agricultural, or manufacturing industries, they can only obtain their full development when accompanied by the blessing of health. lam therefore happy to have the opportunity of visiting the city of Wellington by your invitation for the purpose of advising on its sanitary improvement. I have to-day received some statistics of mortality in the city, and find that it is not large. During last year it amounted to 19'5 per cent., not large that as compared with the older towns and cities of the mother country ; there, however, during hundreds of years of neglect, I may say ignorance, of the Jaws of health, our forefather’s helped to pollute the soil on which they dwelt, and it is to be hoped that the rapidly growing towns and cities of the colonies will profit by their example, and by more complete arrangements for the rapid andcompleteremovalofeffete matters —guard the present and future generations from the penalties which nature is certain to exact tor any infringement of her laws. Wellington, from all I can learn, is in earnest in its desire to make required improvements, and in evidence of this I now have the honor to address you. What is the precise nature of the recommendation I shall have to make I am not at this instant able to say. You will, I hope, ere long have my report in your hands. I may, however, allude to some of the points to which my attention has been given. You are anxious, I know, that your beautiful harbor should not be polluted by the discharge of filth into it.. An example of what this may lead to I saw at Sydney, where there is certainly one of the most beautiful harbors in the world, but adjacent to the most thickly populated portions of its shores it is in a most vile and filthy condition, and it became my duty to advise the construction of a large expensive work, estimated, if I remember aright, at about £200,000, chiefly for diverting the cause of nuisance into the ocean, a distance of about five miles. Much had been done there to establish a system of sewers, and very considerable expense incurred, but all under the mistaken principle of discharging the sewage direct into the harbor. Fortunately Wellington has not spent any large sum for a similar purpose, and will, I hope, in what she may do hereafter, derive full benefit from the expenditure. I find here an area of topographical extremes, where the extremely flat and extremely hilly or mountainous characters are both present. This flat area has a long frontage to the bay ; it consists of land already reclaimed, and to which a further extension is intended ; it is over two miles in length, and has a surface so little elevated above the sea—4ft. only above high-water mark—that it is evident some artificial help in the shape of pumps must be had if proper drainage works are to be carried out, and the filth not put into the bay. It is, however, desirable to ascertain how far the expense of pumping—which is constant—may be avoided for the more elevated area at the hack of the reclaimed laud, and to this my attention is just now entirely directed—to the magnitude and cost of the necessary work for this, for it is quite possible by an expensive work to purchase the help of gravitation at a dearer rate than pumping. In doing this part of my work 1 nave become thoroughly impressed with the fact that as a general rule the streets are not in all cases—and I may say in many cases of the hilly portion of the area—the proper positions wherein to construct the sewers, for a surface so broken and undulating it is necessary to have a plan of the area on a large scale, and with very numerous surface levels ■harked upon it, by the help of which to select ■he most eligible position for the works, not only for their efficiency hut economy also. Ine plan with which I am now working is yery proper, and suited for a commencement, inasmuch as it gives the position of most of ■" streets and the levels thereof ; hut there is not a single building shown upon it, and all We intervening spaces between the streets are Wank, without any indication of their levels ; ‘heee areas may be higher or lower than the adjacent streets, and without further information it would be the easiest thing in the world, following the street levels, to advise the construction of works which would fail in their to drain effectively the houses on noth sides. This plan, however, is sufficient

| to enable me to lay out some of the main I tcrcepting sewers, and the principal feaI , ur , e3 ~°f the work for the carrying away I .{v “ 13 P0sal of the sewage; but without I jll j a , rger an< f more complete plan I have I ttio should show the position of I f „ U , gs ’ out -offices, &c., I shall be unable I in ,r °®P' e t ; e, as I should have been glad to do I ami L™ l ® s y ßtel “ for every part of the city; I ja , . ™j ec * i * n introducing the subject now I corned rtf 83 ' 0n municipality and all conmenfeJTf ? e “ es&!t y for an immediate comI When this iff P re paration of such a plan, work St™ ? *7 “nd withont rt,^!. most Judicious manner, 10 owners J 1 lea st amount of inconvenience Another uomt P rop< * t y an(l their tenants, this• Th P o snnected with tho subject is rstodto thffi and eduS S «S^3£TS&cT£ but ii aot?m if f n damage done; i imCilT 36 ;b ° for it would erf r^f Pr rt eod ' rithout U - The of a perfectly water-tight sewer, as

they should in these cases all be, will be no injury whatever to a property. They will consist entirely of pipes of small sizes, and their near proximity will enable the private drainage to be executed at smaller cost to the owner. I have thought it desirable thus to dwell on a matter, the right understanding of which by the public is of the greatest importance, and with a hope that it may assist the Council in their endeavors to carry out the works for the benefit of the entire community. When, therefore, those subjects come under consideration, as they must do, it will probably not be forgotten that my testb mony was given in favor of having a proper plan of the city, and that proper positions should bo given to the sewers, even though private properties may be invaded. I will not say more on the subject which brings me to the city of Wellington, but I may add that as an ordinary visitor I see in the business and bustle of Wellington that its holds it own with the thriving and rapidly growing Australian cities, indicating an equal share of prosperity. lam impressed with the beauty of the country, the salubrity of its climate, and the extraordinary progress which has been made in its productive development. I have a high opinion of the prospects which it holds out for the industrious, intelligent, and sober among the thousands in England who have difficulty in finding profitable employment, and which, as occasion offers, I shell make known. My own visit to the colonies has been attended with a good deal of hard work, and I must say of pleasure also. Both officially and privately I have met with the greatest attention and hospitality wherever I have been. In New South Wales, where my visit extended over nearly a year, I saw three Ministries in office, but all my relations with them were of the most favorable description ; and among the pleasantest memories which I shall carry with me to England will be that of having enjoyed your Worship’s hospitality, and the very gratifying reception yon, gentlemen, have given me this evening. Again thanking you for the honor you have done me, I will conclude. Mr Bdckley next proposed “ The Health of her Majesty’s Ministers,” remarking that politics were excluded from the topics to be discussed at the usual gatherings of the Club, but still he thought everyone present would be glad to drink the health of the Ministry, wjth which toast he would couple the name of the Hon. Colonel Whitmore.

Colonel Whitmore, in responding, said he deprecated the introduction of political topics at these social meetings, and approved of the rule of the Club on the subject. He regretted that he was the only member of the Ministry able to be present. His colleagues would gladly have availed themselves of the opportunity of being present if they could. On behalf of the present Government he could say that it had the interest of the colony at heart, and he hoped when its policy was fully explained to the country, that if not wholly approved of, the Ministry would at all events obtain credit for good intentions, and for having worked hard in their various positions. He referred to the fact that the Ministry and the Governor were ou excellent terms, notwithstanding what had been said to the contrary, and which had appeared in some of the publications which they could not help seeing. He certainly did not think the Government required the services of any Cashmere watchman. Mr. Pearce proposed “ The Health of the Members of the General Assembly,” and referred to the able men who had labored in the past in forming the laws under which we now live. He considered that the New Zealand Parliament would favorably compare with that of any other Legislative body in the colonies, and even with the Imperial Parliament. He would couple with this toast the name of Sir William Fitzherbert, who had been one of the leading politicians of the colony from the commencement of Constitutional Government here, and who now occupied the high position of Speaker in the House of Representatives. Sir William Pitzherbert replied very ably and at some length, touching on a great variety of topics. Ha deprecated the habit many people had of undervaluing themselves and their representatives, and referred to recent proceedings which had taken place in the British House of Commons. He expressed great gratification in hearing what had fallen from Mr. Clarke, and hoped that it would bear fruit. The City Council bad a serious duty to ’ discharge, and they must do it well, and without fear, favor, or affection. In early life he himself had studied the science of hygiene under some of the ablest instructors of the time, and there could be no doubt that Mr. Clarke’s views on the subject were sound. If people sowed poison they must expect to reap death. There was great credit due to the Mayor for bringing together so large an assemblage to hear Mr. Clarke’s views, and they must support the City Council in taking energetic measures to remedy the evils so ably pointed out by Mr. Clarke. Sir William Fitzhbebbbt then proposed “The Health of their host, the Mayor of Wellington.” He said that Mr. Dransfield was one who had lived amongst them for a long time, and was deservedly esteemed and respected. Some years ago he occupied the position of Mayor for a considerable period, and when he retired the handsome display of plate on the table before them was presented to him, as a slight return for the valuable services he had rendered during his term of office. Changes took place ; but the citizens of Wellington had returned to their old love, and Mr. Dransfield again occupied the high position of chief magistrate of the city of Wellington. Mr. Dransfield responded in a neat and appropriate speech, thanking Sir William Pitzherbert for referring to him in such kind and flattering terms. He stated that it must always afford any man filling a public office intense satisfaction to be assured that he was esteemed and respected by those with whom it was hia lot to be associated.

Mr. J, Woodward proposed “The Health of the City Council” in a few complimentary remarks, and coupled with the toast the name of Councillor Hunter, whose father, it was well known, was the first Mayor of the city. Mr. Hunter replied on behalf of the City Council, and said he hoped, as their duty had been pointed out to them so clearly by Mr. Clarke, that they would not fail to discharge it. Mr. Clarke asked leave to propose a toast. He said since he came to the colony he had been privileged to take up his abode at the Club, and he found himself very comfortable in it. He congratulated its members on possessing such a fine building, situated in such a beautiful situation. He could speak with some knowledge on the subject, as ho had been staying at various Clubs in tho Australian colonies. He again spoke of the kind reception he had met with in the colonies at the hands of Governors, Ministers, and Municipalities, and concluded by proposing “ The Health of the President of the Wellington Club.”

Mr. Hunter acknowledged the toast, and said he was pleased to hear Mr. Clarke speak in such a satisfactory manner of this Olub and its management. This concluded tho speeches, and the guests shortly afterwaids separated, Tho above is necessarily only a brief report of the proceedings, sis it had been agreed beorehand that reporters should not he present, they not being, as a rule, invited to social gatherings of this kind at the Olub, but we believe the account furnished to us will be found substantially correct, as we have it on reliable authority.