THE SEPTIC TANK.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8122, 30 May 1906, Page 2

THE SEPTIC TANK.

INSPECTION BY BOROUGH UOUNCILLOES.

Complaints have recently been made that the septic tank in St. James' lane was working unsatisfactorily, and that, in consoquence, there was an objectionable smell arising from the tank. Mr E. Harvey-Gibbon, the Borough Engineer, has reported from time to time that the operation of the tank was entirely satisfactory, but still there remained as many doubters as ever.

Mr Dockrill, the new Mayor, had hoard these complaints so often reiterated that he began to fear there was something wrong, and accordingly requested that he might have an inspection. Accordingly, on Tuesday afternoon, the Mayor and Crs Broirnc and Bellnnger (just elected), accompanied by the Engineer and his assistant examined all round to ascertain if there wero any, escape of gaj or disagreeable smell -from the septic tank. A thorough examination of the whole of the precincts was midc, and no smell was discernible. The accessory chambers wero found to bo properly sealed, so that there was no possibility of an escape. The party then proceeded to examine the inlet and detritus chambers, and from either o' theso was no smell of any description perceptible. Ah examination of the effluent as it passed through the man-hole-and weir in Gill street was made. The effluent had a decidedly strong and objectionable odour, but the man-hole was so thoroughly sealed that no smell could bo discovered until the party hunted for it.

Passing on to the gasworks sewer, which, together with the sewer from buildings in St. Aubyn street, Eg nont street and King street, oropties into the Huatoki stream, it was found that a considerable unpleasant smoll was jvafted at times from the outlet pipes. A pipe drain empting on the bank of the Huatoki stream, at the back of the Taranaki Hotel, and close to the footbridge, was found to be difEusiug a somewhat penetrating effluvia. From the garbage that was continually floating down stream, it was quite plain that the Huatoki and Mangotuku are defiled by excreta from closets, and latrines, and appeared to be used as a convenient vehicle for getting rid of rubbish, m addition to which the public sewer running down Devonstreet discharges into the Mangatuki stream in Brougham street. The Borough engineor is of opinion that the smells complained of could not possibly have omanated from the septic tank or its effluent, and certainly the result of yesterday's inspection bore out that idea. The inspection was thorough, the councillors going to the extent of leaning into the mat-hole at the detritus tank, without finding any smell.