DRAINAGE OF TEMUKA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2008, 15 February 1890, Page 2

DRAINAGE OF TEMUKA.

T© THE EDITOK. Sie, —Having heard several people express an opinion that the drainage scheme proposed by the Town Board will, if carried out, not have any good effect in improving the health of the residents, I wish through your columns to call their attention to the following results obtained in Christchurch and Sydenham :—" The engineer to the Christchurch Drainage Board reports that the total number of houses connected with the different system of sewers is as follows—With the sewers proper, 901; with the duplex sewers, 43 j with the storm water sewers, 212 ; total, 1156. The total number of water closets connected is 64-8 in 217 houses. The work of connecting is extremely slow, nevertheless, it is satisfactory to note that Christchurch now ranks as one of the healthiest cities in the colony, the death rate for 1888 being 11.36 per thousand, and in Sydenham 10,86. It might be well to remind those who grumble so loudly ■ at the unpopular drainage rate, that in the year 1875 the death rate in Christchurch stood at over 30 per 1000; of course, an immense amount of indirect benefit has been caused by the construction of the sewers, outside of the direct benefits obtained by individual house connectiona." Taking the population of Christchurch at 17,000 this gives 323 less deaths in the year 1888 than there would have been if the high rate of of 1875 had been maintained. If we persist in the habit off emptying slops on the ground round about our houses we shall never be free from outbreaks of typhoid and diphtheria. There is another benefit which must not be lost sight of, and that is the advantage of having races of water running down the side channels in cases of firo, as a dam could be made in two minutes, and we all know it is an easy job to put out a fire at its onset, whereas it would take the Pire Brigade 15 minutes at least to get their engine to work. —Tours truly, a believer that

Cleanliness is next to Godliness.