MASTERTON HOSPITAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9596, 16 September 1909, Page 7

MASTERTON HOSPITAL.

AN IMPROVED DRAINAGE SYSTEM TO BE INSTALLED.

At the meeting of the Trustees of the Masterton Hospital yesterday, the report of the Borough Engineer (Mr W. T. Mansfield) regarding the condition of the septic tank at the hospital was read. The report of the Engineer stated inter aiia that the Board appeared to have assumed that once the installation was in position it would require no attention. No attempt appeared to have been made to pei'iodically empty the tank or pass the effluent away. This obvious duty iii omission, apart from the question of suitability of the site or the design of the tank, had produced the complaint, the tank effluent undergoing secondary decomposition and thus creatine a nuisance. Having regard to the nature of the institution, an establishment to which sick persons are brought to more speedily regain health, he could not too strongly impress upon the Hoard the extreme necessity which exists for the effective and prompt removal from the vicinity of the Hospital of any sources of danger f »ucta ad might be likely to arise from decomposing sewage effluent found as described in the report, and to the Board, making it the duty of some person to see that the drains and works were I maintained in proper working order. In outlining what was necessary to effect the desired improvement he recommended: —'1. That an intercept, ting manhole be constructed close to the tank, into which the several drains are led. 2 That the present tank be converted into a settling tank throughout its entire extent, which would provide a capacity of 728 cubic feet. 3. That an additional tank be provided to act as a secondary settling tank, covered with close boards and six inches or so of soil. 4. That the discharge from the secondary settling tanks be led on to a specially prepared bacteria filter for intermittent downward filtration of the tank effuent, and thance into subsoil water, and for the present he suggested the preparation of .024 of an acre, having under floor conditions a working depth of not less than three feet. 5. Suitable flap valves and outlet pipes. Having regard to the limited area of land commanded by the existing tank available for irrigation of the effluent, and to the nature and position of the tip soil and to its being subject to flood water he did not consider it suitable for the purpose to which it has been put, without preparation and protection, and he advised the abandonment of the site as soon as possible, He estimated the cost of the works outlined at £l2O, which included earthwork on the face of the slope for 70 feet with a batter 1 to 1, which should subsequently be grassed, Dr Archer Hosjking said that the carrying out of the work on the lines suggested in the Borough Engineer's report appeared to him to be the only solution of the Jifficulty. Mr R. brown moved the adoption of the report and that after the necessary authority had been secured from the Health Department, tenders be cailed for the work, the contract to be under the supervision of the Borough Engineer. The chairman, Mr J. B. Keith, seconded the motion, which was carried. (

Mr J. C. Ewington moved that alternative tenders for sloping th e bank and constructing a stop bank with the material removed. The motion was carried.