105

And, that the Earth-closet Company at Melbourne
value the compost produced in the earth-closet at
£5 per ton [see Appendix, IV]; and we have it in
evidence, that Mr. Osman would undertake to cart
it away for the manure, considering each load worth
three loads of ordinary stable manure, and that one
cart every morning would clear Nelson of such de-
posits, taking each house once weekly. [See Mr.
Osman's evidence, Appendix, I.]

As regards the sale of this manure to farmers in
the country, the evidence is very conflicting. [See
letters of Messrs Barnicoat, Kelling, Mackay, and
Martin, Appendix, III.]

We are, however, of opinion, that as its value be-
comes known, all the manure thus produced in
Nelson would be used on the farms, gardens, and
cultivations in the immediate vicinity, so that none
would be left for the farmers.

We therefore consider that ultimately the sale of
manure would cover, or nearly cover the expense of
removal and supply of fresh earth to those who need
it. The first expense of forming a depôt would re-
main, which will be considered in another part of
this Report. [See under head "Scavenging."

The introduction of the use of earth-closets as
thus described, should be made compulsory in the
city, within certain limits to be proclaimed; and
also at the same time the cleaning out and filling up
of all old cesspools, privy-pits, or holes in the ground
used to receive excrement. This final cleaning out
and filling up of cesspools should be done, we think,
at the expense of householders, but the expense (if
any) of the removal of earth-closet compost, and of
other scavenging yet to be considered, should be re-
covered by a scavenging rate. We feel confident
that this rate will be a smaller burden on house-
holders than the expense of cleaning out the old-
fashioned privy by the highly-paid labour of the
nightman.

SCAVENGING

The next division of the subject is the getting rid
of ordinary dry house-refuse, ashes, bones, rags,
offal, scraps, dead animals, manure, sour grains,
rubbish, now too often thrown out into the har-
bour or the Maitai, into backyards, or on to neigh-
bouring sections, and left to rot indefinitely [see
Evidence of Messrs. Watts, Phillips, Sherratt, and
Scott, Appendix, L]; and we are of opinion that
this practice should be strictly forbidden, and that
it be made incumbent on each householder to pro-
vide a portable ash-bin for the reception of such
dangerous rubbish; such bin to be one of satisfaction
cally by the City Scavenger already spoken of, sub-
ject to the exception that a householder, possessed
of a sufficient amount of garden or paddock attached
to his dwelling, may bury the same, so as to satisfy
the Inspector of Nuisances that no nuisance will
arise therefrom. In no case should pig-sties be
allowed within the proclaimed limits. Such rubbish,
&c., should be carted away by the scavenger to a
depôt. We think that, for convenience sake, and
especially for the convenience of purchasers of
that site, there ought to be not less than two of
these depôts, one on each side of the town, for the
reception of earth-closet compost, and ashes and
rubbish.

In Appendix, V., will be found a suggestion of the
Provincial Engineer for the construction of these
depôts, in such a manner as to make least perceptible
exhalations arising from the ashes and house-refuse;
which it is supposed will not be completely inodorous
as the earth-compost ought to be. We believe that
it would be the best and wisest plan to provide for
the first cost of constructing these depôts, and of
making the sewer-drains yet to be described, by a
loan raised on debentures at a sinking-fund interest,
thus spreading over many years the expense of a
lasting benefit, which would be crushing if it fell on
the community at once, and perhaps indispose
them to co-operate in carrying out plans now to
them.

It now remains to consider the best way of getting
rid of the liquid refuse, which now contributes so
largely to taint both air and water in the town—
soapsuds, dish-washings, house-slops, and such like;
also of ordinary rainfalls and storm waters.

LIQUID SEWAGE.

We are of opinion that liquid sewage may be
allowed to run into the existing sewers, and into
sewers yet to be constructed, without detriment to
the public health, especially as the water-works now
being constructed will soon afford the means of con-
stantly flushing the drains of the town.

We strongly recommend the construction of
sewers, or of glazed earthenware drain pipes, with
branch drain pipes from each back yard, in all the
more closely built-upon parts of the town, and of
pitched side channels to serve the same purpose
where the population is more scattered. Detailed
suggestions on this head will be found in the Pro-
vincial Engineer's Memorandum [see Appendix, V.]

No house drain should be allowed, if possible, to
pass under the house; nor any sink be allowed, un-
der any circumstances, within a dwelling-house; and
all sinks should be properly trapped to prevent the
entrance of solid matters into the drains, and the
exit of unwholesome gases from them. The cost to
be borne, as now, by the householder, but the work
done under the supervision, and to the satisfaction
of the Inspector.

In time it may become necessary to remove the
outfall of the present main sewer to a more distant
point, but at present we are of opinion that this is
not necessary, provided the discharge of all solid
sewage from water-closets, privies, or any other
source, be prevented, and the sewer periodically
flushed, and the present outfall-ditch across the
mud-flat kept straight and cleaned out.

For a valuable suggestion for altering the present
course of the river Maitai at its mouth, and bringing
it to flow in a curved line to the Haven Road, and
for prolonging the main sewer till it falls into this
new river channel, [see Provincial Engineer's Memo-
randum, Appendix, V.]

WATER CLOSETS TO BE ABOLISHED.

We are, therefore, all of opinion, that the water-
closets already existing (very few in number) should
be done away with, and the owners compensated for
their lost outlay at the public expense.

DRAINAGE OR FILLING UP OF SWAMPY SPOTS.

We also consider it necessary, on sanitary con-
siderations, that all low-lying spots on which water
lies after rainfall, disappear by evaporation,
should be drained, if capable of drainage; and if not
capable; then such places, and all swampy spots of
ground, such as that near Halifax-street, near the
out-fall of the sewer, should be so raised by deposit
of earth or gravel as to prevent the stagnation of
water on them, and the rise from them of noxious
emanations, the product of decaying vegetable mat-
ter. All vegetable growth should be previously cut
down, and burned or removed.