111

will be a demand for a certain quantity of it, as it is
well known to be a very rich manure, and that
Gardeners in particular, and gentlemen who cul-
tivate gardens in the town and immediate neigh-
bourhood, I should think would be glad to obtain it.
I have, books,
FEDOR KELLING.
Ranzau, May 23, 1867.

To C. HUNTER BROWN, Esq., Honorary Secretary,
Commission of Inquiry into the Drainage of
Nelson.

SIR—I have the honour to acknowledge receipt
of your letter of the 13th current, written by instruc-
tions from the "Committee of Inquiry into the
Drainage of Nelson," submitting two queries for my
consideration, and inviting an answer to be sent to
the Provincial Secretary's office.

In answer to the first query, I beg to say that I
consider the earth-closet system, if universally
adopted in the city, and especially in the centre of
its leading streets—especially at the Wakatu
Hotel, and Mr. Hornby's—when the bay wind is
blowing, I am nearly poisoned from the
elluvia which meets my nose in certain parts of some
of the streets where public-houses
exist, the smell is very offensive, caused possibly
from the want of proper urinals.

There ought to be a sale for the deodorized night-
soil, and when once fairly tried, I have no doubt but
that it would be generally used as a manure; and by
way of encouraging its consumption, the lowest pos-
sible figure after paying expenses ought to be charged
for it.

In England, the rule is to highly manure the land;
here it is to starve it; that is, I suppose, because we
live at the antipodes.

In answer to query No. 2, I only know the manure
alluded to as an article of commerce, a great quantity
of it being imported into Great Britain from Nor-
way. The trade name of it I have. I have reason
to think that it is in considerable demand, but I am
ignorant of its price.

If we had a "Mechi" amongst us, both manures
would soon be tried, and then it would be seen which
best suited our soil and climate.

Out of the centre of the city most cottages have
gardens attached to them, and here, no doubt, for the
sake of getting some good vegetables, &c., the occu-
pants would use all the night soil after being deodo-
rized, and to them the new system ought to be no
trouble at all. In the city proper it would be a great
bother, but would have to be carried out to the latter,
and a new business would most likely arise out of it;
by sand, or powdered soil, being hawked about the
streets for sale. If sand should have to be most
in demand, a small craft or two would find employ-
ment in bringing that article from the Waimea
beach. The charge for sand would then become a
regular entry in the housekeeper's books.

England rakes up the whole world for manure,
battle-fields not excepted, for I recollect that after
the battle of Leipzig, many cargoes of bones were
imported from the Baltic into Scotland, to grind into
bone dust.

I fear I have been wandering from the subject,
and in conclusion I may here remark, that my
swamp land, which is a mass of decomposed vege-
table matter, will require no manure for years to
come.

Trusting that the foregoing answers to the Com-
mittee's queries may prove satisfactory.
I have, &c.,
JAMES MACKAY.
Drumduau, May 18.

To C. H. BROWN, Esq., Nelson.

SIR—In reply to your letter, received late on the
15th instant, I am of opinion that either of your
proposed systems will ultimately answer and prove
profitable.

As to its value, I cannot express an opinion until
the fertilizing properties of each are tested.

I should consider the latter system more valuable
than the former, particularly for upland.
I remain, &c.,
HUGH MARTIN.
Stoke, May 20, 1867.

NOTES, MEMORANDA, AND SUGGESTIONS BY THE PRO-
VINCIAL ENGINEER, as one of the MEMBERS of
the SANITARY COMMISSION, Nelson, appointed
May 7, 1867.

1. With the understanding that a new Scavenging
   Act will be brought into operation, combined with the
   adoption of some modifications of the earth closet
   system, I should recommend the extension of a
   cheap system of house-drainage, which would appear
   to be realized by the use of glazed earthenware pipes
   —thus: Every house to be fitted with a properly-
   trapped sink and grate, in the back premises,
   (not in the house on any account), to carry away all
   slop water and liquid refuse.

The sink to be connected with a pipe, say four
inches diameter, which would communicate with a
main pipe in the adjoining street, or with a sub-main
running through all the back premises, and joining a
main in another street—the latter preferable, as
the house drains would not be under the houses,
except at the end of each block. Sub-mains, say 6
inches; and mains, say 9 inches diameter. Means to
be provided for flushing all the sub-mains and mains.
The house drains, when the water supply is estab-
lished, may be flushed at any time.

A rough estimate of the probable cost of laying the
above sized drains, would be including jointing, &c.

£ s. d.
4 inch diameter—per chain ... 7 0 0
6 ... ... ... 9 10 0
9 ... ... ... 13 10 0

Contrast this with the cost of the large sewer in
Bridge-street, which has cost about per chain—£13.

2.—Storm and surface water to be carried off by
open side channels, and the present large sewers
where they are laid. Side channels to be laid along
the kerb stones of the footpaths, and to be well paved,
and of sufficient capacity for the purpose. The cost
of these channels might be from £15 to £20 per chain.

The present deep water courses in some of the
streets of the town, might be cheaply improved, by
having the bottom only laid as a temporary expedient
with stone or brick, in a curved form like the bottom
of a sewer—this could be kept clean much more
easily, and would improve the flow of the water.

3.—In time it may become necessary or desirable
to remove the outfall of the main sewer to a more
distant site, where it would be acted on by the con-
tinuous flow of the Maitai, and thus its
contents would become more rapidly diluted. In
furtherance of this plan and as part of it, I would sug-