HiGGiNSON. — Sanitary Sezverage. 371 



in favour of sanitary reform, so mnch advocated of late years, 

 and relating to which a whole library of literature and statis- 

 tics has been published. We, no doubt, all agree upon the 

 point that the best arrangements possible should be adopted, 

 but at the same time we do not appreciate heavy taxation, 

 and, above all things, if we have to spend large sums in en- 

 deavouring to effect the object in view, we should like to 

 feel that the money is not being squandered in ussless and, 

 in many cases, positively injurious works. Nor shall I enter 

 upon the subject of the ultimate disposal of sewage : suffice it 

 to say that it is an open question, considered apart from the 

 drainage itself. The fertilising quality of sewage is of great 

 value, and will eventually be made use of more generally, as 

 in the cities of Adelaide and Christchurch. The application of 

 sewage in that manner opens up an economic question, and it 

 becomes one of pounds, shillings, and pence whether it can be 

 made use of for fertilising land, or with greater advantage to 

 the ratepayers be cast into the sea. 



It is well known that for many years the Wellington City 

 Council has contemplated the construction of an efficient 

 sewerage system, to which end a report was obtained from 

 Mr. Clhnie, in 1877. Mr. W. Clark, M.Inst. C.E., an able 

 sanitary engineer, was also employed to rej)ort upon the same 

 subject in 1878, and did so in a comprehensive manner : since 

 that date no further steps appear to have been taken towards 

 the attainment of the object, although the latter gentleman's 

 scheme was, I believe, adopted at the time. 



I have no intention of criticizing these various schemes, 

 but will mention that Mr. Clark's estimate amounted to 

 £145,000, the working-expenses to an annual sum of £1,434, 

 and the annual charges, including interest on capital, to 

 £10,154. It is to be inferred that the magnitude of these sums 

 has militated against the prosecution of the work. 



One of my objects in bringing the subject of this paper 

 before the members of the society is to advocate a system 

 of drainage for Wellington which not only provides a more 

 efficient one than that adopted, but — what is also a very im- 

 portant point — reduces the present cost to little more than 

 one-half. 



The system is based upon scientific principles easily under- 

 stood when a little explanation is afforded, and is known 

 as " Shone's Hydro-pneumatic Syscem," Mr. Isaac Shone, 

 civil engineer, of Westminster, being the inventor, and this 

 system during the last few years he has successfully intro- 

 duced into many towns in England and other parts of the 

 world. 



In carrying the system out water-carriage is essential, and 

 this is universally allowed to be the cleanliest and most 

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