Sanitary Science. 455 



years, and, more particularly, perhaps, in the actual Sanitary Appli- 

 ances used in and about buildings in connection with what is known 

 as the water carriage system. It is not of this system, however, 

 that I propose writing now, but rather the Dry Earth or Pail 

 System which is so prevalent in this country, and with which so 

 little headway seems to be made, it being recognised more or less 

 as a makeshift system, incapable of improvement, and only tolerated 

 until it can be superseded by a sewerage scheme. But for many years 

 to come, in the smaller inland towns and villages especially, it 

 appears very doubtful, owing to the high price of water, its scarcity, 

 or other local drawbacks, whether what is recognised by many as 

 being the ideal method of sewage removal, will be attained. 



It is almost with fear and trembling that I approach the real 

 subject of my paper, lest I be charged with advocating a system 

 which it may be considered should be relegated to the past. Let 

 it be remembered, however, that it is the improvement of a system 

 that cannot be avoided, that I am urging, and I am doing so having 

 a full knowledge of the many advantages of the water carriage 

 system, and also its disadvantages. I feel that no useful purpose 

 would be served by a long harangue on this latter method. I have 

 no elaborate drawings for you, no bewildering statistics, and no 

 comparisons of costs. 



My paper, which has been prepared hurriedly at the last 

 moment under the stress of anxious official duties, shall be so simple 

 in character, that you may deem it scarcely of sufficient merit to be 

 included amongst others that will be delivered before you ; but 

 the subject of Sanitary Science was given me, and I selected what 

 I considered to be the most important branch of that Science affect- 

 ing many inland communities to-day. Should any good result from 

 my directing your thoughts in a certain direction I shall be more 

 than satisfied. 



The Pail System for the removal of Night Soil is carried out in 

 the various towns of this country according to the dictates of the 

 Municipalities concerned. In some cases by contract, in others 

 departmentally. At some places large receptacles are in use, being 

 removed once a week, or a fortnight might be allowed to elapse. 



At other places quite small pails have been adopted, the 

 removals being effected every 24 or 48 hours. In one important 

 town the work of removal is, I believe, carried out in broad day- 

 light ; it is usual, however, to select the dead of night. Sometimes 

 the receptacles are hermetically covered and placed in closed vans, 

 or the contents are discharged into tanks and the empty buckets 

 stacked in a box-like arrangement in the fore-part of \he vehicle, 

 as in Kimberley. Take any one of these methods, and I think 

 there is no doubt but that disadvantages predominate. Offensiveness 

 or inconvenience is caused at one stage or another, either through 

 the receptacles being allowed to remain too long on the premises, 

 or during the process of removals, and it is small wonder that the 

 man in the street clamours for reforms. 



