458 Report S.A.A. Advancement of Science. 



from the solid a monthly saving of about ^140 for maintenance 

 has been effected. 



Since leaving Kimberley for Johannesburg, Dr. Turner, the 

 late Medical Officer of Health, has applied to me for full particu- 

 lars, with a view to erecting similar ones in his new sphere of action, 

 and Dr. Ried, the present INI.O.H. for Kimberley, has expressed 

 his entire approval of the Latrines and the manner in which they 

 are worked. 



During the present year I have been entrusted with the work- 

 ing of the Sanitary Service of this town, and as soon as possible 

 preparations were made, experimental at first, at the Municipal 

 Sanitary Site, for separating the liquids from the solids. Formerly 

 the tank wagons discharged their contents into trenches, the overflow 

 water from which was conveyed to large pits. My new process, 

 which is still in the embryo stage, will separate the matters as they 

 leave the wagons, the liquid running into a channel, from which 

 it will be pumped and distributed over the ploughed surface of the 

 ground, and the solids will be stacked in layers with red ground 

 in galvanised wire-netting bins for future use, I hope, for fertilising 

 purposes. As a result I shall look for a saving in working 

 expenses, a minimum amount of offensiveness to the senses, and 

 eventually extensive cultivation, though I anticipate difficulty with 

 the liquid unless dilution be possible. 



I have endeavoured to emphasise the necessity of keeping free, 

 or freeing, solid excrement from liquid of any description ; this 

 really is the whole purport of my paper, and I trust that I have not 

 wearied you in the attempt, but I consider the matter of high im- 

 portance, and worthy of further following up. There is still 

 something more to which your attention should be drawn in connec- 

 tion with the subject. A dry earth closet, known as O'Brien's, and 

 which hails from Australia, I believe, is well known in the Cape 

 Peninsula, and through mv suggestion has been adopted in the 

 Kimberley Town Hall, and is also being installed at the Public 

 Latrine on our ALirket Square. It may not be generally known, 

 however, that this closet separates the liquid from the solid excre- 

 ment, by means of a perforated pail, the urine being received in 

 a receptacle underneath. The system is admirable where it can 

 receive the little due attention it requires, and I have nothing but 

 praise for it. I am not in a position, however, to recommend its 

 universal adoption as yet, owing to the misuse to which it may be 

 subjected at some hands. But there are many points in its favour. 

 It is the least offensive earth closet I have experienced ; the pail 

 being removed from the front, there is no draughty flap at the back 

 to worry one ; and certainly if this system could be universally 

 adopted, there would be no unpleasant odours floating about our 

 streets during the process of removals ; with this system the removals 

 could, in my opinion, be safely carried on during the day. 



I have now given three instances, and all are in connection with 

 this Borough, of satisfactory results following the principles laid 



