Chapple. — Oti the Disposal of Sewage. 525 



vicinity of populous and favourite suburbs without nuisance or 

 injury or depreciation in the value of property. The germs of 

 disease liable to be carried in sewage are effectively disposed 

 of by the bacteria of the soil ; and it is remarkable that many 

 infectious diseases which exist in the towns are conspicuously 

 absent from the farms supplied by the town-sewage. 



Generally speaking, the advantages of sewage farming 

 are: (1.) The general wealth is increased by the increased 

 production. (2.) Employment is given to many workmen. 

 (3.) Sewage, as sewage, is absolutely and completely anni- 

 hilated. (4.) Nature is imitated in the method of disposal, 

 and the utmost use is made of waste products. 



In determining whether the sewage disposal of Welling- 

 ton should be by broad irrigation these general advan- 

 tages of course apply, and local advantages also exist in the 

 suitability of available larud in the vicinity of the already- 

 determined outfall ; but the conditions unfavourable to sewage 

 farming are numerous : — 



1. The isthmus suggested as the site for a farm is exposed 

 to the severe southerly winds and salt spray. 



2. The amount of water to be disposed of is much greater 

 than is found to be convenient on most sewage farms — 50 

 gallons per head of the population is the dry- weather estimate 

 for Wellington. The average applied to sewage farms is about 

 30 gallons, while in Berlin, where tbe best results are 

 obtained, the dry-weather flow in twenty-four hours is only 

 21 gallons per head of the population. 



3. The average annual rainfall here, according to a return 

 prepared by Mr. Gore, is about 51in., and, as provision is made 

 for the reception of a large amount of rainfall by the sewers, 

 it is evident that in rainy weather an enormous quantity of 

 sewage will have to be disposed of. The average rainfall of 

 Berlin is 23in. 



To justify the establishment of a sewage farm upon the 

 isthmus, the following questions must be decided in the 

 affirmative : — 



1. Can a sufficient area of suitable land be bought, levelled, 

 underdrained, and thoroughly prepared for farming at a cost 

 not exceeding that required to extend the outfall to any other 

 suitable place? 



2. Would crops and stock be likely to thrive, in spite 

 of the exposure to wind and spray arising from the situa- 

 tion ? 



3. Would the cost of labour, and the demand for farm and 

 dairy produce, justify the expectation that financial results 

 would compare favourably with those of other typical sewage 

 farms ? 



