2(J ON THE DISPOSAL OF SEWAGE. 



therefore, Waring's and Slione's systems combined would admir- 

 ably answer all requirements, for where gravitation alone would 

 suffice to carry the sewage to the main. Waring's small pipe 

 and automatic flushing tanks would answer, and where gravita- 

 tion would be no longer practical)ie Shone's pneuiuatic ejectors 

 would prove then- utility. Attention is being directed to a com- 

 plete system of water carriage for all excumentitous matter, and 

 now is certainly the time, when an efficient water sunply exists, 

 owing to the Brisbane Eiver scheme in use, to take the matter 

 practically in hand. Hitherto the olijection to entertainmg the 

 subject practically has always been laid on the deficient water 

 supply. That objection never had a tangible form ; the increased 

 consumption of water consequent on a thoroughly water-closeted 

 and efficiently sewered condition of the city would be a mere 

 bagatelle. However, that objection has had the effect up to the 

 present of staying any steps to rid us of the vei-y unsatisfactory 

 method we have been condemned to all these years. That 

 objection no longer holds, and I trust that no further 

 delay will be caused in bringing about a cheaper, cleaner, 

 healthier, and less offensive method than the present. This city 

 is spending annually about £20,000 for the removal of refuse, 

 but only a very small part of the refuse is dealt with at this cost, 

 as all the contaminated water supply finds its way to the river 

 by means of the watertables and underground drains. The flow- 

 ing of this sewage, mildly termed slop- water by some, along the 

 watertables is both offensive and injurious to health, and even 

 if the present plan of interception is continued, or some other 

 adopted, this so-called slop-water sliould be conducted away 

 from our dwellings by some less objectionable method than the 

 present one. But, according to the systems wdiich I have 

 mentioned, the city and suburbs could be efficiently and cheaply 

 sewered in such a manner as to provide for the removal of all 

 the refuse matter, which is at present intercepted at such 

 enormous cost, as well as the contaminated water supply. Sir 

 Joseph Bazalgette, late engineer to the Metropolitan Board of 

 Works, London, said, years ago : — " There are few^ who will not 

 now recognise that the removal of the refuse of large towns by 

 water is so vastly superior to any other known method, as to 

 have caused it to be an essential in these days of civilization and 

 refinement." 



